Taiwan's Used Bookstores Breathe New Life into Old Books|二手书店为旧书注入新生命

Taiwan's Used Bookstores Breathe New Life into Old Books

by Brian Foden

The death of books has been widely exaggerated.

　　With the digital revolution in the publishing industry, ebooks are the latest darlings of the Internet Age. Their booming sales are proving how easily many readers are making the _(1)_ to this new technology. Yet, there are still traditionalists out there who decry this _(2)_ towards paperless books. Fortunately for those who crave the smell and touch of real paper when enjoying fiction or nonfiction, Taiwan has a good assortment of used bookstores _(3)_ they can find superb deals.

　　Like the very books on their shelves, second hand bookstores come _(4)_ all shapes, sizes, and varieties. One popular bookstore in Taiwan is Mollie Used Books, which is unlike the _(5)_ image of a crowded, musty, and disorganized second hand bookseller, as it is a chain of five spacious and clean stores. In fact, the modern and comfortable _(6)_ of their outlets rivals that of other operations that have shelves filled with the latest best sellers. The pleasant ambiance is also _(7)_ by the use of relaxing music and the smell of fresh coffee. Likewise, Whose Bookstore, which has locations in Shilin steps away from the MRT station and Gongguan near National Taiwan University, offers visitors a welcoming environment. It's little wonder that customers enjoy spending time browsing _(8)_ the previously owned selections at both of these establishments. Perhaps this is also because their owners are so _(9)_ about books and reading. For Janice Tsai, the founder of Whose Bookstore, opening a used bookstore was a dream she had had since she was a young girl. Both Tsai and Tai Li-chen, owner of Mollie Used Books, receive great joy from giving old books new life by _(10)_ them on their shelves.

(A) passionate (B) trend (C) in (D) where (E) stocking

(F) stereotypical (G) complemented (H) switch (I) atmosphere (J) through

 

二手书店为旧书注入新生命

书籍已消失的说法太过夸大其词了。

　　随着出版业的数位革命，电子书成了网络时代的最新宠儿。电子书的生意兴隆证明了读者很容易就能够转换到这项新科技。然而，还是有一些传统主义者反对这种非实体书籍的趋势。还好，对那些热爱在阅读小说或非小说时所享受到的真实纸张味道以及触感的人而言，台湾有各式各样的二手书店让他们能够找到很棒的书。

　　就像二手书店里书架上的书一样，二手书店也有各种形态、大小和种类。在台湾有一家有名的书店叫做茉莉二手书店，它不像一般刻版印象中的二手书店一样拥挤、潮湿以及杂乱无章，它是连锁书店，共有五家宽敞且干净的店面。事实上，这种现代化又舒适的店面气氛足以和其他摆满最新畅销书的书店匹敌。宜人的氛围被轻松的音乐和新鲜咖啡的气味衬托着。同样的，离士林捷运站数步之遥处以及台大附近的公馆各有一家分店的胡思二手书店，提供来参观的人一个惬意的环境。也难怪顾客喜欢花时间在这两家书店浏览之前别人精挑细选过的书。这也许也是因为这两家书店的老板本身也对书本及阅读有很大的热情。对胡思二手书店的创办人蔡能宝而言，开一家二手书店是从她少女时代就有的梦想。她和茉莉二手书店的老板戴莉珍都透过把旧书存放在她们的书柜而给了旧书新生命，并从中得到极大乐趣。

 

答案： 1. H 2. B 3. D 4. C 5. F

6. I 7. G 8. J 9. A 10. E