Virginia Woolf Articles!

Throughout the article titled Virginia Woolf on How to Read a Book the audience gains much wisdom from both the advice and insight given by Virginia Woolf. Upon analyzing the article, it is evident that Woolf explores the idea that when perusing through a book, the reader must use his/her mind as the sole tool to read a book. In addition, she emphasizes in her writing the importance of “coming to your own conclusion” when reading a book, by using your own instincts and lessons to guide a reader through the writing in a novel or book. It is vital to keep an open mind, she states, as one must not be hindered by new ideas and thoughts that the author provides. Aside from a holistic view on reading a novel, Woolf also highlights the importance of not “dictating your author.” Instead, she explains “try to become him.” As one who is currently reading her novel I take this advice giving seriously because it is difficult to understand the intricate detail of someone else’s writing without having my own judgment cloud Woolf’s novel To the Lighthouse. Moreover, the criticism that would hang over this book would “prevent [me] from getting the fullest possible value from what [I] read,” as Virginia Woolf elaborates upon the idea that we must keep clear minds when reading a book or novel. Another take away that I thought was particularly valuable to myself as a reader is that the author of the articles explains the idea that reading provides both an “intellectual and creative reward in itself.” As a reader, I personally can see the multitude of ways in which a book or novel has sparked some sort of creative in myself, whether that be subtle ideas embedded within the text or crucial plot points.

In addition to the article How to Read a Book, I found the article A Wave in the Mind: Virginia Woolf on Writing and Consciousness to be very interesting. Crowned with the title “one of humanity’s most beautiful minds and greatest masters of elegant, pleasurable language” Virginia Woolf was one of the first authors to grasp the idea that “style is the physiognomy of the mind.” In one of her letters she places emphasis on the importance of style and rhythm. However, what intrigued me as a reader, is that this rhythm is not sparked by structure or inadequate words, but rather by “a sight, [or] an emotion.” In essence, Woolf is entailing that rhythm is based upon the writer’s ability to feel, see, touch, taste… or in other worlds by one’s senses. I found this particularly interesting because Woolf goes deeper than just structure, she focuses on how one can feel and understand the rhythm of a book or novel without words even needed.