The Pleasure of Reading
I have loved reading since childhood. When I was young, I was drawn to children’s books; during middle and high school, my reading became more utilitarian, shaped largely by exam requirements; and from university onward, my choice of books has grown increasingly diverse. Online novels, world classics, biographies—so long as a book resonates with me, it finds its way onto my reading list.
My early love for reading stemmed largely from the visual pleasure offered by children’s books. Their bright colors and lively illustrations, paired with simple language, made it easy for a young child like me to slip into the fairy-tale worlds they portrayed. The innocence, kindness, and beauty expressed in these stories shaped my earliest impressions of the world. At that stage, the joy I found in reading came less from the words themselves than from the imagination and curiosity sparked by those vivid illustrations.
Reading in middle and high school felt more like an obligation than a choice. Burdened by heavy academic pressure, I had little freedom to select what I read and could only focus on books required for examinations. Fortunately, many of these works were Chinese and Western classics spanning a wide range of genres. Through them, I began to truly experience the power of language itself. Essay collections such as Stray Birds and Moonlight over the Lotus Pond introduced me to the beauty and lyricism of words; classics like Dream of the Red Chamber and Journey to the West revealed the enduring appeal of traditional literature; plays such as Thunderstorm and Teahouse demonstrated the dramatic tension of literary expression; and novels like Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice became early awakenings of my awareness of female independence.
These books allowed someone like me—growing up in a modest family, with limited opportunities to see the world—to encounter different cultures and feel the pulse of diverse minds without ever leaving home. Like guiding lights, they illuminated the path for my adolescent self, whose values were still forming. The pleasure reading brought me during those years lay primarily in intellectual awakening and guidance in life: the perspectives and cultures embedded in the text enriched my understanding of the world and quietly shaped the way I think.
After entering university, freed from the pressure of examinations, my reading choices became almost reckless. Online fiction, casual reading material, and even controversial books that sparked heated debate—all found their way into my hands. I grew increasingly fascinated by works that explore ethics, morality, and even what might be considered “morally questionable” themes. Stories involving infidelity, transgression, and taboo held a peculiar attraction for me. Perhaps this was a form of release: after six years of intense academic pressure, university life allowed my tightly wound nerves to finally relax, and reading became a channel through which suppressed aspects of human nature could surface.
In reading, I could temporarily set aside societal moral constraints and immerse myself fully in these distorted yet strangely beautiful imagined worlds. My fondness for stories centered on relationships between men and women reflected my growing interest in the opposite sex, as well as my curiosity about human desire and nature. These books made me aware of the complexity of human beings and of my own inner contradictions. Yet I have never regarded this awareness as darkness, nor have I felt ashamed of it. Humans are, after all, animals, and desire—whether material or spiritual—is an inherent part of us. Through reading, I gradually learned to confront myself and to face the world as it is. Rather than merely revealing the darkness and complexity of society, these books enabled me to see human nature more fully and more deeply.
With books as my companions, I am no longer alone. In moments of confusion, loss, or solitude, reading always offers me a steady source of strength, allowing me to think independently and remain true to myself amid the chaos of the secular world. This quiet yet enduring strength is enough to accompany me along the long journey of life.
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