The Art of Reading

We all know how to read, but how many of us know how to read well?

How, does reading a short story or novel differ from reading a memo, a recipe, or a newspaper? How does it differ from otrher kinds of serious reading? Can we aprproach a biography or a work of history in the same way that we approach a work of fiction—and if not, why not?

There are two common misconceptions: firts, that smart, sensitive readers are born, not made; and second, that sophistication and intelligence are sworn enemies of pleasure and delight. From start to finish, it should be clear that the art of reading can be taught—and that mastering this art is both exciting and rewarding.

After define the art of reading, we need to examine the figure of the author. How much do we need to know about an author before we can begin to appreciate his work? How do authors approach the task of writing? Do they begin with big themes and big ideas—or with characters, situations, and images? Why are so many authors surprised by their own creations? Should a writer not know how the story will come out?

Building on such questions, we shift our attention from the author to the narrator or storyteller. We remember the difference between first and third-person narrators. As we refine our questions and explore the most basic elements of storytelling—characterization, description, style; the use of irony and ambiguity—we should focus to the crucial issue of narrative structure.

Thus, although this raises many complex issues, its largest aim of all this, is simplest and most enduring: to enhance our enjoyment of literature by making us better, more sensitive, and thus more artful readers.