Public figures give thoughts on World Book Day

Li Yundi, pianist 

Reading is talking with the wise people.

Recommedation: Chopin: A New Biography by Adam Zamoyski

Yuan Tian, writer

In the world of Avatar the characters don’t read, they see. But blind as we are, reading is still indispensable for this planet.

Imagine; countless people have been here before, their bodies disintegrated, souls hanging around without a trace, and we are left with nothing tangible but particles of their minds compiled into volumes as fingers pointing the direction.

Whenever we encounter one of those worthy books, an old shared memory is awakened into life.

The world of books is similar to a gyre, with waste and light stuff floating on the outer circle. They have various subjects and are exciting, sentimental, noisy or dramatic. Keep probing inward though and a purer space will be revealed. Different powers are there, uplifting, converging into one. If the ultimate center of the gyre is ever reached, I guess there will be nothing but a universal silence, which gross words could never convey. Then and there, the mission of books is fulfilled, and we see.

Recommendation: Ami: Child of the Stars by Enrique Barrios

Xu Zechen, writer

Reading is the best channel of discovering yourself.

I recommend novel Freedom by American writer Jonathan Franzen. Because the book proves that everyday life are resourceful enough for a writer to turn into an epical masterpiece.

Related video: Thoughts on World Book Day

Special coverage: World Book Day 2014

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