THE Top 10 recommended “Books of the Year” were recently unveiled during the Shenzhen Reading Month initiative. You can put them on your updated to-read list. 1. “Why There Should Be Libraries in the World” (《世上為什么要有圖書館》) Author: Yang Suqiu Publisher: Shanghai Translation Publishing House The book , in a non-fiction format, narrates a contemporary version of Miguel de Cervantes’ “Don Quijote,” a story of the idealist’s battle against windmills, on a rare subject of building a library. The writer Yang Suqiu was a university teacher before she got an opportunity to work in a government department. She faced multiple unforeseen challenges during her efforts to establish an ideal library in her city. Through this book, the writer wants to encourage the public to hold onto what they perceive right: If you persist in doing what is right, there will always be other like-minded who will walk forward with you. 2. “The Garden of the Qu Family” (《璩家花園》) Author: Ye Zhaoyan Publisher: Yilin Press The writer narrates the history via storytelling of different years against various scenes. The characters in this novel are vivid and distinct. They try hard to stay connected to the mainstream of the era, but are barely close to becoming trendsetters. Despite of their humble identities, they persistently move forward with quiet endurance. The author adheres to telling the story from the perspective of the common people during the entire creation of this novel. 3. “The Milan Lectures” (《米蘭講稿》) Author: Umberto Eco (Italy), translated by Wen Zheng Publisher: Shanghai Translation Publishing House The book is a collection of lectures Umberto Eco delivered at the Milan Arts Festival from 2001 to 2015. The collection is regarded as Eco’s literary legacy of the new millennium. The book features 12 essays, each one of which centering around a distinctive theme, such as beauty, ugliness, the resolute and the relative, the invisible, imperfection, lies, and secrets to explore them in depth and breadth. Eco effectively maintained the standard of an outstanding contemporary writer, erudite yet approachable, profound yet playful. 4. “Neighbors of the Yandong Garden” (《燕東園左鄰右舍》) Author: Xu Hong Publisher: Shanghai Literature & Art Publishing House Xu Hong records the hundred years’ changes of the Yandong Gerden through conducting extensive interviews and researching through historical materials in this book, which reflects the author’s sense of social responsibility and historical mission as a journalist. The Yandong Garden is not just a geographical concept; it carries a rich historical and cultural heritage. Through interviews and investigations, the author recreates the familial, friendly, and romantic bonds among a generation of scholars. 5. “Catfish” (《貓魚》) Author: Chen Chong Publisher: SDX Joint Publishing Company “Catfish” was a term in the Shanghai dialect, which was used to refer to a type of small fish sold in wet market and was used to feed cats. With the advent of cat food, this term faded from local people’s memories. This book is a memoir of Chinese-American director and actress Chen Chong, in which she recounts her own childhood and experiences as an actress, as well as the encounters of three generations of her family. In her view, “catfish” represents fleeting inspiration in life, truths that are forgotten or hidden in human nature, and the miracles found in everyday life. 6. “Falling Clouds” (《云落》) Author: Zhang Chu Publisher: Beijing October Arts & Literature Publishing House The book is the life story of a woman in a typical small town in North China, as well as the history of the development and transformation of a northern Chinese county. The protagonist, Wan Ying, faces various challenges brought about by family and loved ones in her life. Her friends also move forward in different ways — some holding onto their direction while others lingering at crossroads. The narrative captures the entanglements and struggles of ordinary people, highlighting beauty and goodness. 7. “Searching for Dunhuang All Over the World” (《滿世界找敦煌》) Author: Rong Xinjiang Publisher: Zhonghua Book Company The author is an expert in Dunhuang studies. He dedicates to interpreting Dunhuang, in Northwest China’s Gansu Province, with insight during his numerous visits to Dunhuang relics. He depicts the traces of Dunhuang found around the world, allowing people to appreciate the charm of Dunhuang as a world cultural heritage. 8. “NEXUS: A Brief History of Information Networks From the Stone Age to AI” (《智人之上：從石器時代到AI時代的信息網絡簡史》) Author: Yuval Noah Harari (Israel), translated by Liu Junhong Publisher: CITIC Press Group In this book, Harari explains the changes in human society through the concept of “network.” He challenges the “naive view of information,” which assumes that more information is always better, and that an increasing amount of information will ultimately lead to truth and reality. Harari argues that this perspective on information is fundamentally flawed. He also expresses his concerns about people’s growing reliance on artificial intelligence (AI). He worries that “If handled improperly, AI not only has the potential to extinguish human, but may also eradicate the spark of consciousness.” 9. “W. H. Auden: A Biography” (《奧登傳：穿越焦慮時代》) Author: Humphrey Carpenter (Britain), translated by Cai Haiyan Publisher: Beijing United Publishing Co., Ltd. The biography is based on extensive amount of firsthand materials related to W.H. Auden, a great poet of the European and American literary scene. The book provides a panoramic picture of Auden’s literary creation, ideology, and life pursuits, exploring the legendary qualities of Auden through retoring his frequent interactions with contemporary cultural figures like writers, scholars and thinkers. 10. “The Perils of Interpreting: The Extraordinary Lives of Two Translators Between Qing China and the British Empire” (《翻譯的危險：清代中國與大英帝國之間兩位譯者的非凡人生》) Author: Henrietta Harrison (Britain), translated by Zhao Yanjie Publisher: Minzhu and Jianshe Publishing House The book tells a touching story that is not widely known. Through analysis of historical documents, the author narrates the experiences and interactions of two translators, Li Zhibiao from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), and George Thomas Staunton, from their youth to adulthood. The book creates a vivid tapestry of cross-cultural language exchange between China and the West for the readers.(Wei Jie) | 