．．．也發覺時間劃下的洪溝﹐突然像瀑布在面前瀉下。不過﹐也許心內已準備了這份驚詫﹐我像走到尼瓜拉瓜前﹐"啐"﹐還不是瀑布一個。

因為喜歡，所以移了來．

．．．我不能告訴你必讀的書，我能告訴你是不必讀的書．

許多人曾抱定宗旨不讀現代出版的新書．因為許多流行的新書永是迎合一時社會心理，實在毫無價值．經過時代淘汰而巍然獨存的書才有永久性，才值得讀一遍兩遍以至無數遍．我不敢勸你完全不讀新書，卻希望你特別注意這一點，因為現在青年頗有非新書不讀的風氣．別事都可以學時髦，惟有讀書做學問不能學時髦．我所指不必讀的書，不是新書，而是談書的書，是不值得讀第二遍的書．

走進一個圖書館，你儘管看見千卷萬卷的紙本子，其中真正能稱為”書”恐怕還難上十卷百卷，你應該讀的只是這十卷百卷的書．在這些書中間，你不但可以得較真確的知識，而且可以於無形中吸收大學者治學的精神和方法．這些書才能撼動你的心靈，激動你的思考．其他像”文學大綱”，”科學大綱”以及雜誌報章上的書評，實在都不能供你受用．你與其讀千卷萬卷的詩集，不如讀一部”國風”或”古詩十九首”；你與其讀千卷萬卷談希臘哲學的書籍，不如讀一部柏拉圖的”理想國”．．．

上文摘錄自”朱光潛的給青年12封信”之”談讀書”

************

很多年前看朱光潛先生一系列談談寫寫的文章，如沐春風．樸素的道理，平實的文字，在先生手下，卻有說不出的美妙．一直想買回來存給小孩看的幾本書，原來是踏破鐵鞋，想不到竟在書展覓得，看來亦不能說全無收穫．

晴晴答應我每天看一篇，由12封信開始．晚飯時，她說，讀了第一封，不完全明白．

晴晴前幾天到同學家玩．同學有個九月份就升中一的哥哥，約了朋友一起去書展．

”他爸爸給了他一百元買書．”晴說，邊整個靠過來，往我身上擠，試圖避開無休止擦身而過－－這可不是形容詞，而是實況－－的人流．

”嗯．”我心想，一百元，跑一趟書展，能買些什麽呢？

”他就買了一本書．你猜是什麽書？”

老老實實地，我搖了搖頭．

”XXX的寫真集．”（此處，XXX代表一個我當其時模糊而這一刻完全想不起的也許是明星的名字）．

”他說他後悔買了這本書．”

”為什麽呢？發現自己不喜歡，還是覺得不值得？”

”都不是．他說，有更多更好（更吸引？）的選擇．”

”例如？”

”他沒說．”

我倒是不禁佩服起他爸爸來了，不管他的初衷是什麽．

Chatting etc

"How was it yesterday?"

"As said, it's my first time there. Besides, it would be my last time if only for the purpose, most likely."

"Haha, is it that bad?"

"No. Just got this feeling. Maybe it didn't deserve all the exertions."

Motivated by Ching's passion for the book fair -she didn't think the central library, suggested by me as replacement, an equal one - we went there after lunch.

My colleague and her husband whose office is one level above ours were in the same lift.

"You are also out for lunch? It has been crowded all these days." V said.

"Yes, the book fair. I'm off this afternoon. My husband's brought the kids over to join me. Maybe we would go to have a look, if it allows, I mean, at least no need to queue for entering the fair."

"Are there so many people interested in reading in Hong Kong? Considering the whole, you couldn't disbelieve they are book lovers." V's husband looked puzzled, who is arguably book-related by occupation. "Though we seldom saw people reading books in MTR, even when they are lucky enough to have a seat."

"Very rarely. But it's common scene elsewhere." V agreed. They are taking MTR every day across the half city, like myself as well as many other people living in this city.

As a French girl, working around in Europe, meeting her American husband in London and coming with him to Hong Kong as he was transferred to the new position here last year, I could pretty understand the irrationality and variance they are encountering in this regard.

I could not disagree either. So I said, "Maybe, most of them are modesty readers."

"You mean, they are reading at home?" They looked at me seriously, which let me regret my wagging too freely.

"No, just kidding, I have the least idea as you."

But, honestly speaking, I know some who really read, the lucky ones.