As science fiction offers surprise and exciting, I had a strong urge to read The Three- Body Problem written by Liu Cixin. The book, first releasing as a series in Science Fiction World magazine in 2006 in China, turned out to be a hit.

The book described the story of Ye Wenjie and Wang Miao, two scientists on the not distant future. Ye joins a secret project to contact aliens. Meanwhile, Wang registers or logs on to an online video game called “Three Body”. It has influenced minds deeply that people are worried about the possibility of the earth being invaded by an advanced civilization.

Curiously, I was referred to an online forum and concluded that the concern is necessary, at least for now. Which is declared by scientists, the chance of life beyond the earth develops into superior intelligence is quite slim.

5 . For those looking to fry up something new this winter, these are the cookbooks to have in your kitchen bookshelf.

1. Made in Bangladesh, by Dina Begum

£28, Hardie Grant

The second cookbook from food writer Dina Begum is a love letter to Bangladcsh. Alongside the selection of tempting recipes are detailed ingredient notes, explanations of distinctive spice mixtures and advice on traditional preparation and serving, all accompanied by vivid photography of busy street-sellers, grass-covered landscapes and market produce.

2. Manju’s Cookbook, by Manju Patel

£22, Ryland Peters & Small

At the age of 80, Gujarat-born Manju Patel was given a restaurant in Brighton by her sons. Six years later, she remains an important part of the business — named Manju’s — but has also found the time to write this cookbook, which showcases dishes including mattar paneer（奶豆腐）and Gujarati dal.

3. Ester, by Mat Lindsay

£30, Murdoch Books

Australian restauranteur Mat Lindsay’s new book isn’t for the green-hand home cook. Ester is a celebration of modern Aussie cuisine, focusing on fire and perfect technique. Recipes include flame-grilled bone marrow with sesame-seed sambal, and sourdough ice cream.

4. Maydan, by Rose Previte

£30, Abrams

This new cookbook from Washington, DC-based chef Rose Previte is inspired by her Lebanese roots and travels in the Middle East. You can surely be inspired if you enjoy Lebanese dishes.

6 . Despite demonstrating a love of the written word, many readers tend to devote most of their time to consuming books in one or two specific genres (体裁). Of course, you want to read books that bring you joy, but it’s well worth adding some variety to your reading list.     1    

You can improve your vocabulary.

When you read a wide variety of books, it’s not uncommon to come across unfamiliar words and phrases. Sometimes you can get enough con text from the sentence to understand the meaning; other times you’ll need to consult a dictionary for clarification.     2    

You can discover a new favorite genre.

You undoubtedly have a favorite genre or two now, but what if you’re missing out on others because you’re not adding any variety to your reading list?     3     However, by varying your reading material, you could end up enjoying a particular type of book just as much as others you read on a regular basis.

    4    

When you add a wide selection of titles to your reading list, you can start to see people, places, and historical events in a new perspective. For example, reading a nonfiction book about a group of people in another country can have a greater understanding of cultures unlike your own.

You can get inspiration from surprising places.

It’s amazing how expanding your reading list can provide you with inspiration when you need it most. Of course, some genres are meant to provide encouragement, motivation, and support, such as self-help books and Memoirs (回忆录).     5     They’re able to do so nevertheless. By picking up a book from a genre you wouldn’t normally read, you may be motivated to finally write your own novel, travel to a faraway place, or even just take up a new hobby.

8 . Classic Books

Published almost a century ago in 1925, the story of the striving Jay Gatsby is still deeply influential in its exploration of class, society, and the false promise that money can buy happiness. Gatsby’s misguided chase for his first love is a sad tale that spans the ages. At the time, the book was considered a commercial failure, but you’d be hard to find a high school course today that didn’t include it.

Written in 1951, Catcher in the Rye brilliantly describes the lonely teen experience of having to grow up and leave the tenderness and innocence(纯真)of childhood behind. Though young adult fiction didn’t exist in its current form when J.D. Salinger wrote the novel, it’s considered one of the first teen books and constantly appears on high school reading lists.

Written in 1818, this classic from Mary Shelley tells the tale of Victor Frankenstein and the monster(怪物) he creates. The themes of creation and responsibility the book explores still exist today, as technology and science produce more possibilities and power than ever before.

The story of the March sisters is a true American classic, and one of the most popular books written by a woman. Published in 1868 and set in the time of the Civil War, the book is popular because of its description of strong women and sisterly love. Not only is the novel a classic, but its film adaptations (of which there have been many) became classics in their own right.

10 . Not long ago, Linda was sitting by a hospital bed, feeling anxious. Beside her lay her 88-year-old father. His heart was ________ and he needed an operation.

What ________ her almost as much as his health was the fact that all day the two of them had engaged in nothing but ________ small talks. She and her father had always had good ________, but now all he talked about was the awful hospital food and the ________ outcomes of his illness. His once wide-ranging interests seemed to have ________ to the size of the room.

That day in the hospital, Linda’s eye fell on the ________ that people had brought as gifts and left on the table. Her father had always been a passionate reader, but lately he didn’t have the ________ or focus. She ________ a book, and started to read it out loud.

It ________ changed the mood and atmosphere. It was a ________ and a pleasure for both of them. Reading gave the daughter a way to connect with her father and help him in a situation that was ________ out of her hands. ________ allowed the father to travel on the sound of his daughter’s voice, up and out of the bed and back into the world of mature, intelligent engagement, where he ________ himself again.

In fact, almost any kind of reading to another person can be ________ to both parties, providing a joyful shared experience.