If literature were a food pyramid, a ranking of vitamins and nutrients for the mind and soul, the classics would be the equivalent of steak, eggs, and fish, books high in intellectual protein like Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace,” Sigrid Undset’s “Kristin Lavransdatter,” and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby.”
Next would come the fruit and vegetable novels, providers of vitamins and minerals that also contribute to interior health. Like the classics, my list of such broccoli books would be long. Top-10 picks would include Mark Helprin’s “A Soldier of the Great War,” Anton Myrer’s “Once an Eagle,” and Anne Tyler’s “Saint Maybe.”
At the base of the pyramid are the carbs, the breads, oatmeal, desserts, and pasta dishes of fiction. Here we find mostly works categorized as genre fiction, like romance and suspense novels, mysteries and fantasy.
These are what I call my popcorn books. They offer some nutritional value, yes, but I tend to consume them as I would a bowl of popcorn, a bit mindlessly, taking pleasure in the consumption as much as in the contents.
In the last year, I’ve feasted on a number of these entertainments: a western, several stories that would make good Hallmark movies, a couple of mysteries. These are the books that I’ll read five minutes here, 10 minutes there, and if the plot catches fire, I’ll blow 30 minutes or more avoiding my work and daily to-do list while racing through the text.
And right there is one of the main reasons why popcorn books are good for us. They are getaway reads, snatching us from our duties and worries while rarely imposing the level of involvement demanded by steak-and-eggs literature. They are the ways of escape paperbacks we bring to the beach on a summer’s day or to the sofa on a winter’s night.
Yet there’s usually a bit more at play than entertainment in these literary baked goods. Recently I brought home two paperbacks from the freebie shelf at our public library and ended up reading them back to back. The first was “Nothing But the Truth” by Newbery Medal winner Avi. It tells the story of a 9th grader, Philip, who delights in calling attention to himself in class by misbehaving. The students are supposed to remain silent when the “Star-Spangled Banner” is played over the intercom to start classes, but Philip insists on humming. He gets into trouble by this open defiance and is suspended. Eventually, the story makes the local news, and then explodes in news outlets around the country.
“Nothing But the Truth” gives us a fabulous demonstration of how our news works and how it malfunctions, how stories are created and twisted, and how people are damaged in the subsequent explosions.
“A Walk to Remember” by another best-selling author, Nicholas Sparks, tells the story of Landon, a high school senior in the coastal town of Beaufort, N.C., and Jamie, the class eccentric and daughter of a minister who carries her Bible wherever she goes. The two become friends, and then grow even closer. It’s a romance novel, but a cut above – or two or three cuts – most in that genre.
This book stands out in a couple of ways. First, Jamie exposes Landon and the rest of us to a number of Scripture passages, which right away makes the novel unusual in our secular age. Second, the transition of Landon from a careless high school boy into early manhood, led there by Jamie and by his mother, reveals the importance of women in the shaping and making of men. That’s a lesson rarely taught these days.
One further note: “A Walk to Remember” is also what I call a print decongestant. If you’re clogged up with a cold or allergies, and if you’re at all susceptible to tears, you’ll find this novel works as well as any over-the-counter nasal spray or pill. The ending of Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town,” and the letter-reading classroom scene in the sadly out-of-print “Good Morning, Miss Dove,” by Frances Gray Patton, are just two of my go-to literary remedies for a stuffy nose.
So, if like me you’re a reader of popcorn books, you have no need of shame if your friend is always going on about Nathaniel Hawthorne or Jane Austen. Of course, just as too many carbs may lead to excess weight and physical sluggishness, so too will excessive consumption of popcorn books. To maintain your spiritual and mental well-being, you need the protein and vitamins found in the other literary food groups.
In “On Reading Old Books,” C.S. Lewis left us this tip for a lit-fit diet:
It is a good rule, after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between. If that is too much for you, you should at least read one old one to every three new ones.
The takeaway? Enjoy the popcorn but mix it up with some broccoli and beef.
—
The republication of this article is made possible by The Fred & Rheta Skelton Center for Cultural Renewal.
Image Credit: (Flickr-Pedro Ribereiro Simoes, CC BY 2.0)
14 comments
14 Comments
Petra Hood
March 22, 2025, 3:16 pmI started earning $85/hour in my free time by completing tasks with my laptop that i got from this company I stumbled upon online…Check it out, and start earning yourself . I can say my life is improved completely! Take a gander at it what I do….. For more detail visit the given link↠↠↠☛ http://Www.WorksProfit7.Com
REPLYNoel Patricio
March 24, 2025, 2:41 amA Life-Changing Experience, Dr Kachi A Testimony of Gratitude
I would like to share an extraordinary experience that has transformed my life. I came across a remarkable testimony online forum about a powerful and renowned spell caster, Dr. Kachi. At the time, I was skeptical because I had never encountered anything related to magic or spell casting before. However, the story of Dr. Kachi's work resonated with me, and I decided to give it a chance. For years, my family and I struggled financially, and despite my best efforts, I never had luck winning the lottery. I loved playing, but winning seemed impossible. Everything changed when I connected with Dr. Kachi, who provided me with a winning lottery number through a powerful spell. In just 24 hours, I was able to play the lottery and won the Lotto 6/49 prize, a remarkable $68 million cash prize, on September 27th in the Gold Ball Draw. This incredible win has completely changed my life and the financial well-being of my entire family. After 10 years of trying unsuccessfully, I am now living my dream life. I am beyond grateful to Dr. Kachi for his assistance, Dr. Kachi has truly been a blessing to me and my loved ones. I encourage anyone who is interested to reach out to Dr. Kachi for guidance. his website https://drkachispellcaster.wixsite.com/my-site or email [email protected]. Also reach him text or call +1 (209) 893-8075.Thank you once again, Dr. Kachi, for making my dreams come true.
REPLYDebra Newton@Noel Patricio
March 24, 2025, 7:58 amI have earned and received $19,683 by working online from home. In previous month i have this income just by doing work for 2 hours maximum a day using my laptop. This job is just awesome and regular earning from this just great. Now everybody can now get this job and start making real money online just by follow instructions on this website…——–>> https://Www.Earn54.Com
REPLYNoel Patricio
March 24, 2025, 2:50 amA Life-Changing Experience, Dr Kachi A Testimony of Gratitude
I would like to share an extraordinary experience that has transformed my life. I came across a remarkable testimony online forum about a powerful and renowned spell caster, Dr. Kachi. At the time, I was skeptical because I had never encountered anything related to magic or spell casting before. However, the story of Dr. Kachi's work resonated with me, and I decided to give it a chance. For years, my family and I struggled financially, and despite my best efforts, I never had luck winning the lottery. I loved playing, but winning seemed impossible. Everything changed when I connected with Dr. Kachi, who provided me with a winning lottery number through a powerful spell. In just 24 hours, I was able to play the lottery and won the Lotto 6/49 prize, a remarkable $68 million cash prize, on September 27th in the Gold Ball Draw. This incredible win has completely changed my life and the financial well-being of my entire family. After 10 years of trying unsuccessfully, I am now living my dream life. I am beyond grateful to Dr. Kachi for his assistance, Dr. Kachi has truly been a blessing to me and my loved ones. I encourage anyone who is interested to reach out to Dr. Kachi for guidance. his website https://drkachispellcaster.wixsite.com/my-site or email [email protected]. Also reach him text or call +1 (209) 893-8075.Thank you once again, Dr. Kachi, for making my dreams come true.
REPLYNoel Patricio
March 24, 2025, 2:51 amA Life-Changing Experience, Dr Kachi A Testimony of Gratitude
I would like to share an extraordinary experience that has transformed my life. I came across a remarkable testimony online forum about a powerful and renowned spell caster, Dr. Kachi. At the time, I was skeptical because I had never encountered anything related to magic or spell casting before. However, the story of Dr. Kachi's work resonated with me, and I decided to give it a chance. For years, my family and I struggled financially, and despite my best efforts, I never had luck winning the lottery. I loved playing, but winning seemed impossible. Everything changed when I connected with Dr. Kachi, who provided me with a winning lottery number through a powerful spell. In just 24 hours, I was able to play the lottery and won the Lotto 6/49 prize, a remarkable $68 million cash prize, on September 27th in the Gold Ball Draw. This incredible win has completely changed my life and the financial well-being of my entire family. After 10 years of trying unsuccessfully, I am now living my dream life. I am beyond grateful to Dr. Kachi for his assistance, Dr. Kachi has truly been a blessing to me and my loved ones. I encourage anyone who is interested to reach out to Dr. Kachi for guidance. his website https://drkachispellcaster.wixsite.com/my-site or email [email protected]. Also reach him text or call +1 (209) 893-8075.Thank you once again, Dr. Kachi, for making my dreams come true.
REPLYDebra Newton
March 24, 2025, 7:58 amI have earned and received $19,683 by working online from home. In previous month i have this income just by doing work for 2 hours maximum a day using my laptop. This job is just awesome and regular earning from this just great. Now everybody can now get this job and start making real money online just by follow instructions on this website…——–>> https://Www.Earn54.Com
REPLY