Yeah, it is. It shouldn’t be that shocking since the US ranks rather low in terms of education standards amongst 1st world countries. We typically had to read 6-8 novels a year, 1-3 plays, 4-6 short stories, and probably dozen or more poems (but this is in the hardest, most rigorous English classes in the country). There’s absolutely no time to enjoy the readings or discuss about them in great critical detail. For instance, we only spent a week of discussion on a book like Animal Farm (where a good discussion should probably take a few weeks). We also wrote a ton of research papers, timed essays (generally you had to read a short story/poem, and were given 45 minutes or 1 hour to analyze it with a 5 paragraph essay complete with a thesis and evidence), poems, and some other papers.
I read a lot of poetry (and write a lot of poetry as well) in school and nowadays as well. I tend not to really care or notice who wrote a poem. Poems are more about message and substance more than trivia knowledge or narrator facts (unless revealed by the poem itself). We read some contemporary literature, but focused more on classic literature (which is fine because I prefer classic literature).
My favorite novels/stories were Things Fall Apart, Animal Farm, Fahrenheit 451, and Ella Minnow Pea (which you’ll never have heard, and never understand unless you really understand the gramatical rules of literature). There isn’t really much I didn’t like, I probably wouldn’t be a communications student if I didn’t appreciate language, novels, stories, etc.
There’s short story I liked, but it was on a national test, so I’m contracted not to talk about it. I was a really fun story/essay to analyze though. It had to do with how the way we sit (and what we sit on) can infer a lot of about our social status, emotions, etc. I’d be willing to talk more about it in DMs (I could probably find the story if you’re interested).
Yes.
I agree with that. I’d add that there is some cinema that can’t be replaced by written word either.