Reading PreferencesI think that we can't live without books. There are a lot of different kinds of books in the world. For example, thrillers, historical novels, science fiction, adventure books and others. Most of them are with us during all our life. Boys all over the world like reading adventures, thrillers and horrors, whereas girls prefer romances, historical novels and poetry. Encyclopaedias, reference books and dictionaries help pupils to do well at school. All the members of my family like reading very much. My father often reads newspapers and magazines. He thinks that it is the only way to be in the know of everything. And my mother is keen on reading romances and modern novels. For her they are more interesting than boring historical novels. She agrees with Anatole France that " history books, which contain no lies, are extremely dull". But she wouldn't mind reading about the life of the well-known people. I enjoy reading very much. Most of all I like reading detective stories, because they have interesting story lines and unusual endings. 1 am particularly captivated by characters who conduct investigations. I never believed there really were books that you couldn't put down. I changed my opinion when I started to read " The Woman in White" by Wilkie Collins, an English writer. The book was written in the 19th century. Its a very good detective story with a bit of romance thrown in it. The book is basically about mistaken identity. The main character in the story is a young artist who goes up to the north of England to instruct two young ladies. And he falls in love with Miss Fairlie, who looks very like the woman in white. Finally they turn out to be identical twins. The author brilliantly describes the adventures, love and fears of his heroes. He really brings the characters to life. A good writer knows how to keep you reading the book. In " The Woman in White" the reader's interest is caught from the very first page, and there is suspense till the very end! This is a great book, and I would recommend it to anyone. But my favourite writer is Agatha Christie. She is possibly the world's most famous detective writer. She wrote 79 novels and several plays. Her books are translated into 103 foreign languages. Many of her novels and short stories have been filmed. Her sales outnumber those of Shakespeare, but her life was often lonely and unhappy. She was born in 1890 in Devon. She didn't go to school, but she was educated at home by her mother. During World War I, while she was working in a hospital dispensary, she learned about chemicals and poisons, which proved very useful to her in her later career. She wrote her first detective novel, " The Mysterious Affair at Styles", in 1920. In it she introduced Hercule Poirot, the Belgian detective, who appeared in many subsequent novels. Her other main detective was an elderly spinster called Miss Marple. Miss Marple doesn't look like a detective at all. This old lady always uses her instinct and knowledge of human nature to investigate crimes. In 1914 she married Archibald Christie, but the marriage was unhappy. It didn't last long, and they divorced in 1926. Agatha desperately wanted solitude and developed very bitter feelings towards the media because the newspapers had given her a hard time over her breakdown. She was determined never to let them enter her private life again, and she buried herself in her work. On 25 November 1952 her play " The Mousetrap" opened in London. Today, over 50 years later, it is still running. It is the longest running show in the whole world. Agatha Christie died peacefully in 1976. People all over the world value this talented writer and consider her to be the Queen of detective literature. I wouldn't mind reading adventure stories. Especially I like to read about characters who go through dangers to complete their mission. I think it's more interesting than reading dull historical novels. But I dislike poetry, especially modern poetry. I find it too complicated. Sometimes I fail to understand what poets mean. I am sure that reading is an essential part of our life. Only in books you can find answers to all your questions. Books can tell us a lot about the modern world and ancient times. Besides they can help us to explore new ideas and expand our outlook. I completely agree that " reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body". What is more, books teach us to be kind and honest. While reading we learn how to solve our problems and to make people happy. And I think that reading is the perfect way to spend free time and not to feel bored. Books must be our friends during all our life.
1. Is reading important to you? Why? 2. What kind of books do you like to read? Why? 3. What were your favourite childhood books? 4. Have your childhood reading interests changed? 5. What is your favourite book? Why is it worth reading? 6. What book are you reading now? 7. What famous British writers and poets do you know? Have you read any of their books/poems? 8. What Russian
authors do you like? 9. Who is your favourite writer? Why? 10. What books can help you to learn better at school? 11. Do you read books in English?
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