I placed an order for two box sets, one containing six Harry Potter books and the other four of Dan Brown’s novels. This order costs me 532 yuan (about USD 70). Why so sad? Because this means that I earn Chinese wages to pay for U.K. books: Too EXPENSIVE. Though the money will well match what I’ll get in return.

I’m the kind of people who like buying books more than reading them. More than that, I like owning books better than borrowing them from libraries. I look on books as part of my family, not as come-and-go guests.