Dreams Still Remain - Xianqu Workshop

Author: Pan Xiaosong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: There is a misconception that after reaching intellectual maturity, casual reading is something unrefined or boring. In fact, those who truly understand reading enjoy casual browsing. They treat books with the ease of handling everyday household items, just as people become casual in their dealings with things once they have everything they need. Marx read detective novels, Qian Zhongshu read dictionaries, and Einstein played the violin with the same ease and comfort。——"The Leisure of Casual Browsing" In terms of reading, I am a (aestheticist). My pursuit of the form of books is almost obsessive. The pleasure a beautifully bound book brings me—excuse my bluntness—is not inferior to that of a woman with a graceful figure and vibrant colors—I can hardly think of a more fitting metaphor. Whenever I see ancient and exquisitely decorated books, I am overcome with an exhilarating groan of admiration. A book made with fine paper, meticulously printed, and richly illustrated is like a beautiful garment, an outstanding craft, or even a mouth-watering delicacy, beloved in both content and form。——"In Terms of Reading, I Am a Aestheticist" I admire the effortless nature of prose, the carefree arrangement of life it weaves, the ease with which it flows, and the serenity of its acceptance of life as it comes. If ordinary people are also qualified to speak of realms, I believe the highest realm of life lies in unexpectedness, in being carefree and distant. Only a life woven by prose can attain this realm。——"A Life Woven by Prose" This collection gathers the author's writings on books and literary anecdotes published in newspapers and magazines over the past decade. The author is a lover of rare books, and the texts about books are among his proudest works. He presents anecdotes about foreign writers in his relaxed native language to those who are not accustomed to reading foreign literature, simply as a way to satisfy his urge to be a writer. He considers himself able to contribute to prose only his authentic nature, and what he can give readers is the leisure and ease that arise during reading—nothing more. Another book about books in the "Leisure Interest Workshop" series. The author is a professional literary translator who, by chance, has read some foreign literary works and visited the birthplaces of literary works. However, he is more enthusiastic about "hunting" for books, reading them, writing about them, and composing essays on books. Many old books, many stories of hunting for books, many reflections on reading, and many texts about book people and book matters have come together to form this light and delicate little book.