◎ The Story of Book

I was twelve, I just had graduated from elementary school,
that day in Taiwan every kid had studied hard because we had entrance exam for middle school.
That exam determined which of two paths a person’s future would take.
If you felled, you would not be able to continue in school, you would learn a trade.
For twelve year old child, it was a cruel fate.

I passed the exam; my father brought me to the biggest book store in the city every weekend.
It was great summer for me. We would spend over an hour there together.
I saw many books lying on tables and standing in the book shelf.
Since I began attending school at the age of six, I was required to focus only on text books-nothing else.
Sometimes, my classmate and I might go to a comic books stand to rent comics but if my parents found out I would be punished.

However, it was a joy for me to go with my father and see so many books.
Now when I think back almost 40 years ago, my memory is still vivid.
As I walked among the tables I could’t make up my mind which book I should pick first.
I felt like an adult that moment.

After a while my eyes were drawn to a book. Its cover was plain.
The book title, “Walden” was printed above a sketch a blue green lake.
It was a Chinese translation of David Thoreau. I felt an immediate familiarity with the book.
I opened the book to the table of contents.
I read line by line, I found each subject to be very interesting.
After I read few chapters, I got the impression that this is a book about solitude.
The author is self-sufficient. I want to be like him.
Before we left the book store that day I asked my father to buy it for me.

Today when I think of this encounter 40 years ago I still wonder why a 12 year of girl would be attracted to Thoreau’s book.

                                                                                                                            Lilly  Wei 6/4/2009