I read books in Chinese to keep up and build my reading skills. Because the books are in Chinese, my progress through them is slow. It is not uncommon for me to take a few months to get through one book.
I brought several books back from Taiwan when I was there in 2009-2010, and I’m slowly making my way through them.
The book that I am currently reading is called “An illustrated history of Taiwan.” I explores the history of the island’s human habitation from prehistoric times to the early 21st century. Because Taiwan’s history went through so many big changes over time, the book’s structure consists of short chapters that characterize significant events from various eras.
What makes the book easy to read is that the chapters are short (only a few pages long), so I can read the book in small chunks and not lose the narrative. I can get through a chapter in 10-20 minutes (depending on how many words I have to look up). I read near my computer, so that I can look up unfamiliar characters using my online dictionary. I also keep a notebook handy so I can write down new words and with luck, remember them. 😉
The book is just over 200 pages long, and I estimate that I will finish it in a few weeks. It’s a good read, and either my Chinese is improving, or the writing gets simpler as I progress through it. 🙂
