Many people do not read the classics. Their reasons begin with the language being too difficult and end with the storyline too distant to the present context. 【小题1】 . It is a gradual affair. We begin as acquaintances and eventually become close friends with private jokes between us. So how does one approach a classic?

Don’t be afraid to be confused.

We get it: it’s hard to power through confusion. It doesn’t feel great when a book makes you feel confused. Every reader has to start somewhere. 【小题2】 . Instead, be proud of yourself for trying, and get excited about all the new things you’ll learn.

Research, research, research.

【小题3】 . Researching the author and the time and place they were writing about can help you situate yourself during tricky passages. The author’s experience, viewpoint, and historical context might help you make the connections you might not have otherwise.

【小题4】.

This step is self-explanatory. While it’s not hard to just pick a book up, we know how difficult it can be to convince yourself to do so. Remind yourself that it’s a new learning chance. Take a deep breath, then leap onto the deck (甲板) of Melville’s Pequod or step cautiously through the gates of Castle Dracula.

Remember: there is no right answer.

There is no perfect way to read a classic text. There is no fixed interpretation (解读) and no exact answer. Your goal as a reader is to discover what aspects are meaningful to you. Just enjoy the process. 【小题5】!

China is facing a reading crisis. According to Xu Shengguo, head of the Chinese Academy of Press and Publication, the country’s reading rate last year was 78.6 percent while 21.4 percent read nothing at all. Xu said the survey showed last year Chinese people each read only 4.56 books, compared with 12 in France, 11 in South Korea and about 7 in the US. In addition, more than 40 percent of Chinese people read less than one book throughout the year outside textbooks.

Xu added that besides the large population base in China and imbalance in regional economic development, the shortage of public libraries is widespread. Thus, reading parties in the community are in need of greater promotion.

Sponsored by Beijing Municipal Bureau, a training session on reading was held in Beijing on September 19, 2015. It was the first meeting of the “Leading Reader” project, a training series for teachers, officials, college students and bookstore owners on the promotion of nationwide reading. Some 150 college students attended the session.

“If we want to promote the nationwide reading rate, we have to encourage more grassroots to read. Not only should we read more books, but also share books with others, to attract more people to join the team of reading,” Xu said.

Lin Dan, originator of Your Bay Parent-child Picture Book Center, stressed the importance of parents and children reading together, and called on parents to read with their children for 15 minutes every day. “It is significant for the healthy growth of the younger generation if their parents read with them every day. However, parents should not teach their children what to read or how to read. Instead, they should train their children to gain happiness from reading,” Lin said.

Given that most little girls love to dress up as princesses, it is difficult to imagine what might be wrong with that. But one author has written an entire book on how she believes the fairy tale fantasies send a dangerous message.

Jennifer L Hardstein is behind the recently-published Princess Recovery: A How-To Guide to Raising Strong, Empowered Girls Who Can Create Their Own Happily Ever Afters. The child and adolescent psychologist believes that children as young as two are taking away unrealistic ideals from fairy tale books and Disney cartoons that can affect their self-esteem later on.

In her book, Dr. Hardstein theories that traditional stories like Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella promote the idea that if a girl is pretty enough and has fancy clothes and shoes, she find love and popularity. The author refers to this phenomenon as the “Princess Syndrome”

These kinds of messages, she says, have a huge impact on a girl's self-confidence and make it hard for children to understand as they grow up, that intelligence, generosity and passion are more important value. During an appearance on CBS' Early Show, Dr. Hardstein explained: “Girls are getting this message everywhere that. … what their worth is based on is how they look and the things that they have and it's very superficial (肤浅的)”

Her book teaches parents how to let their toddlers (幼儿) enjoy the Disney moves and their teenagers watch figures in reality shows while encouraging a discussion about the messages projected by the media. Speaking on the show she said: “Parents think their kids will understand the messages that they receive all the time but actually they don't.”

As well as warning of the dangers of “Princess Syndrome” her book advise parents how to guide and empower their children from an early age. Dr. Hardstein warns of the influence of toys like Barbie dolls and teenager celebrities who might wear heavy make-up.

Princess Recovery, she assure parents, will bring “balance, confidence, and self-sufficiency into your daughter's life while giving her a modern, energetic childhood.”