听听老外的2016年年度图书盘点

It&`&s that time of the year again, a time when loved ones reunite, and our taste buds become spoiled by hearty, homie food, while everywhere is clad in hues and fervor. As people enjoy the festive gaiety worldwide, there are times when we want to shake off the frolic and keep to ourselves. So why not lay back, pour yourself a cup of tea and enjoy some good readings? In today&`&s program, our reporters will share with you some of their book picks of the year. Let&`&s hear them out. ****************************************************************************** 1)"The Remembrance of the Earth" by Liu Cixin Exalted by some as the godfather of modern Chinese science fiction, in 2016, Liu Cixin released the English edition of Death&`&s End, the last installment of his internationally renowned trilogy, The Remembrance of the Earth. Although the core theme of his sage is slightly old-school (seriously, who still reads stories about alien invading Earth these days?), we strongly believe that it is our obligation to recommend this masterpiece. Intertwining Chinese history, soul-touching research into humanity and the universe as well as mind-boggling battle scenes, this apocalyptic space opera undoubtedly "lifted Chinese sci-fi to the world stage". Thanks to The Three-Body Problem, the first installment of his trilogy, Liu Cixin became the first Asian writer to snatch the prestigious Hugo Award for Best Novel (according to our book editor Shiyu, his second book, The Dark Forest, should be considered Liu&`&s most well-written work). 2)"Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury It&`&s never too late to re-read some old-time classic, and American writer Ray Bradbury&`&s Fahrenheit 451 is surely one of them. Published nearly half a century ago, this story presents a futuristic American society where books are regarded outlawed. Instead of putting out a fire, the key job of a "fireman" is to burn down the books that are found, sometimes, even book lovers who dare to hide them. In this time and age when people constantly question the purpose of reading, maybe this book could provide some time-proof answers. 3)"The Periodic Table" by Primo Levi Written by the late Italian chemist, writer and Holocaust survivor Primo Levi, The Periodic Table is a collection of short stories in which each chapter is named after one element from the periodic table in chemistry. Largely an autobiography, the book recounts the history of the Jewish community where Levi came from, of his years as a student and chemist at the inception of the Second World War, and of his investigation into the nature of the material world. Personal, intellectual, precise, yet effortlessly beautiful, this masterpiece was named the best science book ever by the Royal Institution of Great Britain in 2006. 4)"The Underground Railroad" by Colson Whitehead Highly recommended by almost every major media outlet in North America this year, "The Underground Railroad" re-creates the unique terrors of black people in the pre-Civil War era. In the book, our protagonist Cora is a slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia. Life is hellish for all the slaves but especially dreadful for her. So one day, when Caesar, a recent arrival from Virginia, tells her about the Underground Railroad, they decide to take a terrifying risk and escape. A kinetic adventure, the book weaves the sage of America from the brutal importation of Africans to the unfulfilled promises of the present day, which may echo with many, despite the difference in nationalities. 5)"Why Do Men Have Nipples? Hundreds of Questions You&`&d Only Ask a Doctor After Your Third Martini" by Billy Goldberg and Mark Leyner Billy Goldberg is a New York-based physician while Mark Leyner is a novelist whose works constantly pop up on famous magazines, such as GQ and New Yorker. So when these two met together and plotted a book, you bet it&`&s going to be hilarious, flippant (only a little bit), but at the same time witty, informative and straightforward. All the questions that you are always too embarrassed to ask your doctors could get answers. Questions range from urban legends to old wives tales, including: What are goose bumps? Can lip balm be addictive? And of course the title question, why do men have nipples? It&`&s difficult to categorize this book, since it wraps humor, health reference and science book all into one. 6)"A Chinese Life" by Li Kunwu and Philippe Otie Best known to Chinese readers for his strip comic book, 18 Oddities to Savour My Homeland, or known as "Yun Nan Shi Ba Guai" in Chinese, Kunming-based cartoonist Liu Kunwu collaborated with French writer, diplomat Philippe Otie to produce an illustrated memoir, A Chinese Life, or "Cong Xiao Li Dao Lao Li - Yi Ge Zhong Guo Ren De Yi Sheng". In the course of almost 700 pages, the illustrator leads us to trace a compelling personal odyssey. From his bumpy childhood as a survivor of the Great Famine in the late 1950s, the collective paranoia during the Cultural Revolution, to the age of reform and opening up when money starts to talk, the story tries to explore how an average man was shaped against the backdrop of the ever-changing China. Simultaneously cunning, meticulous, emotional, yet hard-headed, this multi-award winning book is undoubtedly personal. While at the same time, it also provides something deeper, a graphic chronicle of how modern China came into being in the last six decades. 7)"The Hobbit" by J. R.R. Tolkien 2017 marks the 125th anniversary of the birth of British writer J.R.R. Tolkien, so why not taking time to enjoy his high-fantasy work, The Hobbit? Compared with Peter Jackson&`&s dazzling yet lengthy cinematic trilogy, the book is simpler, less flashy yet powerful in its own right (Seriously people, do we really need to introduce The Hobbit in details?!). 8)"Wolves in the Wall" by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean When we were children, we all dreamt about mysterious creatures hiding inside our house somewhat. Yet novelist Neil Gaiman and illustrator Dave McKean pushed our childhood fantasy to a whole new level. In their co-produced book, Wolves in the Wall, Lucy is sure there are wolves living inside the walls of their house. Just like everyone says, if they get out, you are doomed. Yet none of her family believes her. Until one day, the wolves do come out. Compelling reading, Wolves in the Wall is a book for all ages. 9)"Six Chapters From My Life &`&Downunder&`&" by Yang Jiang Passed away in 2016 at the age of 105, Yang Jiang was one of the most celebrated writers in modern China. Best known for her translation of Don Quixote, she left behind many classic works.　But what really elevated Yang to an internationally renowned writer is her 1981 memoir, Six Chapters From My Life "Downunder", an essay collection based on her experience during the Cultural Revolution. However, unlike many other memoirs of that period, the book doesn&`&t pour out the pain, struggle, and shame in great details. Instead, leaping through the mundane moments, the author narrated her daily toils, her enduring love with her husband, the unlikely friendship with a puppy as well as the suicide of her son-in-law in a sober, subtle and mild tone. Despite the absence of victimization and accusations, the book echoes with profound emotional impact. 10)"The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver An unusual coming-of-age story, "The Poisonwood Bible" is a tale told by the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price, a fierce, evangelical Baptist who takes his family and mission to the Belgian Congo in 1959. They carry with them everything they believe they need from home, but soon find all of this is calamitously transformed on African soil. What follows is a suspenseful epic of one family&`&s tragic undoing and remarkable reconstruction over the course of three decades in postcolonial Africa.