1. AN EXHAUSTING HARD WORKING WEEK
It has been a very hard working week, but finally and at last, it is Friday again. I've been at school till 6 p.m. today. Afternoon meetings can be very boring and exhausting sometimes or , at least, they are the task I like the least in my job. Instead, I love the class work, especially teaching literature to my eldest students. We are reading pages from Mary Shelley' s FRANKENSTEIN these days. They seem to enjoy and appreciate it very much . Some of them told me they'll try to read the whole novel or to watch a film adaptation. This is the aspect of my job I love the most. If you are interested in Gothic Novels, I've posted several materials and suggestions for my students on LEARNONLINE.
2. BOOK GIVEAWAY AT ANECA'S WORLD: I WON!
I've never, never in my life, won anything and in the last two weeks I have, instead and surprisingly, won two books. You can't imagine how happy I am, especially since I really love books! Thanks to Ana T. and her beautiful blog, ANECA'S WORLD, which I regularly follow, I've won THE SINFUL LIFE OF LUCY BURNS.
It sounds rather Faustean... Read what it is about...
Lucy Burns wants a normal life: friends, love, and a family of her own. And she could have it all if only she could break free from the job she hates.
That job? Facilitator to hell. And her boss is a real devil.
At the age of eleven, to save her sister’s life, Lucy writes a desperate letter to “To Whom It May Concern,” but when He writes back, Lucy is bound for life. There are perks, sure—she’s ageless, she’s beautiful, and she can eat as much chocolate as she wants and never get fat—but there are also consequences.She can never see her family again. She can never have a boyfriend. She must spend her life leading sinners to their demise.
After nineteen years of doing the Devil’s dirty work, Lucy wants out, but it all seems hopeless until Teddy Nightingale, her easy listening music idol, gives her the answer: a little-known loophole.
If she succeeds, Lucy gets love, happiness, and everything she ever really wanted. But the consequences? They’re considerably worse than death. To make it through, Lucy must decide what is evil and what is good, what is right and what is wrong, and if, in the end, there’s ever any way to truly know.
3. A NEW PERIOD DRAMA ON ITALIAN TV
Sort of miracle, indeed. Italian TV rarely tries to offer its audience this kind of productions. This week, instead, on CANALE 5, a commercial TV channel, they started broadcasting a new 6-part series titled THE FALCON AND THE DOVE, loosely based on Stendhal's novella THE ABBESS OF CASTRO (1839). First of all, I haven't seen the first episode yet, I just recorded it in order to see it at the weekend. I really didn't have time to do it till now. I can just tell you what I've read about it. It is set at the beginning of the 16th century in the centre of Italy, in the papal lands. In those hard years, Italy was a land of conquest and the scene of bloody civil wars. But of course, though it was a time when women couldn't choose the man to marry or couldn't marry the man whom they loved, a beautiful romance is the main feature of this period drama: a noble young woman falls in love with an extremely handsome and brave man of humble origin and they have to face her family violent objections. Their love will be hardly put to the test.
4. SPOOKS 8 IS ABOUT TO START ON BBC 1
For those who visit my blog from time to time it is no news: I love SPOOKS. I've always loved this series, even before the arrival of Richard Armitage as Lucas North in the series. I've seen every and each episode since it started and now I've just read that series 8 is going to start on Thursday 29 October. I hope I will be able to see it as soon as possible. I can't wait!
For those who visit my blog from time to time it is no news: I love SPOOKS. I've always loved this series, even before the arrival of Richard Armitage as Lucas North in the series. I've seen every and each episode since it started and now I've just read that series 8 is going to start on Thursday 29 October. I hope I will be able to see it as soon as possible. I can't wait!Meanwhile, I can just read the first interviews and articles coming out which many kind bloggy friends of mine have scanned and posted or linked.
For the latest articles and interviews have a look at Annette's site http://www.richardarmitageonline.com/
Hi:) I'm very curious about the Italian series...I do have RAI and so, even though I rarely (and I really mean rarely)-believe it or not, I do watch Italian tv direct. When is this show on?
ReplyDeleteI'm a big fan of gothic literature! Frankenstein is on my shelf. Congrats on winning that book! I love winning and getting them in the mail! I also really enjoy your Learn Online blog!
ReplyDeleteMaria, I would probably be able to spend all weekend reading "The Sinful Life of Lucy Burns"; watching "The Falcon and the Dove" and watching Spooks! (I would never get anything done). Like you, I have watched every episode of Spooks from the beginning and loved it. The problem about living here is that we won't see Series 8 until half way through next year at least. Nice post - thanks!
ReplyDelete@Ms Lucy
ReplyDeleteI'll watch "Il Falco e la colomba" ep. 1 this weekend and I'll try to write a review on FLY HIGH, of course. Unfortunately, it is on CANALE 5, not RAI, each Tuesday night at 9.10. So, I don't think you will be able to see it.
@Hmsgofita
I realised you were a fan of Gothic novels and mystery stories reading your blog, Heather. I like teaching about them and usually teenagers respond to these kind of readings. They love them so it is a reciprocal pleasure when I read them some pages. I'm glad you like my LEARNONLINE. I just hoped it could be useful to my students when I started last year, but it seems it has many visitors everyday.
@mulubinba
Spooks in Italy? You can only see it on a pay TV satellite channel and they haven't broadcast series 6 yet! Then, I can't stand Italian dubbing on British movies or series. You can't imagine how horrible Guy's Italian voice is!(I just saw a trailer. RH is on another digital pay TV channel) Well, after listening his real velvety voice, Richard's voice ... nobody else's could compare. So, when am I going to see SPOOKS 8 episodes? The Net is so full of good friends ... let's hope it'll be very soon!
Looking forward to that review of yours of Il Falco e La Colomba, I like different settings for period dramas so that it is set in Italy is a plus.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for the info about Spooks, I can't wait to watch the new series.
The falcon and the dove sounds and looks dramatic!
ReplyDelete--Sharry
@xalwaysdreamx
ReplyDeleteWell, Sharry...I've just finished seeing the first episode. Not so bad. I'll try to post about it as soon as I find some time. Thanks for commenting.
That Italian miniseries looks awesome! Am drooling over clothes. :D
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your students are enjoying Frankstein!
@Eva
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eva, for your comment. I'll try to post some more caps for you when I write about "Il Falco e la Colomba". Happy Sunday!
I have a copy of Frankenstein that has been on my shelf since my daughter had to read it for school a few years ago. I finally got around to reading Dracula not too long ago and thought it fantastic, and so I'm hoping for a similar experience with Frankenstein.
ReplyDeleteIt'll be interesting if your students watch Young Frankenstein instead of a more traditional adaptation :)
@JaneGS
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen Young Frankenstein, Jane, but I know it is hilarious. My students were looking for Kenneth Branagh's "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" , but I haven't seen that either. I just saw one or two clips and...it was enough for me. I like Frankenstein more than Dracula, it is full of keys for reflection and discussion. Thanks for your contribution.