Preface

This summer, let us probe into the intriguing relationship between sound and reading.

Last year, I bought a book in Taiwan entitled Sounds of the Island: Hearing the Most Wonderful People, Matters and Things in Taiwan published by the China Times Publishing Co. with an attached CD of an original recording of the sounds of Taiwan Island. The author Lee Pai-Wen resigned from her DJ job at a radio station and rode on her unfamiliar motorcycle with heavy recording gear, a sleeping bag and a tent, embarking on her journey to different towns and cities in Taiwan and collecting the 'sounds of the island' along the way.

With our sentiments aroused by the sounds coming through our ears, the book is transformed from a two-dimensional into a three-dimensional artwork.

In the Internet era, the modes of reading have become more and more diversified as never before, mostly with sound as the primary medium enhancing the reading experience. Apart from the original approach of sharing sounds with a complimentary CD, there has been a new wave of audio reading revolution in Mainland China since last year – a popular reading mode with the combination of audio book and online payment platform. The feature of this issue, The Age of Audio Reading, will take your understanding of this latest reading trend to the next level.

Besides, you will surely resonate with the event review in this issue if you have joined the Macao Library Week 2017, which allows more readers to 'discover' the 'little secrets' within the publishing industry with a variety of informative talks and exhibitions guiding them from elementary to advanced level.

We have also invited the long-missed Macao author, Chung Wai Man, to introduce us to his latest literary work, Forty Four Sunsets: Le petit prince retrouve, a 'fairy tale' for both children and adults which will bring back our childlike innocence.