As someone for whom reading is a major pastime, when I saw this little book there was no question that it was one I simply had to read.

This book is comprised of a short essay presented by Virginia Woolf initially in 1926, along with foreword and afterword by author Sheila Heti, a writer whose work I am unfamiliar with.  Unexpectedly, I actually found her contribution almost as interesting as the Virginia Woolf essay itself.

I found the essay both enjoyable and thought provoking, and discovered many points of interest.  As an ordinary reader, it was enlightening to consider the subject from the viewpoint of the authors themselves.  It also made me stop and ponder on whether I read a book differently if it is one I am reading for "pleasure", or if it is an Advance Reader Copy I have received to review.  I am pretty sure the answer is yes.

"To read a novel is a difficult and complex art.  You must be capable not only of great fineness if perception, but of great boldness of imagination if you are going to make use of all that the novelist - the great artist - gives you". 

Does that not elevate us, the humble reader, and make us realise that reading is not quite the simple act we might have thought it to be!

All in all, a very short read but one definitely worth devoting some time to if, like me, you love reading.  I am pretty sure I will be rereading it again and again, and would not be surprised to get some more nuggets from it worthy of highlighting.

Also, as I enjoyed Sheila Heti's contribution, I will definitely be investigating her body of work.  So, short as this book may be, there is a lot to gain within it's pages.

This essay by Virginia Woolf was initially included in the book The Second Common Reader but is being reissued as a standalone with an introduction and afterward by author, Sheila Heti.  Woolf explores how a reader should adjust his/her reading based on the genre and type of book being read.  She emphasizes that a good book, regardless of the category, will leave an impression that lasts long after the actual reading is complete.  She also somewhat criticizes critics reading book after book in order to provide a review and not choosing books that matter to them.  Sheila Heti, a current writer, takes these concepts and discusses how she chooses the first readers of her own novels and how important it is to choose well.  I enjoyed this and read it fairly quickly.  I am always interested in works about the act of reading and this one is definitely a classic.  I received a digital ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Virginia Woolf is considered as one of the acclaimed authors of the era gone by. But I haven't read any of her other works and this essay was my first one by the author and I totally loved it. Though the essay is quite an old one, the additions by Sheila Heti make it even better! The way in which Virginia Woolf describes the process of reading is quite interesting. The additional extracts were none the less, interesting. How Sheila describes the process of reading writer friends' works is really amazing!

I really loved the Following Extract from the book:
"To read a novel is a difficult and complex art. You must be capable not only of great fineness of perception but of great boldness of imagination if you are going to make use of all that the novelist - the great artist- gives you"

Overall a great piece to read for Avid Readers!

I really enjoyed this brief essay and it did summarize beautifully our love of reading. I’ve always been a reader and I love hearing from other readers and in this case Virginia Wolff our love of words and thoughts. Thank you Netgalley for this beautiful read.

Virginia Woolf reminded me why I love literature so much, how it shaped my life and who I am. I love what Sheila Heti said in the introduction about how books change over time. It illustrates so much the nature of reading and what Virginia Woolf explores in her essay. How reading is a personal experience but at the same time a multiplicity of conversations with what came before, what is now and what is in between. Woolf reminds us to leave our pre-conceived ideas behind, especially the ones imposed on us, and make our reading experience our own. Additionally, Virginia Woolf says to better read, you need to ‘make your own experiment with the dangers and difficulties of words’. Interestingly, not the other way around. I also really liked what Heti said in ‘Other readers’ (afterword) about writers being readers and the sharing of unfinished work between writers. Affirming what Virginia Woolf has said; write and you will be a better reader; share your writing and you will be even better.

I’ve never really “got” Virginia Woolf. I read Mrs Dalloway around about the time The Hours, that Nicole Kidman movie, came out and wasn’t that impressed with it - it’s about a lot of rather dull upper-middle class people having tea and a soldier suffering from PTSD. The praise for Woolf seems to be more of her stream-of-consciousness style rather than the substance of what she wrote.

So it goes with her essay How Should One Read a Book? which is as underwhelmingly insubstantial as anything I’ve read by her before. She poses a rather pointless question and provides an obvious answer: for enjoyment, basically. There isn’t a lot here that I disagree with but everything Woolf talks about is so self-evident to anyone who’s ever thought passingly about reading that it seems bizarre that any of it needed to be articulated at all.

For example:

- A great writer transports the reader to another world with their words and characters, as well as introduces new experiences and new ways of thinking by seeing through others’ eyes.

- Thinking about a book after you’ve finished reading it is different from the experience of reading it because so many details are missing and what’s left behind are scraps of the whole.

- We should read with an open mind and read widely - not just the acknowledged classics (and Woolf quotes all the bland, safe choices, eg. Shakespeare, Austen, Hardy) but also the ones that don’t stand the test of time, the books Woolf rather snobbishly labels “rubbish-reading”, if only to see different perspectives from different times and pick up occasional forgotten syntax from back then.

- Though professional book critics have their place, ordinary readers should not let them make up their minds for them - if you like a book, then that’s all that matters. Similarly, writers should bear ordinary readers in mind rather than let critics’ views colour their perception of a book’s response.

Is any of this blowing anyone’s mind?? I always try to keep in mind the context but I’ve got to think that even in 1926, when this essay first appeared as a speech Woolf gave, this stuff can’t have been the least bit remarkable to hear.

Sheila Heti contributes an intro and outro to the essay, probably to beef up the slight book, and doesn’t really offer up much beyond saying that she sends her friends drafts of her novels and that reading drafts is different from reading finished books. So there’s that I guess: how one should read a draft is with kindness more than anything. Great…

Reading, for Virginia Woolf, was heavenly, as it is for me and I’m certain for many others, you included, but reading her specifically is not. If you’re after a lot of elementary observations confirming your bias for reading, look no further than this tedious essay!

Thank you for the opportunity to review this copy of "How Should One Read a Book?" I was given the chance to read and review this edition in exchange for an honest review. 

"The only advice, indeed, that one person can give another about reading is to take no advice, to follow your own instincts, to use your own reason, to come to your own conclusions."

It's kind of funny to think of this quote when sitting down to write a book review. More often than not, my take on books are continuously positive; I try to find the good in the work, while there may be something wrong with execution or mechanics. Virginia Woolf was one of the pioneers of modern literature, especially in terms of women's lit. Her thoughts on the matter have such significant weight -- both in terms of her thoughts on her craft, but also in the legacy she left behind. As a community centered on reading as a practice and profession, the opportunity for insight on how one could expand critical thinking skills. Cultivating the necessary approaches toward books, including those we do not enjoy. Learning how to remove oneself and preconceived expectations in order to enjoy what the author has provided, rather than what we think the story should tell. 

All in all, this is a cute cover + a great delivery by Woolf, and a decent additional afterword. A great possible gift for a literary fan, or an addition to a home library for the avid literary collector.

This was an engrossing read and very inspiring. I highly recommend if you want a book that will remind you why you love reading in the first place, or a glorified guide on how to be a book blogger. I love her writing, so this was such a pleasure to read!

I adore the work of Virginia Woolf, her novels, essays, lectures, diaries and letters. I'm also very lucky to live close to Monks House, so as you can probably tell, the opportunity to review this book was very exciting.

It didn't let me down. I'd not read this essay before and found myself drawn into the narrative very quickly. Her descriptions are so beautifully written. Who can honestly say that they aren't drawn to a house with lamps lit, and blinds not yet drawn - just to take a clandestine peek at the life inside the home? This metaphorical and allegorical illustration of reading a book and being able to find out more about those people, that home is just perfect.  

Many people think that Virginia Woolfs work is too intense, too deep. This book would be a wonderful introduction, very much like A Room of Ones Own, a dip into the mind and thoughts of a brilliant writer, and very relevant, interesting and thought provoking. 

I very much enjoyed Other Readers, the piece following on from How Should One Read a Book, Sheila Heti's honesty regarding her own work, and those who she asks to critique it was delightful and from the heart. I think this book is a must for students who are studying writing and particularly those subjects that require essays or dissertations. 
Her writing on why good and bad criticism is useful and how to navigate around criticism for its own sake will be invaluable to many students, and their self-belief.  
An excellent book, a joy to read and review.

Let's start with the reason I picked up the book, Virginia Woolf's essay. It was brief but to the point and really does more asking than answering when it comes to the titular question. In fact, if I find fault with Woolf at all it would be to point out the question at the heart of the essay is not "how should one read a book" but rather "how should one judge a book". Otherwise, it is an excellent short sharp piece of work. 

HOWEVER. The publishers apparently decided that Woolf's essay was too short, at least to be published by itself (and they're probably right on that count). So they included an introduction and an afterword by Sheila Heti. I have never heard of Heti, never read anything by her before, and will definitely not read anything by her again. The introduction was disjointed, irrelevant, and blessedly short. The afterword was at least as long as Woolf's essay, obnoxiously pretentious, not in conversation with the body of the work, and mentioned Woolf exactly once, in passing, near the end.

How Should One Read a Book? is an essay by Virginia Woolf that, every time I read it, I seem to learn more about myself as a reader, both good and bad. The rating is for the essay itself, I refuse to mark the book down because of just so-so afterword and a decent introduction.

The wonderful thing about an essay, especially one that was originally, in a slightly altered form, a speech, is that it can be read as speaking to us now without much concern for placing it within the speaker's life and it can be read with an emphasis on what and who might have been behind some of the commentary. In exceptional essays such as this both readings are rewarding.

I don't want my initial comments about the introduction and afterword to be taken as harshly as they likely sound. I found the introduction to be fine, nothing particularly special but probably helpful for those with no knowledge of Woolf. The afterword I just found uninteresting. It did not speak to me and I found the tone to be off-putting. Which means nothing more than it didn't appeal to me or add anything to my reading of Woolf. You results may vary.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

Full disclosure:  I received an advance copy of How Should One Read a Book? by Virginia Woolf from Laurence King Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for possibly writing a review.

This is a standalone printing of Virginia Woolf's essay, How Should One Read a Book.  This is an ode to books and the joy that reading brings.  I've always enjoyed Virginia Woolf's writing, so it is not a surprise I would love her celebration of reading, one of my favorite things.  If you like reading too (and if you are reading this, I'm guessing you do), pick this up and take a moment to revel in great writing.

This book contains Virginia Woolf's 1926 lecture with a great introduction and afterword by Sheila Heti. 
Although the lecture itself is only around 20 pages long, it's a wonderfully insightful piece with many thought-provoking points. I enjoyed every moment, and although the whole book took me a little over 15 minutes to read, it is one I will reread over and over again.

In “How One Should Read a Book” Virginia Wolf talks about how reading a book is a personal experience for everyone. Woolf regards reading as a thing of liberty and freedom, where you can escape and for not beIng influenced by what everyone else think.  I believe Woolf’s attitude to reading greatly influenced her writing as she wrote the way she wanted to, that is not influenced by fashions etc. and never censored her thoughts. She also wanted to change the way we see certain literature, do we see fiction as mere amusement and poetry as false? She describes poetry and biography extensively and uses examples from other writers. This book is teaching us the proper way to read a book, in the words of  Woolf. However, she believes that even if we read something over and over again we will never be able to truly criticise or understand it, because literature is so deep and profound. 
Overall, a thoughtful read.

Fascinating insight from one of our best writers. Everyone who enjoys reading, or who is interested in how writers write, should get this book.

One of the things that pulled me towards this book immediately was the title, the second was Virginia herself. I am a HUGE sucker for books about books or books about reading and writing and I love how this book approached both. 

I will admit, this is the first published essay I've ever read and I really enjoyed reading it. I have read a few other pieces by Woolf but this one will sit comfortably in my top 5 for a long time. One thought that stood out to me is how Virginia mentions that after-life of a book once you read it and even though life continues as normal after you're done, you always ultimately return to the memory of it, how the "book lives in the mind". I loved that. 

"And it's a special pleasure to know that my reading can change a book, not only that a book can change me" 

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

As a primary school librarian we wouldn’t stock this title only because it is above the expected understanding of reading for that age range.
Saying that, I plan to buy a copy for myself and for other book lovers.

It speaks volumes about how we are readers, how a book stays with us, and what we can take away from books.
I admit to not being overly familiar with Woolfe and her thoughts, theories and writing so I will actively seek to learn more.  I found this essay fascinating and relevant.

Thank you for the chance to read it.

An interesting and enjoyable short essay by Woolf about the benefits of reading. I also enjoyed the afterword. It will make a great stocking filler this Christmas in this small-format hardback edition.

This was an awesome read! I can't believe I've never read this essay before but it was so awesome to read this perspective!
Thank you so much to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC for an honest review!

Quick Book Review: How Should One Read a Book? - Virginia Woolf 📖

(*I was approved for an eARC of this book on NetGalley, but all views are my own.*)

How Should One Read a Book is a short essay (that I believe was originally a speech Woolf gave) about how and why we read, and how one should go about reading.

For the first time as a standalone book, this essay is being published by Laurence King Publishing Ltd, along with an introduction and afterword by Sheila Heti. I will say now, Heti’s introduction and afterword were my favourite parts of this book. I’ve never read anything by her before, but this has really made me want to! 🖋

Woof’s essay itself is as much for writers as it is for readers. She talks a lot about the process of trying to write and drawing inspiration from what we read. She talks about there being different ways to read different genres and the fact that not everything should be approached in the same way. I think this is pretty much recommended reading for an aspiring writer.

HOWEVER.

One thing that this essay does reinforce through Woolf talking about her inspirations is just how white ‘classic’ literature is (this isn’t a fact she states or anything she goes into discussion on, it’s just something I picked up through the names she mentions and really wanted to talk about). This is obviously very well-known and her mentioning the same names over and over again just reiterates this sad truth. It’s upsetting to think of how many great works just never came to be, or were unpublished, or ignored and didn’t get the attention they deserved because their authors weren’t white.

Book Riot has a great list on their website of ‘100 Must-Read Classics by People of Color’ that is really worth checking out if you want to diversify your ‘classics’ reading. I will certainly be doing this myself.