1 . The UK is experiencing a boom in book clubs, according to new data from event listing companies. Book club listings on the ticketing site Eventbrite increased by 350% between 2019 and 2023. Between 2022 and 2023 alone, book club listings on the site rose by 41%. Another event listing site, Meetup, reported a 14% increase in the number of RSVPs to book clubs between January 2023 and January 2024, compared with a 4% increase in RSVPs for all UK-based events.
Victoria Okafor, who co-runs the book club Between2Books, said the heightened interest in reading may be partly the result of a general “shift in hobbies”, as GenZ (the generation around 00s) turned to other ways to spend their free time. Besides, during the global health crisis period, many people were forced to slow down and pick up or reignite hobbies, and online book clubs provided a platform to connect with others.
Social media may be helping with the visibility of book clubs, too, said Okafor. “People may come across your page accidentally, but from there people have the knowledge to attend should they wish. I think this makes a big difference compared to just hearing things from word of mouth.”
Many of the book clubs listed on Eventbrite carry specific themes — Sheffield Feminist Book Club, Bring Your Baby Book Club, and Modern Chinese Literature Online Book Club.
Okafor’s club, Between2Books, focuses on books by writers traditionally excluded (排除) from the classics. She thought she began seeking out such stories “embarrassingly late”. “Reading authors of color brought back a joy to my reading that came from not only seeing elements of myself and culture reflected in novels but also reading stories that could be funny or empowering as opposed to the accounts of struggle that can often surround stories of people of color,” she said. “The variety of books makes reading and discussion so rich and I think that’s what attenders are drawn to.”
1. How is paragraph 1 mainly developed?| A．By giving examples. | B．By listing figures. |
| C．By analyzing causes. | D．By presenting theories. |
| A．Return. | B．Reward. | C．Regain. | D．Reconnect. |
| A．The influence of social media. | B．The recommendation of old generations. |
| C．GenZ having a stronger thirst for knowledge. | D．Some people shifting the focus of their lives. |
| A．The diversity of books. | B．The reputation of writers. |
| C．The humor of the works. | D．The suggestion of the organizer. |
2 . Coastal Living
$20.00 USD
Coastal Living brings you the best seaside spots to shop, eat, and adventure. Enjoy endless inspiration for getaways and family travel traditions, and must-try seafood recipes. Whether you’re looking for the perfect cruise, coast, or cuisine, our digital journal delivers you all the best.
Coastal Living, published by Meredith, is currently published 4 times annually.
Real Simple
$23.99 USD
Find everyday easy solutions with this digital magazine. You’ll enjoy time-saving tips on reducing stress, organizing, dinnertime favorites, beauty products, fashion and tested and trusted health advice. Real Simple is your go-to source to infuse (注入) clean spaces and practical solutions into your busy life.
Real Simple, published by Meredith, currently publishes two double issues, which counts as two of 12 issues in an annual subscription.
Midwest Living
$9.99 USD
Discover the best of the American Midwest. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing weekend getaway or a breathtaking adventure, Midwest Living delivers the inspiration to get you packing. You’ll also get a local eye on the best restaurants and must-visit seasonal celebrations. Plus, soul-warming recipes you’ll love, gardening tips and so much more!
Midwest Living Magazine, published online by Meredith, is currently published 6 times annually.
Successful Farming
$15.95 USD
Get insight and insider information on the world of agriculture in every digital issue of Successful Farming. Farmers have turned to Successful Farming for more than 100 years to get sustainable advice on land, soil, markets, and more.
Successful Farming, published by Meredith, is currently published 12 times annually. Frequency of all magazines are subject to change without notice.
1. Which magazine comes out quarterly?| A．Coastal Living. | B．Real Simple. |
| C．Successful Farming. | D．Midwest Living. |
| A．Fashion designers. | B．Reporters. |
| C．Famed chefs. | D．Housewives. |
| A．They are about daily life tips. | B．They are electronic magazines. |
| C．They introduce different lifestyles. | D．They have the same selling price. |
1. What is the probable relationship between the speakers?
| A．Teacher and student. | B．Brother and sister. | C．Classmates. |
| A．Once a month. | B．Twice a week. | C．Once a week. |
4 . ※ Brown Girl Dreaming
By Jacqueline Woodson
As a winner of the National Book Award, the Coretta Scott King Award, and a Newberry Honor Book, in her book, Brown Girl Dreaming, the author uses poetry to tell her true story of growing up as a black woman in the 1960s and 1970s. Woodson’s beautiful language explores big ideas while describing her family, her growing awareness of race and the civil rights movement, and her life in South Carolina and New York City.
※ When You Were Everything
By Ashley Woodfolk
Cleo and Layla have been best friends for years. But in their second year of middle school, everything changes. Layla starts hanging out with her new friends, and the two girls’ friendship slowly ends. Cleo is still trying to make sense of what happened as she tries to make new friends. Told across two timelines, Cleo’s story of sadness surrounding a lost friendship will be relevant for many 8th graders trying to deal with past middle school friend drama and looking forward to high school.
※ The Hound of the Baskervilles
By Arthur Conan Doyle
The famous detective Sherlock Holmes and his friend Watson set out to look into a new case in Dartmoor, England. A man is dead, with many dog paw prints leading to his body. Holmes and Watson arrive in Dartmoor to find several unexplainable events and clues. Together, they start to figure out a puzzle that has defined mystery and detective fiction ever since.
※ The Hobbit
By J. R. R. Tolkien
This story is an opener to the longer and more challenging The Lord of the Rings trilogy. It’s an adventure story set in a fantasy world. With dwarves (小矮人), hobbits, sword fights, wizards and dragons, the book’s plot and humor have stood the test of time.
1. How is Brown Girl Dreaming different from the other books?| A．It focuses on city life. | B．It uses clear language. |
| C．It has won many awards. | D．It tells humorous stories. |
| A．Friendship and growth. | B．Lost love and gained hope. |
| C．Learning to be more independent. | D．Dealing with pressure from schoolwork. |
| A．The Hobbit | B．Brown Girl Dreaming |
| C．When You Were Everything | D．The Hound of the Baskervilles |
5 . Best Short Story Collections Everyone Should Read
If you are looking for great storytelling but don’t want to choose a long novel, then short story collections are the answer. Here we have gathered four of the best short stories and collections, from all sorts of backgrounds, to meet your need.
Runaway by Alice Munro
This award-winning collection features eight stories by the Canadian author Alice Munro. She tells stories of women and their relationships—with strong themes of love, friendship, and motherhood, among others. The idea of running away is another theme found in these stories.
The Complete Stories by Flannery O’Connor
Published in 1972, The Complete Stories actually won the National Book Award that same year. This collection includes 31 stories and they are told from the perspective of characters from the American South, as they deal with social issues like gender roles, and more.
The Refugees(难民)by Viet Thanh Nguyen
From Thanh Nguyen comes this Pulitzer Prize winning collection of seven short stories that are all about Vietnamese refugees who have moved to the US. However, instead of describing the difficulties of their trips, Nguyen focuses on the lives they’ve established in their new country. Each story shows a unique immigrant(移民的)experience as characters move between cultures and countries.
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
This classic short story is about the journals of Charlie Gordon, a cleaner with an IQ of 68．Charlie’s luck changes when he is selected for an experiment that is intended to turn him into a genius. However, everything that goes up must come down in the end. Flowers for Algernon won the Hugo Award in 1960 for its creative presentation.
1. Whose collection should you choose if you are interested in the topic on friendship?| A．Alice Munro’s. | B．Flannery O’Connor’s. |
| C．Daniel Keyes’. | D．Viet Thanh Nguyen’s. |
| A．Its seven stories share the same characters. |
| B．It focuses on women and their relationships. |
| C．It is about the Vietnamese immigrants’ lives in the US. |
| D．It mainly describes the difficulties of Vietnamese refugees’ trips. |
| A．They are made up of eight stories. |
| B．They all have won certain awards. |
| C．They are told from an immigrant’s eye. |
| D．They show the worries of Canadian authors. |
6 . So, do you want to know how to read classic books? Maybe you are excited to deal with classic literature but you don’t know where to start.
Slow down the pace. The biggest difference between modern literature and classic literature is the pace. Modern reading can often feel like a short race.
Listen to the audio(有声的)book. Sometimes the best way to devote yourself to a classic book is to listen to it. Many classic books were intended to be read aloud. Books used to be very expensive, so people shared them. This meant that a family might gather together to listen to a few chapters every night.
Choose your favourite. Finally, the key to reading classic books and actually enjoying them is to choose one that actually appeals to you. Classic Books can get mixed up into a single genre(流派)“Classic”.
| A．Look up dates and history. |
| B．But that’s really not the case. |
| C．Don’t be afraid to look things up. |
| D．However, classic literature is more of a marathon. |
| E．A character list can keep who is related to whom in check. |
| F．Listening to audio books is a lovely way to continue that tradition. |
| G．Or perhaps you’ve tried reading classics before and don’t really get the main points. |
1. What is the possible relationship between the two speakers?
| A．Friends. |
| B．Teacher and student. |
| C．Customer and salesman. |
| A．It’s about poetry. |
| B．It’s written by Shakespeare. |
| C．It may be very valuable. |
8 . About a decade ago, Lawson was at a beach in Virginia watching his kids build castles right next to the waves.
“I kept trying to get them to come back because I thought it was a terrible idea,” he remarked. He wanted them to build their sandcastles closer to the dunes. But they found it more exciting to build right where the waves hit, seeing their sandcastles get destroyed, and then rebuilding them with whatever debris washed up from the ocean. “It seemed so symbolic, somehow, of how life works more than just building your perfect sandcastles,” said Lawson. When he decided to turn that sunny day into a children’s book, the idea came to just use pictures. “It seemed like it would work beautifully without words,” he said.
A Day for Sandcastles is illustrated by Qin Leng. It’s the second wordless picture book for Lawson and Leng since 2021’s Over the Shop. Leng’s illustrations stay pretty true to real life. Three siblings spend the day building sandcastles and watching them get destroyed by a flying hat. “To me it’s a celebration of childhood and the simple joys of life. These are the things I like to capture,” said Leng.
Leng spent part of her childhood in France, and she was inspired by European comic books. “What I love to do when I illustrate a picture book is add side stories to the main storyline. I always think about the readers and the longevity of the book, and I want them to be able to discover something new every time they revisit the book,” Leng explained.
At the end of the day, the sleepy-eyed kids pile into the bus that will take them home. “Those last pages are some of my favorite. They capture that feeling like at the end of the day on the beach, when it’s getting dark and you feel completely exhausted,” Lawson said. It must be a universal childhood feeling: happy with sand, sticky from the salt, hot from the sun, and ready to fall asleep the moment you get into the car.
1. Why does Lawson mention the scene where the kids built sandcastles?| A．To suggest a way to enjoy leisure. | B．To remind readers of the childhood. |
| C．To convince us of how life works. | D．To tell us the inspiration for his book. |
| A．They are purchased by kids universally. | B．Readers can only find pictures in them. |
| C．They carry no elements of comic books. | D．The stories are literally works of fantasy. |
| A．Relieved. | B．Pleased. | C．Disturbed. | D．Exhausted. |
| A．Childhood in sandcastles | B．Beautiful childhood memories |
| C．Popular illustrated books | D．Explore the mystery of nature |
9 . My eleven-year-old son reads a lot, but for the past year he’s only been reading comics or graphic (图解的) novels. In my view, these are the books made up, mainly, of cartoons and speech bubbles and are lacking in full pages of text. As a PhD in classical literature, I turn my nose up at my son’s comics, considering them just picture books.
My son has argued well for his cause. His claim is that comics are literature or close enough and they do contain many of the basic elements of any novel: plot, backstory, dialogue and etc. But my view is that language is unique. The complicated details of plot, emotion, and inner thought that words alone can convey are surely lost when graphics take their place. And if the pictures are already there for you, what work is left to the imagination?
According to the view of some experts on parenting, we should encourage our kids to love books in all shapes and forms, without limiting the type of books they should love. I see their point, but I also worry that laziness might be playing a role here and that’s a motivation I’m less happy to enable. Comics are simply easier to read than other kinds of books; they demand less attention and my suspicion is that they become appealing for that very reason. While this is a fine way to help early or reluctant (不情愿的) readers get into better habits of reading, I’m not so sure the same is true for older kids. In an age of instant satisfaction from fragmentation (碎片化) reading, we are all losing the ability to focus on longer texts, and that’s worrisome.
My son is in his academic and emotional development. I want him to be reading things that will challenge him and force him to think deeply and critically, which will help him improve. Isn’t this what reading is for? Do his comic books have such power?
1. What is the author’s attitude toward comics according to paragraph 1?| A．Dismissive | B．Approving | C．Unclear | D．Objective |
| A．Plot can only be expressed by language. |
| B．All the details cannot be conveyed by graphics. |
| C．Language can show the basic storyline more clearly. |
| D．Graphics fail to develop children’s interest in reading. |
| A．He likes reading books with full pages of text. |
| B．He thinks comics give much space for imagination. |
| C．He believes comics share many similarities with novels. |
| D．He claims comics are easier to read than other kinds of books. |
| A．To advise kids to get rid of reading comics. |
| B．To show the significance of reading for children. |
| C．To share her worry about her son’s choice of reading. |
| D．To compare the differences between comics and novels. |
10 . Upcoming Book Fairs and Festivals
If you’re an author, you owe it to yourself to check out this list of book fairs and festival s that authors can attend.
Bouchercon World Mystery Convention, October 14—15, San Diego, CA. The World Mystery Convention is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization which holds an annual convention in honor of Anthony Boucher, the distinguished mystery fiction critic, editor and author. Bouchercon is their annual world mystery convention, where every year readers, writers, publishers, editors, and booksellers gather for a weekend of education, entertainment, and fun!
The Appalachian Writer’s Conference, October 28, Berea, KY. The conference is a literary workshop that offers beginning writers a chance to sharpen existing skills and learn new techniques from award-winning, seasoned novelists, non-fiction writers, memoirists, and poets. The guests will stay at Historic Boone Tavern Hotel and have a chance to meet Kentucky Artisans.
Kansas Book Festival, November 10—12, Topeka, KS. This event, designed to celebrate the best of Kansas literature, arts and history, will offer a variety of activities for Kansans of all ages, including meet-the-author sessions, panel discussions, book signings and sales, and a special tent with projects for children. This event is free and open to the public.
Indie Book Fair, November 19, Orlando, FL. The Indie Book Fair’s mission is to create a space to allow independent authors to sell and showcase their work, build their readership and make everyone aware of their brand. The vision is through multiple book fair events that are FREE to the public and will include virtual buying for readers who cannot attend. The fair will be held 3 times a year.
1. What’s special about the event to be held in San Diego?| A．It lasts the longest. | B．It aims to entertain the volunteers. |
| C．It educates the public on publications. | D．It is intended to honor a well-known author. |
| A．Staying at a hotel for free. | B．Improving their writing skills. |
| C．Winning writing awards. | D．Meeting with independent authors. |
| A．In San Diego. | B．In Berea. | C．In Topeka. | D．In Orlando. |
