While waiting for our flight home after a fantastic vacation, I challenged 12 year old “Charlotte ” to read 金庸’s 神鵰俠侶 on the Kindle, the cartoon version of which she watched a few years ago.  (Otherwise, she can do math!  We have more than an hour to kill.)   However, the first chapter is slow, as it is just the opening, to introduce the character of 李莫愁.  In any case, besides a few questions every now and then, Charlotte seems to be able to read it.  There are some cultural background information that I do have to explain to her, such as why some people are referred to as “晚輩“, “前輩”, “賢弟”, “英雄“.  Of course, these terminologies are an integral part of the kung-fu literary world, and, along with other terminologies, expression, and customs, reflect aspects of the Chinese culture.

Here is the cartoon version for those interested:  神雕俠侶