Now that my fellow bloggers Alisa and Professor White have blogged about books they read as a child, I felt that I should blog something about this as well. Perhaps we bloggers can all write something on this topic!
I have always loved to read, and growing up in Hong Kong, I read a mix of English books and Chinese books from contemporary local authors. Although I read quite a lot, I can't name any favorite titles I read during early teens. I did remember a book in Chinese by a woman who spent a few years in England as a student. The book was a series of short essays on her thoughts and experience. As I knew that I would have to go outside Hong Kong for college, I was curious but also pensive about what my experience would be like. A couple of years ago when I was looking at my old stuff in my parents' house (they have since moved to Canada), I re-read that book again. I also remember reading All Quiet on the Western Front right before Christmas one year -- not a good book to read for the season.
In college, having chosen science for my career, I made an effort to read well known English literature for I wouldn't be reading them for course work. I think the one that made the greatest impression was The Tale of Two Cities. I found the ending rather chilling.
There are a lot of English literature that I didn't know about until the last 10 years or so. I didn't know about the Phantom Tollbooth until a few years ago. Although supposedly a children's book, the lesson is certainly suitable for any adults with a hectic life.
Nowadays, the books I read are mostly those useful for professional development. I have some Chinese martial arts novels that I bought a few years ago but I still haven't had a chance to read them. After all those years in Hong Kong, I actually never read any martial arts novel (very popular at the time) though I did watch many TV and movies of that genre. My mom told me that martial arts novels are very addicting so I am still waiting for a time when I can afford the time if I can't put them down.
I have always loved to read, and growing up in Hong Kong, I read a mix of English books and Chinese books from contemporary local authors. Although I read quite a lot, I can't name any favorite titles I read during early teens. I did remember a book in Chinese by a woman who spent a few years in England as a student. The book was a series of short essays on her thoughts and experience. As I knew that I would have to go outside Hong Kong for college, I was curious but also pensive about what my experience would be like. A couple of years ago when I was looking at my old stuff in my parents' house (they have since moved to Canada), I re-read that book again. I also remember reading All Quiet on the Western Front right before Christmas one year -- not a good book to read for the season.
In college, having chosen science for my career, I made an effort to read well known English literature for I wouldn't be reading them for course work. I think the one that made the greatest impression was The Tale of Two Cities. I found the ending rather chilling.
There are a lot of English literature that I didn't know about until the last 10 years or so. I didn't know about the Phantom Tollbooth until a few years ago. Although supposedly a children's book, the lesson is certainly suitable for any adults with a hectic life.
Nowadays, the books I read are mostly those useful for professional development. I have some Chinese martial arts novels that I bought a few years ago but I still haven't had a chance to read them. After all those years in Hong Kong, I actually never read any martial arts novel (very popular at the time) though I did watch many TV and movies of that genre. My mom told me that martial arts novels are very addicting so I am still waiting for a time when I can afford the time if I can't put them down.
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