The love story of Qian Zhongshu and Yang Dai, a pair of literary couples, is often talked about, compared to Xiao Qian and Wen Jieruo, who co-translated the "Book of Heaven" "Ulysses" in their later years, which is not so dazzling.
Xiao Qian and Wen Jieruo each contributed to literature, and it is worth mentioning that they are very much advocate of book review writing. Xiao Qian called book reviews a new force in the bud. In his early days, he boldly shouted the slogan "We need two critical scholars, six critics, and fifty book critics." The book "Book Review, Book Edge, And Book Talk" is a reference book co-authored by Xiao Qian and Wen Jieruo that is very worthy of careful reading by book critics. The meaning and origin of book review writing (various factions and their methods), the writing methods, formats, and how book reviewers read them are elaborated.
With the advent of the Internet era, self-media have developed rapidly, and more and more people have written book reviews on this road. Some people say that writing book reviews is an outlet, so many people rush forward. But if you want to do everything quickly, you can't achieve it quickly, and without a certain accumulation of knowledge, even if you succeed for a while, it won't last long. Xiao Qian and Wen Jieruo told us through the book "Book Review, Book Edge, Book Talk" that book review writers should do the "five points".
A love of books
The first condition for book review writers (referred to as book reviewers) is to love books! If the book critic does not love books, he simply uses writing book reviews as a means of gaining fame and fortune. Such a book review written by a book critic will not succeed without sincerity and ideals. As the book says, when choosing book review writing as a profession, there must be another ideal: "Like a medieval knight, he has self-proposed a dart to protect culture, so that it will not be corrupted by inferior products." There must also be a kind of fiery heat, and I hope that every good book I have appreciated will be read by all mankind.
It can be seen that book critics are both protectors of culture and recommenders of good books. Few people can do it from the bottom of their hearts to recommend things to their friends that they don't like, especially books, which are spiritual food. Book critics must be book lovers.
Two Balance the mind
There is a kind of person who, after reading a book, especially likes to substitute for the characters in the book, cannot extricate themselves from the plot of the book, and even confuses reality with the world in the book. This kind of person who is easily confused by emotions cannot write a good book review. Similarly, people who are too rational can appreciate the "beauty" in the book, and they cannot obtain the emotional value in the book. Book review work requires a balance between emotional and rational psychological effectiveness. Here it is not as simple and absolute as the east wind overwhelms the west wind, or the west wind overwhelms the east wind. Favoring either side does not realize the full value of the original book.
A good book reviewer can both appreciate and analyze, and he can sensitively capture the "beauty" of the book and analyze the improprieties in the book.
A firm cultural background
St. Paul once said that "a critic is also a man who is good at reading and teaching people to read." This points the right way for book reviewers. If a book critic does not have a firm cultural background (cultivation), then he cannot teach people to read, because it is not feasible for a layman to guide his insider. In the Book Review, Book Origin, and Book Talk, it is pointed out that "cultivation, the background of culture, is the most important preparation for engaging in criticism."
Book review work requires value judgments, so how can book critics distinguish between right and wrong beauty and ugliness?
He needs to build a critical scale in order to use the skill of scale. And the raw material for making this tool is knowledge and taste. To criticize a book, it requires the book critic to have the corresponding knowledge and noble taste. It is mentioned in the book that "to practice the skill of criticism, we must first read the most successful works of art in ancient and modern China and abroad, and they are the works of various genres and eras, because true taste should be backed by the greatest amount of experience and reaction." "Therefore, improving the ability to criticize requires a systematic reading.
Fourth, care about real life
Book reviews should not be limited to scholars' papers, but should shine like sunshine into the real lives of ordinary people. "Book Reviews, Book Edges, And Sayings" mentions: "Critics are focused on the past, they rarely understand the value of reality, and they are even more hesitant about the future." "Most of the people who cling to the book are stupid, they can say what the book is like so-and-so, but they can't say the value of the book itself." Book reviews are not written in terms of theories, but to guide real life, as St. Paul said, "The critic is also a man who is good at reading and teaching people to read." "Book reviewers influence and change their lives by reading books themselves and teaching others to read.
5. Maintain a sincere attitude
Some book critics have not read the original book in detail, but have only grasped a few small mistakes and stuck to it; or the book has not seen half of it, and the assertion has been taken to heart, and what is more, the unopened volume has been concluded.
Some book critics are just the opposite, and only then do they point out that the problems they have found in a book are indeed hidden, and they try their best to cover them up, and they have to apologize to the author at the end and declare that they have no malice.
Both attitudes are insincere. The basic attitude that needs to be maintained when writing a book review is sincerity. Sincerity includes justice and compassion and all other virtues. A fair book critic, he will never bear to wrongfully accuse any work, he will really find the value of the work. If a book critic wants to discover the value in a work, he needs deep sympathy and sincere understanding of the author and the work. Compassion is the heart that discovers all the strengths and weaknesses without sloppiness.
Although there is no definite method for book review writing, some basic principles and ideas cannot be ignored. I hope that the "five points" that the above book reviewers have done will be helpful to everyone.