Simple questions for a "simple" story? Reading Daisy Miller

做作业啦...
1. Part I: Daisy Miller and Washington Square
1. What is the story--the setting and places?
2. Who are the characters, what are the age of the characters (The Miller family, Mr. Winterbourne, the Auntie, etc)
3. How did the story play out. How did Miss Miller and Mr. Winterbourne’s path cross and intersect?
4. Any details of story or languages that you like?
5. What are the words convey to us readers: i.e. innocence, intimacy, etc
6. What do you think of Daisy’s fate? Anyone in your social circle life who resemble the spirits of Daisy? But hopefully, not the same fate.
7. How does wealth affect our upbringing?
8. What do you think of Mrs. Miller?
9. Why Henry James tell the story?
10. What’s in this story for us?


2. Part II: Reading Lolita in Tehran
a. In chapter 3 of “Reading Lolita in Tehran”, the 8 year war between Iran and Iraq sets the background for Azar Nafisi’s memories of the period and the horror of war threatens their everyday life. By teaching James how the professor keeps her sanity and how she talks about their war experience and James’ take –on of the wars during his lifetime?

= <在德黑兰读洛丽塔>的第三章以两伊战争为背景, 重点讲述了战争的恐怖如何威胁着他们的日常; 教授是如何讲授Henry James 以保持清醒的头脑? 她是如何讲授她对战争的认识和James 对战争的态度的?

b. James attitude toward the wars has changed over time. Can you tell briefly why this change comes along in which part of the book?

= Henry James 对战争的态度有所改变, 你能说出是什么带来改变的吗? 并请指出在书中的哪一小节里?

c. What is overarching theme in most of Henry James’ fiction?

= Henry James 小说的主题常常是什么?

d. What differences in terms of theme or other things can you tell between his Daisy Miller and Washington Square?

= Daisy Miller 和Washington Square 两本书的主题或者其他方面有什么不同?

e. What do you draw from reading the professor’s experience in teaching Henry James?

= 从教授讲授Henry James中你读/学到了什么?
?

f. Some thoughts on the fact that American is deep in two wars?

= 对目前美国深陷两个战争有何见解?

A feast of Henry James

This is a gem from MCPL. Within hours you can watch 7 tales of love and loss based on the fiction of Henry James.
If Henry James really caught your fancy and the DVD is a feast for you, which will satisfy your insatiable curiosity of him.

Affairs of the Heart -- series one can be checked out from MCPL

1. Catherine – The Washington Square
2. Adela – The Marriages
3. Miss Tita -- The Aspern Papers
4. Grace -- Covering End
5. Milly -- The Wings of the Dove
6. Flora -- Glasses
7. Mary and Louisa -- The Tone of Time and The Real Thing

Places of interest in Daisy Miller

To make more connection and pretend, dear reader, we are touring Old Europe from the New World. Trace Daisy Miller's steps and encounter prejudice due to divisions between the two worlds.

2010年1月读啥?

人人必读:
1. Henry James's Daisy Miller (中文譯本在老牛手里, 紫羅蘭或水竹請跟老牛聯系; 英文本誰還沒有請跟螢火蟲聯系)

2. chapter 3 of Reading Lolida in Tehran -- James.

选读/电影
1. Washington Square (1997) / Washington Square: a novel
2. Wings of the Dove (1997)
3. The Portrait of a Lady (1996)

New York Times articles about Hollywood movies based on Henry James' novels

"审判盖茨比" -- 200912月读书会记

出席8人: Alice, 大雁, 老牛, 姥姥, 水竹, 萤火虫, 潇竹子, 竹林子

缺席3人: Alan, 雪, 紫罗兰

领读: 水竹

读书会欣喜迎来新会员, 潇竹.

在水竹的带领下, 大家从浅入深, 从远到今, 从小说到现实, 从没有梦到白日梦讨论地热火朝天.

雪的评论激活了大家细胞, 大家七嘴八舌, 争个不亦乐乎.

真是曲终意未尽, 让我们接着讨论. 有话这里说, 有诗这里作.

Nabokov Hunts Butterflie

Rare photos of Nabokov.

Nabokov Hunts butterflies 19 pictures

Questions for The Great Gatsby and Reading Lolita in Tehran

《伟大的盖茨比》

1. 为什么叫伟大的盖茨比? 他什么地方体现了伟大或了不起?
2. 你的生活中遇到或知道有类似盖茨比的人吗? 他(她) 为爱, 为情, 为义 或其它而愿意献身的? (准备好故事在开会时讲)
3. 作者是怎样描述盖茨比与戴茜之间的关系? (暧昧, 真情, 利用, 替代品? 等等 )
4. 你如何看待盖茨比的性格与品德? 你会用什么形容词来描写?
5. 小说是怎样通过盖茨比追求爱情梦想的破灭表现了年轻一代”美国梦”幻灭这一主题的?
6. 无论什么年代,穷人与富人(老百姓与上流社会的人)之间的爱情, 大部分都是悲剧, 你认同吗? 为什么?
7. 戴茜与汤姆门当户对, 但结果又如何?
8. 你从这本书中看到了什么? 学到了什么? 对我们有什么帮助?

9. 书中几处出现有象征意义的东西, 你能指出它们出现的页次吗? 它们代表了什么?

10. 盖茨比的故事是从Nick Carraway角度讲的, 这样做有什么好处?

《在德黑兰读洛丽塔》

1. 书中第II章审判Gatsby, 写的很精彩. 如果我们邯郸学步, 也开一个审判会, 你想办什么角色, 法官, 陪审团, 辩护律师, 还是诉讼律师? 说出为什么你选择这个角色.

2. 为什么以Mr. Nyazi 代表的学生这么憎恨这本书? 找出他列出此书的罪状.

3. Zarrin对Mr. Nyazi的 反击是什么?

4. 教授又是如何解释此书的?
5. 象The Great Gatsby文学作品在他们的课堂上引起这样的反响, 说明了什么? 我们今天读这本书有没有现实意义?

对不起! 我们错过了与Humbert共进晚餐的机会 -- 九月读书会有感

耶鲁大学的一位教授在讲授《洛丽塔》的课堂上，提问的第一个问题就是“有没有人愿意同Humbert Humbert一起吃晚餐”？

如果昨晚有人问大家同样的问题的话，我们只好说，很可惜，晚餐就免了吧。 因为基本上没几人读过《洛丽塔》。到底H.H.是一个什么样的人？他是否让人同情, 憎恶, 可怜, 痛恨? 和我们有什么干系呢?

Nabokov 曾经打过一个比喻：优秀作家的创造力在于他们大笔一挥， 能让地球旋转，江河盈满。在一片混沌中隐现出云雾弥漫的的山巅。为了征服它，作者沿着无路可寻的陡坡向上攀登，终于到达了山顶。和作者在山顶会师的是刚刚从对面坡上爬上来,气喘吁吁，满心欢喜的读者。他们顿时彼此拥抱, 只要作品永存, 作者和读者就不会分离。


胡语： 可是还有一些人拖着疲惫的双腿在山脚下转圈, 偶尔抬一下头, 看一看山间缭绕的白云, 懒懒地自语: “山那么高, 坡那么陡，再说，上头有什么好看的？

Would you like to sit down to dinner with H.H.

Yale class--The American Novel Since 1945 (ENGL 291) Professor Amy Hungerford introduces the first of three lectures on Nabokov's Lolita by surveying students' reactions to the novel, highlighting the conflic...

Hear and see Nabokov and Lionel Trilling (remember this name) talking about Lolita" part 1, part 2

Upsilamba to YoYo

Upsilamba

Dedicated To Professor

by Yassi


The world is full of contradictions
Thus the expressions of Upsilamba
Two Greek numerals,
out of their sequentiality
When you are against all establishments,
To present your dignities and irritations

The irritations of small,
trivial, and inconsequential
That carries all the intent of individuals
In the moment of privation
To against all things that are regulations

Regulation of ideology,
opposition and repression
That despises all serendipities

We want to have our Upsilamba
That defines our in-definability
Our triviality, our ir-regularities

Our Reading Lolita in Tehran -- Give it a new color

最右边是诗人水竹，旁边站着外号“夫人”的阿兰和雪，接着是竹林子，我们中间最年轻的一个，我们亲切称她为喜剧演员。站在竹林子旁的教授由爱丽丝与萤火虫担任，她们旁边站着紫罗兰，她说话很率直，经常与夫人和诗人顶牛，所以有野丫头的称号。野丫头旁边站的是姥姥，她大概是我们中间最文静的一个。她的旁边是摇摆不定的老牛。最左边是时隐时现的大雁。

有问题 -- 天天读，天天问

四个星期一共有28天，一共70多页的第一章每天读几页，不算太重。划出有疑问的地方，大家及可以及时解答。还是老套子，写在Comments里。

大家接着写自己。

作业II：问答 -- 有答案的问题将被移到“对号入座”的文件里，请scroll down. 被移动的问题可以接着回答，你只要把题号表明。比如说第9题很快就会被移到文件夹里，如果你要针对Poshlust说点什么，只要提到（9）就行了。


13. (chapter 7, p. 25) "We lived in a culture that denied any merit to literary works, considering them important only when they were handmaidens to something seemingly more urgent--namely ideology."

-- Can you decribe a period in your life that literary works are tools to advance some people's ideology? Why do you think the word "handmaiden" is used here? (没人抢答, 大雁来答)


15. (chapter 8 &10 , p. 28 & 35) What is the similarity the professor draws between "a stern ayatollah, a self-proclaiming philosopher-king" with H.H., even she once again emphasize "we were not Lolita, the Ayatollah was not Humbert? (雪)

16. 在七个姑娘之间有两对朋友, 你能说出她们的名字吗? (麻将三友)

17. (Chapter15, p.51-53) There is a conflict between Mahshid (雪), and Azin (紫罗兰). 从“Mhshid, who had been quiet until then, suddenly …到But Yassi would not give up 那一段. Let’s act it out. 雪和紫罗兰幸苦了, 花点儿时间把她们之间的争执记一下. Yassi, (竹林子), Mann (水竹), 你们俩也参与了.

对号入座了！

为了保护书中提到的人物，著者为她们更名改姓，张冠李戴；而我们却要step into their shoes, 上演一出属于我们自已的《在梦露湖畔读洛莉塔》。

每天读一点，先把书中的你介绍一下，中英文都行。 别忘了，你们必须log into Gmail account to edit.

Let's play a game -- Calling names

在线读 Lolita (英文)

读了, 看了Lolita之后, 大家都有些感受. 发长篇大论之感太花时间, 那么咱们就长话短说, 向Mitra(姥姥) 学习, 用一两字, 一句话涵盖你的读后感. (先起个头儿)

Lolita (小说) -- a tale of lost love, fantastic, extremely funny
Humbert (人物) -- a moral monster, a poor sensitive soul, manipulative
Lolita (人物) -- a slut, an innocent and helpless child

in the wake of The 13th Tale

The 13th Tale pays homage to novels like Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre. Here is another novel which is more related to Jane Eyre.

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys. I did not mentions it at our last meeting, being afraid that too much of "madwoman in the attic" might bore you or scare you. Today I come upon this recommendation

以诗为谢：致晓英和Alice

《故事是深情》
致晓英，Alice
by 知情人

(1)
故事是深情
躲藏在故事人的心里
稠的化不去
等待那一个人
或者一群人
的聆听

(2)
一切的灾难，仇恨
蒙羞，和不瞑的深情
可以变成一个字
一句话
一个故事
似一阵风
又似一场雨
吹拂积尘的过去
去化解那不解的生世

(3)
生世是个故事
是那个故事的完成
或者是
这个故事的开始

(4)
故事是故事
柔的像云
可以马上消失
又沉的像山脉
安静地竖立
永远抹不去
那山林的身影
和故事的声音
声音里的深情

九月二日读书会 and etc.

书友们，
从我们的书会成立以来，昨晚的读书会让我第一次感到我们真正地进入了轨道。我这么说并不是贬低以往聚会，每一次从领读者到他成员都是非常认真的。昨晚上大家对书中细节的斟酌推敲绝对是第一流的。另外爱丽丝为我们另开了一个可效仿的先例。大家读书，大家提问。

etc. 看来我们是要“妹妹你大胆地往前走”了，往前走，不回头，一直走到”德黑兰”去了。
下一次聚会（九月30日）我们要讨论:

1．《在德黑兰读洛莉塔》 -- 第一章“Lolita”（每人必读）
2. Nabokov’s Lolita – 读全文, 可听 Book-on-CD, 读介绍，看电影.
紫罗兰在网上找到中文的《洛莉塔》。不是全文，但总能让你体会一下。不要忘记读一下作者介绍，内容介绍，作品欣赏。这对我们理解小说很有帮助。

Reading Lolita 作业 III -- Have you been seduced yet？

雪 said once "I was enjoying to read Lolita and didn't feel any negative feeling to Humbert at the begining, the main male character in Lolita."

1. What is your reaction to the characters, such as Humber and Lolita? Do do this you have to read/read about Lolita or watch the movie if you prefer before Sept. 2nd. (紫罗兰，水竹，阿兰，爱丽丝， 姥姥）

2. (在线观看）The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie -- 《布蘿迪小姐的青春》by Spark （雪）

爱丽丝的恳求，大家的责任

爱丽丝勇挑重任，不仅应下领读《第13个故事》的重任，而且主动为大家借书和book-on-cd等。现在她恳求大家每人针对《第13个故事》最少提一个问题.。我们每人手里都有了一本，有的人开始读，在读的过程中，一定有疑问；有的人已经读完了，结尾也知道了，提问题的针对性就更对症了，不过不要泄露秘密。
你们可以把问题写在Comment里。我会copy-paste them to this post.

1.故事中套故事，但每个故事都没有明确指出年代，从叙述中你能猜出来它们是哪个年代发生的故事吗？

2. Why Vida Winters picked Lea to write her biography?

3. Hester, the governess, after much reading and discussing with the Doctor, had proposed an original research plan concerning the twins. What was the plan? What was the immediate aftermath of the research?

4. Hester imposed cleanness and order, among many other things, in the twins’ household, but left Charlie, the guardian alone. Why? And what was Charlie’s reaction to Hester’s practice?

5. And who killed John-the-dig and Why?

6. When did the "ghost" start living/ haunting the house? How long did Hester live in the house? During Hester's stay, and it sounded she checked and organized all places in the house, why did she only encounter the "ghost" only once? After all, which room did the "ghost" rest when it was not "haunting"?

7. 为什么维达温特决定在临终之际把她隐瞒多年的真相说出来？

8. In what ways did they affect Lea's inner emotions by listening to Winter's life story? -- What kind of person was M. Lea and how did she change?

9. 书中多处提到，《呼啸山庄》《简爱》。是泛泛一提，还是作者隐喻的技巧？为什么这么说？
10. Your experience of reading a book like this. What have you learn from your reading? Do you like or dislike novels of this kind? Why? Do you agree with Margaret Lea that there are simply too many books to read during one's life time? You have to draw the line. Where is your line?

Reading Lolita 作业 II -- 提问题

1. page 12, "I pointed to the butterfly: did you wear this in honor on nabokov?" why it refers to Nabokov here? any history?

2. p. 1, "I often teasingly reminded my students of Muriel Spark's The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and asked, Which one of you will finally betry me?" Can 大雁 tell us what does this reference mean?

3. p. 1, what is the professor's recommendation in reading fiction?

4. Mitra 美而不俗，为什么？ 姥姥只用了两个字来描写她，够吗？

5. Describe some characteristics of Cheshire Cat.

6. 在《第13个故事》和《在德黑兰读洛莉塔》中同时提到Bronte. 伊朗的大学不准讲Bronte? 因为她宽恕通奸。 这指的是那部小说？

7. p. 12 Why did Manna suggest to call our class "a space of our own", a sort of communal version of Virginia Woolf's room of her own?

Reading Lolita 作业 I

Before next meeting in September we only need to read:

In Part I -- Lolita -- the first 1-4小节(about 18 pages in my trade paper back edition. You may find yours slightly different. The last sentence ends with something like this : "They kept that arrangement, faithfully, to the end. It became representative of their emotional boundaries and personal relations. And so began our first class"

That is only a very short introduction of the group. The homework for everyone is to find your part and write a paragraph or two of yourself (the characters)

If you still don't know who you are let me refresh:

1. Azar (Professor) =阿颯兒 (教授) -- Alice, 萤火虫

2. Nassrin (Cheshire cat) =娜絲琳 (柴郡猫）-- 大雁

3. Manna (poet) =瑪纳 (诗人）-- 水竹

4. Mahshid (The Lady) = 瑪荷希 (夫人）-- 阿兰，雪

5. Yassi (the youngest) -- 雅西 (最年轻的）-- 竹林子

6. Azin (The wild one) = 阿金 (野丫头）-- 紫罗兰

7. Mitra (The calmest) = 密德拉 (最冷静的） -- 姥姥

8. Sanaz (vacillated) = 沙娜姿 (摇摆不定） -- 老牛

This is the homework for this week. You can each put your homework in the Comments or in the Document in google. Everyone is required to participate, otherwise ...

Reading Lolita

姥姥提醒我们最好先读Lolita, 然后再开始读Reading Lolita in Tehran. That is a brilliant idea.

Here is the homework for everyone before we meet next time. Everyone is required either make a post or comment about Lolita.

About you have search in the internet, read the summary, watch the movie, etc.

The 13th Tale -- Publisher's site

Listen to the interview in the Publisher's site.

Interview in Yorkshire Post

在线阅读部分《第13个故事》
在线阅读 The 13th Tale 英文

Some of the books mentioned in RLIT

I have tried to find as much information about books and authors as possible but I'm not completely successful as you can see below. You are more than welcome to add more links you come upon in your search. Put them in the Comments which will be added to the list in no time.

Thanks a bunch.

1. Lolita -- 《蘿莉塔》-- Nabokov by 纳伯科夫 -- Humbert -- 杭伯特 -- the main character
2. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie -- 《布蘿迪小姐的青春》by Spark
3. 1984 -- 《一九八四》by Orwell
4. Invitation to a Beheading --《斩首的邀请》by Nabokov
5. A thousand and one night -- 《一千零一夜》
6. Pride and prejudice -- 《傲慢与偏见》by Austen
7. Madame Bovary --《包法利夫人》by Flaubert
8. Daisy Miller -- 《黛西米勒》by Henry James
9. The Dean‘s December -- 《副主教的十二月》by Saul Bellow
10. A room of one's own 《自己的房间》by – by Virginia Woolf
11. The Great Gatsby 《伟大的盖茨比》/《大亨小传》by Scott Fitzgerald
12. Washington square --《华盛顿广场》 by Henry James

读书单出来了-- till Jan. 2010

9月2日, 2009 -- The 13th Tale 《第13个故事》 -- Alice
9月30日, 2009 -- The 13th Tale 《第13个故事》 -- Alice
10月28日, 2009 -- The Great Gatsby =《了不起的盖茨比》-- 雪
12月2日, 2009 -- Kitchen = 《厨房》-- 水竹
1月6日, 2010 -- Bonesetter's daughter =《接骨师的女儿》-- 紫罗兰
2月3日-- The Reader = 《朗读者》-- 老牛


Reading Lolita in Tehran = 《在德黑兰读洛莉塔》-- 月月读, 人人读

characters :
1. Professor -- 教授 -- Alice, 萤火虫
2. Nassrin (Cheshire cat) -- 娜絲琳 (柴郡猫）--大雁
3. Manna (poet) -- 瑪纳 (诗人）-- 水竹
4. Mahshid （Lady) --瑪荷希 （夫人）-- Alan， 雪
5. Yassi （the youngest) -- 雅西 （最年轻的）-- 竹林子
6. Azin -- (the wild one) 阿金 （野丫头）-- 紫罗兰
7. Mitra --(the calmest) 密德拉 (最冷静的）-- 姥姥
8. Sanaz --(vacillated) 沙娜姿 （摇摆不定的） -- 老牛

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie =《布蘿迪小姐的青春》 -- 大雁
Daisy Miller = 《黛西米勒》 -- 姥姥
Washington square --《华盛顿广场》 -- 竹林子

八月五日读书会，2009

时间：Aug. 5, 2009
出席：8 人
缺席：2人
日程：读书单，归国回报（水竹，紫竹兰，姥姥）

大家读书的热情是在让人感动， 真是克服万难，攻下《在德黑兰读洛莉塔》有日可待。

水竹，紫罗兰和姥姥的归国见闻，旅游奇遇，探监有感，让我们过了又一个充实的夜晚。
紫罗兰的甜点手艺越发精湛，大雁千里迢迢带回的甜点怎么吃也不腻。
遗憾的是阿兰，雪没能跟我们分享，不过我们期待着下一次的聚会，两位夫人 Mahshid (玛荷希) 不能缺席。

八月五日选书单

Hi, Yoyo bookworms,

又到了选书单的时候，感谢大雁，紫竹兰，姥姥，萤火虫千里迢迢背回中文译本。同时感谢老牛，雪，水竹，东方维纳斯为我们预先试读。根据大家的推荐，起了个草。一共9本书可读，每月一本或同时两本。

算了一下,我们每4个星期聚一次，九月2日为第1次，到明年四月底一共可聚9次。

如果大家愿意一起啃在德黑兰，有几个办法，大家看如何好。
办法1：每月一本书，包括读辅助书； 同时读《在德黑兰读洛莉塔》，每月读一点。读到明年四月。
办法2：把《在德黑兰读洛莉塔》放到最后2-3个月，和读辅助书同时读。
办法3：不是每人都读辅助书，拿出一个月，找人负责主讲这3本书。
办法里的办法：每人选一个角色，一共有八个供挑选。在读之前报名扮演哪一位：
characters :
1. Professor -- 教授
2. Nassrin (Cheshire cat) -- 娜絲琳 (柴郡猫）
3. Manna (poet) -- 瑪纳 (诗人）
4. Mahshid （Lady) --瑪荷希 （夫人）
5. Yassi （the goungest) -- 雅西 （最年轻的）
6. Azin -- 阿金 （野丫头）
7. Mitra -- 密德拉
8. Sanaz -- 沙娜姿

如果大家觉得啃不动的话，就再想别的办法。


1. Reading Lolita in Tehran =《在德黑兰读洛莉塔》

下面的三本“小”书（辅助书）可以配合一起读

a. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie =《布蘿迪小姐的青春》 -- book, movie available
b. Daisy Miller = 《黛西米勒》 -- book, book-on-CD, movie available
c. Washington square --《华盛顿广场》 -- book, movie available



2.The 13th Tale =《第13个故事》
3.The Great Gatsby =《了不起的盖茨比》
4.Kitchen = 《厨房》
5.Bonesetter's daughter =《接骨师的女儿》
6.The Reader = 《朗读者》

《没有读书月》

七月份没有安排读书会。我们下一此再聚是八月四号。没有读书的七月正好让我们读一直想读可是没时间读的书，也给我们充分的时间计划下一年的读书单。

如果我们决定啃《在德黑兰读洛莉塔》这本书，我们最好做充分的准备。希望大家不要应付公事，一定要读进去，还要读出来。既要精读，还要泛读。
我现在着手准备一个提纲，希望能帮大家在读此书之前得一点背景知识。但是关键还靠大家的努力。

提纲1 -- 相关文学作品：

书中提到好几本文学作品，对这些作品的熟悉有助于理解此书。有几本书我建议大家找来读读。

Lolita -- 《蘿莉塔》by Nabokov
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie -- 《布蘿迪小姐的青春》by Spark
1984 -- 《一九八四》by Orwell
Invitation to a Beheading --《斩首的邀请》by Nabokov
A thousand and one night -- 〈一千零一夜〉
Pride and prejudice -- 《傲慢与偏见》by Austen
Madame Bovary --《包法利夫人》by Flaubert
Daisy Miller -- 《黛西米勒》by Henry James
The Dean‘s December -- 《副主教的十二月》by Saul Bellow
A room of one's own 《自己的房间》by – by Virginia Woolf
The Great Gatsby 《伟大的盖茨比》/《大亨小传》by Scott Fitzgerald
Washington square --华盛顿广场 by Henry James

以上的书有的大家看过或听说过，或看过电影。《在德黑兰读洛莉塔》书中的四个章节是围绕着《洛莉塔》，《盖茨比》， James， 和Austen 展开的。《洛莉塔》不好读，我建议读一下介绍就好，Austen我们也比较熟悉，不读她的〈傲慢与偏见》，看看电影也行。《盖茨比》和James 的《黛西米勒》相对好读多了。最好借来一阅。《布蘿迪小姐的青春》是个小部头，也有电影可看。Qi 已经向我们介绍了《盖茨比》，中文译本也有了。

六月书会，八面来风 -- 记6/24/09读书会(Recordings about 2 hours long)

• 大悲咒 -- 佛的神力
• The lady, the chef and the courtesan -- 祖母的秘方
• 厨房-- 喜读好书
• 1. 毛选; 2. 欧阳海之歌 -- 青春无悔
• The Psychology of Persuasion -- 物以稀为贵, etc.
• 1. A Free life; 2. Kane and Abel
• 了不起的盖茨比与Narcissus
• 牛虻及其他 -- see what I've dug up -- does the rebellious gene run in the family.
  看一下上面题目吧，棒吧，爽吧，耳目一新吧。
  
  八仙围桌座，人人不示弱，囊中取宝物，一个赛一个。
  
  
  

大家都有题目了吗？有了，写在这里吧

1. 在你从小到大的成长过程中，有哪些书籍、电影、戏剧对你产生过很深的影响? 你对此书，影片和戏剧有什么新发现？

2. 你最近在读什么书？你是否把你的书推荐给读书会？

大家可以选其中一个题目，如果时间充裕的话，可以两个都讲。

7:00-7:20 -- discuss the theme of next meeting (July, 29)? -- Hong, Xiaokang and Wen'an will all be back by then, what do we expect from them?

7:20-8:40 -- presentations in the order of

• Alan
  
• Alice
  
• Hong
• Lianhong
• Meiying
• Qi
• Xiaoying
• Yang

8:40-9:00 and beyond -- anything under the sun.

Mockingbirds and Leanna -- 请看 a homemade movie

两只仿声鸟(mockingbird)实在是欺猫太甚，从早到晚只要一见到丽娜就穷追猛叫，猫猫到哪，它们就在跟到哪，从晾台追到菜园，又从菜园追回晾台。有时候还从正面出击。猫猫只好躲在家里不出去，可是又奈不住外面世界的诱惑。悄悄地探出头去，赶快又钻进晾台上的紫藤从里，以躲避仿声鸟的骚扰。

总躲着也不是办法，傍晚时分趁着我们在菜地里劳作，猫猫也大模大样地出来了。任凭仿声鸟叫声不绝，猫猫来个“不管风吹浪打，胜似闲庭信步”，舒舒服服的伸展着四肢爬在菜园里，小尾巴摇来摆去，硬是把仿声鸟给耗走了。（六月七日）
********************************************
说来还有点错怪了仿生鸟。这不没几天院子里突然出奇地安静下来，见不到仿生鸟死皮赖脸地缠着丽娜不放，看见的是鸟妈妈带着小鸟兜风。
原来那正值孵卵期，它们是在保护鸟窝里的宝宝。当然它们也有点过分，把丽娜当成天敌了。谁知丽娜天性愚笨， 哪会干那些偷鸡摸狗的事。现在倒好，没有鸟的追击，她到会自得其乐，在院子里散散步，赏赏花， 跟小虫比划几下，实在闲得无聊，打个盹儿也好嘛。（六月十五日）

Pursuing Frank --

2009年5月31日
Oak Park, Chicago








Cheney House -- 520 East Ave. Built in 1903 for Edwin C. Cheney -- Look at the right side -- In Loving Frank, a girl is mentioned in the neighboring house, who might have witnessed what was happening in the Cheney House.









Other side view of the house









Front view








Arthur B. Heurtley House -- 318 Forest Ave. Built 1902 -- The most Representative house in the neighborhood. Cheney House is small version of this house. Somehow this house is much more grand than Cheney's real dewelling, at least from outside. In the link Helen provided for us, you can watch the video tour.

For more info go to Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio 951 Chicago Avenue

我最喜欢读的书 -- 建议之一

这次回国逛书店，买书之行勾起了对当年读书的回忆。好不好我们下一次读书会每人讲一本你最喜欢的书，？

from NPR -- Three Generations View China At 60

1. 姜戎, the author of 《狼图腾》
2. 余华, the author of 《兄弟》,《活着》
3. 郭敬明 and whatever he wrote.

《纽约客》上李翊云的短篇

1. The Man Who Eats: abstract -- The New Yorker, Sept. 6, 2004
2. Gold Boy, Emerald Girl : -- fiction -- The New Yorker, Oct. 13, 2008
3. A Man Like Him: -- fiction -- The New Yorker, May 12, 2008

对平凡的理解－－昨夜的读书会

Thanks to you all for sharing different perspectives and takes of this author Li Yiyun and her stories. And for the books that Xiaoying managed to buy and bring back to us. Loads of reading! We also enjoyed the treats that you all brought. We had a great evening, but we did miss Xiaokang and Alan!

It looks like the summer's reading materials are in our hands, and that we are to meet on June 24, but that need to be confirmed with a later notice. The general guidelines provided by our leader are that we should report our own reading to the group. That should be easy for everyone!

That wraps up another month's reading gathering. For those of you who have lots of stories, write them up. We may have many Li Yiyun among us!

Till next book....

2009 夏日读书单

Please take a look at the list

May 20th, 2009: Agenda and Reading Questions of Li Yi Yun's Three Short Stories

What:Our next reading assignment is Li Yi Yun's short stories:

Son
Princess from Nebraska
A Thousand Years of Good Prayers

When/where: May 20th, Wednesday, 7-9. Old National Bank. Don't miss it!

Tentative Agenda:

1) Stories from and experiences of China (Xiaoying) 20 min
2) Introduction of Li Yi Yun (Liana) 5 min
3) Son: plot, setting, characters, mother-son relations, religion and Today’s China, sexual orientation (All) 20) min
4) Princess from Nebraska: plot setting, characters, sexual orientation, ending, movie (All) 20 min
5) A Thousand Years of Good Prayers, plot, father-daughter, acquisition of new language, immigrates and tradition, movie, (All) 20 min
6) Free associations/discussions, (All)20 min
7) What’s next: plans for the summer, travel places? reading suggestions, movie suggestions? Bring your ideas! (Xiaoying and others) 15 min


Questions:

Sons:
How religion has been practiced in China, how Christianity being practiced?

How did Hans' Mom react to her son's homosexuality?

What is Han's overall philosophy of life? And what do you think if it?

Princess Nebraska:

How would you describe Shasha?

What are the relationships of the three major characters?

Why Opera singers being part of the story?

Would she end up keeping the baby?

What do you think of Beshen?

How sexuality and relationship being described in the story?

Thousand Years:
What are expressions of personal relationships, being resulted from many thousand years of prayers. What does it mean? What are the Chinese expressions?
Does speaking English change your self concept/presentation?
What was the word the Father describe the daughter when he heard her overexcited expression on the phone?

The following questions are from a study guide of the book, which I thought are good questions.



Son:
How are the children of this generation in China, now adults, breaking away from the traditions of, and duties to, their parents? Think about Sansan, in Love in the
Marketplace, Han in Son, and even Mr. Shi's daughter in "A Thousand Years of Good Prayers."
What moves Han to reveal the long kept secret of his sexuality to his mother? Were you surprised by her reaction? Is Han's mother as "traditional" as he believes?


The Princess of Nebraska:
"The Princess of Nebraska" is set in the heartland of America, during a small street parade. Discuss the juxtaposition of Yang, Sasha and Boshen's life in China with
their new experience in America. How do they each react in their new environment? Sasha believes that "moving on" (69) is an American concept that suits her well. Do you agree that Americans have a unique ability to start fresh and forget the
past? Consider your own experience; do you see this optimism reflected in other cultures, or would you agree that it is an American outlook? Later, Sahsa says Americans are "born to be themselves, naïve and contented with their naivety." Describe the insights behind this appraisal; do you agree or disagree? What does this story reveal about the Chinese and American psyche, and how does this resonate throughout the entire book?

At the end of "The Princess of Nebraska", what do you think Sasha decides to do about the baby?



A Thousand Years of Good Prayers:
Describe the emotional barriers to communication in "A Thousand Years of Good Prayers" does language allow both Mr. Bing and his daughter to open up? How does
the ability to communicate in a new language "make you a new person" (199)?
Yiyun Li sets many of her stories in her homeland of China. What is the spirit of the people? What mood pervades the workers' lives? How would you describe the
way characters, such as Granny Lin, Mr. and Mrs. Su, Sansan, and Mr. Du respond to adversity?

Sign up sheet

Please put your name besides the title(s) or add new title(s) to the list.

读书会历经两年的试读期，大家有什么感想和建议

每人提供最少两条感想或建议。

我先来抛砖引玉：

1。读英文以外的译著。
2。读人物转记，历史著作，游记，侦探小说，科幻，医学保健，美容等等。
3。跟踪一个作家

除读书外我们还可以增加其他的项目，例如学外语，打毛衣，书法，看电影等等。

我回来了

大家的安宁日子没了！

此次回国，使命有三，（自己规定的）：

1． 伺候老爸老妈
2． 买书
3． 买舞蹈教学片

三条都基本做到，是否合人意就另说了。大家知道国情，在国内名著好买，畅销书廖廖。所谓名著，苦涩难读，我们也只好苦中取乐。

海淀区中国书城一逛，“大海捞针，书海拾贝” 的硕果粗粗排列如下。

1. The age of wonders = 奇迹年代by Aron Appelfeld
2. Remains of the Day = 长日留痕
3. Bell Jar = 钟形罩
4. Kitchen = 厨房
5. The Reader = 朗读
6. A Bend in the River = 河湾
7. The Master and Margate = 大师和玛格丽特
8. East of Eden = 伊甸之东
9. Three Cups of Tea = 三杯茶
10. Trail = 审判
11. Castle = 城堡
12. The Great Gatsby = 了不起的盖茨比
13. Tender Is the Night = 夜色温柔
14. The House on the Mongo Street = 芒果街上的小屋
15. Elegy for Iris = 当贝利遇到艾丽丝
17. My Name is Red = 我的名字叫红
18. A Hundred Years of Solitude = 百年孤独


• Gadfly = 牛虻
• Ulysses = 尤里斯丝

Today is 世界读书日

Have we been part of it?

《晓英， 你在北京》

《晓英， 你在北京》

by 知情人

晓英,

你在北京

你带走了热闹

和声音

我们静得象小草

在等待一场春雨

我们静得象小鸟

在盘算着你带回来的佳肴

晓英－－

你在北京

谈笑风生

忙来忙去

我们

静静地

遥望着你

Onto the Next: Li YiYun, A Thousand Years of Good Prayers

Thanks to Xiaoying's recommendation and introduction to this new Chinese English-writer. See below for what, where, when, how and WHY.

What:Our next reading assignment is Li Yi Yun's A thousand years of good prayers.

When/where: May 2oth, Wednesday, 7-9. Old National Bank. Don't miss it!

How to start:
1) Here's a website site about the book

A Thousand Years of Good Prayers

Brilliant and original, A Thousand Years of Good Prayers illuminates how mythology, history, and culture intersect with personality to create fate. From the bustling heart of Beijing to a fast-food restaurant in Chicago to the barren expanse of Inner Mongolia, ...

2) Another good site recommended by Xiaoying,

Why: Read up, and catch up with Xiaoying... before she abandons us!

<<她是梅姆>>

<<她是梅姆>>
献给一群读书的朋友

知情人

（一）
她是梅姆
有个温柔的丈夫
一双可爱的儿女
又遇到理想的爱侣
踏上了一个激动
而又艰辛的征途

（二〕
她是梅姆
勇敢地去铺一条妇女的路
为真我
为爱
路上有鲜花
路上有快乐
路上有鲜血
鲜血里流淌着的愤怒

（三〕
她是梅姆
勇敢地去铺一条爱的路
她体悟着生命的真谛
爱着爱人
忍受着铺天盖地的羞辱

（四）
她是梅姆
她酷爱歌德
歌唱着生命
人只活一次
她选择了生命里的爱情
而选择带来的是幸福
还有痛苦

（五）
她是梅姆
她追求完美
追求理想的真实
却被世俗视为罪恶
她去德国
又去瑞士
想找到生命的钥匙
要世俗抛弃蒙昧
她要铺出一条理想的路

（六）
她是梅姆
在一个夏日的正午
被疯狂卷走
像一朵盛开的玫瑰
被急风暴雨摧毁
那是1914年
她只有四十五
她用生命铺了一条路
她名叫梅玛
爱称是梅姆

轰轰烈烈的爱 vs. 辗转难眠的夜

I don’t know if anyone sleeps well last night. How could you if you did after such a meeting? I really begin to love these meetings. We have the rare ability in turning any subject comical and hilarious, no matter how serious a subject our target book has.

Anyway let us give Qi our wholehearted thanks for her provocative questions and leadership; we owe our gratitude to Wenan for her up-close and personal “encounter with FLW”.

Big applause to both

Everyone konws April 1 but ...

Do you know International Edible Book Festival is held in April 1 annually? IU's first one was held today in Wells Library.
Here are only a few of them. It was fun to see how those book lovers created something of their favorite books.

Frankenstein

why does "the hotdog in a mug" represent the title?











The secret life of bees









Three cups of tea









One flew over the cuckoo's nest













Life of Pi









The Book Thief









Bible

A love story? A scandal?《Loving Frank》Leading You to a Ture Story of Early 1900

作者带你进入建筑大师Frank 为书中女主人公设计的庄园
Touring Frank for Loving Frank (video)

Taliesin on Wiki (The house in the story)

Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece home, Fallingwater. (it is not related to the story but for reference)
（video）

采访作者

小说第一章

讨论问题

Book Club Wrap-up

雪的思考问题：
“抛夫（妇）弃子”去寻梦是该同情还是该唾弃？
女权运动是否让这个问题的答案不一样？
社会对男人和女人在这个问题上的标准是否一致？
时代的变迁是否让世人的观点有所改变？
你内心深处是否有过女主人公的挣扎，那怕只是瞬间的？
若婚姻不再有爱，该维系还是该松绑？
若婚姻出现问题，你是会放下自尊去宽容去挽回，还是毅然告别，不再回头？
书中女主人公的感情从不觉，到压抑，到萌芽，到发展至最后爆发，你有否象作者一样经历了她的感情旅程？
这本书给你最大的启发是什么？

March is Women's History Month

I found it relevant in reading Loving Frank.

Anything is relevant concerning women :-)

FYI -- another book about FLW

"The Women is a fictional account of Wright's life, from the perspective of the women he loved: the young Serbian dancer Olgivanna; Miriam, the morphine-addicted and obsessive Southern belle; Mamah, whose life ended tragically in a massacre at Taliesin, the home Wright built for his lovers and wives; and his first wife, Kitty, the mother of six of his children. Narrated by a Japanese architectural apprentice named Tadashi Sato, the story is told in reverse chronology, beginning when Wright is an elderly man. "

Listen to the author
Listen/read on New York Times

Review on The Times

大家献给知情人

炼红

你有哲学家的深邃

又有舞者的轻快

你有领导家的大气

又有良友的体恤

炼红啊--

你是我们中间一台迷人的川剧

变不尽的风采

笑开了花

昨晚的读书会大概是最精彩, 最令人难忘的.
东方维纳斯领着我们走过《赎罪》的艰难历程，有困惑，有感慨，更多的是惊叹和深省。

三八妇女节是我们的传统保留节目。今年竹林子给大家一个惊喜。昨晚在回家的路上你是不是笑得合不拢嘴? 到了家还偷着乐？睡梦中笑醒了？

笑啊，笑吧，笑开了花。

感谢知情人的系列好诗！咱也凑首《无题》助助兴.

《朋友，你是一股清泉》

写于妇女节的前夕
知情人

（一）

朋友
你是一股清泉
一直
一直流
流到我的心田

（二）

朋友

你是一股清泉
一直
一直流
流到今天

（三）

朋友
你是一股清泉
一直
一直流
流到永远

last year was Austen, this year is Dickens

Northanger Abbey -- missed last year? have to rent it!

Charles Dickens on Masterpiece -- Starts last night

Don't miss out!

March. 2009 -- Atonement = 《赎罪》

Engage yourself and keep the online discussion going smoothly:


Please be aware that there are two sets of questions: one set from Manitowoc Public Library

One set from Alice on BPwiki

Reading Log

在网上找到两处英文读本。 Enjoy.

原版英语 -- read by chapter
Read Atonement online -- read by scrolling down

一本书 一盏灯一屋子的女人

《一本书 一盏灯一屋子的女人》 -- 写在立春读书日 by 知情人

一

一本书
一盏灯
一屋子的女人

二


一本书
遥遥地映出
Chris, 玛丽的荒原
王龙, Lennie 的农场
和,
珍珠粲粲的海洋
讲述难释的情怀
有些心痛
有些理解
有些顿悟
有些困惑

三

一盏灯
照着一屋子的女人
追忆着不曾遥远的过去
咀嚼着此时此境
眼光里忖托出
一些激动
一些感叹
一些安慰
一些向往

四

一屋子的女人
眷着昔日的风雨
揉进太多的心绪
离别
渐行渐远的他们
终又看到
渐行渐近我们。

五

一本书
一盏灯
一屋子的女人

又一个难忘的夜晚 （Feb. 4, 2009)

感谢紫罗兰,Yoyo2二位领导的精心安排，昨晚两本书的讨论不仅在预定时间内完成，而且提前了几分钟。感谢大家带来的好吃的。会前的立蛋游戏让我们打开眼界，水竹是当之无愧的winner。

每次读书会归来总有一些言未尽之感，我相信大家都有同感。我们来个有感就发。

二月四日恰立春，寒风料峭春未到，谁说春来无觅处，悠游书会闹春宵。

Feb. 2009 -- 读斯坦贝克的《人鼠之间》和《珍珠》

Of mice and men's quiz in SparkNotes

BPwiki page 请大家踊跃发言

《珍珠》节选

我们在歌唱！

...热气腾腾地聊一个沉重的话题


We had a productive discussion of a seemingly simple story. We are delighted to discover a character Mary that we can't quite put our figure on her essences. She has a story that the deeper we dig, the heavier it gets. She was happy from 16 till her marriage in her 30s. Her childhood experiences were revealed to readers through her dreams. Her marital relationship with Dick was considered as less fortunate, some of us think her fate was doomed. Very much symbolize "apartheid" in South Africa. She died as a symbol, some of us say. Yet, we are not sure of the nature of her relationship with another central figure Moses. Was it friendship, was it a sexual one? It must be an intimate enough relationship to provoke Mose's rage against her. Moses speaks with his action -- was it a mere individual emotional/cruel action, or was it a collective rebellious act against the oppressors?

Some suggested that we invite Lessing who is now 89 years old to answer our burning question on the nature of the relationship. Maybe we should, however, writing a novel may share the same mystery as a woman giving birth. We gave birth, but babies are all mystery to us, especially when they grow into their own personalities. If we were to be summoned about our kids and why and how of their personalities, it might be hard for moms to come up with an answer.

Couple of things derived from this discussion:
1) Doris Lessing is a incredible writer. Let's check her other writings out on our own
2) Watch a movie Amazing Grace when you have a free moment
3) Read a bible, or any other spiritual scripture when you can; we need that collective wisdom
4) Solitude is good, but not when we feel lonely. Participation is a key. Which leads to the last item of the discussion
5) Yoyo Poker Club. Finally we have a community leader in this major development.

We wish all of us and our families a happy, healthy, joyful and prosperous 2009.