In this article, the authors discuss the results of a study of student reading in a general literature course at a mid-sized state university. Data collection and analysis included 216 samples of student writing from four sections of the course and interviews with six teachers of the course. Results indicate that when students chooses texts to read outside of a course, they choose texts that will entertain them or help them acquire knowledge on a topic of interest. Most students who discuss what they prefer to read say they prefer reading texts to which they can relate. Some students identify themselves as disliking reading, which many attribute to their experiences of having had no choice in what to read in past literature courses. Teachers recognize the need for making literature relevant to students' lives and wish to give students autonomy in choosing some or all of the texts they read in the course. Drawing on students' and teachers' perspectives, the authors argue that a general literature course has value within a liberal arts curriculum because it gives non-English majors the opportunity to develop reading habits that will benefit them beyond the course itself.