“Interesting” by Nettie Farris

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For a while now I’ve been thinking about the word interesting. People use it all the time, especially my students, but I’m not sure what it means. This word has not always bothered me. When my children were young we watched Little Bear on TV and also read the series of books, early readers illustrated by Maurice Sendak. Interesting was Little Bear’s favorite word. At least in the TV show. I’m not sure about the books I’d have to dig those out and they’re currently in storage. I suppose the word reminded me of Alice’s curiouser and curiouser, though I, at the time, had not yet read Lewis Carroll, as I came to Alice rather late. My students refer to any book that that holds their attention enough that they can continue reading as interesting. I try to explain to them, “nobody really cares if the book holds your attention.” But, what I’m thinking now, is that’s exactly what we mean when we use the word interesting. When we describe something as interesting, we’re really saying that it holds our attention. Why you should be interested in this, I have no idea. But what I’m thinking at the moment is that perhaps the reason I can’t hold your attention is simply that you don’t find me interesting, and I’m wondering why that is.

-Nettie Farris

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