Booklovers

Two books of Biography of Charlotte Bronte

2011-12-27T00:33:00.000-08:00

　　
Many people start reading Charlotte's book from Jane Eyre. But the first book I read is Emma, the unfinished book by Charlotte. No evidence shows which parts were written by Charlotte and which were not. Likely that Charlotte wrote broken pieces of the story before she left this world.

The second book I read is Jane Eyre, the fomous one. The book is amazing, I found almost every sentence, from the beginning to the end, is interesting and brilliant. I feel terror, tense, sympathy and sometimes, shock. All this intensive feeling mingled together and drawed me to the book.

Thus, finally, Jane Eyre became one of my favorite books. And I want to learn more about the author, Charlotte Bronte.

I found some reading regard the life of Charlotte, two of the important ones are Elizabeth's The Life of Charlotte Bronte and Reid's Charlotte Bronte.

The former one is the earliest biography of Brontes. It is more like a story than merely a biography, judging from the style and language of writing as well as the fact that Eliz keyed the tone of Bronte's life as sad, hard and depressed.

The later, has fixed the disadvantages of Eliz's work but not particularlly interesting. The last chapter devotes to the critic of Brontes' works, not only Charlotte but also Anna and Emily.

I am now reread Jane Eyre every day before I lie myself in the bed. Having gained understanding of Brontes, I may draw some fresh and truer understanding of Jane Eyre. Later, I will start reading the other stories written by Bronte Sisiters.

It is quite an interesting and rewarding journey of reading these intelligent books!

Back to here

2011-12-17T14:30:00.000-08:00

Two years ago, I open another independent blog and run quite smoothly untill 6 monthes ago.

My blog is using American surfer and I am in Australia. The blog maining published book reviews, photos and some short stories created by myself. It attract a group of friends that I like. I had hoped that the blog can long live till I die.

But...but..it was attached by hacker and all the data has been destroyed. My friend tried to recover the back up data but failed because he can not access to the control panel. Anyway, it was hacked by some reason that I don't know.

So I am back, to this quite blog and continue to write my passion about life and about the books I love.

The lesson-by Toni Cade Bambara

2010-05-22T04:15:00.000-07:00

The main problem of poor people (often they are ethical groups), I think, is they haven’t realised they are poor and being treated unfairly. Every time I pass redfern, I saw many aboriginal people beg or crazily run along the street. They seem quite happy to live on the support of other people or the government and seem feel no shame. And I have talked with many poor people in China and in Australia, most of them are indifferent with their lives and never thought of flighting for better lives or better treatment.

Just as the children in this story They thought they are the smartest in the street and don’t care about education provided by the teacher who is also black. They wouldn’t realised they are poor if they haven’t taken to the shop in the town. The price of a toy is the amount of what a family could earn in a year. Without knowing how other people lives, the poor children would not know they are being treated unequally. Without realising the inequality, poor people are impossible to flight for what they desire.

So I start to understand why Chinese government tries to block the source of information for people to know the past and what is going on in China. Because once they know the true, it is possible for them to flight for their rights. If they have no idea of their situation, they may content about the existing lives though might be unfair.

Note: Toni Cade Bambara is one of the best African American short story writers.

The use of force-by William Carlos Williams

2010-05-18T05:16:00.000-07:00

The story is written by William Carlos Williams and quite worth thinking for a while.

The doctor uses force as a means to check whether the girl has deadly illness. Trying to hide the sore throat, the girl dares not open her mouth, so the doctor uses violent actions to open up the girl's mouth. Finally, the mouth is opened but with brood and the girl's tears. The doctor's inner activities is quite interesting: he say to himself that what he is trying to do is in good purpose and it is what doctor should do-save life; but he also enjoys the violent attack, imagining he is tearing the girl apart. There is no description of the girl's psycological activities, but we can imagine that she obviously knows her illness and the need to be checked. But she tries her best to defense and would not let others know her secrect. After she is forced to open her mouth, her defence becomes attack with anger and frustration.

I natrually connect this story to the relationship between US and Iraq. US attacked Iraq violently, claiming that they did that for the sake of peace and welfare of people in Iraq and the rest of the world. But is it justified to use violence to achieve peace? During the war, how much blood and tears it brought with? How many innocent people died for so call "justification"? In the story, the doctor gains his success, but in the light of the girl's feeling, it might be a lost. Iraq people, just like the girl, know the ills of their country, but they just don't wanna other countries to solve problems for them. They try to defense though they know they may be better if the illness of their political system is cured. After US successfully won the battles and arrested Saddam and his accociates, people in Iraq started to attack US army by suicide bombs and terrorist attack. Exactly as what the story descrides!

The war, I think, is the exaggerated human conflict. The means applied to achieve the good aim might not be necessarily fair and justifed.

The Celestial Omnibus-by E.M.Foster

2010-05-15T06:05:00.000-07:00

The Celestial Omnibus is one of the short story written by E.M.Foster.
I was attracted at the first beginning. A boy is curious about the sign-post opposite his house. It points up a blank alley with the words”Heaven”. He was told that the sign-post is a bad joy made by a young man ages ago and there is no need to think about it any more. But he can not control himself and decides to visit the alley to find out what is in it.

There is a notice on the wall of the alley saying that the company provides sunrise and sunset Omnibused, the passenger could buy a return ticket at this end and will not be issued ticket from the desitination. It seems there is Omnibus driving pass the alley everyday but why nobody knows? and why the dust on the ground is so thick? May be all the things are just bad joke.

But it is not the answer the boy wants.He want to prove that whether the Omnibus exists or not-he senses that all of them are true. At the dawn, he gets up, downstairs and heads to the alley. I can’t breath at this moment:imagine that I have to enter into a dark alley that nobody will go and may encounter something terrible. Normal person will be terrified but curious drives the boy to find out the truth.

There is an Omnibus! The boy jumps into the bus and was taken further and further away. Finally he finds out they are riding on the rainbow! He is in the heaven! It is true! He is right! The boy has a happy time in the heaven, talks with different people and runs across the rainbow.

While when he is home, his story is not believed by his parents. The guest-Mr.Bons appreciates the boy’s potery but disbelieves that is true. The boy insists he has not tell a lie and successfully persuades Mr. Bons to have a ride with him.

Things happen again. When Mr. Bons sees the Omnibus and has been taken to the ride, he worries and frightening, afraiding he is being kidnapped. But when he hears the boy met some people that are the authors of his great books, he is overjoy,deciding to have an intellitual conversation with those admirable authors. But when he realises only the boy not him can go back to the world he scares to death. He cares nothing but cry and beg. Finally he falls through the rocks as it were water and vanished.

Next day, his body is found by people in London, had apparently been hurled from a considerable height.

I am thinking why Mr.Bons is not allowed to return to his world. I think the ending indicates that Mr.Bons lack of imagination to enjoy the peotry and own the books without appreciate them. The boy, may not have read all the great books that Mr. Bons proud of, but he can really enjoy what he have encountered and what he imangines. The boy,rather than the adult, is more welcome by the heaven and is allowed to return to the world. Mr. Bons falls from the heaven because he could not appreciation the joy and beauty of the heaven which actually is a symbol of imaginary literature world.

The Warden-by Anthony Trollope

2010-03-19T04:42:00.000-07:00

Some said that this story is based on the real event happen in St Cross Hispital. But Trollope denied this, saying in the beginning of story that :

Were we to name Wells or Salishbury, Exeter, Hereford or Gloueester, it might be presumed that something personal was intended…We are anxious that no personality may be suspected.

But I doubt this. It seems Trollope tried to avoid troubles by claiming that the story is not real. But the harder he tried to deny, the more we believe the story is real to some extend. Anyway, it is just some of my thought beyond the subject matter and we are not gonna find any information in reading fiction.

The book is well structured and related smoothly. I am not familiar with religion so it took me some time to figure out what is archbishop, clergyman, archdeacon, canon and so on. But after I have known what those mean, I fully enjoyed reading the story. By the way, I find it useful to draw or write the charactors and their relationship in my notepad. The strutures would be presented more clearly and I don’t need to bother to remember all of the name of charactors.

Chapter I briefly describes the warden, Mr Harding-his personality, his family, his job responsibility, and the cause of the conflict. As the value of the trust estate keeps increasing and the amount given to 12 bedesmen is fixed, which means the large amount flows to the warden and the steward rather than beneficiaries. The warden is a kind old man who has never doubted with his stipend until he hears some rumors that trigger his thought.

The story begins in Chapter II. John Bold, a rich heritor (if he is not rich, I doubt that the reform would not be happen), has a very good wish to seek justification for the society as he knows the huge payment to warden contradicts the nature of the will by John Hiram and is unfair to the 12 bedesmen. Things would not be so complicated if Mr. Bold is a merely a stranger to Mr.Harding. Unfortunatly, he is a close friend to Mr. Harding and he even falls in love with Mr. Harding’s daughter, Eleaner. Mr. Bold’s reform is by no means unjustifiable, however his act aggravates the warden’s inward suffering. Actually, not only the warden but also Mr. Bold is internal conflictive. This is reflected in a conversation between Mr.Bold and his sister, Mary:

Mary: And for what?For a dream of justice. You will never make those 12 men happier than they now are.
Bold: The duty of righting these poor men would belong to nobody. If we are to act on that principle, the weak are never to be protected, injustice is never be opposed and no one is struggle for the poor (pp. 46-47)

Personally, I admire Mr. Bold. Even though he seems to act on impulse, he is passionate and ready to sac
rifice all he has-his wealth, love and friendship-for social justice. It is rare to see this kind of people nowadays.

Mr. Grantly, the archdeacon and the son-in-law of the warden, is a strong opponent of the reform. He is not a bad man; he just a conservative man ready to fight for anyone and anythings that may harm the reputation of the church. I think Mr.Bold and Mr Grantly are similar: they are both strong, determined, confident and believe in what they believe. That is why they are enemies at the first beginning but turn out to be friends at the end.

Mr. Harding is tortured by two set of opinions represented by Mr. Bold and Mr. Grantly. In addition to those forces, a newspaper call Jupiter publishes some opinions attacking Mr. Harding. He can not stand it not because he is weak and scared but he has awared that there is something wrong with the distribution of the money. He can not live on those money that should be given to the bedesmen. It is his self-consciousness and honesty that impress me.

Eleanor wants to help her father and thus begs Mr.Bold for giving up the case, ready to give up her love in return for her father’s peace and happiness. She is really a unselfish and naive woman! At the end, Mr. Bold gives up his act and find himself deeply love and beloved. But this does not exempt the warden’s pain and doubts and he decides to resign.

Mr. Harding: A man is the best judge of what he feels himself. (p.142)

The ending is a happy one: Eleanor marries Mr. Bold, Mr. Grantly and Mr, Bold become friends and Mr. Harding lives free from worries and pain. While the 12 bedesmen are the true victims of the reform: they are given hope of receiving large sum of money every year and get nothing more at the end and even lose their best friend, Mr. Harding who is the only one that truely care for them. They live and then die sadly and lonely. What is the use of the sudden wealth to these old men? Nothing can make them more happily and cozily. I think it is a pitfall of the reform.

Reading The Warden is one of the happies thing in these two monthes. This is a great book that worth reading.

Stories of belonging (1)--edited by Kali Wendorf

2010-02-18T16:39:00.000-08:00

It is the 'belonging' in the title attract my attention. But what on earth is belonging? Is it possible that we do belong to something? And belongs to what? I can not define it, so I want to see how other people think about belonging.

Not all of the stories are good enough, but some of them are quite impressing.

The second stories: Jasmine Petals by Banafsheh Serov.

The author tries to connect main events in Iran with her grandparents' lives, her parents' lives and her own life, in order to define their belonging in Australia. I appreciate her attempt, but unfortunately, parts of the connections are not smooth and well enough. However, the beginning and the ending of the story are touching and well express the real feeling of most of the immigrants. As an immigrant, he or she belongs to two countries or belongs to neither of them. More often than not, immigrants can not waive their memories and their family bond in their own country while they are not truely accepted by the country they are living in. It is kind of sadness of semi-belonging.

There are some of her words:

My grandmother found her sense of belonging in her devotion to her family and her religion. Her children, now living in exile, find their sense of belonging in common memories, culture and the language they share with others from Iran. Her grandchildren left Iran before they could form any lasting memories of their own, yet our dark features and slight accents set us apart from locals in our new country. We exist at the peripheral edges of both cultures and at times struggle with our identity and sense of belonging.

The end of paper books?

2010-02-04T02:44:00.000-08:00

Some people said that the e-books will eventually take the place of paper books because they are costless, easy to be accessed and convenient. However, although I appreciate the merits of e-books, I do not share their opinion that the traditional books would lose in the market. Audio books and others can supplement, but not replace the traditional books.

Of course, e-resource has numerous benefits with the help of computer and advanced gadgets like iPad which are capable of storing and downloading large amount of books from the Internet. It is cheap, compared with the paper ones. And for some people, they can listen to the audio books while they doing housework or read e-books from the gadgets at anyplace and anytime. In addition, writers are also benefited from rich information online and the e-version of out-of-print books downloaded.

Nevertheless, the e-books may not replace the traditional books; instead, they could enhance people’s initiative in reading. More often than not, an e-reader would first access to e-book to see whether the book is worth reading, then he or she would buy the real book if he or she find the books appealing. On the other hand, the feeling of reading the real books is different from reading on the screen. Especially, the readers can mark, make notes or underline in the real books which can not be substituted by e-resource.

While the real problem lies behind this issue is the regulation and implementation of piracy. How can we make sure that the e-readers pay for the information? And what amount should we pay? If we do not pay, is that means we are committing crime? Mess of problems have to be resolved and discussed.

Overall, e-books would only make traditional books more important

How to Read a Book--by Mortimer J. Adler (Discussion 2--Readable)

2010-01-30T14:43:00.000-08:00

Readable.What is this means? Apparently, it means easy to understand. You may say, Oh I get it--magazine is readable, newspaper is readable, sixth-grade textbook is readable.

It is true that these books are easy to read because ithe language they use is simple and straighforward. They convey idea and information that are easy to catch. They call for little effort to understand.

But this is not truely readable, as far as I am concerned, they are just simple to read. The readable ones should have logical sense with little gramma mistakes. What the books are trying to say should be well structured and has no or little ambiguous expression and can be understood by readers who have make reasonable effort to read.

One clue to see whether the book is readable is to find its "bone". If you can briefly state what the book is trying to say and what is the important words or sentences in the book and what the author is trying to argue, the book might be readable one.

The great books are readable in this sense. Why the great books can pass from long time ago to nowadays is because they are readable, well written and can convey knowledge to the readers.

How to Read a Book--by Mortimer J. Adler (Discussion 1--Active learning)

2010-01-30T05:37:00.000-08:00

Only those who learn actively can benefit from reading books. That is the reason why I prefer self-study to being taught by school. When I engage in learning process either by reading or writing, I am actively exploring new knowledge on my own.

Most of students hate reading books because they are trained to swallow content in the books, they are directed to the wrong way of learning, they are spoon-fed by teachers and thus they lack of actively learning enthusiam. That is the failure of today's education--we are trained to be taught not are taught to learn by ourselves.

One of my friends said that every time he tried to read a book, he would quickly fall into asleep. He blamed his unsuccessful reading attempt for lacking interest and talent. While I think the cause of the failure is due to the fact that he had not prepared for active learning and not fully realise the hardship in the process.

Actively learning needs huge amount of effort, relative skills, determination,awake mind and so forth. It sounds terrible and difficult to most people and that is why some people never try to learn actively. While like any other kind of arts, reading can be improved by practising skills. At the very beginning, we would feel painful to read and interpret words, sentences and paragraghs,let alone criticising author's views. But we will get better after we try several times and only the practice day by day can make our reading skills come near to "perfect".

Self-learning is not a mission impossible. But you should start it as soon as possible and try to develop the reading practices into life-long habit. Sooner or later, you will see the benefits of it.

google would quit the game of censorship

2010-01-15T01:53:00.000-08:00

I feel glad when I heard the new that google,one of the largest searching engine, would quit Chinese growing market because it does not wanna apply the rule of censorship.

Every foreign company that wants to build up business in China is forced to apply China's censorship rule. Ebay, Apple, yahoo, and google, all of them have to do so by self-blocking any sensitive words from websites read by Chinese users. For example, Chinese users are forbidened to write and see the words "human right", "Tibet", "June 4" and other political sensitive words.So what Chinese users would see in the internet may totally different from what others see outside China. What is worse, most of the users are not awared of the censorship.

Baidu, the other searching giant, is willing to follow the rule of censorship, thus can win in this uneven game, constitutes 70% market shares. While google is trying to flight against censorship, as a result, it lacks support from Chinese government.

Not like China, the rest of the world has no intent to prevent people from reading what they want to know about. Why China tries every effort to take away freedom of speech and read? If China has not done anything wrong to its people, why the government afraids to let people know the true and why they not allow people to express their views and complains?

After google showed its intent of leaving China, US commercial and defence systems are attacked by Chinese hackers. The only response from Chinese spockwoman is that China has applied the laws and laws not allow hackers to do such thing. She talks nothing! We are not fool and we should not be fool like that. We are Chinese and we have the very right to speech and know the true.

I am very disappointed with my country and the party. China has developed quickly in terms of economy while nothing has been improved in human right. We complain and critise not because we do not love our country but we hope China gets better.

But still we haven't see any sign of trend that China will abandon its censorship, at least in the coming decades.

why we need books

2010-01-14T01:39:00.000-08:00

I enjoy reading and I love books due to many reasons--for pleasure, for learning, for enlightening and any other reasons.I grew up with lots of books which are regarded as my friends and mentors. And I feel that I learn more from books instead of being taught by schooling,

I love books wheras others may not be interested in them.One of my former classmates had discussed the need of reading with me. When I asked why he doesn't read books except textbooks, he answered in a self-important manner that he doesn't need to read other books because he knows every thing even without reading books and besides he can learn from his experience. His answer was a real shock to me. Even the wisest man in the world won't say that. How can a 20 something say like that?

As we learn more, we know more about our limitation and feel humble. On the contrary, if we know less, we thought we are the best and thus have no bother to gain more knowledge or improve ourselves.

So, does that means reading can help us find out our limitation? Yes, it is and more than that.

First, it is quite important to understand our disadvantages. As a result of that, we can then look for ways to improve ourselves. Through reading, which is a good way of learning, we talk with a wiser man who can give us fresh insight and inspirations.For example, if we are weak in arguing, we can improve our communicate and logic skill by reading Francis Bacon.But we should bear in mind that we should only learn from the best books that have primary knowledge. What is meant by that is those popularizations and textbooks do little help to our understanding and learning because they are merely repetition and digestion of other sources. We should read those generated from authors who discover wisdom themselves.Always learn from those who are better than you.

Enlightenment is the other fruit of reading. What we gain from great books is not only information which can be obtained from other activities such as schooling and discovery, but also enlightment. Thus, we read by connecting with our lives, by refleting our past, by relating all current knowledge rather than remembering the facts and stories told by books. Only by doing this can we apply what we learnt from books in our daily life.

Believe it or not, reading can be a lifestyle which would benefit you in such a long run.

No freedom

2010-01-13T00:29:00.000-08:00

China has recently blocked numerous website in the name of "Ensuring a healthy and regulated virtual world".

My another blog which was signed in one of the popular Chinese website has been blocked as well. It is already 2 weeks, but we still don't know when we can access to our blogs. What's worse, no one has given us any reason--we like a group of poor people, abandoned in the street without explaination. A lot of us feel the possibility to lose all our information in the blog(some have already writen for more than 5 years).

We all know there is not much freedom to speak and to complain in China, but I never expect the situation would be such worse. China has develped quickly in economic sense while not much progress can we see in terms of huam right.

It might be good to regulate the Virtual environment, as far as I am concerned. However, it is not acceptable for China to act in this way whereby no reasons, no communication and no solutions are provided.

Resolution--Books that I plan to read in 2009

2010-01-12T02:43:00.000-08:00

1,The Warden
2,The Return of the Native (Reread)
3,John Christopher (Reread)
4,The Wind in the Willows
5,How to Read a Book
6,Stories of Belonging
7,Living in Australia (If I can find it)

List to be continued if I find more books worth reading. And I will spend more time on reading Classic and other great books--what I am concern is quality insteading of quantity and speed.

Digging to Amercia--by Anne Tyler

2010-01-08T21:50:00.001-08:00

The story begins when 2 Korean baby girls--Jin-Ho and Susan arrive in America and be delivered to 2 different Baltimore families. Jin-Ho comes to Bitsy and Brad's family--a typical white American family while Suan goes to Ziba and Sami--an Iranian immigrated family.

It seems that story mainly tells how 2 Korean girl take roots and become American.But it is not. It talks about how Ziba, Sami and Sami's mother, Maryam and more Iranian characters adapt to American life as well as how American try to accept foreign people and foreign culture. The core character--Maryam, is an elegent widow who has moved to America 30 years ago to marry her husband. Maryam takes pride in her foreigness and always stays away from American people and their way of life. Even though she falls in love with Dave, Bitsy's father, she afraids that she would lose her "Independence". Therefore, she escapes from her love.

But the ending of the story is warm, out of my expectation (cause I thought the 2 families would seperate and never meet again for their otherness, pride and prejudice). All of Bitsy and Brad's family members leave the "Arrival party" to look for Maryam. They say to Maryam that they can't enjoy the party without her, they want her, they need her friendship. Maryam finally takes off her pride and joins them. Two cultural different families come to one.

Actually I am really appreciate Maryam's pride and independent. Her choice that not to marry again and keep her peace is a rational one. You know,though love is amazing, it also brings harm, hate and sadness. Love takes away freedom, private desire and independence which women should treasure with great care.

Generally, it is a book easy to read and it can be a good holiday book.

A Garden, A Pig and Me, A Year at Torreyburn－by Ferguson.J

2009-12-12T20:39:00.000-08:00

This is a book full of fun and surprise! I had never intended to read this book before. I found it one day when I was wandering around the library and searching books about gardening. I had to admit that the title attract my attention and after I read several pages, I decided to take it.

It does not merely talk about gardening, it also talks about food and feeling of live and of course some beautiful pictures! Overall the writting is lovely and always make me laugh.

Some people spend their time dreaming of paradise in heaven. I would rather try and creat it here on earth.

The authort tells us why she wants to build a garden and why she spends so much effort on it. I agree with her. When I was in China, space is limited and a garden to me is a dream never come true. But my family grows vegetables and flowers on the roof of the building. Though we cannot own our garden, we can at least grow things that we like near our home. The feeling is different when we build our mini garden which seems a paradise created by our own hands. So I think creating things that we admire is better than complaining not owning those.

In page 41, the author describes an very interesting experience about the lost lamb leg. The lamb leg is put in the sink and disappeared when the author return home (stolen by the big cat!). That is so funny and wanna u to have a look by yourself.

Let me share some of the amazing paragraphies:

It is just so much easier to run away from difficult situations, or to agree with the other person's point pf view. Particularly in a group situation, it is so tempting to go along with everyone else rather than be true to oneself and suffer possible rejection.

For me, age brings confidence and greater feeling of acceptance of oneself, and this in turn brings power. The best thing about fifty is at last being able to be oneself. Murmurings that have been locked up deep inside are allowed to pop out now. We try so hard to be dignified when young, and now that we are older, by some strange twist, we are able more truely to acknowledge the child within, and be ourselves.(pp.87-88)

Lincoln is not the only person to be criticised for helping animals. It is a familiar experience for many to be upbraided for wasting their time and money in suck efforts, when there are so many humans who need help.

This sort of criticism is self-centred and short-sighted. All living creatures are connected, and to work with animals is to work at the heart of what we are ourselves. Compassion does not discriminate. It flows from the one source deep in our hearts...The connection between how we treat animals and how we treat other people is inextricably linked.(pp.52-53)

p.s sorry that I can't find a picture of the cover~maybe not many people read it ..

Book lover-by Kaufman J. and Mack K.

2009-11-25T02:00:00.000-08:00

This book is not bad, even though some of the parts are seemingly disconnected and the ending is a little bit odd.

To Dora, the main character, book is the first priority, the comfort and the lover.

“…no matter what’s going on in my life, I will always need a book. Nevertheless, after all that happened to me, reading is not purely an escape. It’s more of a search for some kind of meaning in this world. Now when I read, I think I might open to any page and find the true…The answers are there. Somewhere. Each author has their own vision, whether it be transforming, unnerving, inspiring, or devastating. It’s comforting in a pathetic sort of way and I have wallowed in this comfort for most of my life.” (pp.255-256)

But later on, she understands that the books can not tell everything to her and she has to explore her life by herself rather from the books. After she falls in love with Fred, the owner of the bookshop, she gets to know that the lover is not as compliant as the characters in novels. Fred is so cold-hearted to his family and Dora can not stand his attitude.

Finally Doro spits up with Fred and at the same time she finds out that she still love her ex-husband and she can’t calm down herself by reading books. She needs a job, a family, a normal life free from the shadow of unhappy childhood. Bits by bits, things are getting changed and Dora gains more confidence towards her life.

The meaning of reading books? I haven’t thought too much about it, but I feel really happy when I read a book. In reality, I have a lot of unhappiness, sadness, sorrow and pressure, but when I read books, I feel that I still have peaceful and happy moment in my life. Nevertheless, I believe life is more important than books and it can teach you more lessons than those from books. I think the authors are trying to express the similar feelings to us, right?

China Witness--by XinRan

2009-09-24T23:25:00.000-07:00

It is a collection of interviews with Chinese people. Different people from different provinces, having different political background, may have different stories.

People talk about the past, the political activities and some terrible experience forced by the Party. But I don't think they are willing to tell the truth from the bottom of their heart. Since they are still live in China and people's talk are still under Party's control, they are afraid to say what they would like to say.

Thus this book is not as good as I have expected for it lack of detail and deep analysis of China's history. Maybe the book will be better if the author interviews with Chinese who are living outside Mainland China. However, it still provide some interesting insight into the elders' past experience.

Trafficking in old books--by Anthony Marshall

2009-05-15T18:54:00.000-07:00

This is not a guideline that help you to run a secondhand bookshop. But this is a very interesting book that can excite those booklovers, like you,like me.

I can't explain why I prefer secondhand bookshop to bookshops which sell new books, I can't explain the feelings. Maybe because I can directly deal with the owner and may have interesting conversations; maybe I feel more comfortable when I stay with the old books and elder people (most 2nd-hand booksellers are 50 or 60 something);or maybe because I can find lots of good books in much cheaper price.

Someone says, books will die out in the future and internet resource will replace the paperbooks. I don't believe that and I even dream of opeaning my own 2nd-hand bookshop(may turn to be true in 10 years or 50 years?). It is different from the bookshop in the internet, it is more real, more interacting,more interesting.I used to operate an e-bookshop and earned some money, but I would prefer face-to-face dealings. Talking on the internet is dull and most customers can compare your price immediately with other online booksellers(force you to set a low price).

I want to know more about 2nd-hand bookshops, look into the booksellers' feeling and experience, so I searched the library and then I found this book. The author, Anthony Marshall, is running a 2nd-hand bookshop, calls Alice Book, in Melbourne. This book gave me great pleasure while I was reading it. Have you ever found a fried egg or bacon(already dried, of course) in the old books?Do you know how the 2nd-hand bookseller set their price? And can you imagine the life where you live above your shop?

This book is for the readers who love books or interested in 2nd-hand bookshops.It won't disappoint you!!

evil text books

2009-05-05T03:24:00.000-07:00

I always regard text book as a commercial good which is different from other books.

For one thing, who can say 'reading text books is a great joy or enjoyment'? Or, 'I have a hobby of reading text books'? Ok, admit it, we all hate text books!

In Australian,text books are changed every year. The content may haven't been changed a lot, but the cover, footnotes, questions and presenting order may be changed. Students have to spend more than $300 to buy text books every semester which is a great burden to family. But we can't find 2nd-hand text books--will booksellers keep those text books which can't be used in the next year?

Moreover, text books are heavy, over weight, fat and large, in need to keep fit. I really don't want to carry a text book for reading! I have to say I only use my text book when I prepare the exams.

Text books have no value to keep, generally speaking. Few text books are kept for they will increase value in 5,10 or 100 years.

I always seperate text book from my real worth-reading books. I hate to mix them together. But when I mention that I love reading, lots of my Chinese friends would said 'wo!!' and normally think that what I love to read are text books and I must be a boring guy. Maybe Chinese people are poisoned by too many text books and tent to regard all the books are in the purpose of studying.

So evil the text books!

Finding out-by Elspeth Sandys (New Zealand)

2009-01-22T23:24:00.000-08:00

It is the early 1950s. In Knox Bay, a remote part of New Zealand, people are scarred by war and steeped in a repressive puritan tradition. But all these are changed by an arrival of an “outsider”, a new teacher, Tom.

Tom uses a different approach to teach. He breaks the discrimination of orphan and brings out a great potential of acting of Albert. He helps children to know more about history of Maori and English settlers.

Tom’s students start to find out something about themselves. Mary has a sexual experience with a boy and conscious of her new adult status; Jennie find herself fall for her teacher and finally tell Tom about the sexual harassment by her uncle; Avril thought she has pregnant but the result tells her that it is not. She has learnt the bitterness and tries to take responsibility for her body.

Tom has found out some to do about himself. He cares about Jennie but has to leave for England to start a new life. Maybe in the other continent he can know more about the history and himself.

I was breathed in the conversation of the two girls, Jennie and Mary. They imagine the love life of the new teacher; pretend themselves as Tom and his lover. In those conversation they know more about their bodies, sexuality and love.

I remember when I was a little girl, I sometimes imagine I will fall in love with the handsome schoolteacher, or a pirate, or a foreigner. It is the girl’s imagination that helps us to grow up, to start our love and to know more about our desire.

P.S It is really hot in Sydney and I have no mood to write. Just mark down some feeling after I finish this book.

The Thousand Miles Without a Cloud-by SunShuYun

2009-01-18T01:27:00.000-08:00

Last nigh I can not sleep (insomnia?!), so I got up and finished the book at 3am.

The author grew up in China during the Cultural Revolution. Each night she listened to her grandmother’s forbidden Buddhist prayers and she became interested in Xuanzang after she read the book Monkey King, given by her grandmother.

As the Revolution failed, the author began a search for her own beliefs and to discover more about the monk, Xuanzang by traveling from China along the Silk Road, through dangerous parts of Asia to India. This book gives us a vivid, fascinating insight into China and its history, and what Buddhism is in different area and different people’s mind.

I always want to know more about Cultural Revolution in China. My parents have told me what they have suffered and how crazy the people are in that time. But I feel not enough. I can read very little information in newspapers and books in China because Chinese government doesn’t want its people know the true of the Communist history.

I was free and I had not suffered like my forebears and my fellow-countrymen. But like so many Chinese, I felt strongly that something was missing. The idea of a confirming faith dies hard. I was increasingly unsure of where I was going, why I was doing the things I did; I was at a loss, and pondering. (P41)

I have the same lost feeling like the author. I may not have the chance to do the same things like her to find out more of the past of our country, but I can read books to know. Lucky I am, I have come to Australia and have found a lot of books about Chinese history. This book is one of the excellences.

Communists always say they united China and brought peace to the people. I doubt that. What about the Cultural Revolution? What about Chairman Mao’ deadly faults? Why Chinese people are prevented to discuss these kinds of matters? Yes, they did good things for our country but why they avoid admitting the faults?

Revolution in China almost pushed the people back into the abyss from which they had been saved, all in the name of Communist idea of absolute equality. The peasants, like the rest of the country, were so equal that nobody wanted to work: however hard they labored, they were paid the same. The whole nation lived on rations for more than thirty years. And then we suffered one of the worst famines in history, when over thirty million people died of starvation in the early 1960s, most of them in villages. (P282)

What caused this suffering, unprecedented in Chinese history? Never before was the whole nation, hundreds of millions of people, allowed to think only one thought, speak with one voice, read only one man’s works, be judged by one man’s criteria, Never before were our traditions so thoroughly shaken up, destroying families, setting husbands against wives, and children against parents. Never before was our society turned so completely upside down. The Party was barely in control, with all its senior members locked up or killed. Workers did not work; farmers did not produce; scientists and artists were in labor camps; not criminals, but judges, lawyers and policemen were in prison; and young men and women were sent to the countryside in droves for re-education. On top of the physical devastation, the psychological impact on everyone was even more poisonous. The Cultural Revolution brought out the worst in people. They spied on, reported, betrayed and murdered each other—the strangers, friends, comrades and families alike—and all in the name of revolution. So much hope, so much suffering and sacrifice, and for what? (P36)

Not only those who are the targets of the revolution suffered, but also those who joined the revolution got nothing but pain, regret, and confusion.

They were betrayed; they were even being blamed for what had gone wrong. The bitterness of loss was crushing and the void left in their hearts was deep. They found it impossible to cope with a past that had been cancelled and a future so uncertain. (P39)

Until now, the influences of the past have not yet disappeared. Some people who are sent to Xinjiang or some remote countryside to produce or re-educated have no chance to return home. Their children, for they can not find jobs outside the place they lived, also forced to stay.

They live in an impossible dream of returning home, and their longing has become a poison, filling them with loneliness, fear and resentment. (P141)

Many historical places or religious sites are destroyed by red-guards.

Temples in village were destroyed and the farmers used the stones to build pig-sties and houses. In Tibet, the destruction was almost total. Gone with them was a large part of our history, culture and life- a part we had denounced as antiquated, feudal and backward, a part whose value we did not know until it was gone. (P60)

In the way to unite all the nationalities in China, Communist government destroyed our religious and cultural roots. This do harm to our nation in the long run. I start to understand why Tibet and Xingjiang try to break up from mainland China. Minorities don’t admit to be ruled by Han and they do not feel the belongingness of China.

There is a song that‘56 nationalities are 56 flowers; 56 nationalities are the families of China’. It is easy to put them all in one song and one set of stamps; but to make them into one big, happy family will need more effort. (P348)

Though people suffered from the past, they try to lead a new life to their best effort. The author meets a man, Duan, who is used to be a monk before the Cultural Revolution but forced to married a woman in the revolution. He dose not return to be monk after the revolution and feels content of his poor and simple life.

Instead of blaming others and bearing grudges, Duan would always look deeply inside himself and think how he could improve. (P62)

The author finally reaches India. India is the neighbor of China and also a large population country, rapid developing. But actually they are quite different.

China and India seem to be humanity’s polar opposites. The Indians are philosophical, spiritual and transcendental, while the Chinese are practical, materialistic and down-to-earth. For the Chinese, the world we live in is all there is. Confucius told us that ‘to dedicate oneself seriously to the duties towards men, to honor spirits and gods but to stay away from them.’ For Hindus, religion dominates life. Their ultimate goal is moksha-the final liberation from this mundane and ephemeral world into blissful eternity. And they have a staggering 300 million gods and goddesses to help them achieve it. (P222)

The way Indian and Chinese people think of Buddhism is different too.

In China, people simply did what the sutras told them to do: to pray sincerely and make offerings to the best of her capacity, and leave the rest to the Buddhas and the Bodhissattvas.

Because Chinese people relay on the help of God and do nothing by themselves, government used to make people believe that Buddhism was nothing more than superstition. Even today, we regain religious freedom, the way we interpret Buddhism has not change much.

In India, Buddha was thought to be born a man and died as a man. ‘Pray to yourself, not to anyone else’. (P276) There is no other Buddha except what is inside you. Buddha himself did not approve of miracles: they were impediments to spiritual progress and the final awakening. (P295)

There is one interpretation of the Buddha’s teaching. I guess it tried to draw as many people as possible to Buddhism in the first place. Once they learn more about it, they would realize it is good for them and they would not need the extra incentives. (P274)

I try to learn Buddhism by myself and come to know that Buddhism is not only religious but also a philosophy that encourages people to find inner peace and achieve goals by ourselves.

Self-nature, complete and clear,
Like the moon in the water.
The mind in meditation, like the sky,
Ten thousand miles without a cloud. (P255)

And the most precious I learn from Buddhism is ‘Everything is impermanent’. We feel sad about the tragedy and show pity of the cultural loss. But this is the law of nature, everything is changing, no matter it is good or bad. We have to move on and content with what we have at the very moment.

There are conflicts between religion and science. Most people regard that the two are at daggers drawn, two can not exist at the same time. But I always think both religion and science are the themes of the world, people can not live without them.

I often think of Ganga as life, with science and faith as its two banks. The banks never meet but the river wouldn’t flow without them. Without science we would be back in the dark ages; but without faith life would be poorer. (P298)

We, Chinese have success at revolution and now focus on economic development. But there are still countries suffering wars and conflicts. Revolution is the common way people seek to liberate their country and sometimes it bring more suffering to people.

We have to free ourselves from the mental slavery we have grown up with. That’s our worst enemy. Revolution might be quick, but its results could not last; change had to come from people’s minds-that was the only durable solution. Had people’s mind been seized with hatred and revenge, I would have brought disaster upon this land. (P309)

The Last Chinese Chef-by Nicole Mones

2009-01-12T00:40:00.000-08:00

I like cooking; it is a source of creation and happiness. So I am very excited to find this book: The Last Chinese Chef.

The author does a fantastic job to link a cliffhang story with Chinese cuisines and culture.

The story begins when Maggie, a widowed American food writer, learns of a Chinese paternity claim against her late husband’s estate. She has go immediately to Beijing, China. She asks her magazine for time off, but her editor counters with an assignment: to profile the rising culinary star Sam Liang.

In China, she knows that his husband has a one-night affair with a Chinese woman, Gaolan. She meets Gaolan’s child, Shuying with the help of Sam. Millions of reason that Maggie should hate her husband and angry with the Chinese woman, but she accepts this fact. She remember her husband once asked for having a child before he died but she proponed so that they never have opportunity to have a child. In Maggie’s heart, she hopes the child proved to be his husband’s and she understand the pain and helpless of Gaolan after they met. Even though the lab test proves the child belongs to the other man, not Maggie’s husband, she still provides help to Gaolan.

Meanwhile, with Sam as her guide, Maggie is drawn deep into a world of food rooted in centuries of history and philosophy. Unlike western food, the peak of Chinese cuisine is giving and sharing of food. “Great food should never be taken alone. What pleasure can a man take in fine cuisine unless he invites cherished friends, counts the days until the banquet, and composes an anticipatory poem for his letter of invitation?” Chinese people like to place all the dishes at table and every one can eat those dishes. That is sharing: food must be eaten with a group of people.

Westerners do not understand the real Chinese food. “A meal for them was nothing but food. When it came to the food of China they had their version, a limited number of dishes that always had to be made the same way with the sauces they would recognize from other restaurants. Sameness was what they wanted. They went out for Chinese food, they ordered their dishes, and they did not like them to change.” It is true that, in western countries, we can’t find out a restaurant that offer real Chinese food because chefs have to modified Chinese dishes to meet the need of westerners. So it is sad that westerners rarely understand Chinese food and culture. (I miss Chinese food so so so much!)

Different parts of China have different food and culture. Maggie comes to know that food always related to the Chinese culture and history. “The major cuisines of China were brought into being for different purposes, and for different kinds of diners. Beijing food was the cuisine of officials and rulers, up to the Emperor. Shanghai food was created for the wealthy traders and merchants. From Sichuan came food of common people, for, as we all know, some of the best-known Sichuan dishes originated in street stalls. Then there is Hangzhou, whence came the cuisine of the literati. This is food that takes poetry as its principal inspiration. From commemorating great poems of the past to dining on candlelit barges afloat upon West Lake where wine is drunk and new poems are created, Hangzhou cuisine strives always to delight men of letters. The aesthetic symmetry between food and literature is a pattern without end.”

Beside these cuisines, there are thousands of local cuisines all over China, you may have unexpected surprise while you eating in different parts of China.

Sam is participate in a banquet contest and has to prepare dishes with the help of his uncle. Maggie follows him to visit his dying uncle Xie in Hangzhou. She feels warm and comfortable in Xie’s house. The close relationship between relatives and friends is quite different from America and Maggie comes to enjoy life in China. She used to eat alone and live apart from people; she thought it is the life she wants. But after she comes to China, recalling the old life, she realizes she lost so much happiness in the past. At the end, Sam loses the contest. But he gets more than expected—love. Maggie and Sam are in love: they are brave to step out of their comfort zone.

“Eating is only the beginning of cuisine! Only the start! Flavor and texture and aroma and all the pleasure—this is no more than the portal. Really great cooking goes beyond this to engage the mind and the spirit—to reflect on art, on nature, on philosophy. Never cook food just to be eaten.”

If we cook food just to be eaten, cooking may become a repeated and uninteresting task. Food should be shared and appreciated with others--that is what Maggie learnt in China and that is what readers learnt in this book.

First day of work

2009-01-05T21:48:00.000-08:00

I begin my first work day today in a busy cafe. Making mile tea and coffee is not as easy as I think, and too much orders make me confus.

I get very tired for several stressful hours and my hands ache!

But I am quite enjoy working with the people there who are nice to me. Have to work hard! But never stop reading!! (Hands shaking when typing)

Squeeze time to read

2009-01-04T15:29:00.000-08:00

I really want to make a list and then read one by one. But I find it difficult for I have little spare time to read regularly.

I have to work from 6am till 7pm four days a week and I often spend one day to walk around the city to find interseting gallery. Every two week I have to go shopping. That means every week,I have only one or two days left. If I have to go to school, may be several hours left.

So I squeeze time to read:

1. Read while taking a train

2. Read when in toilet(quite enjoy the quiet moment in toilet)

3. Taking books in bag, read in case have to wait some one

4.Listen audio book while cooking,jogging and before sleep(though I always feel hard to concentrate)

5.Shorten my cooking time, cook 2 meals a time(eat one and store one in frige)

6.Have to sleep late,coffee and tea to support

........................................

Do you have any other suggestion?

I often search or idlely walk in the library to find books without any plan. Beacuse I find it quite exicited to do so: if I unexpectedly find a good book I will feel extrat happy. So I may read some books out of most reader's list. But, so what?haha~~~~

Good earth-by Pear S.Buck

2008-12-31T04:28:00.000-08:00

I have heard of Good Earth years ago but I can’t find an English version in China. Last week, I found it in the local library among a heap of books.

Pearl S. Buck is a Noble Prize-winner and famous for her stories about Chinese farmers. What she writes in the book reflects the character and destiny of Chinese people which hasn’t changed for decades and decades. I have read some comments on Pear S. Buck in China--some Chinese people criticize her for the false and unfair description of China.

Yes, Pearl is a foreigner in China, she may not know as much as Chinese people but as far as I concern she gives an objective and profound observation of China and its conflicts. I really enjoy this books and I spend days and nights to read it!

Generally, the book presents a graphic view of China when the last emperor reigned and the vast political and social upheavals through a story of an honest farmer, Wang Lung. The story begins at Wang’s marriage and ends when Wang is going to die.

At that time, poor people have no money to marry a woman. They may ask the rich family to give them a slave if they don’t want to keep. Wang was given a woman call O-lan, an ugly and quiet kitchen slave in the rich family of Hwang. This woman works days and nights with Wang, even before she gives birth to the child.

For their hardship, they harvest more food than before and manage to buy a rich land from the declining family of Hwang which is overspending and consuming too much opium for years. It seems that their life will becomes better because they have the lands, the root of the farmers. But a drought destroys their dreams.

Terrible things happen. People have nothing to eat. They have to eat weed, soil, even human flesh. Everything will become evil when people are starving to death. Maybe it is hard to understand, and people may ask: is there any government aid? There is not such thing in that time and situation still not change nowadays in some remote villages.

Wang don’t want to sell his land for he believes the land can save him in the future. He leaves with the family to the southern city with a bag of beans given by his neighbor, Ching and two silvers by selling all the furniture. In order to survive, O-lan and their three children go to the street to beg and Wang pull riksha for the passengers.

It is hard but at least they survive by very little money they can get. Wang never forget his lands. It strikes his heart days by days. Later, Wang has to give up the job for it is dangerous to walk on the street before the war broke and men are at the risk of laboring for war for no return.

The war forces him back to the lands. After winter, fields become wet and good to plant. One night, Wang finds out that there is bag in O-lan’s bosom. Inside it, there are expensive jewels! O-lan takes them from the loosen brick of a rich family of southern city. Wang feels uncomfortable to keep the jewels, but his desire of land drives him to exchange the jewels for pieces of land from Hwang. Only two pearls are kept by O-lan wrapped in the bag and hidden in her bosom. Wang do not know why O-lan wants to keep them for she is ugly and never put on them as earrings.

When Wang becomes richer and richer, he feels boring and idle for he has hired people to farm the lands for him. His desire for land and gold is fulfilled and now he looks at his wife: ‘there is nothing he does not know of her and nothing new which he may expect or hope from her.’(p167) He dislikes and avoids O-lan for she is not beautiful, not with a pair of small binding feet and her eternal silence. He becomes angry with O-lan and the angry grows ‘because he remember that all the lands of his he could not have bought in a life time if O-lan had not seized the handful of jewels from the rich man’s house and if she had not given them to him when he commanded her.’

In China, man has great power in the family. Woman is just a child-birth machine and in the poor family, woman is also a good labor without paid. The relationship is not equal, even woman contribute a lot to the family she still has to obey man. The situation change in the modern China, but the root of androcentrism still exists, for example, man would prefer marry a virgin, man can’t tolerate if his wife earn more….

Wang is then looking for new entertainment. He falls in love with a harlot called Lotus in a great tea shop. The description of the desire for Lotus is brilliant, ‘Yet never could he grasp her wholly, and this it was which kept him fevered and thirsty, even if she gave him his will of her. When O-lan had come to his house it was health to his flesh and he lusted for her robustly as a beast for its mate and he took her and was satisfied and he forgot her and did his work content. But there was no such content now in his love for this girl, and there was no health in her for him. At night when she would have no more of him, pushing him out of the door petulantly, with her small hands suddenly strong on his shoulders, his silver thrust into her bosom, he went away hungry as he came. It was as though a man, dying of thirst, drank the salt water of the sea which, though it is water, yet dries his blood into thirst and yet greater thirst so that in the end he dies, maddened by his very drinking. He went in to her and he had his will of her again and again and he came away unsatisfied.’(P 181)

Wang even takes the pearls from O-lan for the new woman he likes. This act shatters O-lan’s heart and dignity and in the later life, Wang feels ashamed about himself. But at that time, Wang only cares what Lotus want and later marries her to satisfy his desire.

More than one woman under one roof is not for peace. O-lan never speaks with Lotus, and Lotus continually demand luxury and good food. The family conflicts between women, children and relatives never stop in Wang’s family. Poor people may be misery and rich people will also have their own problems.

When O-lan falls ill and become dying, Wang looses interest about lands and Lotus. He realizes what a great part of O-lan contributed to the family and how she endures all cruel acts and disrespect from her husband. Selfless she is, she never complain a word. She feels proud that even though she is not pretty, she marry a man and give birth to five children.

After O-lan dies, Wang has to face unrest troubles in his family: his elder son knows nothing but spending, the second son concerns only money and business, Lotus never stops eating and consuming, his uncle demands continuously, and later the war breaks out….He feels that time turns him into an old man, only he want is peace but he will never gets it until he die.

The society changes by the time. Lands will be free if revolution is successes. And the elder son and the second son plan to sell his father’s lands to turn money into other business. Though Wang commands not to sell his lands, saying land is root to man, he still can not change anything.

It hurts me when I came to the ending, knowing that lands defiantly would be sold once Wang died. Lands do be freed when RPC is established, but lands never divided equally to farmers. The government just takes all the lands from landlords to be the national wealth and gives back very little land to farms. A lot of farmers still lead a poor life and they won’t get enough money by farming. Rich people can get lands easily and build apartments and skyscrapers to earn high profit. Rich become richer, poor become poorer. Nobody willing to be farmer and they can’t survive as farmer. Poor people have to pour into big cities to be low-paid workers.

Conflicts between farmer-workers and oppidans never rest. Wang’s love of land and the dislike of land of his sons reflect and preview the destiny of new society.

I feel strong love of this book because I am a Chinese and I understand what she writes, or because the misery life of O-lan strikes my heart. Nevertheless, it is must reading!

Fun of book search

2008-12-29T16:32:00.000-08:00

‘When people are united by a common love of books, the transaction between salesperson and customer can become one of life’s more memorable experience, perhaps not in large bookshops but certainly in the smaller, independent bookshops.’(Left Bank Waltz--Elaine Lewis)

I like to search second-hand books through many little bookshops. When I live in Narwee, there is a second-hand bookshop owned by an elder Australian man, Mick. He has great favor of books. Even when he has cancer, he never stops working and reading. He said he sleep for 4 hours a day and spends times mainly in reading.

I can’t read as crazy as him. But I really admire his passion about reading. So I often go to his bookshop to chat with him or help him do some simple work. He is so generous to give me great discount to buy books, sometimes for free.

With his help I buy some good books, like April Fool’s Day by Bryce Courteney, Sgarlett, a sequel written by Alexandra Ripley. I become interested in Australian books and decide to read more in the future.

Several months later, I move to Arncliffe, and start a new experience of book search. There is a local second-hand item shop run by several elder ladies. The revenue they gain will go to the charity or church. Lots of second-hand books are sold at very low price, sometimes 1 dollar each, sometimes 1 dollar a bag! I have caught a large book sale in the early December and have brought 34 books for 3 dollars!

It is crazy! After buying so many books, I start to read them every week and share my opinion with my family and friends.

I will continue my book search in my life. A booklover will never say there are too much books!

All about escaping

2008-12-28T16:42:00.000-08:00

I have found out that Australian People have great passion of France. It’s easy to pick up a book which talks about new life in France. I don’t particularly like France for its famous stiff government operation. But I enjoy seeing people explore new life in another land.

Escaping-Henrietta Taylor (Australian)

As the book title indicates, the theme is about escaping the life in Australia. The author (Hen for short) is a language teacher in her early years. She likes traveling all the time. But after meeting Norman, her later husband, then gives birth to the two children, she spends time at home. She is quite content about the family life until Norman has cancer and his temper change while he is fighting with the disease. Though Australian people have great humor about dead, Norman still feels upset and frustrated when he comes near the Dead Angle.

Hen suffers a lot and leaves no time for herself for years before Norman die. She try to do what mother should do, but she meets lots of difficulties. She takes a brief visit in France and found the way to get along with her son and daughter. This trip makes her becoming stronger and leaves a great impression in Hen’s mind.

After returning to Australia, Hen realises that she desperately want to start a new life in France and escapes the existing life. By chance, she finds an rental ad and rents a house in a tiny village in Provence. She finds a new circular of friends, an unexpected role of proprietor of 3 houses and relationship with a man.

I don’t think it’s France that change her way of life. I regard that it is the new environment apart from old friends and family makes her to be independent and responsible.

Back to the book, the former chapters are good but the last few parts seem prolix. I just skip them quickly. It is a book that unfolds the course of an Australian woman becoming mature and it help me to look into Australian life.

Au Revoir-byMary Moody (Austalian)

This is another book talking about leaving Australia for France to experience new life. Why so many Australian fall in love with France?

Mary has a full life in Blue Mountain and leads a successful career as a writer and TV presenter. At fifties, most women satisfy with a life as grandmother, while Mary decides to live in Lot, a remote and beautiful place in France. She has never live alone, so she long for picking up a different life as a single person.

Her writing of people she meets, scenery she sees, and the food she eats is very vivid and beautiful. She not only talks about the life in Lot, but describe the history and stories of it. The words inebriant me to love every detail of the views presented.

Her escape does not draw her apart from love. As she says at the end of the book:‘It dawns on me that no matter where I am in the world, I will be surrounded by people and laughter and food and wine at gathering such as this. I may have run away with the idea of being alone. But that was never going to happen.’

My escaping

It is comfortable to live in the same place for the whole life. But we sometimes want to get out of the comfort zone to take challenge or refresh ourselves.

For me, I have escaped the life in China; I try to breathe freely in another country far away from my family and friend. It is hard, sometimes lonely, but I have time to be true self and take challenge.

Out of protection is a way to grow up. I like moving form one place from another one. It is the life-style I really enjoy.

Emma-by Charlotte Bronte

2008-12-27T16:49:00.000-08:00

I have read the book Emma, not the one written by Jane Austen, but by Charlotte Bronte and another lady.

Charlotte is famous for her well-known story Jane Eyre. Only several chapters of Emma are written by Charlotte before she passed away. Another lady whom the name we don't know complete the later chapters.

So technically, it is the book with join effort, while the style of Charlotte remains.

Emma, this character is not the main actress in the story, it is a clue which link the mysterious girl, Martina and the guardians, Mrs.Chalfont and Mr.Ellin together.

Martina with her father came to the school. Driving a splendent carriage and dressing beautifully, they show themselves as rich people, and the school's owner, Miss Wilcox believes so. So Miss Wilcox took the girl as her favorite student, dream of earning huge money from Martina.

But sooner, it turn out that Martina's name "Matilda Fitzgibbon" and the address given as "May Park, Midland County" are both false. Miss Wilcox was so angry that she drawed Martina off the school and sold all her items.

The poor child was taken by Mr.Ellen to Mrs Chalfont's home to stay in the holiday. As the girl refused to tell anything about herself and her Papa, they tried many methods to find the true identity of the little girl but all fail.

As they get along for a period, Mrs. Chalfont grows a deep love for the girl who reminds her memory in the former marriage. Had married a rich man who has four children, Mrs. Chalfont prepared to be a responsible stepmother to the childern. But after the event of Emma, the daughter of Mr.Chalfont escape from the house, Mr.Chalfont forbiddened Mrs.Chalfont to see his children, saying that it will cause the hate and misfortune to the children. Emma, the wild and selfish girl become the wound of Mrs.Chalfont.

By some incidents, Mrs.Chalfont and Mr. Ellin found out that the name Emma lettered in the snake bracelet is the same person of Mrs.Chalfont's stepdaughter, Emma.

An incident happens, which breaks the peace of the small town and reveals the truth identity of Martina.

One day, Martina was found disappear after class was over. People doubt that Martina was kidnapped and Mr. Ellen left to find the little girl.After a hard search, Martina was found in the orphanage far away from the town and her identity was assured by Mrs.Chalfont's stepsons, Gay and Launce.

Poor little girl tell everything to Mr. Ellen and point out the person who took her away from Mrs.Chalfont is Emma.Why Emma try to hide Martina and why she refuses to tell things about the girl?

Finally, Emma was caught by her brothers and Mr.Ellen on the way throwing criminal evidences into the well.

Truth turns out that the “dead” baby gave born by Mrs.Chalfont actually not dead. Emma brought the dying baby to her friends who can’t have their own baby. This is a crime to steal a baby from her or his parents and this is the reason why Emma was so afraid of Martina.

The ending is warm: Martina turns out to be Mrs.Chalfont’s daughter; Mrs.Chalfont marries Mr.Ellen; Mrs.Chalfont’s stepsons build a good relationship with her; Emma marries a rich man and people who know the truth try to forgive her. Everything is placed at its place, finally.

It is really a good story. Even though it is completed by an unknown lady, its style remain as Charlotte Bronte’s—excited, suspenseful unexpected and warm.