As a college student in Boston, I formed the habit of buying used books. I enjoy the hunt, the good price and the unrecognized treasures. I find old textbooks, ex-bestsellers, and books on subjects I’ve never heard of but now I must learn all about. I don’t search for rare books, first editions, or leather-bound editions but books that are worth reading.
Rereading, for me, is a pleasure during retirement. The theater and the concert hall become less appealing to me, along with crowds. Staying alone and reading books have become extremely important to me. Literature needs the flesh of experience to have its full effect. Different books offer me insights and ways of expressing that stuck in my mind as grains of sand in an oyster — now shine like pearls. My taste in books improves with age.
While packing for a move, which occurs at intervals of five to seven years, I clear my shelves and pick my books. I abandon a few, later regret my decisions, and look for them again. Several years ago, I got rid of books related to my job — architecture. Some were design guides, reference books, product catalogs, and things that went out of date. Some were historical or centered on a period or an architect. These had given me many hours of pleasure. Will I ever open their covers again? Certainly. I held on to the red bulk of Sir Banister Fletcher’s A History of Architecture and books on Paris, Rome, and Boston.
I gave away drafting equipment and instruments. I threw out rolls and rolls of paper, and old drawings of projects completed long ago, some of which had even been damaged. This time, I stay put in a cottage that suits my status and I’ve moved on in spirit. No doubt I will acquire more used books and throw away more books as passions grow and fade, like feathers changing with the seasons.
【小题1】What does the author consider most important when choosing used books?| A．Their appealing covers. | B．Their reasonable prices. |
| C．Their collection value. | D．Their excellent content. |
| A．He has a deeper understanding of reading. | B．His attitude towards work changes. |
| C．His communication skills improve. | D．He has a small circle of friends. |
| A．To show some books are worth rereading. | B．To explain his love for architecture. |
| C．To suggest we avoid making poor decisions. | D．To recommend Sir Banister Fletcher’s books. |
| A．He decides to stop throwing away used books. | B．He will read more books that suit his interests. |
| C．He will enlarge his collection of used books. | D．He is bad at using advanced drafting equipment. |
