Were she to read my confession, she likely would be shocked. I aced her class. I wrote a fantastic paper on the hypocrisy of Reconstruction-era society. But could I have done that if I hadn’t read the book?

Alas, I Sparknoted it. I used the fantastic and comprehensive online study aid, Sparknotes, and allowed it to lull me into a false sense of literary security. Sparknotes.com told me everything I needed to know about Huck and Jim and how they represented modern views on racism, slavery, morals and education — without all of the “reading” and “intellectual immersion” I otherwise would have had to undergo. I’m sad to say I’ve been consistently using Sparknotes for nearly seven years, and I likely will again.

No doubt, I feel ashamed, but can you really blame me when the Sparknotes version of “Huckleberry Finn” is the first result in a Google search of the novel?

I fear that I, along with others in my culture, am too preoccupied with just getting the “gist” of things without putting in the necessary time to really immerse myself in a particular interest, book or article. But how can I criticize when I myself am woefully guilty?

I once thought all I needed to know about a book was what could be encompassed by a few questions on the TV game show “Jeopardy!”.

Captain Ahab represents modern man’s hubris? Check. Moby Dick acts as an allegory for God or unreachable ambition? Check. “Call me Ishmael?” Done. I’ll take “Things I Can Find Out in Two Seconds on Wikipedia” for $500, Alex.

In addition to visions of game show glory, I sometimes can’t help myself when asked if I’ve read certain great works. I’ll say things like, “Why yes, I’ve dabbled in Kant” (Sparknoted him). “Oh yeah, I very much enjoyed ‘Pride and Prejudice’” (If you count the one with zombies in it). “‘The Last of the Mohicans’ was great” (as a film). But can you blame me? I have a legitimate thirst for knowledge, but who has the time to put in the work? In other words, why go through all the scholarship when I can just get the summary?

Although the traditional arguments about my generation’s lack of attention span apply, I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least partially blame the education system. By teaching students to analyze every piece and parcel of a novel, teachers can rob readers of the joy that comes with entering the literary world. I get Holden Caulfield’s hunting hat is a symbol of his individuality while acting as a sort of security blanket, but can’t I just figure that out on my own without having to write five pages on it?

It’s only recently I’ve rediscovered the joy of reading for reading’s sake. Scouring the bookstore, buying and reading “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” on my own initiative is part of why that book still holds a special place in my heart. But if you’re short on time, the movie’s great, too.

Now that the “great books” aren’t being shoved down my throat, I’ve been free to encounter Sherlock Holmes, Pip Pirrip and those crazy Karamazov brothers all on my own.

But to date, I haven’t met anyone my age who has read or shared my love for Dickens’ “Great Expectations” — does that mean that I should lower my own expectations of my peers?

I think not. Although TV, movies and the Internet are much more appealing ways for young people to spend their time, nothing beats a good book. Especially in this age of texting and Twittering, during which everyone’s trying to get their point across in 140 characters or fewer, we need, more than ever, a renewed appreciation of good literature and why it matters. You just can’t summarize why Dostoevsky was one of the greatest novelists of all time with a Tweet.

I repent my past literary transgressions — my sins of skimming — and I see the horrors that can come from reading hastily. That’s why I’ve decided to revisit “Huckleberry Finn,” but this time I’ll read it “not as a solemn duty, but for the honest love of it,” as H.L. Mencken once said.

Sparknotes has served me well in my academic life, but it can’t keep me going forever. I hope the rest of my generation can follow suit, and one day I’ll be able to talk about just how good “Great Expectations” is with someone my own age.

Now if you’ll please excuse me, I have a Great American Novel to read.

Dan Faas is the State News opinion writer. Reach him at faasdani@msu.edu.