Do you like to bury your head in a good book? Getting absorbed in a good story is a great way to relax. It improves your ability to read and write, and, according to some experts, it’s good for your health as well. Studies show that it can increase our intelligence as we understand a range of different views and motivations. 【小题1】

For the traditional readers, the only way to get a good story is with a paperback or hardback book. 【小题2】 And of course it’s portable (便携的). But the traditional book has had a competitor in recent years from e-books, which are read on e-readers. An “electronic” book enables you to store hundreds of virtual books in one place and allows you to download books directly.

【小题3】 According to one school in London, it has encouraged more children to read. 11-year-old Summit told the BBC: “If you really want a book, you can just get it online. 【小题4】 I probably read every day now.” For adults, e-books are certainly a lightweight way of accessing their favorite literature on the move.

But for those who can’t or don’t want to look at the text in a book, there are audio (音频) books to listen to. According to Clare Thorpe, writing for the BBC Culture website: “There are hugely ambitious productions using specially created soundscapes (音量) and technological advances.” 【小题5】

Whatever your reading preference, there are many choices to access a good story.

Literature is the body of written works produced by scholars and researchers, who specialize in a given field. Why is literature important? Let’s see.

Literary works are descriptions of the thinking patterns and social criteria. They’re a description of the different aspects of common people’s life. 【小题1】 They also encourage imagination and creativity. Exposing oneself to good literary works is like providing one with the finest educational opportunities. On the other hand, the lack of exposure to good literature is equal to depriving(剥夺)one of the opportunity to grow.

Some of the great literary works provide society with the guiding principles of life. Works by poets like Homer, Plato, Sappho, Horace and many more are timeless. 【小题2】 The Lord of the Rings, The Godfather, A Tale of Two Cities, and James Bond series are some of the best-selling books of all time that have entertained several generations.

There are also great works in children’s literature. Amused by the stones they tell, kids associate themselves with these books’ characters and idealize some of them. Moral stories are an aid for parents and teachers to let the kids learn important lessons in life. Aesop, Enid Blyton, and Mark Twain are some of the most widely popular children’s authors. 【小题3】

True, languages are the building blocks of literature. But the study of literature cannot be restricted to only studying languages. 【小题4】 A degree in language and literature perhaps can’t provide one with everything literature can offer. Its scope(范围)is so deep and wide that even a lifetime may not be enough to really study literature.

【小题5】 Great literary and poetic works help a person take a closer look at the different aspects of living. In many ways, literature, in its different forms, can change one’s attitude towards living.

I was out for an evening with a friend, getting the relief from pressure and catching up on our lives. We got around to the subject of books.

“When do you read?” my friend asked me. My mind took off on a fast journey through my bookshelves and piles of looks. I know some people make artsy towers and pyramids out of books, but I’m not that kind of woman. Mine are just…stacks (摞). Stacks on end tables, stacks on the floor.

When do I read? I read when I’m when I’m happy. I read when I’m bored. I read when I’m defeated. I read when I’m filled with anxiety. My self-medication for the thoughts is not exercise or alcohol, but Jane Austen. I absolutely must slow down the pace of my thoughts when living through a walk to the town Meryton in Pride and Prejudice. I read to visit places I’ll never see in real life. Thank you, Vikram Seth, for making me completely involved in 1950s India. Thank you, Khaled Hosseini, for giving me a chance to see 1970s high society of New York City, I’ll spend some time with Edith Wharton. I read when I’m recalling the good old days, Many of my favorite books of childhood are still my favorite books. I read when I get so addicted to an author that I want to read everything she has ever written, including her Christmas cards and grocery lists.

Of course, I didn’t say any of these things to my friend. I stared at her with a blank, foolish look.

“When do I read?” I repeated.

“Yes. When do you find time?” she asked.

“When? Evenings. Bedtime. Dinnertime, if I’m eating alone. Sunday afternoons. Moments stolen here and there. And now if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with Mr. Hemingway, ” I said.