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During my preschool years, I was not as lucky as children nowadays. I did not have colorful books with many vivid pictures that help children learn easier. I only had a heap of little square cards made of rough paper. On each card, somebody wrote a Chinese word. The adults taught me to read and distinguish each Chinese word. Maybe this was my first reading. As a result, I could pick up many Chinese words when I was six. Then my father let my sister, brothers and me recite a short essay, “Zhu Shi Jia Suen” – an ancient educator Zhu Pak Lou’s proverb about how to build up good morals. I think recitation is another kind of reading that makes you remember the content by heart. Even after a long time, I still remember this essay: Wake up at dawn, clean the house inside and outside, keep everything in order and tidy…” |
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For Christmas, I got a wonderful gift from my first grade teacher, Miss Chen, because she was surprised that I knew so many Chinese words. \she sent me a book titled A Poor Boy and His Dog. The story told about an orphan who lived with a little dog. The boy worked for a landlord as a shepherd. But he loved drawing and always practiced with used paper. One day he heard that a famous artist would display his drawings in the town hall for a week. The poor boy yearned for the chance to admire this art. He saved all his wages and even sold his only coat to get the money to buy the ticket. On the last day of the display, the boy walked from his village to the town hall in a hurry. It was 4:50 PM and the town hall was nearly closed. The poor boy bought a ticket and rushed in. In the cold morning, people found the orphan and his little dog lying curled in front of a large and famous drawing. Both had frozen to death. I read this and I cried. This was the first time I read a story book; also, it was the first time I recognized that reading can affect your emotions and vibrate to the depths of your heart. Even now, the end of this story remains as a picture floating in my mind. After I read it, I was more eager to read. |
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When I was a teenager, my reading interests kept changing. Once I loved to read works by a female writer, Bin Sin’s books. Her elegant writing had a great influence on the kids, especially girls. But later, I liked to read Ba Jin’s three popular novels: Tia, Chuen, and Chiu (Family, Spring, and Autumn). Ba Jin’s description was very lively and could pluck up one’s courage. Reading his books my mind’s eye enlarged and expanded. I knew more about human beings’ complex characters, passion, and experiences. I understood my youngest uncle’s deep pain when he was forced to accept an arranged marriage. |
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The library is my favorite place. I can find various books to read. I read four of the most famous works of literature in Chinese: Ciao Hue Qin's Hong Lou Mong, Lo Guan Zhong’s San Guo Yan Yi, shi Nai Un’s Shui Hau, and Ng Cheng En’s Xi Yu Ji. I also read some translations of foreign books. |
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I am very happy because I have a very useful key—reading. With this key, I open the immense knowledge treasure. I can take whatever I want and I know more about the world. |
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Since I immigrated to New York and struggled to make a living, I did not have enough time to read. Fortunately, my Jewish teacher, Ms. Fay Wagner, advised that I have to speak and read in English, to make an adaptation to the new language better. In the beginning, I read some simple storybooks. Now, I can read some novels, such as Danielle Steel’s The Ring, Arthur Halley’s Hotel, John Grisham’s The Client, Sidney Sheldon’s Rage of Angels, and Master of the Game. Frankly, at first I only understood fifty percent of the content, but then it increased to sixty and seventy percent. Anyway, now I am reading a memoir by Tung Pok chin with Winifred C. Chin, Paper Son, and I can comprehend the content nearly completely. |
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Certainly, I have two defects in my reading. The first is I dislike reading discussion essays, so I seldom read the newspaper; the other defect is sketchy reading, especially in English, so my knowledge is limited and shallow. However, I will improve my reading and continue to enjoy it. |
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