College Lit Gets a Digital Facelift

April 4th, 2008

Lengthy novels, obscure phrases, and unfamiliar metaphors — combine them all and you may have a tough time landing a 4.0 in your college lit class. But don’t stress yet. There are plenty of ways to boost your reading comprehension and your grades. While study groups and study guides (like CliffsNotes and SparkNotes) are classic strategies, Internet-savvy teens like you might be interested in the next level of studying: Book Glutton.

Created as a type of social marketing network for bookworms, Book Glutton (www.bookglutton.com) lets users create free accounts and then download and discuss literature with each other. Although these free e-books are limited to works that are in the public domain (e.g. Voltaire’s “Candide”), students will find that many of their required readings are offered on Book Glutton. Presented in an online reader format, each book has a real-time chat box in which users can discuss their interpretations and views. Book Glutton members can also add notes to a book, allowing future readers to benefit from their insight as well.

As for the social aspect of the site, Book Glutton members create profiles, friends lists, and join and create reading groups — a handy solution for college students who want to create study groups but who can’t always meet on campus. Aspiring writers can even choose to upload their own works for discussion and review by others.

Still in its beta version, Book Glutton seems like a promising way for college students and lifelong bibliophiles to learn and share.

Psst! Want more tips for getting good grades in college? Then be sure to check out “10 Simple Things You Can Do to Conquer College.”

– Genevieve M. Blaber

Entry Filed under: General, School Tools, Test Prep