Reading Platform Pen Cluster - Rolling up Poetry Books

Author: Wang Zhenyu
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2001-09-01
Features: If articles are the burning of the soul and the crystallization of, then Mr. Wang Zhenyu can be said to breathe in harmony with words and share their fate. Romantic yet pragmatic, Wang Zhenyu is content to cook words to alleviate hunger and find joy in reading—truly a book lover and book enthusiast. With one hand writing biographies and the other composing critiques, Wang Zhenyu has silently traversed the realms of biographical literature and criticism over the years, two masterpieces: "The Biography of Gong Zizhen" and "The Biography of Weng Tong." His latest work, the 330,000-word collection of essays "Reading with Passion," is a testament to his prolific talent. At just his thirtieth year, Wang Zhenyu has already published several monographs and hundreds of critical essays. Amidst his busy official duties, his productivity remains remarkable—a testament to the principle that diligence is rewarded. "Reading with Passion" reveals the true nature of the author's character and the purity of his soul. The book contains 140 essays, mostly concise and impactful, offering insightful critiques with meticulous organization, sharp and straightforward, unafraid to tread into forbidden territory. It avoids pretense and clichés, never indulging in self-pity or following the crowd. When examining the people and events he writes about, Wang Zhenyu adopts a close-up observation combined with a high-altitude perspective. His vivid and language sweeps away the suffocating academic tone and the repulsive worldly manner. Opening the book, the titles alone evoke a refreshing breeze: "After Adjusting the Focus of the Gaze," "More Than a Few Huang Ren Universes," "First Reading Tang Degang," "Talking About Qian Zhongshu," "Getting Closer to Eileen Chang," "Preferring Long Yingtai," "Seeking He Qinglian," "Feeling Wu Jinglian," "Looking Far into Yu Qiuqian," "A Solitary Landscape—A Profile of Lu Tianming," "Bearing the Weight of History—Notes on Liu Erhe." The titles are numerous and profound, stirring the desire to read. Wang Zhenyu's writing is sharp, dialectical, and full of passion, embodying the spirit of "striking the current and halting the flying boat," with the demeanor of a learned scholar. "Reading with Passion" sifts through the sand to reveal the gold, clarifying and uplifting, discussing everything from ancient to modern, from China to the world. In Wang Zhenyu's view, writing is a resistance against dull and oppressive life, a way to make existence more meaningful. The book avoids trivialities and petty disputes, filled with humanistic passion and insightful analysis. The author is well-read and knowledgeable in literature and history, writing with honesty and precision, never shooting in the dark or blindly praising or criticizing. In the essay "The Repetitive Blue Yingnian," while praising Blue Yingnian's writings, Wang Zhenyu does not hesitate to point out the issue of Blue's repetitive publications, presenting his arguments convincingly and appropriately, leaving readers unable to refute him. "The Unfamiliar Liang Xiaosheng" offers a scathing critique of Liang Xiaosheng's "Reflections on 1995," presenting facts and examples with sharp precision, directly and convincingly exposing the author's performative tendencies. This reflects the author's upright mindset and sincere nature: neither a "black horse" who bashes celebrities to gain attention nor a flatterer who elevates himself by praising others. "The Sichuan People's Publishing House's 'The Renaissance of China and the Future of the World' contains so many errors that they are unbearable. The person responsible for proofreading is Wu Dengfu." This statement in "Reading with Passion" is candid. Wang Zhenyu, with his keen mind, acts swiftly, responding immediately to any developments, swiftly capturing his "prey." His ability to cut through chaos and deliver high-quality work is commendable. Wang Zhenyu pays attention to hot topics in the literary world, always offering new insights and satisfactory answers to readers. His articles, written from a grassroots perspective and with a humble tone, are particularly endearing, especially his conversational style, which adds to the book's charm. Wang Zhenyu's writing is effortless, stemming from a relaxed mindset and a natural, open manner. "Reading a thousand books and writing as if by magic"—"Reading with Passion" showcases the author's compassionate and skillful writing. However, the book still contains a few errors, such as mistakenly attributing the "Faithfulness, Clarity, and Elegance" () to Lin Shu on multiple occasions. Additionally, due to proofreading issues, some typographical errors are regrettable. Moreover, Wang Zhenyu's frequent use of long, multi-line, seemingly effortless European-style sentences sometimes shines but often borders on excess, making reading exhausting. "When the radish is fast, there's no need to wash the mud. To refine steel, it must be tempered a thousand times; to highlight the power of thought and language, it must also be tempered a thousand times." In terms of language refinement, "Reading with Passion" still lacks a bit of fire. Wang Zhenyu's passionate yet responsible critiques are somewhat mixed due to the lack of refinement, making them less pure and occasionally superficial. For Wang Zhenyu, who writes with bold and swift strokes, a "cool-down" after the "heat" of his writing is still necessary. This is something Wang Zhenyu should pay attention to in his future writing. I believe that after overcoming these minor details, Wang Zhenyu's literary career will reach a new level.