Johnny <i> Will</i> Read--but Only on His Terms

I found the article, “Johnny Won’t Read--Even at Harvard,” by Marilyn Gardner (Oct. 29) to be an unfair statement about college students.

As a sophomore at California State University at Northridge, I am personally aware that it is truly difficult to find spare time in which to engage in independent reading. My time is filled by studying for my classes and in working in a private Catholic grade school.

I make time in my busy schedule to read and I enjoy it, in part, because it is “sedentary and solitary.” I do admit feeling hostility toward serous literature because it was never introduced to me as something to be enjoyed. It was writing that was forced upon me and that I was expected to appreciate. So like students mentioned in the article, I turn to fictional works for my enjoyment.

I find great pleasure in reading Sidney Sheldon novels and I do not believe that I should be made to feel guilty.

This does not impair my ability to read or write capably, nor does it affect my ability to intelligently discuss serious literature.

VALERIE SMITH, Sepulveda