An Irish novelist Colm Toibin once recounted a story about observing a Cantonese man sitting on a Kowloon footpath reading a book. The man's face was stern with concentration, and his finger tracing the line being read. At times the man's expression would be disturbed in frustration at his progress. Finally, the reader looked up at the sky, while his face was beaming. It does'nt matter whether it was because of a sudden joy with the act of reading, or revelation from what was written, or delight at how the story resolved. The point is that he was in possession of something deliciously private - a connection between him and the writer, between the real world and the world described upon the pages.
There is a frequently asked question; What would the world be like without books? The very question is absurd and depressing. It is always said that the latest technology signals the demise of the book. Decades ago, it was thought that the radio would replace books. This fear has persisted throughout with the inventions of television and Internet. But scenes like that of Cantonese man reading the book negate the notion that modern advances pose a threat to reading. Books are themselves a form of technology that is spread over the pages and makes us delve into the complexities of life.
Question 1: Why did the Cantonese man's expression appear stern with concentration while reading on the footpath?
Answer: The Cantonese man's expression appeared stern with concentration because he was deeply engrossed in reading, with his finger tracing the line being read.
Question 2: What caused the change in the Cantonese man's expression from frustration to delight?
Answer: The change in the Cantonese man's expression from frustration to delight occurred when he looked up at the sky, indicating a sudden joy, revelation, or delight at how the story resolved.
Question 3: What does the anecdote about the Cantonese man reveal about the act of reading?
Answer: The anecdote about the Cantonese man illustrates that reading creates a private connection between the reader and the writer, bridging the gap between the real world and the world described in the book.
Question 4: Why is it considered absurd and depressing to imagine a world without books?
Answer: It is considered absurd and depressing to imagine a world without books because books serve as a form of technology that allows individuals to explore the complexities of life and connect with the thoughts and experiences of others.
Question 5: How does the passage challenge the notion that modern technology threatens reading?
Answer: The passage challenges the notion that modern technology threatens reading by presenting the scene of the Cantonese man deeply engaged in reading despite the presence of modern technological advancements like radio, television, and the Internet.
