Hi, I’m Rhiannon Bellerose second-year student here at ubc. Currently, as of this semester, I am changing my specialty from GRSJ to visual arts. I chose this course to fulfill my literature requirements and I chose to take rmst rather than traditional English literature courses because  I have a background in both Spanish and Italian language studies so I thought it would be interesting. I think this course will expand upon the knowledge I gained from previous language courses, by situating a space where one can understand more about these unique cultures through storytelling. I am a so-so reader I feel university doesn’t allow for enough time for one to really sit with and appreciate a body of work with a new book every week I doubt that anyone is actually reading where all just skimming to say we got it done but the material was never thoroughly consumed. So I do enjoy reading when there is no pressure and I find the topic interesting. To me what makes a good book or good reading is there is something given at the end of the book. Perhaps a lesson, a feeling, a perspective, or a thought is left for the readers to not simply interpret but to genuinely understand an effective reading has left a reader with something to ponder. I don’t enjoy the novels required by university courses the stories never really seem to make clear a stance, it’s as if the readings are meant to be confusing which I feel adds to a discussion of accessibility I had an English prof last semester explain how universities where established as inaccessible like something only the best of the best could partake in and, still to this day there are elements of schooling that almost feel like their purpose is to be difficult like some of these “great” novels aren’t trying to say anything real in particular it is like they were created, like an entry test who can figure this out and who simply can’t. So I am on the fence about reading these days, there never feels like time to leisurely read during the year, and throughout the year I feel weighed down by all of the word puzzles that prof’s wanna call classic novels, so when breaks arise the last thing I want to do is read. I hope this course is different, I think even if the books end up being more of the same I still feel there is value in the exposure of authors that mainstream literature, more often than not leaves out.