昨晚我们津津有味地解读着1982年诺贝尔文学奖得主马尔克斯的《百年孤独》；今天另一位拉美作家马里奥·巴尔加斯·略萨登上了2010年诺贝尔的领奖台。
Vargas Llosa is the first South American winner of the $1.5 million Nobel Prize in literature since Colombia's Garcia Marquez in 1982, and the first Spanish-language writer to win since Mexico's Octavio Paz in 1990.
下面摘录获奖讲演的其中两段：Literature is a false representation of life that nevertheless helps us to understand life better, to orient ourselves in the labyrinth where we are born, pass by, and die. It compensates for the reverses and frustrations real life inflicts on us, and because of it we can decipher, at least partially, the hieroglyphic that existence tends to be for the great majority of human beings, principally those of us who generate more doubts than certainties and confess our perplexity before subjects like transcendence, individual and collective destiny, the soul, the sense or senselessness of history, the to and fro of rational knowledge.
Fiction is more than an entertainment, more than an intellectual exercise that sharpens one’s sensibility and awakens a critical spirit. It is an absolute necessity so that civilization continues to exist, renewing and preserving in us the best of what is human.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Friday, December 3, 2010
online questions about Solitude posted for Xiaoying
See how many you can get right. Break a leg!
One Hundred Years of Solitude Quiz: Pages 1–195
When it comes to recalling what happened to all the Buendías, are you more like José Arcadio Buendía looking at the bigger picture or do you know a little something about everyone like Pilar Ternera? Take this quiz and find out!
1. Who is the first to realize that the insomnia plague has infected the Buendía household?
Visitación
Cataure
Melquíades
2. What detains Aureliano Buendía from marrying Remedios Mascote?
Their fathers are bitter enemies.
Father Nicanor Reyna has to build a church first.
Remedios hasn't reached puberty.
3. At first, what drives Rebeca to start eating dirt again?
Amaranta dares her to.
She is deliriously in love with Pietro Crespi.
She does it to punish herself for marrying her adopted brother José Arcadio.
4. When José Arcadio comes back to Macondo, how does he make a living?
Arm wrestling.
Plowing fields.
Auctioning himself to women.
5. Whose ghost takes care of José Arcadio Buendía in his final days?
Remedios Mascote
Prudencio Aguilar
Melquíades
6. Why doesn't Pilar Ternera sleep with Arcadio?
He is a Conservative and she is a Liberal.
She is married to someone else.
She is his mother.
7. Whose advances does Amaranta reject?
Pietro Crespi, Aureliano José and Gerineldo Márquez
Pietro Crespi, Arcadio and Father Nicanor Reyna
Catarino, General Moncada and Aureliano Segundo
8. Why does Aureliano José desert the army?
He hears his father, Colonel Aureliano Buendía, has been murdered.
A soldier tells him he can marry his aunt.
He is tired of war.
9. Before Colonel Aureliano Buendía tries to commit suicide, who prevents him from destroying Remedios' daguerreotype?
Santa Sofía de la Piedad
Pilar Ternera
Úrsula
10. Which Buendía actually dies in front of a firing squad?
Aureliano José
Arcadio
José Arcadio Segundo
One Hundred Years of Solitude Quiz: Pages 1–195
When it comes to recalling what happened to all the Buendías, are you more like José Arcadio Buendía looking at the bigger picture or do you know a little something about everyone like Pilar Ternera? Take this quiz and find out!
1. Who is the first to realize that the insomnia plague has infected the Buendía household?
Visitación
Cataure
Melquíades
2. What detains Aureliano Buendía from marrying Remedios Mascote?
Their fathers are bitter enemies.
Father Nicanor Reyna has to build a church first.
Remedios hasn't reached puberty.
3. At first, what drives Rebeca to start eating dirt again?
Amaranta dares her to.
She is deliriously in love with Pietro Crespi.
She does it to punish herself for marrying her adopted brother José Arcadio.
4. When José Arcadio comes back to Macondo, how does he make a living?
Arm wrestling.
Plowing fields.
Auctioning himself to women.
5. Whose ghost takes care of José Arcadio Buendía in his final days?
Remedios Mascote
Prudencio Aguilar
Melquíades
6. Why doesn't Pilar Ternera sleep with Arcadio?
He is a Conservative and she is a Liberal.
She is married to someone else.
She is his mother.
7. Whose advances does Amaranta reject?
Pietro Crespi, Aureliano José and Gerineldo Márquez
Pietro Crespi, Arcadio and Father Nicanor Reyna
Catarino, General Moncada and Aureliano Segundo
8. Why does Aureliano José desert the army?
He hears his father, Colonel Aureliano Buendía, has been murdered.
A soldier tells him he can marry his aunt.
He is tired of war.
9. Before Colonel Aureliano Buendía tries to commit suicide, who prevents him from destroying Remedios' daguerreotype?
Santa Sofía de la Piedad
Pilar Ternera
Úrsula
10. Which Buendía actually dies in front of a firing squad?
Aureliano José
Arcadio
José Arcadio Segundo
New Faces of Solitude Characters
Take no offense, but our leader has poked us with her imagination and assigment.
Melquíades (mehl-KEE- ah-dehs), a wise and honest Gypsy. He makes annual visits to Macondo, a remote, mythical village in Latin America. Having made innumerable trips around the world, he possesses immense knowledge that he reveals to the people of Macondo. He introduces them to inventions such as magnets, astrolabes, telescopes, magnifying glasses, and false teeth. The curiosity of the men is stimulated by their hope of finding a panacea for life, but the women are not impressed. In spite of his wisdom, Melquíades cannot transcend the problems of daily life. First reported as dead but actually living through death, he reappears in Macondo. There, he is the first to die and be buried. Periodically, he comes back ethereally, seen by some and lost to others. He has left a precious parchment manuscript, the history of both the past and the future of Macondo, to those who can read its Sanskrit and decipher its meaning.
(姥姥)José Arcadio Buendía (hoh- SEH ahr-KAH-dee-oh bwehn-DEE-ah), the family patriarch, the founder and colonizer of Macondo. He is the leader and most enterprising of its settlers. He becomes enthralled with the knowledge and inventions of Melquíades, but his spirit of initiative disappears. He becomes careless and lazy in his dress. He tries to find gold with the magnets, turn base metals into precious ones with the alchemist’s laboratory, use a magnifying glass as an instrument of war, demonstrate that the world is round with an astrolabe, and prove the existence or nonexistence of God with a daguerreotype. Preoccupied with the larger issues of life, he searches for universal wealth, remedies, and answers to the questions of existence. When he goes berserk, ten men are necessary to tie him to a tree in the backyard of the family home. There, he speaks in Latin with the village priest and is attended to by his family. Finally, he dies, and a rain of yellow flowers blankets the village.
（雪）Úrsula Iguarán (EWR-suh-lah ee-gwahr-RAHN), the wife of José Arcadio and the matriarch of the Buendías. With more common sense than her husband, she solves the ordinary problems of daily living for her family. She is kind and generous. She always has food and a place in the family for anyone who appears. She is the stable and guiding force in the lives of her three children and adopted daughter, although none of them turns out the way she would have preferred. She also takes a hand in the rearing of future generations of Buendías, trying to correct her past mistakes, but they too are found wanting. Each generation reflects the patterns of its historical setting. Earlier generations of males have great physical or intellectual powers, whereas later generations tend to be weaker in spirit and stamina. The females increasingly approach the model of the modern liberated woman as the novel moves through several generations of women.
（潇竹）José Arcadio, their gigantic older son, who marries Rebeca. Born on the journey to found Macondo, he does not share his father’s interest in inventions. Initiated into the mysteries of sex by the family’s servant, Pilar Ternera, he quickly leaves town when she becomes pregnant. He joins the circus and goes around the world. Lost to the family for several years, he returns fully grown and awesomely developed. Because he is stronger than anyone else and has an enormous sex organ, women pay to sleep with him. The chemistry between him and his adoptive sister Rebeca is such that they have to be married in three days. Ordered out of the family, they set up a separate household. He expands his estate, knocking down fences and incorporating the lands of others into his holdings. When he is shot, it is not clear if it is an accident, a suicide, someone’s revenge, or an act by Rebeca.
（大雁）Rebeca (rreh-BEH-kah), the adoptive daughter of José Arcadio and Úrsula. She arrives on the Buendías’ doorstep, with her parents’ bones in a sack, when she is eleven years old. They take her in and rear her as their own. She suffers from the vice of secretively eating dirt and whitewash. She is more affectionate toward Úrsula than are her own children. She is the first to appear with the symptoms of the plague of insomnia that has spread through Macondo with the selling of Úrsula’s candy animals. Rebeca is courted by and becomes engaged to Pietro Crespi, but then the manly presence of José Arcadio overwhelms her. Her subsequent marriage and banishment and the death of José Arcadio leave her a recluse and forgotten woman.
（萤火虫）Colonel Aureliano Buendía (ow-reh- lee-AH-noh), the younger son of José Arcadio and Úrsula. He, too, is introduced to the wonders of sex by Pilar Ternera. He falls in love with Remedios Moscote, the prepubescent daughter of a Conservative. They marry when they reach the age of conception, and she later dies in childbirth. In contrast to the macho physical presence of his brother, he is cerebral. He has unusual powers of insight and premonition. He is outraged over the growing restrictions placed on the inhabitants of Macondo by the Conservatives. He leads the Liberals in revolt and launches thirty-two unsuccessful rebellions against the central government. He becomes supreme commander of the revolutionary movement throughout the country and a legend in his own time. Women offer up their daughters and themselves, and he fathers seventeen Aurelianos. The government, fearful of his fame as a rallying point for renewed revolution, assassinates his seventeen sons and tries to coopt him with honor, glory, and wealth, but he spurns all offers. As supreme leader, he has a rare opportunity to explore the meaning of political power and finds principle, prestige, duty, and personal gain as part of the complex motivations that propel people into positions of political power. At one point, he succumbs to the temptation of dictatorial rule. He eventually sees the emptiness of power and retires to his workshop, where he fashions gold fishes. He discovers the simple pleasures in the routine of daily work. New government indignities, such as corruption and cooperation with foreigners, periodically provoke his desire to lead his veterans in another Liberal rebellion.
（老牛）Amaranta (ahm-mahr-AHN-tah), their daughter. In love with her sister Rebeca’s fiancé, Pietro Crespi, she does everything in her power to prevent the wedding. It is postponed many times. When Rebeca suddenly marries José Arcadio instead, Pietro Crespi is free to court Amaranta, which she encourages. Amaranta’s enveloping tenderness leads Pietro Crespi to propose, but she scornfully rejects his offer, and he commits suicide. In remorse, she plunges her hand into a stove of hot coals. She wears a bandage of black gauze on her burned hand until her death as a sign of her virginity. Other suitors come, including her cousin, with whom she engages in deep petting, but nothing is ever consummated. She rejects all offers of marriage. Even though she is capable of love, she is never able to overcome her cowardice and commit herself totally. Determined to outlive Rebeca, she spends the rest of her life weaving and unweaving her funeral shroud, whose completion will mark her own death. She finally accepts the inevitable and the frustration of not surviving Rebeca.
Pietro Crespi (pee-EH-troh KREHS-pee), an Italian music master. As Macondo modernizes and the Buendías acquire material objects and social graces, he is contracted to assemble a pianola and to teach dancing. He is first engaged to Rebeca, then becomes Amaranta’s suitor, but he commits suicide when she rejects his proposal of marriage.
（水竹）Pilar Ternera (pee-LAHR tehr- NEHR-ah), a part-time servant of the Buendías and a generous woman of easy virtue. Her lovemaking skills and ability to read the fortunes of others in the cards are sought by the inhabitants of Macondo.
Remedios Moscote was the youngest daughter of the town's Conservative administrator, Don Apolinar Moscote. Her most striking physical features are her beautiful skin and her emerald-green eyes. The future Colonel Aureliano falls in love with her, despite her extreme youth. She dies shortly after the marriage from a blood poisoning illness during her pregnancy.
（潇竹）Arcadio, her illegitimate son by José Arcadio, reared by the Buendías. Placed in charge of Macondo by Colonel Aureliano Buendía, his arbitrary rule of Liberal decrees, anticlericalism, and executions is the cruelest to date. When Liberal fortunes dim and Macondo falls, he is shot by a firing squad.
（Alice）Santa Sofía de la Piedad (soh- FEE-ah deh lah pee-eh-DAHD), the common-law wife of Arcadio. Silent and condescending, she moves into the Buendía home after his execution and rears their daughter and twin boys and tends to the cares and needs of the other Buendías.
（紫罗兰）Remedios the Beauty (rreh-MEH- dee-ohs), their daughter. Oblivious to her disturbing and man- killing beauty, she wanders about Macondo as a modern-day Virgin Mary. She ascends into heaven folding sheets in the garden.
（潇竹）José Arcadio Segundo (seh- GEWN-doh), their twin son. He gives up his position as foreman in the banana company to organize the striking workers. Martial law brings a confrontation between the workers and the army at the train station. Army machine guns kill three thousand people, but everyone denies there was a massacre. A supposed agreement between the company and the workers is to be announced when it stops raining. Because it rains for four years, eleven months, and two days, the agreement is forgotten and the company abandons Macondo. An outcast and traumatized by the experience, José Arcadio Segundo spends the rest of his life in Melquíades’ room.
（萤火虫）Aureliano Segundo, his twin brother. His fortunes parallel the boom and bust period of Macondo. His wealth grows without effort, and he spends without restraint in an orgy of carousing and fiestas that becomes legendary. He even wallpapers the Buendía home with money. As Macondo declines, however, his ruin is complete. He is reduced to selling lottery tickets.
（水竹）Petra Cotes (PEH-trah KOH-tehs), the mulatto concubine of Aureliano Segundo. Generous of heart and devoted, she is his companion to the end.
（Alice）Fernanda del Carpio (KAHR-pee- oh), the wife of Aureliano Segundo. The descendant of an old highland family, she has aristocratic pretensions. She is a nag, a prude, and a snob, and she is narrow-minded in the extreme. Under the weight of mistaken ideas, religious and medical beliefs, and secretive practices, she complicates the routine of life and poisons the ordinary joys of existence.
（紫罗兰）Renata “Meme” Remedios (rreh- NAH-tah), their older daughter. Diligent, studious, and industrious—so as not to annoy her mother—she falls madly in love with Mauricio Babilonia, an apprentice mechanic in the banana company garage. When their relationship is discovered, her mother confines her to home. There, the relationship continues with secret visits. When Fernanda finds out, she has a guard stationed outside the home; the guard shoots Mauricio Babilonia. He remains a bedridden invalid the rest of his life. Meme never speaks another word and is sequestered far away from Macondo, never to return. Her illegitimate child, Aureliano, is delivered to Fernanda in a basket by the nuns a year later.
（潇竹）José Arcadio, their son, a pederast. Sent away to Rome, where he lives for many years, he never studies, as intended by his mother, for the priesthood. He returns to Macondo to find only Aureliano and his dead mother among the ruins of the family home. His discovery of gold, buried long ago by the matriarch Úrsula, allows him to redecorate the house and stock it with food and wines. After he expels four boys from his home following a wild party, they return and drown him for the gold.
（姚晨）Amaranta Úrsula, their younger daughter. Sent off to study in Brussels at great sacrifice by her father and his mistress, who are now in the twilight of their lives, she returns to a home whose only occupant is Aureliano. A thoroughly modern and liberated woman with the latest fashions and dances, she restores the house and settles down with her husband, Gaston, but then falls madly in love with Aureliano. She dies in childbirth.
Gaston (GAHS-tohn), her Flemish husband. Led by Amaranta Úrsula on a silk leash, he marries her with the promise that he will return with her to Macondo. Determined to wait out his wife’s nostalgic fascination with the place, he busies himself setting up an airmail service to Macondo. After many delays, he finally leaves to track down the airplane that has been mistakenly shipped to the African tribe of the Makondos.
（萤火虫）Aureliano, Meme’s illegitimate son. Locked up and ignored as a child, he pores over the manuscripts and books in Melquíades’ room. He has encyclopedic knowledge of the past but little of the present. Infatuated with Amaranta Úrsula, he becomes her lover, and they abandon themselves to each other in a Macondo on the verge of extinction. When she dies in childbirth, he wanders unconsoled. He returns to find the baby eaten by ants. At this moment, Melquíades’ final keys to the manuscript are revealed, and he finally understands the meaning of the parchments perfectly. As he reads them, he is able to live out the unrepeatable one- hundred-year history of Macondo.
（真正爱情的结晶，猪尾巴孩儿）Aureliano, Aureliano and Amaranta Úrsula’s son. Born with a pig’s tail—reminiscent of an ancestor who also was the product of a union of close relatives—he dies when eaten by ants and fulfills the prophecy of the manuscript.
Melquíades (mehl-KEE- ah-dehs), a wise and honest Gypsy. He makes annual visits to Macondo, a remote, mythical village in Latin America. Having made innumerable trips around the world, he possesses immense knowledge that he reveals to the people of Macondo. He introduces them to inventions such as magnets, astrolabes, telescopes, magnifying glasses, and false teeth. The curiosity of the men is stimulated by their hope of finding a panacea for life, but the women are not impressed. In spite of his wisdom, Melquíades cannot transcend the problems of daily life. First reported as dead but actually living through death, he reappears in Macondo. There, he is the first to die and be buried. Periodically, he comes back ethereally, seen by some and lost to others. He has left a precious parchment manuscript, the history of both the past and the future of Macondo, to those who can read its Sanskrit and decipher its meaning.
(姥姥)José Arcadio Buendía (hoh- SEH ahr-KAH-dee-oh bwehn-DEE-ah), the family patriarch, the founder and colonizer of Macondo. He is the leader and most enterprising of its settlers. He becomes enthralled with the knowledge and inventions of Melquíades, but his spirit of initiative disappears. He becomes careless and lazy in his dress. He tries to find gold with the magnets, turn base metals into precious ones with the alchemist’s laboratory, use a magnifying glass as an instrument of war, demonstrate that the world is round with an astrolabe, and prove the existence or nonexistence of God with a daguerreotype. Preoccupied with the larger issues of life, he searches for universal wealth, remedies, and answers to the questions of existence. When he goes berserk, ten men are necessary to tie him to a tree in the backyard of the family home. There, he speaks in Latin with the village priest and is attended to by his family. Finally, he dies, and a rain of yellow flowers blankets the village.
（雪）Úrsula Iguarán (EWR-suh-lah ee-gwahr-RAHN), the wife of José Arcadio and the matriarch of the Buendías. With more common sense than her husband, she solves the ordinary problems of daily living for her family. She is kind and generous. She always has food and a place in the family for anyone who appears. She is the stable and guiding force in the lives of her three children and adopted daughter, although none of them turns out the way she would have preferred. She also takes a hand in the rearing of future generations of Buendías, trying to correct her past mistakes, but they too are found wanting. Each generation reflects the patterns of its historical setting. Earlier generations of males have great physical or intellectual powers, whereas later generations tend to be weaker in spirit and stamina. The females increasingly approach the model of the modern liberated woman as the novel moves through several generations of women.
（潇竹）José Arcadio, their gigantic older son, who marries Rebeca. Born on the journey to found Macondo, he does not share his father’s interest in inventions. Initiated into the mysteries of sex by the family’s servant, Pilar Ternera, he quickly leaves town when she becomes pregnant. He joins the circus and goes around the world. Lost to the family for several years, he returns fully grown and awesomely developed. Because he is stronger than anyone else and has an enormous sex organ, women pay to sleep with him. The chemistry between him and his adoptive sister Rebeca is such that they have to be married in three days. Ordered out of the family, they set up a separate household. He expands his estate, knocking down fences and incorporating the lands of others into his holdings. When he is shot, it is not clear if it is an accident, a suicide, someone’s revenge, or an act by Rebeca.
（大雁）Rebeca (rreh-BEH-kah), the adoptive daughter of José Arcadio and Úrsula. She arrives on the Buendías’ doorstep, with her parents’ bones in a sack, when she is eleven years old. They take her in and rear her as their own. She suffers from the vice of secretively eating dirt and whitewash. She is more affectionate toward Úrsula than are her own children. She is the first to appear with the symptoms of the plague of insomnia that has spread through Macondo with the selling of Úrsula’s candy animals. Rebeca is courted by and becomes engaged to Pietro Crespi, but then the manly presence of José Arcadio overwhelms her. Her subsequent marriage and banishment and the death of José Arcadio leave her a recluse and forgotten woman.
（萤火虫）Colonel Aureliano Buendía (ow-reh- lee-AH-noh), the younger son of José Arcadio and Úrsula. He, too, is introduced to the wonders of sex by Pilar Ternera. He falls in love with Remedios Moscote, the prepubescent daughter of a Conservative. They marry when they reach the age of conception, and she later dies in childbirth. In contrast to the macho physical presence of his brother, he is cerebral. He has unusual powers of insight and premonition. He is outraged over the growing restrictions placed on the inhabitants of Macondo by the Conservatives. He leads the Liberals in revolt and launches thirty-two unsuccessful rebellions against the central government. He becomes supreme commander of the revolutionary movement throughout the country and a legend in his own time. Women offer up their daughters and themselves, and he fathers seventeen Aurelianos. The government, fearful of his fame as a rallying point for renewed revolution, assassinates his seventeen sons and tries to coopt him with honor, glory, and wealth, but he spurns all offers. As supreme leader, he has a rare opportunity to explore the meaning of political power and finds principle, prestige, duty, and personal gain as part of the complex motivations that propel people into positions of political power. At one point, he succumbs to the temptation of dictatorial rule. He eventually sees the emptiness of power and retires to his workshop, where he fashions gold fishes. He discovers the simple pleasures in the routine of daily work. New government indignities, such as corruption and cooperation with foreigners, periodically provoke his desire to lead his veterans in another Liberal rebellion.
（老牛）Amaranta (ahm-mahr-AHN-tah), their daughter. In love with her sister Rebeca’s fiancé, Pietro Crespi, she does everything in her power to prevent the wedding. It is postponed many times. When Rebeca suddenly marries José Arcadio instead, Pietro Crespi is free to court Amaranta, which she encourages. Amaranta’s enveloping tenderness leads Pietro Crespi to propose, but she scornfully rejects his offer, and he commits suicide. In remorse, she plunges her hand into a stove of hot coals. She wears a bandage of black gauze on her burned hand until her death as a sign of her virginity. Other suitors come, including her cousin, with whom she engages in deep petting, but nothing is ever consummated. She rejects all offers of marriage. Even though she is capable of love, she is never able to overcome her cowardice and commit herself totally. Determined to outlive Rebeca, she spends the rest of her life weaving and unweaving her funeral shroud, whose completion will mark her own death. She finally accepts the inevitable and the frustration of not surviving Rebeca.
Pietro Crespi (pee-EH-troh KREHS-pee), an Italian music master. As Macondo modernizes and the Buendías acquire material objects and social graces, he is contracted to assemble a pianola and to teach dancing. He is first engaged to Rebeca, then becomes Amaranta’s suitor, but he commits suicide when she rejects his proposal of marriage.
（水竹）Pilar Ternera (pee-LAHR tehr- NEHR-ah), a part-time servant of the Buendías and a generous woman of easy virtue. Her lovemaking skills and ability to read the fortunes of others in the cards are sought by the inhabitants of Macondo.
Remedios Moscote was the youngest daughter of the town's Conservative administrator, Don Apolinar Moscote. Her most striking physical features are her beautiful skin and her emerald-green eyes. The future Colonel Aureliano falls in love with her, despite her extreme youth. She dies shortly after the marriage from a blood poisoning illness during her pregnancy.
（潇竹）Arcadio, her illegitimate son by José Arcadio, reared by the Buendías. Placed in charge of Macondo by Colonel Aureliano Buendía, his arbitrary rule of Liberal decrees, anticlericalism, and executions is the cruelest to date. When Liberal fortunes dim and Macondo falls, he is shot by a firing squad.
（Alice）Santa Sofía de la Piedad (soh- FEE-ah deh lah pee-eh-DAHD), the common-law wife of Arcadio. Silent and condescending, she moves into the Buendía home after his execution and rears their daughter and twin boys and tends to the cares and needs of the other Buendías.
（紫罗兰）Remedios the Beauty (rreh-MEH- dee-ohs), their daughter. Oblivious to her disturbing and man- killing beauty, she wanders about Macondo as a modern-day Virgin Mary. She ascends into heaven folding sheets in the garden.
（潇竹）José Arcadio Segundo (seh- GEWN-doh), their twin son. He gives up his position as foreman in the banana company to organize the striking workers. Martial law brings a confrontation between the workers and the army at the train station. Army machine guns kill three thousand people, but everyone denies there was a massacre. A supposed agreement between the company and the workers is to be announced when it stops raining. Because it rains for four years, eleven months, and two days, the agreement is forgotten and the company abandons Macondo. An outcast and traumatized by the experience, José Arcadio Segundo spends the rest of his life in Melquíades’ room.
（萤火虫）Aureliano Segundo, his twin brother. His fortunes parallel the boom and bust period of Macondo. His wealth grows without effort, and he spends without restraint in an orgy of carousing and fiestas that becomes legendary. He even wallpapers the Buendía home with money. As Macondo declines, however, his ruin is complete. He is reduced to selling lottery tickets.
（水竹）Petra Cotes (PEH-trah KOH-tehs), the mulatto concubine of Aureliano Segundo. Generous of heart and devoted, she is his companion to the end.
（Alice）Fernanda del Carpio (KAHR-pee- oh), the wife of Aureliano Segundo. The descendant of an old highland family, she has aristocratic pretensions. She is a nag, a prude, and a snob, and she is narrow-minded in the extreme. Under the weight of mistaken ideas, religious and medical beliefs, and secretive practices, she complicates the routine of life and poisons the ordinary joys of existence.
（紫罗兰）Renata “Meme” Remedios (rreh- NAH-tah), their older daughter. Diligent, studious, and industrious—so as not to annoy her mother—she falls madly in love with Mauricio Babilonia, an apprentice mechanic in the banana company garage. When their relationship is discovered, her mother confines her to home. There, the relationship continues with secret visits. When Fernanda finds out, she has a guard stationed outside the home; the guard shoots Mauricio Babilonia. He remains a bedridden invalid the rest of his life. Meme never speaks another word and is sequestered far away from Macondo, never to return. Her illegitimate child, Aureliano, is delivered to Fernanda in a basket by the nuns a year later.
（潇竹）José Arcadio, their son, a pederast. Sent away to Rome, where he lives for many years, he never studies, as intended by his mother, for the priesthood. He returns to Macondo to find only Aureliano and his dead mother among the ruins of the family home. His discovery of gold, buried long ago by the matriarch Úrsula, allows him to redecorate the house and stock it with food and wines. After he expels four boys from his home following a wild party, they return and drown him for the gold.
（姚晨）Amaranta Úrsula, their younger daughter. Sent off to study in Brussels at great sacrifice by her father and his mistress, who are now in the twilight of their lives, she returns to a home whose only occupant is Aureliano. A thoroughly modern and liberated woman with the latest fashions and dances, she restores the house and settles down with her husband, Gaston, but then falls madly in love with Aureliano. She dies in childbirth.
Gaston (GAHS-tohn), her Flemish husband. Led by Amaranta Úrsula on a silk leash, he marries her with the promise that he will return with her to Macondo. Determined to wait out his wife’s nostalgic fascination with the place, he busies himself setting up an airmail service to Macondo. After many delays, he finally leaves to track down the airplane that has been mistakenly shipped to the African tribe of the Makondos.
（萤火虫）Aureliano, Meme’s illegitimate son. Locked up and ignored as a child, he pores over the manuscripts and books in Melquíades’ room. He has encyclopedic knowledge of the past but little of the present. Infatuated with Amaranta Úrsula, he becomes her lover, and they abandon themselves to each other in a Macondo on the verge of extinction. When she dies in childbirth, he wanders unconsoled. He returns to find the baby eaten by ants. At this moment, Melquíades’ final keys to the manuscript are revealed, and he finally understands the meaning of the parchments perfectly. As he reads them, he is able to live out the unrepeatable one- hundred-year history of Macondo.
（真正爱情的结晶，猪尾巴孩儿）Aureliano, Aureliano and Amaranta Úrsula’s son. Born with a pig’s tail—reminiscent of an ancestor who also was the product of a union of close relatives—he dies when eaten by ants and fulfills the prophecy of the manuscript.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
who is who
1. 姥姥 – 霍家老爷子
2. 雪 – 霍家老奶奶
3. 老牛 – 霍家第二代小女
4. 水竹—霍家二弟情妇
5. 紫罗兰 – 霍二代二儿媳
6. 大雁 – 养女 （霍二代大儿媳-Rebecca）
7. 萤火虫 - 霍二代老二，etc。
8. 潇竹 – 霍二代老大， etc.
2. 雪 – 霍家老奶奶
3. 老牛 – 霍家第二代小女
4. 水竹—霍家二弟情妇
5. 紫罗兰 – 霍二代二儿媳
6. 大雁 – 养女 （霍二代大儿媳-Rebecca）
7. 萤火虫 - 霍二代老二，etc。
8. 潇竹 – 霍二代老大， etc.
Monday, November 29, 2010
More questions for Solitude
Question 7:
How did the book describe solitude for some of the characters?
How do you define solitude?
Does the Chinese translations and the English word have any subtle differences?
How does the expression of solitude differ between women and men in this novel?
Question 8:
Who are your favorite characters?
What are your favorite expressions, humors, ironies, stories, events?
How did the book describe solitude for some of the characters?
How do you define solitude?
Does the Chinese translations and the English word have any subtle differences?
How does the expression of solitude differ between women and men in this novel?
Question 8:
Who are your favorite characters?
What are your favorite expressions, humors, ironies, stories, events?
Monday, November 22, 2010
Question no. 5
The triangular relationship between, 雷蓓卡, 阿玛兰塔, 皮埃特罗 克雷斯庇 (p. 47). How to describe the love affaris and what happened to each of the three in the end?
Question no. 4
"果然，星期天雷蓓卡来了。只有十一岁的她，跟着几个皮货..."p. 32. What one particular problem that she had brought to her new family?
走进“孤独”-问题1：你是“孤独”中的谁？
《百年孤独》家谱更新版
Hi, our reading meeting still is on 12/6th. No changes on the date, time. Please be there!
We will read first 10 chapters of the book. I will post questions today and tomorrow.
Please start answer your questions.
Thank you!
Hi, our reading meeting still is on 12/6th. No changes on the date, time. Please be there!
We will read first 10 chapters of the book. I will post questions today and tomorrow.
Please start answer your questions.
Thank you!
Friday, November 19, 2010
走不出去的《孤独》
说来也神了。这书的魔力不小， 把我们圈在怪圈里出不来了。也许有人不同意，我只能代表我自己。我想说的是， 我们轰轰烈烈地走进《百年孤独》，转悠了两个月就是转悠不出来了。上次费劲劳神地自认为搞清楚的家谱关系，又模模糊糊了。啥办法？从头开始吧！
Monday, November 15, 2010
Reading "Solitude"--starting with a family tree
Not very easy reading, but keep at it. Stay on the first name basis when you read. And I highlighted the women/girls' names here--get to know their names first.
Also, if you have not started reading yet, please consider reading the Chinese version; we found that Chinese is much easier.
布恩蒂亚家族人物表
霍•阿•布恩蒂亚 第一代
乌苏娜 霍•阿•布恩蒂亚之妻 (赵本山, (宋丹丹) -- 第一代
霍•阿卡蒂奥 霍•阿•布恩蒂亚之长子 (张艺谋) -- 第二代
雷贝卡 霍•阿卡蒂奥之妻 (斯琴高娃) -- 第二代
奥雷连诺上校 霍•阿•布恩蒂亚之次子(周润发) 第二代
雷麦黛丝•摩斯柯特 奥雷连诺上校之妻 (静秋）-- 第二代
阿玛兰塔 霍•阿•布恩蒂亚之小女儿 (巩俐) -- 第二代
皮拉•苔列娜 霍•阿卡蒂奥之情妇 (刘晓庆) -- 第二代
阿卡蒂奥 霍•阿卡蒂奥之子 (冯小刚) -- 第三代
圣索菲娅•德拉佩德 阿卡蒂奥之妻 (徐帆) -- 第三代
奥雷连诺•霍塞 奥雷连诺上校之子 (葛优) -- 第三代
十七个奥雷连诺 奥雷连诺上校之子 第三代
俏姑娘雷麦黛丝 阿卡蒂奥之长女 (章子怡) -- 第四代
霍•阿卡蒂奥第二 阿卡蒂奥之次子 (姜文) -- 第四代
奥雷连诺第二 阿卡蒂奥之小儿子（姜武）-- 第四代
菲兰达•德卡皮奥 奥雷连诺第二之妻 (陶红) -- 第四代
佩特娜•柯特 奥雷连诺第二之情妇 第四代
霍•阿卡蒂奥（神学院学生） 奥雷连诺第二之长子 (王志文） -- 第五代
梅梅（雷纳塔） 奥雷连诺第二之次女（范冰冰）-- 第五代
巴比洛尼亚 梅梅之夫 第五代
阿玛兰塔•乌苏娜 奥雷连诺第二之小女儿（姚晨）-- 第五代
加斯东 阿玛兰塔•乌苏娜之夫 第五代
奥雷连诺•布恩蒂亚（破译手稿者）梅梅之子 （孙红雷） -- 第六代
有尾巴的婴儿 奥雷连诺•布恩蒂亚之后代 第七代
Sunday, November 14, 2010
霍家的养女成了老大的媳妇
斯琴高娃从小失去父母, 被霍家老两口收养了. 她跟霍家小女巩俐一起长大, 就像亲姐妹一样. 哪知二位小姐同时爱上一个外族人, 一个潇洒倜傥的意大利小伙儿. 这位小伙同时也爱上了斯琴高娃, 两人的婚礼之日屈指可数. 命运和人为的开玩笑让他们阴差阳错地成不了婚.
云游天下的霍老大张艺谋突然回来了, 斯琴高娃被张艺谋的阳刚之气征服了. 霍家老大跟领养的妹妹结为百年之好.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
蛋糕好吃, 今宵难忘 -- 记十月读书会
首先声明, 昨晚睡得很香, 本人对巧克力忍耐程度很高. 今后有巧克力吃, 不论白天夜晚, 是来者不拒. 对不起了, 大雁 :-D
感谢Alice带领我们走近芒果街的小屋, 又带我们走出来。我们在诗歌里徜徉, 在梦幻里游荡, 直到看到提着大包小包姥姥的倩影出现在门口, 直到《祝你生日快乐》的歌声落定，直到那甜腻冰凉的巧克力蛋糕在嘴里融化，直到姥姥说“我这是为感谢大家” , 多么掏心窝子的一句话!
告别芒果屋, 告别51, 带着憧憬，带着欢笑我们走进《百年孤独》。
感谢Alice带领我们走近芒果街的小屋, 又带我们走出来。我们在诗歌里徜徉, 在梦幻里游荡, 直到看到提着大包小包姥姥的倩影出现在门口, 直到《祝你生日快乐》的歌声落定，直到那甜腻冰凉的巧克力蛋糕在嘴里融化，直到姥姥说“我这是为感谢大家” , 多么掏心窝子的一句话!
告别芒果屋, 告别51, 带着憧憬，带着欢笑我们走进《百年孤独》。
Monday, September 20, 2010
Mango Stree -- 目录和全文
紫罗兰为大家找来《芒果小屋》的全文。 一共有314页。 慢慢翻页吧。多谢啦， 紫罗兰！
目录
芒果街上的小屋
头发
男孩和女孩
我的名字
猫皇后凯茜
我们的好日子
笑声
吉尔的旧家具买卖
么么•奥提兹
路易、他的表姐和表兄
玛琳
那些人不明白
有一个老女人她有很多孩子不知道怎么办
瞧见老鼠的阿莉西娅
大流士和云
还有……
小脚之家
米饭三明治
塌跟的旧鞋
髋骨
第一份工
黑暗里醒来的疲惫的爸爸
生辰不吉
伊伦妮塔、牌、手掌和水
没有姓的杰拉尔多
埃德娜的鹭鸶儿
田纳西的埃尔
塞尔
四棵细瘦的树
别说英语
在星期二喝可可和木瓜汁的拉菲娜
萨莉
密涅瓦写诗
阁楼上的流浪者
美丽的和残酷的
一个聪明人
萨莉说的
猴子花园
红色小丑
亚麻地毡上的玫瑰
三姐妹
阿莉西娅和我在埃德娜的台阶上交谈
一所自己的房子
芒果有时说再见
……
目录
芒果街上的小屋
头发
男孩和女孩
我的名字
猫皇后凯茜
我们的好日子
笑声
吉尔的旧家具买卖
么么•奥提兹
路易、他的表姐和表兄
玛琳
那些人不明白
有一个老女人她有很多孩子不知道怎么办
瞧见老鼠的阿莉西娅
大流士和云
还有……
小脚之家
米饭三明治
塌跟的旧鞋
髋骨
第一份工
黑暗里醒来的疲惫的爸爸
生辰不吉
伊伦妮塔、牌、手掌和水
没有姓的杰拉尔多
埃德娜的鹭鸶儿
田纳西的埃尔
塞尔
四棵细瘦的树
别说英语
在星期二喝可可和木瓜汁的拉菲娜
萨莉
密涅瓦写诗
阁楼上的流浪者
美丽的和残酷的
一个聪明人
萨莉说的
猴子花园
红色小丑
亚麻地毡上的玫瑰
三姐妹
阿莉西娅和我在埃德娜的台阶上交谈
一所自己的房子
芒果有时说再见
……
Qustions on Mango stree
1. In what style was this book written in? How is it different from the other books we’ve read?
2. This book has 45 chapters, which is your favorite and why?
3. What is the theme of this book? Is there a lesson to be learned?
4. What do you learn about the Mexican culture and the difference in their genders after reading this book?
5. What are the similarities and differences with our culture?
6. With all these characters in this book, who impressed you the most?
7. Who has the most influence on Esperanza and how?
8. What do you think had happened in chapters “Red clown” and “What Sally said”?
9. How did those “Four skinny trees” inspire Esperanza?
10. What was her mother and great grandma like?
11. In chapter ‘Gil’s furniture brought and sold”, why wouldn’t the old man sell the old music box?
12. Who encouraged Esperanza to write?
13. What Esperanza dream house is like?
14. In the chapter “The three sisters, what do you think Esperanza whished for?
15. What does her name, “Esperanza”, stand for in English and Spanish?
16. What inspired Sandra Cisneros to write this book? Do you think this book has served the purposes the author intended?
2. This book has 45 chapters, which is your favorite and why?
3. What is the theme of this book? Is there a lesson to be learned?
4. What do you learn about the Mexican culture and the difference in their genders after reading this book?
5. What are the similarities and differences with our culture?
6. With all these characters in this book, who impressed you the most?
7. Who has the most influence on Esperanza and how?
8. What do you think had happened in chapters “Red clown” and “What Sally said”?
9. How did those “Four skinny trees” inspire Esperanza?
10. What was her mother and great grandma like?
11. In chapter ‘Gil’s furniture brought and sold”, why wouldn’t the old man sell the old music box?
12. Who encouraged Esperanza to write?
13. What Esperanza dream house is like?
14. In the chapter “The three sisters, what do you think Esperanza whished for?
15. What does her name, “Esperanza”, stand for in English and Spanish?
16. What inspired Sandra Cisneros to write this book? Do you think this book has served the purposes the author intended?
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
边读边记《生死朗读》
小书一本, 分量不轻. 等不得老牛的问题出来, 先给大家提供一个一边读, 一边记的场所. 每天读一点, 写一点, 提问题, 记感想, 畅所欲言了(点一下发言吧)
老牛的问题:
1. 在什么情况下你意识到这本书标题的重要性? 谁是朗读者?
2. 汉娜身上的什么东西如此强烈地激发麦克的欲望? 为社么她似乎是麦克唯一能爱上的女人?
3. 《朗读者》的核心主题—两代人之间的爱与背叛是否只对德国读者有特殊意义? 中国读者的经历有类似的吗?
4. 麦克有罪吗? 麦克与汉娜的恋情是否影响了他的一生? 是否改变了汉娜?
5. 麦克认为汉娜同情那些来为她朗读的犯人, 希望她们生命的最后岁月因此变得可以忍受一些, 你同意吗?
6. 为什么汉娜两次问法官”你会怎么做”? 法官同情汉娜吗?
7. 麦克所经历的对汉娜的审判怎样影响了他对历史和法律的看法?
8. 你如何看待麦克给汉娜寄磁带这件事? 他注意到他选择来朗读的那些书见证了受过教育的市民对文化巨大而基本的诉求.汉娜的故事证明这一信念是虚假的吗?
9. 汉娜是情愿参加党为队的吗? 如果你是律师, 将怎样为她辩护?
10. 在小说的末尾, 你同意幸存者的看法吗? 为什么她接受了茶叶罐而不是钱? 谁更懂汉娜一点? 麦克是不是汉娜的又一个牺牲品?
老牛的问题:
1. 在什么情况下你意识到这本书标题的重要性? 谁是朗读者?
2. 汉娜身上的什么东西如此强烈地激发麦克的欲望? 为社么她似乎是麦克唯一能爱上的女人?
3. 《朗读者》的核心主题—两代人之间的爱与背叛是否只对德国读者有特殊意义? 中国读者的经历有类似的吗?
4. 麦克有罪吗? 麦克与汉娜的恋情是否影响了他的一生? 是否改变了汉娜?
5. 麦克认为汉娜同情那些来为她朗读的犯人, 希望她们生命的最后岁月因此变得可以忍受一些, 你同意吗?
6. 为什么汉娜两次问法官”你会怎么做”? 法官同情汉娜吗?
7. 麦克所经历的对汉娜的审判怎样影响了他对历史和法律的看法?
8. 你如何看待麦克给汉娜寄磁带这件事? 他注意到他选择来朗读的那些书见证了受过教育的市民对文化巨大而基本的诉求.汉娜的故事证明这一信念是虚假的吗?
9. 汉娜是情愿参加党为队的吗? 如果你是律师, 将怎样为她辩护?
10. 在小说的末尾, 你同意幸存者的看法吗? 为什么她接受了茶叶罐而不是钱? 谁更懂汉娜一点? 麦克是不是汉娜的又一个牺牲品?
Friday, August 6, 2010
2010-2011 读书单
读书单出来了. 今年一共选了十本书. 大家读书热情实在让人振奋, 只是书单上的书并不是每本都引人入胜, 让大家失望了.
读书的顺序稍作调整, 紫罗兰和老牛领读的书放在最后. 不过顺序可以随时变动.如果你发现你不喜欢你的所选或觉得不适大家读的话, 一个以更换.
谢谢大家合作! 祝大家另一个愉快的读书年.
1. The Reader by Bernhard Schilink = 《朗读者》-- (Sept. 1, 2010) -- 老牛
2. The House on the Mongo Street = 芒果街上的小屋 (Oct., 2010_- - Alice
3. A Hundred Years of Solitude = 百年孤独 -- (Nov. , 2010) –- 竹林子
4. Eat pray love by Elizabeth Gilbert = 《一辈子做女孩》-- (Dec. , 2010) -- 雪
5. A Bend in the River = 河湾 -- (Jan. , 2011) -- 水竹
6. Tuesday with Morrie = 14堂星期二的课 -– (Feb. , 2011) -- 姥姥
7. My Name is Red = 我的名字叫红 -– (Mar. , 2011) -- 潇竹
8. Moon and sixpence = 月亮和六便士 -- (Apr. , 2011) -- 大雁
9. Catcher in the rye = 麦田里的守望者 -- (May , 2011) -- 紫罗兰
10. The age of wonders = 奇迹年代 -- (June, 2011) -- 老牛
读书的顺序稍作调整, 紫罗兰和老牛领读的书放在最后. 不过顺序可以随时变动.如果你发现你不喜欢你的所选或觉得不适大家读的话, 一个以更换.
谢谢大家合作! 祝大家另一个愉快的读书年.
1. The Reader by Bernhard Schilink = 《朗读者》-- (Sept. 1, 2010) -- 老牛
2. The House on the Mongo Street = 芒果街上的小屋 (Oct., 2010_- - Alice
3. A Hundred Years of Solitude = 百年孤独 -- (Nov. , 2010) –- 竹林子
4. Eat pray love by Elizabeth Gilbert = 《一辈子做女孩》-- (Dec. , 2010) -- 雪
5. A Bend in the River = 河湾 -- (Jan. , 2011) -- 水竹
6. Tuesday with Morrie = 14堂星期二的课 -– (Feb. , 2011) -- 姥姥
7. My Name is Red = 我的名字叫红 -– (Mar. , 2011) -- 潇竹
8. Moon and sixpence = 月亮和六便士 -- (Apr. , 2011) -- 大雁
9. Catcher in the rye = 麦田里的守望者 -- (May , 2011) -- 紫罗兰
10. The age of wonders = 奇迹年代 -- (June, 2011) -- 老牛
Thursday, August 5, 2010
生死朗读
是巧合还是天意？2010-2011届读书会的第一本书中文译成《生死朗读》.
领读者老牛早就憋足了劲儿. 我们呢? 借一下题目的字面意思: 让我们读一个冬去春来, 不与书同生, 亦与书同死.
老牛的问题可以交给我们之中的任何人打出来, 越快越好. 网上钩来英文中文各一本, 寄到各位的mailbox里 请大家随意.
领读者老牛早就憋足了劲儿. 我们呢? 借一下题目的字面意思: 让我们读一个冬去春来, 不与书同生, 亦与书同死.
老牛的问题可以交给我们之中的任何人打出来, 越快越好. 网上钩来英文中文各一本, 寄到各位的mailbox里 请大家随意.
八月读书会后感点滴
像不像紫羅蘭的小餅?
昨夜大概是这个夏天最热的一个夜晚, 读书会将近9点半才散。 当我们走出凉爽的银行, 马上就被一层热浪裹了起来. 酷暑似乎也影响到读书会, 一向热火朝天的讨论会, 昨晚却显得有些疲惫, 至少给我的感觉是这样. 或许这本《接骨师之女》读得时间太长？ 或许雪没有像以前一样在读书会之前给大家注射一份兴奋剂？ 或许有人觉得探讨母女关系的书有些老调重弹， 提不起兴趣？ 请注意， 我说的是或许！
不管怎样， 我们再次感谢紫罗兰， 你的15个问题提得很好，它们提纲携领，涵盖整本书。 在你的带领和讲解下， 让我们这些刚读过， 以前读过，或粗粗略过此书的人对Amy Tan的作品更加深了了解，并多多少少产生共鸣。
一个炎热的夜晚， 一本关于寻找和解的书， 但愿暑气散尽， 《接骨师傅之女》还留在我们的记忆里。
领读:紫罗兰
出席: 全部, 无一缺席.
不管怎样， 我们再次感谢紫罗兰， 你的15个问题提得很好，它们提纲携领，涵盖整本书。 在你的带领和讲解下， 让我们这些刚读过， 以前读过，或粗粗略过此书的人对Amy Tan的作品更加深了了解，并多多少少产生共鸣。
一个炎热的夜晚， 一本关于寻找和解的书， 但愿暑气散尽， 《接骨师傅之女》还留在我们的记忆里。
领读:紫罗兰
出席: 全部, 无一缺席.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
请踊跃选书
离八月读书会还有10天. 八月份对于我们来说, 是一个不寻常的月份, 每到这时就想起我们读书会的第一次活动, 每到这时都要算算读书会是第几个年头, 每年读了几本书. 查了一下最早的post, 我们第一次活动是2007年7月30日, 粗略数了一下, 大概我们共同读了20本书.
我们就要进入第4个年头, 先把存货报一下. 下面就由大家来选书了. 8月2日我会把书都带来, 你们拿回去先读读看. 然后我们再定一个书单.
看看还有什么存货: 以下每本都有中文译本. Pages numbers are roughly based on English version.
1. The age of wonders = 奇迹年代 by Aron Appelfeld -- 270 p.
2. Remains of the Day = 长日留痕 by Kazuo Ishiguro -- 245 p.
3. Bell Jar = 钟形罩 by Sylvia Plath -- 264 p.
4. The Reader = 朗读 by Bernhard Schlink -- 218 p. 老牛
5. A Bend in the River = 河湾 by V. S. Naipaul -- 278 p.
6. The Master and Margarite = 大师和玛格丽特 by Mikhail Afanasyevich Bulgakov -- 460 p.
7. East of Eden = 伊甸之东 by John Steinbeck -- 602 p. -- 竹林子
8. Trail = 审判 by Franz Kafka -- 212 p.
9. Castle = 城堡 by Franz Kafka -- 328 p.
10. Tender Is the Night = 夜色温柔 by F. Scott Fitzgerald -- 317 p.
11. The House on Mango Street = 芒果街上的小屋 by Sandra Cisneros -- 134 p. -- 水竹?
12. Elegy for Iris = 当贝利遇到艾丽丝 by John Bayley -- 275 p.
13. My Name is Red = 我的名字叫红 by Orhan Pamuk -- 417 p. -- 潇竹
14. One Hundred Years of Solitude = 百年孤独 by Gabriel García Márquez -- 416 p. -- 竹林子
15. Eat pray love = 《一辈子做女孩》by Elizabeth Gilbert -- 334 p. -- 雪
在网上查到几本中文译本, 但不知质量如何. 先放到这里.
16. Moon and sixpence = 月亮与六便士 by Sumerset Maugham -- 204 p.
17. The Sun also rises = 太阳照常升起 by Ernest Hemingway -- 251 p.
18. Unbearable lightness of being = 生命中不能承受之轻 by Milan Kundera -- 314 p.
19. Catcher in the rye = 麦田里的守望者 by J. D. Salinger -- 277 p.
20. Guns, germs and steel = 枪炮、病菌与钢铁 by Jared Diamond. -- 518 p.
Friday, July 16, 2010
接骨师的女儿讨论问题
1． 为什么露丝(Ruth)会选择在每年的八月失声一个星期？
2． 为什么茹灵(LuLing)会开始记录下自己的过去?
3． 你认为宝姨(Precious Auntie)对茹灵隐瞒她的真实身份对吗？为什么宝姨会保守这个秘密那么多年？
4． 宝姨，茹灵和露丝这三个女性她们各自的性格特征是什么? 有什么共性吗？
5． 茹灵是怎样反叛母亲宝姨的？露丝和茹灵在这方面有什么相同之处吗？
6． 露丝的童年记忆怎样影响她的生活？母亲茹灵的记忆又是怎样影响她对露丝的行为的？
7． 出于什么目的露丝决定找人翻译并阅读母亲的回忆录？
8． 为什么妹妹高灵(GaoLing)比姐姐茹灵更容易融入美国的生活？
9． 在茹灵和女儿露丝矛盾爆发最激烈的时候，发生了一件什么事情差点要了茹灵的性命？
10． 你认为造成茹灵和露丝母女之间矛盾冲突的最终原因是什么？
11． 露丝和亚特(Art)的关系陷入一种什么样的困境？结局如何？
12． 你最喜欢小说的哪一部分？
13． “接骨师的女儿”和我们之前读过的“喜福会”相比在描写母女关系这一主题上有什么不同？
14． 你认为什么是打开母女之间感情交流之门的钥匙？
15． 家里有女儿的谈谈你们和女儿有矛盾时是如何解决的？
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
七月七日读书会 -- 三言两语话夏天
出席者: 大雁, 雪, 萤火虫, 姥姥, 水竹, Alice, 老牛, 紫罗兰, 潇竹
缺席者: 竹林子
Agenda:
7:00-7:15 -- Arriving and warming up
7:15-8:00 -- Report by 雪 -- 人多, 钱多, 骗子多; 照相, 烫发, 美容处处挨宰.
8:00-8:45 -- Report by 大雁 -- 省亲归来感概多, 时差难倒,办学更难.
8:45-9:00 -- Free chat -- ideas, suggestions and recommendations.
缺席者: 竹林子
Agenda:
7:00-7:15 -- Arriving and warming up
7:15-8:00 -- Report by 雪 -- 人多, 钱多, 骗子多; 照相, 烫发, 美容处处挨宰.
8:00-8:45 -- Report by 大雁 -- 省亲归来感概多, 时差难倒,办学更难.
8:45-9:00 -- Free chat -- ideas, suggestions and recommendations.
Friday, May 7, 2010
书海拾贝--2009回国购书单重登
去年买的. 多是小说. 可以作为将来读书会的可读书. 希望大家贡献更多的传记文学.
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
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
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
4月22日-- Three cups of tea
领读者: 雪 (遥控)
出席者: 紫罗兰, 大雁, 萤火虫, 竹林子, 水竹, 姥姥, Alice, 老牛
缺席者: 潇竹, 雪(遥控)
网上问答问题着: 雪, 紫罗兰, 大雁, 萤火虫, 竹林子
读书会一瞥: (good luck if you can open and view it)
1. Newcomer 寻找《三杯茶》的真正含义。
2. “读真人比虚拟人有意思”的说法得到点头赞许, 但也有人持异议.
3. 理解萬歲(对不起, 到此就没录下去, file 太大了, 就upload不上了)
出席者: 紫罗兰, 大雁, 萤火虫, 竹林子, 水竹, 姥姥, Alice, 老牛
缺席者: 潇竹, 雪(遥控)
网上问答问题着: 雪, 紫罗兰, 大雁, 萤火虫, 竹林子
读书会一瞥: (good luck if you can open and view it)
1. Newcomer 寻找《三杯茶》的真正含义。
2. “读真人比虚拟人有意思”的说法得到点头赞许, 但也有人持异议.
3. 理解萬歲(对不起, 到此就没录下去, file 太大了, 就upload不上了)
Sunday, April 4, 2010
又一样的人生《三杯茶》
继潇竹《厨房》后再次探讨人生.....
Discussing Questions:
1. When did story happen? At that time , your life was mainly occupied by what?
2. What makes Greg’s transition from a climbing bum to humanitarian hero? How Greg differs from Christopher in "Into the Wild"?
1. When did story happen? At that time , your life was mainly occupied by what?
2. What makes Greg’s transition from a climbing bum to humanitarian hero? How Greg differs from Christopher in "Into the Wild"?
3. What does “Three cups of tea” mean? How do you view” Three cups of tea” verse “ One cup of tea” culture?
4. What was Greg’s reaction after he got hate mail in the week of September 11? Please also refer the pages in the book.
5. How do you view fitting into a foreign culture in this book? How does this relate to our "culture shock" in United States?
6. What did he do for preparing to climb K2? Describe the beauty of K2 using your own words and imagination.
7. Who was the only person to response Greg’s first hand-typed 580 letters?
8. How many schools have Greg established in Pakistan and Afghanistan?
9. What was happed when Greg was kidnapped for eight day in 1996?
10. What does fatweh mean in the book?
11. How do you view if you "educate a boy" verse "educate a girl" philosophy in Africa culture, comparing this with your own culture?
12. 什么令Greg想起1969宇航员登上月球？
13. 如何看待”Co-Author” David Relin’s comments” I wrote the story, but Greg Mortenson lived it”？How do you feel his mother-in-law's comments? “That's when I realized that he's just not one of us. He's his own species." 他的女友和妻子如何不同？有什么东西可能导致了妻子的不同？ 假若Greg是你的朋友或家人，你会如何看待他对事业的付出？
14. Greg认为 什么才是可以真正带来和平的武器？
15. 讨论文明对落后地区带来的好处和坏处，可以借题发挥电影《阿凡达》观后感。
16. 在你读《三杯茶》时，Greg这样一个和我们同年代的活生生的人和其它我们读过的小说中的的虚拟人物，给你带来的影响有不同吗？
4. What was Greg’s reaction after he got hate mail in the week of September 11? Please also refer the pages in the book.
5. How do you view fitting into a foreign culture in this book? How does this relate to our "culture shock" in United States?
6. What did he do for preparing to climb K2? Describe the beauty of K2 using your own words and imagination.
7. Who was the only person to response Greg’s first hand-typed 580 letters?
8. How many schools have Greg established in Pakistan and Afghanistan?
9. What was happed when Greg was kidnapped for eight day in 1996?
10. What does fatweh mean in the book?
11. How do you view if you "educate a boy" verse "educate a girl" philosophy in Africa culture, comparing this with your own culture?
12. 什么令Greg想起1969宇航员登上月球？
13. 如何看待”Co-Author” David Relin’s comments” I wrote the story, but Greg Mortenson lived it”？How do you feel his mother-in-law's comments? “That's when I realized that he's just not one of us. He's his own species." 他的女友和妻子如何不同？有什么东西可能导致了妻子的不同？ 假若Greg是你的朋友或家人，你会如何看待他对事业的付出？
14. Greg认为 什么才是可以真正带来和平的武器？
15. 讨论文明对落后地区带来的好处和坏处，可以借题发挥电影《阿凡达》观后感。
16. 在你读《三杯茶》时，Greg这样一个和我们同年代的活生生的人和其它我们读过的小说中的的虚拟人物，给你带来的影响有不同吗？
Friday, March 26, 2010
三月二十四日的《厨房》
这晚的《厨房》除了刘姥姥，电影迷，老牛等带来的美食外，还有紫罗兰准备的水果。大家对贴在网上有关《厨房》的“替菜”进行了“研”、“犟”、“暴吵”或“稍考”。Alice ，雪和老牛出手利索让新手潇竹大长见识。善于张罗的水竹抽空将中华食文化“热了热”；竹林子帮大家“择理干净”了心理学上的一些观点和性学上的几条“熟鱼”。电影迷分享了她的大陆，台湾及香港旅游见闻。紫罗兰和刘姥姥清闲自在地享受着大雁的作品“厨房交响乐”。大家都知道兰是不会在厨房露面的，因为“她经不起厨房的烟熏火燎”。
经过对《厨房》的讨论我们应该知道作者利用“死”作为故事的主脉。由Mikage外婆的死使她搬去Tanabe的家，由此有了Mikage，Eriko和Yuichi三个非常独立人物之间非常独特的亲密关系；从Eriko妻子的死演化出他的变性，俊男成靓女。从一个被人收养嫌弃的穷小子，到一个受人喜爱为人提供避难所的夜总会业主；再由Eriko的死将Mikage和Yuichi拉近，使彼此均失去所有亲人，情人的爱之后又找到了属于他们自己的爱。
作者让我们看到死亡是件自然的事情，不是因果的报应。书中主人翁在面对人生的困境及死亡时的哭泣、痛苦、挣扎、绝望、忧郁、甚至轻生等没有与常人有所不同。他们三人看似心理不健全却是那么的坚强、阳光、赋人以生命力。
民以食为天，厨房是生命的供给所。
“If a person wants to stand on her own two feet, I recommend undertaking the care and feeding something. It could be children, or it could be house plants, you know? By doing that you come to understand your own limitations. That’s where it starts.” –Eriko P41
自强、自立人之根本。
“There are many days when all the awful things that happen make you sick at heart, when the path before you is so steep you can’t bear to look. Not even love can rescue a person from that.” –Eriko P42
“When was it I realized that, on the truly dark and solitary path we all walk, the only way we can light is our own?” –Mikage P21
“Truly great people emit a light that warms the hearts of those around them. When that light has put out, a heavy shadow of despair descends. Perhaps Eriko’s was only a minor kind of greatness, but her light was sorely missed.” –Mikage P55
“As I grow older, much older, I will experience many things, and I will hit rock bottom again and again. Again and again I will suffer; again and again I will get back on my feet. I will not be defeated. I won’t let my spirit be destroyed.” - Mikage P42
灾难可以夺去你的一切，你的亲人、财产、健康和以致生命，但它无法夺取你面对人生的态度。
经过对《厨房》的讨论我们应该知道作者利用“死”作为故事的主脉。由Mikage外婆的死使她搬去Tanabe的家，由此有了Mikage，Eriko和Yuichi三个非常独立人物之间非常独特的亲密关系；从Eriko妻子的死演化出他的变性，俊男成靓女。从一个被人收养嫌弃的穷小子，到一个受人喜爱为人提供避难所的夜总会业主；再由Eriko的死将Mikage和Yuichi拉近，使彼此均失去所有亲人，情人的爱之后又找到了属于他们自己的爱。
作者让我们看到死亡是件自然的事情，不是因果的报应。书中主人翁在面对人生的困境及死亡时的哭泣、痛苦、挣扎、绝望、忧郁、甚至轻生等没有与常人有所不同。他们三人看似心理不健全却是那么的坚强、阳光、赋人以生命力。
民以食为天，厨房是生命的供给所。
“If a person wants to stand on her own two feet, I recommend undertaking the care and feeding something. It could be children, or it could be house plants, you know? By doing that you come to understand your own limitations. That’s where it starts.” –Eriko P41
自强、自立人之根本。
“There are many days when all the awful things that happen make you sick at heart, when the path before you is so steep you can’t bear to look. Not even love can rescue a person from that.” –Eriko P42
“When was it I realized that, on the truly dark and solitary path we all walk, the only way we can light is our own?” –Mikage P21
“Truly great people emit a light that warms the hearts of those around them. When that light has put out, a heavy shadow of despair descends. Perhaps Eriko’s was only a minor kind of greatness, but her light was sorely missed.” –Mikage P55
“As I grow older, much older, I will experience many things, and I will hit rock bottom again and again. Again and again I will suffer; again and again I will get back on my feet. I will not be defeated. I won’t let my spirit be destroyed.” - Mikage P42
灾难可以夺去你的一切，你的亲人、财产、健康和以致生命，但它无法夺取你面对人生的态度。
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Discussion questions for "Kitchen
Hi ladies, wakeup! Let’s get “kitchen” ready for the reunion with our professor after her “Fat” Chinese Spring Festival vacation. We all know the limits in our kitchen compare to the ones she had seen in China. However we could still satisfy her taste buds if we have the essence.
Here are few questions to serve as “Bricks” hopping to attract “Jade”. I’d appreciate your generosity for posting more questions.
1. What Tanabes’ Kitchen looks like? What is it different from kitchen we normally see?
2. What impression you have on Tanabes’ personalities after saw their kitchen?
3. How the author described Yuichi and Eriko when using of “Light”? How would you relate it to their personality?
4. What do you think Eriko’s transsexuality adds to this story? Explain how you think Mikage’s and Yuichi’s love affair would have been different if Eriko had just been a mother who worked at a nightclub.
5. What are the scenes surprised you through the book? Will you please mark the pages and share with the rest when we meet?
6. In the book, few deaths are mentioned, what are the emotions you see in the book? What are not?
Here are few questions to serve as “Bricks” hopping to attract “Jade”. I’d appreciate your generosity for posting more questions.
1. What Tanabes’ Kitchen looks like? What is it different from kitchen we normally see?
2. What impression you have on Tanabes’ personalities after saw their kitchen?
3. How the author described Yuichi and Eriko when using of “Light”? How would you relate it to their personality?
4. What do you think Eriko’s transsexuality adds to this story? Explain how you think Mikage’s and Yuichi’s love affair would have been different if Eriko had just been a mother who worked at a nightclub.
5. What are the scenes surprised you through the book? Will you please mark the pages and share with the rest when we meet?
6. In the book, few deaths are mentioned, what are the emotions you see in the book? What are not?
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
二月一日读书会
昨晚的聚会以阿金的故事开始, 以Alice教授宣布”到此为止”而结束, 整个晚上大家分享了老牛, Alice, 雪等准备的丰盛美食. 我们畅所欲言, 有发自肺腑的倾诉, 也有冷眼向洋看世界的点评.
紫罗兰的缺席是小小的遗憾, 但是她在网上讲述的阿金故事让我们看到了一个活生生的女性, 阿金多次婚姻不幸并没有让她失去美好人生的追求. 读完了紫罗兰的叙述我觉得阿金仿佛就在眼前. 感谢紫罗兰, 你的作业让我们许多人汗颜, 紫罗兰得了一个满分.
这是一次难得的机会, 能和大家再次读《在德黑兰读洛丽塔》, 并和大家一同走过这段艰难的四个月的历程. 一开始我很有顾虑, 每读过一个章节我都要打退堂鼓, 怀疑继续读下去的可行性, 是大家的热情执着, 尤其是竹林子的鼓励和支持, 让我们成功地演绎一场在梦露湖畔读洛丽塔的故事.
《在德黑兰读洛丽塔》不是一本轻松的读物，它既是一本回忆录，又包括社会评论和文学批评等多方面的元素. 我相信, 不管每人对此书的看法不同，大家掩卷之后，或多或少地从中得到一点儿收获. 把大雁 “她们读书会到底得到了什么?” 的主语换一下, 就成了“我们读书会到底得到了什么?” 我会说: 我们得到是文学对我们的潜移默化.
雪在最后提到读小说不要把自己搅和进去. 是的, 用纳菲西教授的话说“無論什麼情況，千萬別把小說當成現實人生的翻版，因而小看了它。我們在小說中探求的並非現實，而是對真相的頓悟。”
紫罗兰的缺席是小小的遗憾, 但是她在网上讲述的阿金故事让我们看到了一个活生生的女性, 阿金多次婚姻不幸并没有让她失去美好人生的追求. 读完了紫罗兰的叙述我觉得阿金仿佛就在眼前. 感谢紫罗兰, 你的作业让我们许多人汗颜, 紫罗兰得了一个满分.
这是一次难得的机会, 能和大家再次读《在德黑兰读洛丽塔》, 并和大家一同走过这段艰难的四个月的历程. 一开始我很有顾虑, 每读过一个章节我都要打退堂鼓, 怀疑继续读下去的可行性, 是大家的热情执着, 尤其是竹林子的鼓励和支持, 让我们成功地演绎一场在梦露湖畔读洛丽塔的故事.
《在德黑兰读洛丽塔》不是一本轻松的读物，它既是一本回忆录，又包括社会评论和文学批评等多方面的元素. 我相信, 不管每人对此书的看法不同，大家掩卷之后，或多或少地从中得到一点儿收获. 把大雁 “她们读书会到底得到了什么?” 的主语换一下, 就成了“我们读书会到底得到了什么?” 我会说: 我们得到是文学对我们的潜移默化.
雪在最后提到读小说不要把自己搅和进去. 是的, 用纳菲西教授的话说“無論什麼情況，千萬別把小說當成現實人生的翻版，因而小看了它。我們在小說中探求的並非現實，而是對真相的頓悟。”
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Life after Reading Lolita in Tehran
Coming to the end of RLIT I have to say I feel a little sad in prospects of having to part with it. It has sustained us for about half a year.
Anyway, it is high time we work out a reading list for the new season and beyond. We still have 4 books to read, 3 of which having already leaders, while the 4th one is begging for a leader. They are:
1. Kitchen -- Mar. 24th, 2010 -- 潇竹
2. Bonesetter's daughter -- ., 2010 -- 紫罗兰
3. The Reader -- May, 2010 -- 老牛
4. Three cup of tea -- June, 2010 -- 雪
In other words we are fine till summer but we have few choices after it. Please recommend any books you have read/heard of that might be of interest to the group.
Your contribution is greatly appreciate.
Anyway, it is high time we work out a reading list for the new season and beyond. We still have 4 books to read, 3 of which having already leaders, while the 4th one is begging for a leader. They are:
1. Kitchen -- Mar. 24th, 2010 -- 潇竹
2. Bonesetter's daughter -- ., 2010 -- 紫罗兰
3. The Reader -- May, 2010 -- 老牛
4. Three cup of tea -- June, 2010 -- 雪
In other words we are fine till summer but we have few choices after it. Please recommend any books you have read/heard of that might be of interest to the group.
Your contribution is greatly appreciate.
Monday, January 18, 2010
The due date for question is this Friday
在<德黑兰读洛丽塔>最后一章问题: 每人一题. 最好指出书中出处.
Alice --
Alan --
大雁 --这些学生聚集在老师家读书的目的是什么？ 他们都达到目的了吗？ -- What is Nassrin's plan to leave Iran for London?
老牛 --
水竹 -- 书中姑娘们谁的结局最好?
萤火虫 -- (chapter 7 , p. 278) 你能指出Sanza boyfriend rejected her"这一细节和Austen的哪本书中细节相似?
潇竹 --
雪 --
竹林子 -- There are a few Persian expressions used by the author. on page 317, Chapter 19, "patient stone" was used. What does it mean?
紫罗兰 --第8章，教授的丈夫比姜想要留在伊朗的理由是什么？
姥姥 --
Alice --
Alan --
大雁 --这些学生聚集在老师家读书的目的是什么？ 他们都达到目的了吗？ -- What is Nassrin's plan to leave Iran for London?
老牛 --
水竹 -- 书中姑娘们谁的结局最好?
萤火虫 -- (chapter 7 , p. 278) 你能指出Sanza boyfriend rejected her"这一细节和Austen的哪本书中细节相似?
潇竹 --
雪 --
竹林子 -- There are a few Persian expressions used by the author. on page 317, Chapter 19, "patient stone" was used. What does it mean?
紫罗兰 --第8章，教授的丈夫比姜想要留在伊朗的理由是什么？
姥姥 --
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Homework and quesiong for the last chapter in RLIT
Friday, January 8, 2010
who is who?
Can you identify the names of the movies and TV series?
Top line from the left: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6?
Second line line: 1, 2, 3, 4?
Third line: 1, 2, 3, 4a, 4b, 5, 6?
Bottow line: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5?
Have fun!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Happy New Year, Happy New Reading!
Thanks to Professor for her perseverance, we met on January 6th, 2010, author Henry James and discussed our new reading in New Year's first meeting. Thanks to Xiaokang, Helen, Hong, Kim, Alice for the spread of the goodies and yummy creations. Thanks to A Lan for making us meatballs--the perfect roundness and taste carry all our best wishes for 2010!
So, we've met Daisy Miller, Catherine Slopper and various others in our first meeting. We missed our members Wenan and Baofen and look forward to their presence at the next meeting which is set for February 3rd, 2010. At the same location. Our appreciation goes to Yan for her reminder about finances and her efforts in booking us the room every single time we meet.
Thanks to everyone for a perfect meeting.
Happy New Year and Happy New Reading!
So, we've met Daisy Miller, Catherine Slopper and various others in our first meeting. We missed our members Wenan and Baofen and look forward to their presence at the next meeting which is set for February 3rd, 2010. At the same location. Our appreciation goes to Yan for her reminder about finances and her efforts in booking us the room every single time we meet.
Thanks to everyone for a perfect meeting.
Happy New Year and Happy New Reading!
《Reading Henry James in Bloomington》
《Reading Henry James in Bloomington》
赠教授和她的学生们
By 知情人
（1）
面对 Henry James
我们无所顾忌
是James的文笔
给我们无限的勇气
我们--
一群远离故土的
中国妇女
（2）
第一种勇气叫率真，诚实
是敢于面对世俗
不选择害怕和畏惧
另一种勇气叫沉静的内力
是谦和和宽容
是肯定和爱护自己
--无论平凡或美丽
要选择
选择
不选择逃避
（3）
第三种勇气叫善意
是怜悯和同情
不仅善待他人
更要尊敬和同情自己
要怜悯，关爱
要和平
不要战争和血腥
（4）
这群中国妇女
漂洋过海
来与James的小说
团聚
是教授的精心竭力
和偶尔的”歇斯底里”
终于让这次相聚
变成人生的
醒悟和启迪
赠教授和她的学生们
By 知情人
（1）
面对 Henry James
我们无所顾忌
是James的文笔
给我们无限的勇气
我们--
一群远离故土的
中国妇女
（2）
第一种勇气叫率真，诚实
是敢于面对世俗
不选择害怕和畏惧
另一种勇气叫沉静的内力
是谦和和宽容
是肯定和爱护自己
--无论平凡或美丽
要选择
选择
不选择逃避
（3）
第三种勇气叫善意
是怜悯和同情
不仅善待他人
更要尊敬和同情自己
要怜悯，关爱
要和平
不要战争和血腥
（4）
这群中国妇女
漂洋过海
来与James的小说
团聚
是教授的精心竭力
和偶尔的”歇斯底里”
终于让这次相聚
变成人生的
醒悟和启迪
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