President Tsai Ing-wen launched a book reading campaign on Facebook on Jan. 27, urging followers to share their recently purchased books.
In light of the Taipei International Book Exhibition (TiBE) having been moved online over latest COVID-19 concerns, President Tsai pointed out the unfortunate fact that for two consecutive years, there has not been any physical book exhibition in Taiwan. Nevertheless, the public should keep purchasing and reading books in support of Taiwan's unrestrained and diverse publishing industry, she added.
Noting that Jan. 27 was the originally scheduled opening day for the TiBE, President Tsai expressed her gratitude to the organizers for complying with the epidemic prevention measures.
The president shared a list of 14 books she bought for the new year, along with their respective publishers:
- "War, Trade and Piracy in the China Seas 1522-1683 (海上傭兵)" by Acropolis (衛城)
- "Pacific Histories: Ocean, Land, People (太平洋的多重歷史)" by the Council of Indigenous Peoples (原住民族委員會)
- "The Courage of the Kurds: The Kurdish People and their Pursuit of Independence (庫德的勇氣)" by Gusa Publishing (八旗文化)
- "The Price of Democracy (狂飆一夢)" by Avanguard (前衛出版社)
- "Lao Wu Yan Yu Tie Chuang Hua (老屋顏與鐵窗花)" by Marco Polo Press (馬可孛羅)
- "Taiwan Breakfast Map (台灣早餐地圖)" by Linking Publishing (聯經出版)
- "Be Sky Taiwan (風起臺灣)" Locus Publishing (大塊文化)
- "A Day of the Sea (大海的一天)" by Locus Publishing
- "Nv Zi Shan Hai (女子山海)" by Locus Publishing
- "Worldviews: The Origin and Journey of the Montane Plants in Taiwan (通往世界的植物：臺灣高山植物的時空旅史)" by Spring Hill Publishing (春山出版)
- "Cai Ji Ren De Ye Zhang I (採集人的野帳:第一集)" by Gaea (蓋亞)
- "Hobe Arts: The Anthropomorphism Records of Tamsui Heritage (滬尾畫帖：淡水古蹟擬人誌)" by Gaea
- "Da Jing Tou Fang Dian Ying (大井頭放電影)" by Walkers Cultural Enterprise (遠足文化)
- "Yi Shu Jia De Yi Ri Chu Fang (藝術家的一日廚房)" by Briefing Press (大寫出版)
President Tsai also thanked writer Chen Rou-jin (陳柔縉) for sending her a copy of "Daughter of Great Harbor (大港的女兒)," a novel set in Kaohsiung which follows the transformation of Taiwan in the last 100 years from a woman's perspective.
The president recommends avoiding large crowds during the COVID-19 pandemic and buying good books to read at home, so as to keep everyone safe during the lunar New Year season.
Photo courtesy of President
Tsai Ing-wen Facebook.