Books. My favourite writer (book)

Many, many years ago a town crier ran through the streets and shouted out all the news. But now we are living in the Atomic Age. Too many things happen too quickly for us to learn about them in the old-fashioned way. That is why we have to read more and more in order to find put what is happening in the world. Reading is rarely a waste of time. The first book printed in the Russian language appeared in Moscow on the first of March, 1564. Ivan Fedorov and his assistants were the first to use Russian letters. Up to that time there were only handwritten books in Russia. The house built for printing books was not far from the Kremlin. At that time it was one of the best buildings in the Russian capital. The first person to print books in the English language was William Saxton in England. People began to learn how to make paper more quickly and cheaply and of better quality. As a result of this, books became much lighter and smaller.

Most young people admit they do not know how to plan their leisure time. To use sociological terminology, their leisure qualifications are inadequate. According to the poll, the actual priorities are the following: TV comes first, followed by reading, films, listening to records, radio, going out to dances and discos; then come concerts, museums, amateur arts, and finally theatre. This is causing anxiety among some Russian scholars: has the TV really superseded reading? However, close scrutiny shows that there is little ground for worry. In 1964, when television was establishing itself in this country, 22 per cent of young people were interested more in reading. In 1970, when there was a TV set in every household, 49 per cent were for reading, and today, the figure is 45 per cent. Today’s young people could be called the tele-reading generation. In contrast to previous generations, they draw from various ‘channels’ of culture, which complement each other. What we are witnessing is an integration process involving TV-viewing, reading, and other sources of information.

As for me within the general framework of my lifestyle (including study, leisure and earning money – in summer I tried to work as a news-vendor) reading leads the way as a cultural activity, leaving both television and music behind. I can read late into the night. At a time when all are asleep it seems so quiet that I indulge in reading. I’m not a lover of poetry to my regret. Sometimes I devour book after book and I skip as I read.

Russia has a long and rich literary tradition. It leads the world for the number of titles (doth Russian and foreign) published yearly, and a number of readers. Of course the young people like to be entertained (by watching TV shows, reading detective stories, etc.). But they certainly know how to find their way amid the great variety of cultural values, and they know how to tell genuine art from imitation. A few more words about music, which play a very important part in young people’s lives. Rock is certainly more popular than classical music. Russian pop groups who play original music and meaningful texts have an especially large following.

Actually the young people know how to find antidotes to stereotyped tastes and temptations. They are getting increasingly interested in the leisure activities which encourage self-expression and personal growth.

Some people read books for instruction, some for pleasure, some simply skip through books and not a few read from a habit. I belong to that company. I am fond of books and spend a great deal of money on them. Books are a great delight to me. Reading is a great resource in my free time and illness. And I‘m particular to whom I give my books. You can often find me sitting deep in a book when I’m absorbed in reading but I am not a bookworm. I haven’t got a habit to re-read books even though they are good and moving. I think that reading books helps us in our education, learning about the world. Books are necessary to me and I never travel far without enough reading matter. They are detective stories, thrillers and classical literature. In this case I read for pleasure. Many people read books for pleasure and rest. We have a good private library at home. There are books of Russian and foreign writers, but we have few books in English, just textbooks and a few magazines. I read newspapers in English but my English is not good enough yet. I hope to read English and American books in the original in the future because I want to continue my education and study foreign languages.

I took books in our school library. People have a desire to learn, they seek knowledge. Books satisfy the desire. I know the rules for the readers. We should be careful with the books and should not make any notes in the books, lose and damage them. Libraries play a very important role in the cultural development of every country. We can find all kinds of books in the libraries: novels, biographies, short stories, poems, books on traveling, technical books, history books, textbooks, magazines, scientific journals, books for children and others. We also can take periodicals, newspaper files. Readers come to reading rooms to study and prepare material for their reports or for their scientific work. There are also books in foreign languages.

The most famous English author is William Shakespeare. He was one of the greatest and famous writers of the world. I read about his biography. I know that he was born in Stratford-on-Avon. His father was a shop owner. At the age of 21 he went to London and became a very good actor and playwright. Later he built his own theatre - the Globe. He wrote 37 plays, two long poems, 155 sonnets. His best comedies are “The Twelfth Night”, “As You Like It”. These comedies are about love, friendship, happiness. His tragedies “King Lear”, “Othello”, “Romeo and Juliet”, “Hamlet” are about noble people who fought against evil in the world. I read some of his works in translation, saw films and performances. Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, Walter Scott, Conan Doyle, Daniel Defoe are also outstanding English writers. Robert Burns, George Byron are famous for their poems. Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, Bernard Show, Jack London are the glory of American literature. I like Mark Twain and his novel about Tom Sawyer.

The glory of Russian literature is Alexander Pushkin. He is the greatest Russian poet. He occupies an outstanding place in our literature and culture. He depicted Russian life, intellect, soul people.

• My favourite book (writer) is “Robinson Crusoe” by Daniel Defoe. D. Defoe (1660-1731) was a great master of realistic detail. The novel “Robinson Crusoe” was written in 1719. The novel is praise to human labour and the triumph of man over nature. Defoe shows the development of his hero. At the beginning of the story we see an inexperienced youth, a rather frivolous boy, who then becomes a strong-willed man. Robinson Crusoe’s most characteristic trait is his optimism. His guiding principle in life became “never say die” and “in trouble to be troubled is to have your troubles doubled”. He had confidence in himself and in man. He believed it was within the power of man to overcome all difficulties. Crusoe was an enthusiastic worker and always hoped fro the best.

Defoe is a writer of the Enlightenment. He teaches people hoe to live, he tries to teach what’s good and what’s bad. His novel “Robinson Crusoe” is not only a work of fiction, an account of adventures, a biography and an educational pamphlet. It is a study of man, a great work showing man in relation to nature and civilization as well as in relation to labour and private property.