Learn how to read from Mo Yan

On the afternoon of June 29, 2019 (Saturday), Guo Honglei, Doctor of Literature, Professor of Humanities College of Hangzhou Normal University, Master’s Supervisor, Former Professor of College of Literature, Fujian Normal University and doctoral supervisor, was invited to lecture “learning how to read from Mo Yan” and introduce Mo Yan to the readers in Wenlan Lecture Hall on the first floor of Zhejiang Library.

 

Fig. 1 Professor Guo Honglei

        Mo Yan won the Mao Dun Prize for Literature in 2011 for his novel “Frog” and the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2012 for his integration of folk stories, history and contemporary society through hallucinatory realism.

       We learn through Professor Guo’s explanation that what Mo Yan read at the early stage are mainly classical novels, modern literary pieces, “red revolutionary novels” and foreign literary pieces, and get to know his reading habits through his works, by which the topic “how to read” is introduced. After making a comparative analysis of a large number of works, Mo Yan’s reading experience is summarized as follows by Professor Guo:

       1. Read classics as much as possible as time is precious;

       2. Savor life by reading repeatedly;

       3. Develop a clear reason by reading and live a rational life.

       Reading is a seemingly simple yet complex, seemingly ordinary yet great practice. At the end of the lecture, Professor Guo set aside time to communicate with enthusiastic readers.

        The lecture comes to a satisfactory close with everyone’s applause.