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.

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 --

Homework and quesiong for the last chapter in RLIT

二月读书会近在眼前. 提前把日程告诉大家. 希望大家记日记的同时, 还要提问题. 不用多, 每人只要提一个问题, 加起来共11个. 任何问题都行, 只要与书有关. 作业2最好在1月25日前完成, 这样留给大家一个星期的时间考虑.

作业:
1. 记日记 -- 已经开始做作业的有: 树林子, 萤火虫, ...
2. 提问题 --

日程:
7:00-7:10 -- 讨论下一本书和时间
7:10-8:10 -- 每人讲一下书中的你. 每人5分钟.
8:10-8:30 -- 讨论问题.
8:30-9:30 -- 自由讨论

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!

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!

《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

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?