Advice on Reading
And now let me give six pieces of specific advice upon your reading:
First, read with full sympathy, casting out prejudices and giving yourselves up wholly to the will of the writer. You must feel him, know him. “When I am reading a book,” said Dean Swift, “whether wise or silly, it seems to be alive and talking to me.” There was a man who had the art of reading.
Second, do not worry too much about allusions you do not understand, or pay too much attention to notes and the commentary of scholars. This writing is for you: do not let some pedant step between you and your friend, the writer.
Third, read aloud as much as possible. Your roommate, your wife, your sweetheart, your best friend will probably be glad to listen to you. You will be surprised to find how much more pleasure you get from reading by sharing it. Moreover, reading aloud is a valuable aid to interpretation. Hardress O’Grady, an English teacher of speech, in a little book called , after pointing out how much attention writers give to the sound of their words and phrases, urges the reader to do his part as thoroughly. First by taking in with his eyes the written word, next by saying aloud the sounds that compose the words and the rhythms of the sentences, he will, in reverse order, put himself on the same place as the author: he will be imitating those mechanical actions which were the concrete translation of the author’s innermost being.
Fourth, re-read the parts you like best. You will discover new meanings, new beauties, each time you go over a great book, and it will become more and more your own.
Fifth, if the volume you are reading is your own, do not hesitate to mark in the margin the passages that appeal to you. My reason for giving this counsel may be briefly stated thus: You are collaborating with the writer when you read his book. Your experiences, ideas, and feelings join with his in producing the total effect of the book. Now if you mark the book, you are leaving an actual physical record of that collaboration; you have stamped the book as your own in a visible way. I hope you will own many of the books you read, and that you will stamp them with evidence of your ownership of them.
Sixth, and last, think back. Consider what you have read in the light of the whole. Discuss it with your reading partner, or with whomever you can get to listen. As to notes on your reading, do not make them if they seem onerous to you. Some people, however, find making a few notes enlightening and helpful. The fly leaves of the book are a good place. There is nothing sacred about the physical book: it is for use.
现在,让我就读书提出六条相关的建议:
第一,要充满同情心地阅读,抛弃偏见,将自己融入作者的思维之中。你要体会作者,理解作者。“我读书的时候,无论这本书的内容充实或乏味,我都感觉它好像是在跟我真实地交谈。”迪安·斯威福特说。他是具有阅读艺术的人。
第二,对不理解的典故不要过于担心,也不要对学者的评注过于关注。书是为你而著,不要让一个学究式的人物阻碍你和朋友(作者)的交流。
第三,尽可能大声地朗读。你的舍友、妻子、爱人、知己也许很高兴倾听你。与友共享佳作,会使你在阅读中获得更多的乐趣,这是你始料不及的。而且,大声朗读可以帮助你更好地理解文章。哈德莱斯·葛兰德是一位英语口语老师,他在《大声朗读》一书中提到,作者非常注意单词和短语的发音,也希望读者也能在这方面多用心。首先,浏览全文。然后,大声读出单词的每一个音节和句子的韵律,这样做可以将自己和作者颠倒过来,把自己当成作者,进行机械地模仿,这正好就是作者内心深处的表现。
第四,重读你最欣赏的篇章。每次重读一本好书,你都会发现新的意境和美感,并获得更多的知识。
第五,如果阅读的是自己的书,就要毫不犹豫地在吸引你的段落旁做上记号。我给出的这样建议的理由很明确:当你阅读时就是你在与作者合作。你的经历,思维和情绪都与作者相互影响,加深对书的总体见解。如果你在页边做了记录,就留下了合作的印记。你已经用一种显而易见的方式拥有了这本书。我希望你读过的所有书籍都成为你的财富,并用这样的方式证明书是你的财富。
第六,回想,这也是最后一点建议。整体思考你所读过的书。跟你的伙伴,或是任何一个你能找到的听者一起讨论。至于读书笔记,如果你觉得它很繁重,就干脆放弃。有许多人都认为做笔记可以活跃思维,大有裨益。书的衬页是做笔记的好地方。书籍本身并无神圣可言,只是用来使用的。
1. Second, do not_________too much about allusions you do not_________ , or pay too much attention to _________and the commentary of scholars. This_________is for you: do not let some pedant step _________you and your friend, the writer.
2. First by taking in with his _________the written word, next by_________aloud the sounds that compose the words and the rhythms of the_________, he will, in reverse_________ , put himself on the same place _________the author: he will be imitating_________mechanical actions which were the concrete translation of the author's inner most_______ .
1. 要充满同情心地阅读,抛弃偏见,将自己融入作者的思维之中。
2. 书是为你而著,不要让一个学究式的人物阻碍你和朋友(作者)的交流。
3. 我希望你读过的所有书籍都成为你的财富,并用这样的方式证明书是你的财富。