I enjoy a wide range of books and I am particularly into 19th-century French literature. The 19th century is a dynamic period in France history that saw the rise of Democracy and the fitful end of Monarchy and Empire.
While Hugo's Notre-Dame de Paris is widely acknowlegded, I don't like it much. Some of my favorites include Flaubert's Madame Bovary, Stendhal's The Red and the Black, Zola's Nana, and Maupassant's short stories.
In fact, I think I am generally interested in the 19th century. My other favorite pieces that are from other countries -- American novelist Dreiser's Sister Carrie, Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, and British novelist Thackeray's The Luck of Barry Lyndon -- are highly correlated with the French works I like (they are around the same era).
By no coincidence, the philosophy that resonates with me the most - Existentialism - again is around the 19th century.
I may explain the reasons why I love the books, philosophy, or the era in the future when I become less tired and more motivated to let people know me.
In Hoffa's Shadow: The legendary labor leader, Mafia, and survelliance.
The Thorn Birds: If you find so much beauty in tragedy that you no longer consider it tragedy, this is the book for you.
Gone with the Wind: Beauty combined with grit and intelligence is still not enough.
有那么几首诗，读时惊艳，觉得有此一作传世，死而无憾。
去年今日此门中，人面桃花相映红。
人面不知何处去，桃花依旧笑春风。
群山万壑赴荆门，生长明妃尚有村。
一去紫台连朔漠，独留青冢向黄昏。
画图省识春风面，环佩空归夜月魂。
千载琵琶作胡语，分明怨恨曲中论。
滚滚长江东逝水，浪花淘尽英雄。是非成败转头空。青山依旧在，几度夕阳红。
白发渔樵江渚上，惯看秋月春风。一壶浊酒喜相逢。古今多少事，都付笑谈中。
山，快马加鞭未下鞍。惊回首，离天三尺三。
山，倒海翻江卷巨澜。奔腾急，万马战犹酣。
山，刺破青天锷未残。天欲堕，赖以拄其间。
苏子愀然，正襟危坐，而问客曰：“何为其然也？”客曰：“月明星稀，乌鹊南飞，此非曹孟德之诗乎？西望夏口，东望武昌。山川相缪，郁乎苍苍；此非孟德之困于周郎者乎？方其破荆州，下江陵，顺流而东也，舳舻千里，旌旗蔽空，酾酒临江，横槊赋诗；固一世之雄也，而今安在哉？况吾与子，渔樵于江渚之上，侣鱼虾而友糜鹿，驾一叶之扁舟，举匏樽以相属；寄蜉蝣与天地，渺沧海之一粟。哀吾生之须臾，羡长江之无穷；挟飞仙以遨游，抱明月而长终；知不可乎骤得，托遗响于悲风。”
苏子曰：“客亦知夫水与月乎？逝者如斯，而未尝往也；盈虚者如彼，而卒莫消长也。盖将自其变者而观之，而天地曾不能一瞬；自其不变者而观之，则物于我皆无尽也。而又何羡乎？且夫天地之间，物各有主。苟非吾之所有，虽一毫而莫取。惟江上之清风，与山间之明月，耳得之而为声，目遇之而成色。取之无禁，用之不竭。是造物者之无尽藏也，而吾与子之所共适。”
I have to recommand this documentary: Mankind: The Story of All of Us.
There is a Chinese proverb “Read thousands of books, travel thousands of miles.” The documentary satisfies my curiosity of the human cultures and further triggers my desire to visit those places in person. For instance, when I visited Cancun, I had to visit Mexico City to see the Aztec Civilization because I was so awed by its sacrifice culture when I learned about it many years ago. It turns out that I did not only enjoy my visit to Pyramid of the Sun, but also greatly enjoyed my stay at Mexico City. We stayed at the gorgeous Gran Hotel Ciudad De Mexico near Zócalo. The buildings are just grandeur. One anecdote is that when we were at the Museo Nacional de Antropología, there were a group of elementary students who were visiting the museum as well. I suppose it was rare that they saw Chinese, many of them stared at us for a long time.
I’m looking forward to traveling to more places and immerse in more cultures. I am particularly fascinated by Greek, Egypt, and Vikings.
推荐两本历史小说：当年明月的《明朝那些事儿》和唐浩明的《曾国藩》，极好看！
小时候放寒暑假，一个人在家里无事做，看厌了偶像剧便在家中的四个大书柜摸索起来。看完了贾平凹的浮躁，铁凝的永远有多远，茅盾的子夜，张爱玲的倾城之恋、红玫瑰白玫瑰、色戒，王安忆的长恨歌，余华的活着、许三观卖血记、第七天，沈从文的边城，路遥的平凡的世界，张晓风的地毯的那一端；待到莫言得了诺贝尔奖，虽丰乳肥臀、生死疲劳、酒国、蛙、檀香刑都已买来，却因留学而搁置了。
直到前些日子摄影拍档突然写起了自己的文字，多年前读过的当代文学才重新在落满灰尘的记忆中，闪动起来。那些童年的记忆也像琥珀糖一样，唤起一种wistful的苦涩和温馨，那些鲜活的人物 -- 妩媚又放荡的西单小六，仁义的老好人白大省；爱丽丝公寓孤独等待的王琦瑶（读起来心中一种淡淡的空荡荡的孤独和绝望，却又因王琦瑶生活的品味和精心而打败，喃喃道来，在午后的夏日如梦似幻，像是随着女主人蹉跎了一生）；傩送顺顺与翠翠间的纯情和命运的捉弄（边城文字真的好透彻干净，像是雨后的春笋，整个人心都透亮了）；子夜人物塑造真的太强了，八年之后吴荪莆杜竹斋赵伯韬屠维岳徐曼丽吴老太爷姚金凤一个个形象在脑海中仍历历在目，想起这些人的小心机、欲望、贪心、手段，到今日都很惋惜。当然还有张爱玲，不消为情爱劳神。
白公馆里流苏只回去过一次，只怕人多嘴多，惹出是非来。然而麻烦是免不了的。四奶奶决定和四爷进行离婚，众人背后都派流苏的不是。流苏离了婚再嫁，竟有这样惊人的成就，难怪旁人要学她的模样。流苏蹲在灯影里点蚊烟香。想到四奶奶，她微笑了。
柳原现在从来不跟她闹着玩了。他把他的俏皮话省下来说给旁的女人听。那是值得庆幸的好现象，表示他完全把她当作自家人看待 -- 名正言顺的妻。然而流苏还是有些怅惘。
香港的陷落成全了她。但是在这不可理喻的世界里，谁知道什么是因，什么是果？谁知道呢，也许就因为要成全她，一个大都市倾覆了。成千上万的人死去，成千上万的人痛苦著，跟著是惊天动地的大改革......
流苏并不觉得她在历史上的地位有什么微妙之点。她只是笑吟吟地站起身来，将蚊烟香盘踢到桌子底下去。
传奇里的倾国倾城的人大抵如此。
到处都是传奇，可不见得有这么圆满的收场。胡琴咿咿呀呀拉著，在万盏灯的夜晚，拉过来又拉过去，说不尽的苍凉的故事 -- 不问也罢!
推荐两位私心最喜欢的作家，臧克家和汪曾祺。这两位的作品直接影响了我的性格。臧克家的文笔苍劲有力，有一种中华民族的风骨（毛主席诗词也很爱，胜在豪情壮志，胜在气魄）；汪曾祺是难得的童真和品味，再如水的人生中也能咂出滋味（杨绛钱钟书也是类似，不过个人更爱汪老）。
最爱当属曹雪芹，无关文字，那种慈悲之眼，之心，只应天上有。
总觉得想做的事情太多，时间不够用，想念那段纯粹的可以一本书一杯茶便穿越一日的时光，随着各位主人公体验了各种风光与凄凉。这些书不提起也不会想起，他们蛰伏在我记忆的角落，默默地影响着我每天的思维和决定。书是滋养我的家园，愿一直守护她。
其实，即使不曾提起，我也不会忘记。