De kunst van het lezen

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Harold Bloom's urgency in this manual may stem from his nearing 70 years of age, as he rejects mediocrity and fashionable ideas like the death of the author or ideological cheerleading. He explores various literary forms—short stories, poetry, novels, and drama—illuminating the how and why of reading. Bloom directs us toward significant authors, including the Romantics, Austen, James, Proust, Mann, Morrison, McCarthy, Cervantes, Shakespeare, Ibsen, and Wilde. He advocates for reading slowly, with love and openness, encouraging us to reread aloud to enhance our wit, imagination, and consciousness, ultimately healing our pain. Bloom asserts that understanding oneself is crucial before benefiting others, emphasizing that reading should not merely be an escape. He cherishes poetry for its prophetic qualities and expresses concern for the fate of novels, arguing they require more readers than poetry. He urges us to read novels for aesthetic pleasure and spiritual insight, echoing the practices of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Bloom's love of irony enriches his vision, as he believes that stripping it away diminishes reading's discipline and surprise. His writing matches his reading prowess, filled with epigrams and allusions. Bloom's bold assertion that Don Quixote remains the best novel challenges us to engage with this literary giant. Throughout, he passionately conveys his beliefs and love for literature, embodying t