New Year is the time to unfold new horizons and realize new dreams, to rediscover the strength and faith within you, to rejoice in simple pleasures and gear up for the new challenges.
Wishing you a truly fulfilling 2011
Thursday, December 30, 2010
of mice and men
5th Journal
- Of Mice and Men -
John Steinbeck
Lennie Small is a big man but not very intelligent and too strong. He always forgets everything and really depends of George Milton – Lennie’s best friend and far smarter than him. They have a dream of their own farm but troubles are always followed them, especially for Lennie. In the end, George must do something to end all of the troubles, but it’s the saddest and hardest one.
Memorable quotation:
“No”, answered George. “You’ll always stay with me. We’re a family, Lennie” (p. 37)
It seems that George really loves Lennie as best friend but perhaps George also gets tired of nurturing Lennie all the time, especially Lennie has done many wrong things unconsciously because of his stupidity and he is too strong.
My comment:
According to me this story has deep implicit meaning even though it had been written in such a simple, funny, and light way.
Some new and interesting words from the story:
- Lennie’s name is Lennie Small. It is in contrast with his big body. I found it funny and interesting.
- I found new sentence that being repeated several times here:
“We’ll be live off the fat of the land”
Unfortunately, I could not find the exact meaning of it but from the context I figured out that they will be wealthy and prosperous farm owner.
the mysterious islands
October 13, 2010
4th Journal
- The Mysterious Islands -
Jules Verne
This is an adventure story of three men, a boy and a dog in a mysterious island. They worked hard to survive but here was always someone who helped them. The answer for many mysterious things was the famous Captain Nemo with his well-known Nautilus submarine!
Memorable quote:
“Before I die, please eat a last dinner with me” ... (p. 33)
Captain Nemo said the sentence when he was dying. He was a good man. I think it is so sad to know that he had spent years of his life in the submarine, alone, after his friends died, and after he lost the battle for his people.
My comment:
It is a good story. The author has his won beyond-imagination ideas about air balloon, mysterious islands, pirates, and submarine. But I think to know better about the story of Captain Nemo thus we should also read his other work “Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea”.
Well, I expect a different ending for this story. For example, what about if Cyrus Smith and his dog – Tap – would rather stayed in the island instead of returned to America. If it so, I think I can imagine that it will be another thrilling adventure to tell.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)