Danez Smith, one of America's most popular young poets and the author of Don't Call Us Dead, recommends his 5 favorite books.
Lilith's Brood by Octavia E. Butler (1989)
This book about aliens from the novelist who predicted "Make America Great Again" asks necessary questions about the harmful structures which we put our faith in despite our intelligence, and also how or if we will evolve out of our most dangerous selves. An essential, human book — with aliens!
The Collected Poems of Lucille Clifton (2012)
The book is my bible. Open up to any page and Clifton delivers a word. Whether the subject is roaches, family, death, or surviving, she has a poem for all occasions. She can create the most complicated magic out of the simplest words.
Man vs. Sky by Corey Zeller (2013)
In his brief prose poems, Zeller represents the voice of a recently dead friend as he travels through the afterlife. Besides attracting me with its beauty to this day, it taught me that we can offer the dead not just our grief but our imaginations and dreams as well.
My Hero Academia by Kohei Horikoshi (2014)
I'm a sucker for high school drama, superpowers, good-hearted heroes, and complicated bad characters. This manga（动漫）series is one of my favorite escapes. In a world where everybody and their mama has a superpower (literally), what makes someone a hero isn't about power or strength but about the desire to make people smile. Instant tears.
Deus Ex Nigrum by Jasmine Reid (2019)
I recently picked this chapbook for a prize. It's a marvel of language and heart. Reid's lyrics map the ordinary and the extraordinary with rare and invigorating skill. In a world and a country ever dangerous to the black people, this poet says, "If I am to be a twist ending, let it be that I lived." I am so excited to follow Reid's poems into the future.
1. Which author describes people from other planets?| A．Octavia E. Butler. | B．Kohei Horikoshi. |
| C．Jasmine Reid. | D．Corey Zeller. |
| A．Lilith's Brood. | B．My Hero Academia. |
| C．Man vs. Sky. | D．Deus Ex Nigrum. |
| A．Corey Zeller's recently dead friend has the superpower to make dreams come true. |
| B．In a world where everyone has superpower, people have a desire to smile. |
| C．Clifton makes full use of simple words. |
| D．My Hero Academia has won National Book Award |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Four adventurous novels will quickly take you away on an epic journey without leaving your couch.
This Tender Land
by William Kent Krueger
It is about four Creat Depression orphans who flee their harsh school in a canoe down the Mississippi. This is a historical fiction novel that not only captures the time and place of the Great Depression but the characters that lived through it. It is packed with so much heart that you won’t be able to put it down.
Lonesome Dove
by Larry McMurtry
I’ve always been attracted by the idea of the Wild West, and really Lonesome Dove is considered one of the best western novels out there. The book follows Jake Spoon, a former Texas Ranger, who’s on the run from a sheriff (治安官) from Arkansas and would love to be anywhere but Lonesome Dove. Truly this story is about carving out a place for yourself in the world.
Out of Darkness, Shining Light
by Petina Gappah
Based on true events, this novel follows the incredible journey of the men and women who carried Dr. Livingston’s body and all of his work across Africa so that he could be returned to England and all of his research could be preserved. This is a powerful and adventurous story that leads the reader on a winding tale as his loyal followers attempt to get the Scottish doctor home.
The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters
by Balli Kaur Jaswal
This family drama truly feels like an adventure as you flip through its pages. At the last request of their dying mother, three estranged (疏远的) British born Punjabi sisters are forced to take a pilgrim’s tour (朝圣之旅) to Amritsar together. This is a powerful and evocative (唤起感情的) travel story from the perspective of three very different women. Together they learn about themselves, about their mother and their lives.
1. Who wrote a historical fiction novel?| A．William Kent Krueger. | B．Larry McMurtry. |
| C．Petina Gappah. | D．Balli Kaur Jaswal. |
| A．This Tender Land |
| B．Lonesome Dove |
| C．Out of Darkness, Shining Light |
| D．The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters |
| A．Because they learn about themselves. |
| B．Because their mother likes travelling. |
| C．Because they are very fond of travelling. |
| D．Because their dying mother asks them to do so. |
【推荐2】“O gentle sleep!\Nature’s soft nurse, how have I frightened thee\That thou no more wilt weigh my eyelids down.”Henry IV, as portrayed by Shakespeare, would have sympathized with people who struggle with insomnia (失眠). Now a major publisher has come up with a novel idea.
In a project to be launched this week, Penguin Random House has cooperated with the Sleep Council and the Children’s Sleep Charity in creating collections of “Sleep Tales” for adults and children. Combining “cutting-edge technology and the ancient art of storytelling to help solve an age-old problem”, these audiobooks are part soundscape, part descriptive narrative, with softly spoken voices to calm anxieties and take listeners to the land of nod.
Each story lasts about 15 minutes, enabling listeners to set their sleep timer. The stories draw on the Sleep Council’s research into sounds that help people wind down, such as waves lapping on a shore, soft rainfall and birdsong.
Richard Lennon, publisher at Penguin Audio, told the Guardian the project was inspired partly by the realization that increasing numbers of people were listening to audio books “as they’re going to sleep or as part of their bedtime routine”. He said both adults and children respond to something comforting and familiar as they are nodding off.
Asked whether a boring story could have the same effect, he said the stories needed to be “engaging enough not to put you off”: “This is about creating the right environment and headspace for you … to go to sleep. Strangely, if you’re bored, it doesn’t have that effect.” Audience research had been very positive, Lennon said. One listener reported: “The story made my mind stop racing.”
1. Why is the poem mentioned at the beginning of the passage?| A．To introduce the works of Shakespeare. |
| B．To appreciate the rhythm of the poem. |
| C．To lead to the topic of the passage. |
| D．To offer an example of people with insomnia. |
| A．Their target readers are children. |
| B．Every story is long and interesting. |
| C．They are read vividly in different tones. |
| D．They can make listeners sleepy. |
| A．Not many people prefer listening to audio books before sleep. |
| B．A boring story is more likely to make people sleepy. |
| C．The environment is very important for reading stories. |
| D．The audio books prove effective in helping people sleep in the research. |
| A．Releasing audio books to send listeners to sleep |
| B．The new trend of people’s reading habit |
| C．Audio books are becoming more and more popular |
| D．Ways to help people sleep easily |
【推荐3】Brightly—Raise Kids Who Love to Read
We believe reading has the power to improve kids’ lives and link members of a family by creating a space in which children and the adults in their lives can spend quality time together. But we also know how hard it can be to find the right book. That’s where Brightly comes in.
Editorial Mission
Brightly provides passionate parents, educators, and caregivers with the tools they need—such as tips and advice, book recommendations, and Brightly Storytime—to keep kids connected to books. We take pride in working with a diverse group of contributors, authors, and partners who cover a wide range of topics for readers of all ages in order to develop a love of books and reading in children.
Brightly Shop
Over the years, countless readers have come to us searching for gifts for the young bookworms in their lives. While it’s always been our mission to provide content that offers great book recommendations, your feedback has helped us realize the value of a more browsable, store-like experience.
The Brightly Shop helps to find exceptional book gifts for kids by offering a diverse collection of age-appropriate titles for kids ages 0–8. Whether you’re looking for a baby shower gift, birthday present, or just want to treat the child in your life to a great book, each title in the Shop is hand-selected by our editorial team—with more added every week—to bring you a satisfactory book buying experience.
We hope you’ll take a moment to browse our Shop and let us know what you think! Send us an email at shop@readbrightly.com.
Contact
We’d love to hear from you! Reach out by emailing hello@readbrightly.com—we’re listening!
1. What does Brightly think of reading?| A．It demands proper guidance. | B．It requires quality family time. |
| C．It helps to keep families connected. | D．It promises to interest people of all ages. |
| A．Leave their feedback. | B．Update its weekly book list. |
| C．Share their reading experiences. | D．Get a free book on their birthdays. |
| A．The power of reading. | B．A pretty useful website. |
| C．How to choose books for kids. | D．How to make kids love reading. |
【推荐1】In England, there are а few сhаіnеd (用锁链栓住) lіbrаrіеѕ still hidden away in medieval (中世纪的) buildings. The following list is based on those libraries that are open to tourists.
Wells Cathedral Library, Somerset
The medieval library of Wells Cathedral was built in the mid-15th century. Most of the 2,800 volumes (书) in the collection today were got in the 16th to 18th centuries. The earliest book is a copy of Pliny’s Naturalis Historiae printed in 1472. The library also has a set of Aristotle’s works finished in 1497.
Phone: 44 (0)1749 674483
Cost: Guided tours cost ￡10 per person
Merton College Upper Library, Oxford
The oldest part of Merton College Library, known as the Upper Library, dates from 1373. Presently, one remade book chain is provided as an example of how the chained library might have looked. Although the original chains are gone, the library is a step back in time.
Phone: 44 (0)1865 276310
Cost: ￡5 per person; ￡3 for University members
Wimborne Minster Library, Dorset
The Chained Library of Wimborne Minster dates to the mid-17th century. After the Trigge Library of St Wulfram’s, it is one of the first public libraries in the UK. Many of the book chains survive at Wimborne.
Phone: 44 (0)1202 884753
Opening Times: Daily, 10:30 am-12:30 pm and 2 pm- 4 pm
Cost: Free
Hereford Cathedral Library, Hereford
The library of Hereford Cathedral has collected 229 medieval manuscripts (手稿) and 1,200 early printed books. A key attraction in the library is the famous medieval Mappa Mundi dating back to 1300. Hereford Cathedral has been named Autism Friendly and joined in Disabled Access Day, an event in the UK to celebrate accessibility across the country.
Phone: 44 (0)1432 374200
Opening Times: Monday-Saturday 10 am-4 pm (last admission 30 minutes before closing)
Cost: Grown-up, ￡6; Student, ￡5
1. How much will a student from Merton College spend on visiting Upper Library?| A．￡3. | B．￡5. |
| C．￡6. | D．￡10. |
| A．Somerset. | B．Hereford. |
| C．Dorset. | D．Oxford. |
| A．It is friendly to the disabled. | B．It allows people to enter at 4 pm. |
| C．It has the same price for everyone. | D．It successfully remade Mappa Mundi. |
【推荐2】The Children's Library is currently offering curbside (马路边的) pickup service. Customers may tell us your requests for any books or movies in circulation (流通) over the telephone by calling (561)655-2776, on Mondays between 10 a.m.and 1 p.m.
Customers can click on the link here (https://cl.fourarts.bywater solutions.com) to browse our available titles. Limits on requests are 15 per family. Pickup time is 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays of the same week when requests are made. Please note some items listed as available may become unavailable before your order is filled.
Once a request is made, library staff will call you to confirm your request, and reserve pickup time for Tuesday or Thursday between 10 a.m. and noon. When arriving for the pickup, customers are asked to drive to the Rovensky staff parking lot, attached to the building which houses the Children Library. On arrival, call our Children's Library to let them know you are here and a staff member will place your bag. Please remain in your vehicle.
The Children's Library offers a variety of programs throughout the year, including Preschool Story Time, Family Story Time and special events. Programs for children in kindergarten and higher grades are offered during the season, November through April, on selected weekdays. Children are invited to borrow books, use iPads, play games and enjoy special programs at no charge.
Children of all ages, newborn through 17, must always be chaperoned (陪护) by an adult while in the Children's Library. Likewise, all adults must be accompanied by a child.
1. When can customers make a call to tell their requests?| A．1:00 a.m., Monday. | B．10:30 a.m., Monday. |
| C．10: 30 a.m., Tuesday. | D．11:30 a.m., Thursday. |
| A．Pay a fee to use an iPad. | B．Offer programs for children. |
| C．Be accompanied by a child. | D．Take fewer than 15 family members. |
| A．A webpage. | B．A newspaper. |
| C．A travel brochure. | D．A science journal. |
【推荐3】Sydney Observatory Family Tours
Sydney Observatory Family Tours will go on from now until 31 March 2019.During the tour, you and your kids will have fun with rockets and explore the Sun, the Moon and some planets through our telescopes(望远镜).
Tours are held in all weathers.If viewing through the telescopes is not possible because of sky conditions, the tour still continues with a tour of the night sky in our planetarium(天文馆) and other fun family activities.
Please be on time as the tour starts from inside the Observatory building shortly after the doors open.Night visits need to be booked and prepaid. Bookings, including group bookings, can be made in advance online or by calling＋61(02)9217 0111 during office hours(9:00 am－5:00 pm).
Opening hours:
Day Visit: Monday—Sunday, 10:00 am—5:00 pm
Night Visit: Monday—Sunday(Start times change according to the time of year.)
Closed: Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Eve.
Tickets:
Day Tour: Family: $26;Adult: $10;Child(4—15yrs):$8
Night Tours: Family:$70; Adult: $27;Child(4—15yrs):$20
All children must be accompanied(陪同) by an adult.
1. Which of the following is excluded in the Sydney Observatory Family Tours?| A．Visiting the planetarium. |
| B．The family activity. |
| C．Telescope viewing. |
| D．Space traveling. |
| A．will enjoy discounts |
| B．need book in advance |
| C．can go on Boxing Day |
| D．should get there at 5:00 pm |
| A．26 dollars. | B．28 dollars. |
| C．70 dollars. | D．74 dollars. |
