[originaltext]A: Xiaohua, have you been reading any books recently?B：嗯，我最近在读散文

A: Xiaohua, have you been reading any books recently?
B：嗯，我最近在读散文。
A: I read Walden before. It’s a nicely written work, but I actually prefer novels to prose1. Novels are more exciting to me.
B：散文的结构确实比较松散，行文也比较自由，也不像小说一样有清晰的故事线。读不惯散文的人，可能会觉得它太平淡枯燥了。不过我正在读的这部散文集，虽然也没有什么跌宕起伏的情节，但却很吸引人。
A: Really? Who wrote it?
B：作者是一位中国作家，叫汪曾祺。国内对他的作品评价很高。
A: Why is that? Is it because of his writing techniques or style?
B：怎么说呢……汪曾祺年轻时确实使用过一些写作技巧，但反而是他晚年的作品更显出他与一般作者的不同。他的散文经常描写平凡生活里的普通人，语言也很平实。
A: I think it’s more difficult to impress your readers with plain language than with various writing techniques or plot twists.4 It’s just like cooking. A really good cook can turn the simplest ingredients into a delicious dish, and doesn’t need to add extra seasoning.
B：没错，简单的文字里蕴含着深刻的意义。读他的作品，就像和一位上了年纪的邻居聊天，让人感觉很亲切。
A: After listening to your description, I can almost imagine what this author was like in real life. It must take a very kind and loving person to write such beautiful works.
B：是的，汪曾祺的作品中没有“坏人”。他总是用理解、同情来看待普通人和他们的人生。而且你能够通过他的文字，感受到他对生活的热爱。读汪曾祺的书，人也能感到平静、快乐。
A: I’ll go and look for an English version of his works. Do you recommend any specific works of his?
B：我想一本散文集应该就够了。另外，汪曾祺的小说和散文的风格比较类似，如果你感兴趣，也可以读一读他的小说。