tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51143958862351790432024-03-16T20:41:53.061+01:00FLY HIGH!Literature, art, movies
and much more to fly high!Maria Graziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.comBlogger1475125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-57041235104581129882024-03-04T18:53:00.001+01:002024-03-16T20:39:46.828+01:00BOOKS & MORE BOOKS: GREEK LESSONS BY HAN KANG<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-wpj_zJDJ2s8PZhpO1ZvjgMYaM7yI_8QhV0xW2tpTzDV3woLPKAQzqqj4cgTdMheQwbNYU1y0SobZb0KODNL1M3XuD5Pe5MPhrkpa5fMhneg7EKQ6htlEN_sCaueKaeErvQoIkgec9Au9Pv0bxnIPrqPO-gmSFpUn0LCj7TuQxO3RFnNgHjDLq7uOTGA/s500/9780241997062-jacket-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="326" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-wpj_zJDJ2s8PZhpO1ZvjgMYaM7yI_8QhV0xW2tpTzDV3woLPKAQzqqj4cgTdMheQwbNYU1y0SobZb0KODNL1M3XuD5Pe5MPhrkpa5fMhneg7EKQ6htlEN_sCaueKaeErvQoIkgec9Au9Pv0bxnIPrqPO-gmSFpUn0LCj7TuQxO3RFnNgHjDLq7uOTGA/w418-h640/9780241997062-jacket-large.jpg" width="418" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p></p><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the wake of her acclaimed work, The Vegetarian, Han Kang delivers another powerful novel, Greek Lessons, hailed as the Book of the Year 2023 by The New Yorker, TIME magazine, and Kirkus. This poignant tale explores the redemptive power of language and human connection.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Set in a classroom in Seoul, Greek Lessons follows the story of a young woman who has lost her voice, metaphorically and literally. As she watches her Greek language teacher at the blackboard, she grapples with the silence that surrounds her. Her teacher, gradually losing his sight, finds himself drawn to her enigmatic presence.<span><a name='more'></a></span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Their shared pain becomes evident as they explore their respective pasts. The young woman has recently endured the loss of her mother and a custody battle for her seven-year-old son. Meanwhile, the teacher navigates the complexities of growing up between Korea and Germany, torn between two cultures and languages.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Greek Lessons is a tender exploration of human connection, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Han Kang's prose vividly captures the essence of life, awakening the senses and evoking profound emotions.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Translated beautifully by Deborah Smith and E Yae Won, Greek Lessons emerges as another stunning gem in Han Kang's literary repertoire. Quiet yet sharply faceted, the novel leaves a lasting impact, traversing the depths of human experience.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In a few lines, Han Kang manages to encapsulate the complexities of existence, offering readers a glimpse into the vast tapestry of human emotions. Greek Lessons is not just a story; it's a profound meditation on life, love, and the power of language to bridge the divides between us.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Katie Kitamura aptly describes Han Kang as a writer like no other, whose words resonate with readers long after the final page is turned. Greek Lessons is a testament to her unparalleled talent and the transformative power of storytelling. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's a book I <span style="color: #0d0d0d; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;">savored at a leisurely pace, allowing myself to linger over its poetic prose and relish its beauty without rushing through.</span></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Chalepà tà kalá</i>. Beautiful things are difficult.</span></div>Maria Graziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-25112596250117200572023-10-18T22:31:00.001+02:002023-10-18T22:31:37.527+02:00CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF ITALO CALVINO: FINDING LIGHTNESS IN THE INFERNO<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuMTSbem2qiCKT31-TMUm4mvPSrFa6FJyyT5-vnnVo3U6Y73FIuqj_wbwEGxbg6mNVQIufiCjqLtnKl8konS7LRICRNOTSMrdZCdyMsIOgG2dwCt2j6g-DFyanXVH_JW9cXkOEqK-I8jfjl_AtMfLDVWrPWb4VNKeZVucc9c7dhiW4C3bidqPROXY91w/s800/082616105-a9ac4ae7-6f77-4ea4-8753-e2ca36bb9cf3.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuMTSbem2qiCKT31-TMUm4mvPSrFa6FJyyT5-vnnVo3U6Y73FIuqj_wbwEGxbg6mNVQIufiCjqLtnKl8konS7LRICRNOTSMrdZCdyMsIOgG2dwCt2j6g-DFyanXVH_JW9cXkOEqK-I8jfjl_AtMfLDVWrPWb4VNKeZVucc9c7dhiW4C3bidqPROXY91w/w640-h360/082616105-a9ac4ae7-6f77-4ea4-8753-e2ca36bb9cf3.webp" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This year marks the centennial
celebration of the remarkable Italian writer Italo Calvino. As an Italian and a
devoted reader of his works, I find myself compelled to share the profound
impact that his words and ideas have had on me. While my blog, FLY HIGH, primarily caters to an English-speaking audience, including many Americans and
native English speakers, the universal themes in Calvino's literature make this
tribute a perfect opportunity to engage with an international audience.<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><b>The Inferno of the Living</b></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the
most poignant quotes from Calvino's repertoire comes from the conclusion of <i><b>Invisible Cities</b></i>. He wrote, "The inferno of the living is
not something that will be; if there is one, it is what is already here, the
inferno where we live every day, that we form by being together. There are two
ways to escape suffering it. The first is easy for many: accept the inferno and
become such a part of it that you can no longer see it. The second is risky and
demands constant vigilance and apprehension: seek and learn to recognize who
and what, in the midst of inferno, are not inferno, then make them endure, give
them space”.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This thought-provoking
insight has been a guiding philosophy for me ever since I first encountered it.
Calvino's words remind us that suffering is an intrinsic part of life, but
there are two ways to cope with it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The first approach is to accept
the inferno, to become so accustomed to it that we no longer see it. This
perspective may resonate with many who find solace in familiarity. However,
Calvino offers a second, more daring path. This path requires constant vigilance
and apprehension, urging us to seek and learn to recognize the moments and
individuals within the inferno who are not part of it. This, in turn, allows us
to make those moments endure and give them space. It's a reminder that even in
the most challenging circumstances, there are sparks of hope, resilience, and
beauty.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Calvino's Literary
Masterpieces</u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While celebrating Italo Calvino's 100th birthday, it's
impossible not to reflect on his literary contributions. His diverse and
imaginative body of work includes novels, short stories, essays, and fables
that span multiple genres. Here are a few more of his notable works:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>If on a winter's
night a traveler</u></b>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This novel is
a unique exploration of reading and storytelling, taking readers on a
labyrinthine journey through various narrative perspectives.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Cosmicomics</u></b>
A collection of short stories that blend science, mythology, and the human
experience, told from the perspective of a being named Qfwfq.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Invisible Cities</u></b>
This is a mesmerizing narrative of the explorer Marco Polo's conversations with
the aging emperor Kublai Khan, describing the fantastical cities of his travels.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Mr. Palomar</u></b>
A thought-provoking character study of the titular character as he grapples
with his own interpretations of the world around him.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPDtGDHFtnWPgCwLGG3O4pls0_qUyfBRPdSRxwbPqLV8ZjlVPbz1t2NvqIGxdhaoaEq_7OMYcwBL3c3z6iSiipP12TzkMvb5KDBQ0bZtLIGb4bGqF7YT54IoDbwn8QFo6Ml-29paiOYJNDiJG9u74RulQNYrac9zIRsVnwzdWzkAJ-AJynyVkg8XpmUlM/s424/9788852153549_0_424_0_75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="424" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPDtGDHFtnWPgCwLGG3O4pls0_qUyfBRPdSRxwbPqLV8ZjlVPbz1t2NvqIGxdhaoaEq_7OMYcwBL3c3z6iSiipP12TzkMvb5KDBQ0bZtLIGb4bGqF7YT54IoDbwn8QFo6Ml-29paiOYJNDiJG9u74RulQNYrac9zIRsVnwzdWzkAJ-AJynyVkg8XpmUlM/w400-h400/9788852153549_0_424_0_75.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>The Concept of
"Leggerezza" (Lightness)</u><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Calvino's <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Six Memos for the Next Millennium</b> is a
collection of lectures that he intended to deliver at Harvard University.
Unfortunately, he passed away before he could complete the series, but one of
the memos, "Lightness," published posthumously with others, is one of
my favourites. Calvino's unique conception of "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">leggerezza</i>" goes beyond mere physical lightness. It
encompasses the idea of mental and emotional lightness – the ability to
approach life and literature with a sense of curiosity and a playful, open
mind.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of my favorite quotes from these "<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">American
Lessons</i></b>" is, "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Whenever
humanity seems condemned to heaviness, I think I should fly like Perseus into a
different space. I don't mean escaping into dreams or into the irrational. I
mean that I have to change my approach, look at the world from a different
perspective, with a different logic and with fresh methods of cognition and
verification."</i> In our modern, often heavy world, Calvino's call for
intellectual lightness is a valuable reminder of the power of curiosity and
adaptability.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As we commemorate the 100th anniversary of Italo Calvino's
birth, I invite readers from all corners of the globe to explore his rich
tapestry of thought-provoking literature. His works, from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Invisible Cities</i></b> to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If on
a winter's night a traveller</i></b>, continue to inspire and encourage us to
find lightness in the inferno of our everyday lives. Italo Calvino's ability to
meld philosophy, fantasy, and storytelling is a testament to his enduring
legacy, one that transcends borders and languages, and speaks to the universal
human experience. Happy centennial, Italo Calvino, and thank you for the gift
of your literary genius.</span></p>Maria Graziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-87109647702215939812023-10-05T21:58:00.000+02:002023-10-05T21:58:47.884+02:00DISCOVERING THE HEALING POWER OF KDRAMAS: MY PERSONAL JOURNEY <p style="text-align: justify;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnDB4z_wh-xbBUjnm8GBKTR3SuAwvZvP_Z9MXSgxq8jgfgL601tIx-7LJP0Na7Wpw7EU_3My_X67uPyhaX-hRYEw4VgBFobMJhyphenhyphenej-4CUgsujD2RTauatGugd1iOe5D5g5P8EFDHhKi_B1pMm7oq9HkLhor5WqdYnrbl_LzsNNlM3-3QfGqQzpIO0518/s1500/Seoulbox_Blog_Banner_1_bea3d89e-e815-46f9-96d5-3bd2f643f201.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="1500" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnDB4z_wh-xbBUjnm8GBKTR3SuAwvZvP_Z9MXSgxq8jgfgL601tIx-7LJP0Na7Wpw7EU_3My_X67uPyhaX-hRYEw4VgBFobMJhyphenhyphenej-4CUgsujD2RTauatGugd1iOe5D5g5P8EFDHhKi_B1pMm7oq9HkLhor5WqdYnrbl_LzsNNlM3-3QfGqQzpIO0518/w640-h384/Seoulbox_Blog_Banner_1_bea3d89e-e815-46f9-96d5-3bd2f643f201.webp" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Today, I want to take you on a journey through the
captivating world of Korean dramas and share how they became my ultimate source
of joy, inspiration, and personal growth during the challenging days of the Covid-19
era and after.</span></p><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Healing
Power of Kdramas</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In a time when the world felt uncertain and isolating,
Kdramas became my solace. They were more than just a form of entertainment;
they became my companions, my teachers, and my therapy. Through their compelling
storytelling and relatable characters, Kdramas helped me widen my horizons,
boosted my mood, and filled me with optimism.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thought-Provoking
Dramas</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkOuOwrF0o1Mdtwg5txt7WaWxKUp5zgVkNMAWIuKMw_4GpScaKy6gzvvQOdsV6TzFzj7xP-LPTXqiwZu2YzVNj3kQ7vxR3N579yVp7-irxhtXF8ZPpJVeY1MR4ZsUAYVDrpadR1BCMufjHBY2YiSfm6sscN9qrrHADdZnRVPkCsP67QgInTtymQ8ld90/s864/my-liberation-notes-7-1666613226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="864" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkOuOwrF0o1Mdtwg5txt7WaWxKUp5zgVkNMAWIuKMw_4GpScaKy6gzvvQOdsV6TzFzj7xP-LPTXqiwZu2YzVNj3kQ7vxR3N579yVp7-irxhtXF8ZPpJVeY1MR4ZsUAYVDrpadR1BCMufjHBY2YiSfm6sscN9qrrHADdZnRVPkCsP67QgInTtymQ8ld90/w640-h426/my-liberation-notes-7-1666613226.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">My Liberation Notes</span></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table></u></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My journey through Kdramas began with thought-provoking
series like "My Mister," "My Liberation Notes," and
"Our Blues." These dramas delved deep into the complexities of life,
showing the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. They
taught me the power of empathy and the beauty of ordinary moments.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Romantic
Comedies</span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><u><br /></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3LmKGSmMxDNc49LUSyNLUrymGEgJK91O3rtCLoF0fu_0AswXhuymdIIIbtEXvQA4k5bLTjQM3gqe26loK8X-A5yTCe-vtGChk2KrYbZNUwt4f4nDirtbqb2b3ykpVFQe_VEje9zJ84hXF6seaOsa8mt-EzZnebiWO_BU31xqTWVREoc0RiWHBnRKv9Rc/s1024/CLOY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3LmKGSmMxDNc49LUSyNLUrymGEgJK91O3rtCLoF0fu_0AswXhuymdIIIbtEXvQA4k5bLTjQM3gqe26loK8X-A5yTCe-vtGChk2KrYbZNUwt4f4nDirtbqb2b3ykpVFQe_VEje9zJ84hXF6seaOsa8mt-EzZnebiWO_BU31xqTWVREoc0RiWHBnRKv9Rc/w640-h360/CLOY.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But my love for Kdramas doesn't stop there. I adore their
romantic comedies like "What's Wrong with Secretary Kim," "Crash
Landing On You," and "Business Proposal." These shows bring
laughter, tears, and heartwarming moments, reminding me of the magic of love
and the importance of finding joy in unexpected places.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Historical
Dramas<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41kHbZjN8mi2sPotjgL2yQcIt-CsH3r0ZhfO0sTAK6M3astikQbC08quolGpfBLPts9dRC3oEBydM_2Sdxlhnmr-3usZ-k_nYKohAkHWbPOegBzHiG8ntZdblqwo944ZPMPL4cHycEUcQLXw7s_Jflvuw8g4N_jGmD8LPnS8lbYeyWlLsZpur3h4kVdk/s814/theredsleeve18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="814" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41kHbZjN8mi2sPotjgL2yQcIt-CsH3r0ZhfO0sTAK6M3astikQbC08quolGpfBLPts9dRC3oEBydM_2Sdxlhnmr-3usZ-k_nYKohAkHWbPOegBzHiG8ntZdblqwo944ZPMPL4cHycEUcQLXw7s_Jflvuw8g4N_jGmD8LPnS8lbYeyWlLsZpur3h4kVdk/w640-h414/theredsleeve18.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Red Sleeve</span></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The historical dramas like "The Red Sleeve,"
"Lovers in the Moonlight," and "The King's Affection"
transported me to different eras, showcasing the rich history and culture of
Korea. They left me in awe of the breathtaking costumes, intricate politics,
and timeless tales of love and honor.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Themes and
Life Lessons</span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">One of the most incredible aspects of Kdramas is how they
tackle profound themes like love, friendship, family, and personal growth. In
"My Mister," I learned that even in the darkest of times, kindness
can shine through. "Crash Landing On You" showed me that love knows
no boundaries, and "The King's Affection" demonstrated the courage to
be true to oneself.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6n8lvhhsUZX_VbsOpF-zCBM5vgdKOMTxbFyAnOLc2ZF6mV-LUG7rpJYTBgwP4LyhwF4YXVpHqdJ8PQrlJGijDHxLFFnlcspdN1F_TV6BAQc0wttatUWNv7jRmUzW_2dHsgv2hyEIRIN4iRHeQMYuRzQ_3JLY2Nb0ruNkf1GpiDTgFfy_5DOoix6xnqU/s1200/My-Mister-Kdrama.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="688" data-original-width="1200" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6n8lvhhsUZX_VbsOpF-zCBM5vgdKOMTxbFyAnOLc2ZF6mV-LUG7rpJYTBgwP4LyhwF4YXVpHqdJ8PQrlJGijDHxLFFnlcspdN1F_TV6BAQc0wttatUWNv7jRmUzW_2dHsgv2hyEIRIN4iRHeQMYuRzQ_3JLY2Nb0ruNkf1GpiDTgFfy_5DOoix6xnqU/w640-h366/My-Mister-Kdrama.webp" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Impact on
My Life<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Kdramas have left an indelible mark on my life. They've
shifted my perspective, encouraged me to explore Korean culture more deeply,
and inspired me to embrace every moment with an open heart. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Kdramas and Mental Health: A Therapeutic Escape</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Beyond their entertainment value, Kdramas have also garnered
attention for their potential therapeutic benefits. The immersive storytelling,
relatable characters, and emotional depth in these dramas can have a positive
impact on mental well-being. Watching Kdramas can provide a much-needed escape
from the stresses of daily life, allowing viewers to temporarily disconnect
from their own worries and immerse themselves in the lives of the characters on
screen. This escapism, known as "transportation," can provide a sense
of relief and relaxation, reducing stress levels. Additionally, the emotional
rollercoaster of laughter, tears, and heartwarming moments in Kdramas can
trigger the release of endorphins, the body's natural feel-good hormones. This
emotional catharsis can serve as a form of emotional release and provide a
sense of catharsis, which can be particularly beneficial for individuals
dealing with anxiety or depression. Furthermore, the themes of resilience,
hope, and the power of human connection often portrayed in Kdramas can inspire
viewers and instill a sense of optimism. While Kdramas should not replace
professional mental health treatment, they can be a valuable and enjoyable
complement to one's self-care routine and contribute to overall mental
well-being.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7Oyrys0zyMoqGonzQwxTHp4Qnjx4d-2fOV9a3lYsy5SJIGNOUdXBAXvxo55ICzZH5LjDWlE2OU71rvJvRexzT3nFG47TGfVsOzWK6kvCl6OI8nIjNJPPmCKlfRhl7rWczZFTypl9gVnEqTi8pz4yFoPyiJ6ceYnoAIxfpLXPAbKof6lFrYFS1dOA4H8/s1920/movetoheaven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7Oyrys0zyMoqGonzQwxTHp4Qnjx4d-2fOV9a3lYsy5SJIGNOUdXBAXvxo55ICzZH5LjDWlE2OU71rvJvRexzT3nFG47TGfVsOzWK6kvCl6OI8nIjNJPPmCKlfRhl7rWczZFTypl9gVnEqTi8pz4yFoPyiJ6ceYnoAIxfpLXPAbKof6lFrYFS1dOA4H8/w640-h360/movetoheaven.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Move to Heaven</span></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Exploring Life's Inevitabilities:
Death and Disease</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">One of the remarkable aspects of Kdramas is their ability to
delve deep into sensitive topics that are often difficult to confront in real
life. Series like "If You Wish Upon Me," "Move to Heaven,"
and "Tomorrow" have tackled themes of death and disease with
remarkable sensitivity and grace. These dramas don't shy away from the harsh
realities of life, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but instead offer a
safe space to explore these difficult topics. They provide a platform to
reflect on the fragility of life, the resilience of the human spirit, and the
importance of empathy. Through the stories of characters grappling with illness
or loss, viewers are reminded of the preciousness of every moment and the
strength that can be found in vulnerability. Kdramas have a unique ability to
strike a balance between poignant storytelling and messages of hope, making
them a comforting source of catharsis for those who have experienced similar
challenges or who simply wish to gain a deeper understanding of the human experience.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh684xCRLaOVNROCtKK93RkvtEBO1HJdeJSGWQTrGcK9yMfOXmrtJlfyenAr0lzfhVfves6ddDkDTDzcXK8nhOAfkms1dIlwavhwRXwujWwqAivDItyMIlPxxAV60Ld3ecSAXWtuvx3LUSsT-scROudcbDmuLqhWF8zI0hX5eBHVicsjx1Y17iyQcgpjsI/s512/Tomorrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="512" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh684xCRLaOVNROCtKK93RkvtEBO1HJdeJSGWQTrGcK9yMfOXmrtJlfyenAr0lzfhVfves6ddDkDTDzcXK8nhOAfkms1dIlwavhwRXwujWwqAivDItyMIlPxxAV60Ld3ecSAXWtuvx3LUSsT-scROudcbDmuLqhWF8zI0hX5eBHVicsjx1Y17iyQcgpjsI/w640-h360/Tomorrow.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Recommendations<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">For those new to Kdramas, I wholeheartedly recommend starting
with some of my favorites. Each of these series has a unique charm and a story
waiting to be told. Trust me, you won't regret it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Kdramas have been my beacon of light during the Covid-19 era,
and I'm endlessly grateful for discovering this rich and precious world. I
encourage you to embark on your own Kdrama adventure, open your heart to the
stories, and let them weave their magic into your life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Where do I
watch K-drama series? </span><a href="https://www.netflix.com/search?q=Kdrama&suggestionId=Collection%3A2638104"></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On <a href="https://www.netflix.com/browse"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Netflix</b></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> and </span><a href="https://www.viki.com/"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Viki
Rakuten</span></b></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Maria Graziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-52697655128317336462023-09-29T16:32:00.001+02:002023-09-29T22:00:04.844+02:00USEFUL OR USELESS KNOWLEDGE: A DEBATE ON EDUCATION<p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0D7POprwZr4LH50ximT7ixbb6Q36biN6iL-fq7DmjJfEyTjH4DZyJ3sG7JF8qsF544IP6wh5aW1_5iYeiUsvazvy4ULx9BHm30qDRP5kLdVAEvOnCF93zmqeoC0zhAgxjGQMjvKmj7beWq63XdfSK87mj-xw-IBnayXJ6BpwOtNe8Rtih6NBxJCfRMU/s1000/shutterstock_1847661151.jpg.optimal.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="1000" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0D7POprwZr4LH50ximT7ixbb6Q36biN6iL-fq7DmjJfEyTjH4DZyJ3sG7JF8qsF544IP6wh5aW1_5iYeiUsvazvy4ULx9BHm30qDRP5kLdVAEvOnCF93zmqeoC0zhAgxjGQMjvKmj7beWq63XdfSK87mj-xw-IBnayXJ6BpwOtNe8Rtih6NBxJCfRMU/w640-h398/shutterstock_1847661151.jpg.optimal.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;">Should schools primarily teach
practical, useful skills for the real world, or is there value in cultivating
knowledge that some might consider as useless? Recently, I had a
thought-provoking discussion with my students on this very topic, and I shared
a compelling quote by philosopher Agnes Heller with them: <i>"If someone were to ask me, as a philosopher, what one should
learn in high school, I would answer: first of all, only useless things -
ancient Greek, Latin, pure mathematics, and philosophy. Everything that is
useless in life.</i><i style="text-align: left;"><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: IT; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The beauty is that
in this way, at the age of 18, you have a baggage of useless knowledge with
which you can do anything. While with useful knowledge, you can only do small
things." </span></span></i>In this blog post, I’d like to point out the key moments of our debate about useless versus useful knowledge, exploring the merits of both sides
while ultimately standing alongside Agnes Heller's perspective.</div><span style="text-align: justify;"><span><a name='more'></a></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Useful Knowledge: A Practical Approach<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Let's begin by examining the
viewpoint that education should prioritize useful knowledge – skills and
information that are directly applicable to real-life situations and careers.
This perspective is often championed by students who find themselves bored or
disinterested in school, as they may not immediately see the practical value in
what they're learning. But not only students see things that way,
unfortunately. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Real-world readiness</b> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Supporters of useful knowledge argue that
focusing on subjects like science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
(STEM), as well as vocational skills, equips students with the tools needed to succeed
in today's job market. Practical skills ensure students are well-prepared for
the challenges and opportunities that await them after graduation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Economic benefits</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Emphasizing useful knowledge can
lead to a more competitive and productive workforce, potentially boosting a
nation's economy. Practical skills are essential in industries such as
healthcare, engineering, and technology, where innovation drives progress.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Problem-solving abilities</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Learning practical knowledge often involves
critical thinking and problem-solving, which are skills applicable across
various aspects of life. These skills empower individuals to tackle real-world
challenges with confidence.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Value of Useless Knowledge: Agnes Heller's Perspective<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">While the importance of practical
skills cannot be denied, Agnes Heller's viewpoint encourages us to appreciate
the beauty of so-called useless knowledge. Her assertion that subjects like
ancient Greek, Latin, pure mathematics, and philosophy are invaluable at the
high school level challenges us to consider the broader purpose of education.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Intellectual enrichment</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Useless knowledge, as some might call it,
fosters intellectual curiosity and a deeper understanding of the world.
Subjects like philosophy encourage students to ponder life's fundamental
questions and engage in profound introspection.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Versatility</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Agnes Heller contends that a
foundation in seemingly unrelated fields like ancient Greek, Latin, and
philosophy provides a versatile toolkit. With this "baggage of useless
knowledge," students are well-equipped to adapt to a wide range of career
paths and challenges, fostering creativity and innovation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cultural heritage<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Subjects like ancient languages and philosophy
are gateways to our cultural heritage. They connect us to our past, helping us
better comprehend the origins of our ideas, languages, and societies.
Understanding our roots enriches our appreciation of the present.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Balancing Act: Finding Common Ground<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">In the end, the debate between
useful and useless knowledge need not be an either-or proposition. A
well-rounded education should ideally strike a balance between the two,
recognizing the value in practical skills while also cherishing the enrichment
that comes from seemingly unrelated subjects.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Educators can inspire students by
demonstrating how seemingly unrelated knowledge can, in fact, complement their
real-world pursuits. Encouraging interdisciplinary learning can bridge the gap
between theory and application, showcasing the synergy between seemingly
disparate fields.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">As educators, our responsibility
is not only to prepare students for the practical challenges of the future but
also to nurture their intellectual curiosity and passion for learning. Agnes
Heller's perspective reminds us that education is not solely about preparing
students for a job but also about equipping them with the tools to lead
fulfilling and enriched lives.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">In the end, the debate over the
usefulness of knowledge is a reminder that education is a multifaceted journey.
By embracing both practical skills and the beauty of seemingly useless
knowledge, we can empower our students to not only do small things but to dream
big, innovate, and make the world a better place with the knowledge they carry
in their hearts and minds. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="display: none; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: IT; mso-hide: all;">Inizio modulo<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 72pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Maria Graziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-22922195568021189322023-09-23T15:20:00.001+02:002023-09-23T15:20:22.617+02:00WHY I CONTINUE TO CHERISH TEACHING: A TEACHER'S REFLECTION<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2e2u50BmI9IZ-vMQSCPbmkmgRfCqub-2eSqRMGd_Hcnpu9ofJPjk4Dvi6tAfRydDKqEdu65BS7BTlN95u_im-J_6RqgTOWGXpEwUttqloO2v-SFxA1hjfYenJktpG9P-6d0PJMBdallbJef0izmxoub666czxXTId8EWsK7O012lLgV8WFmswYxjWoYA/s2240/teach-1820041_1920-16x9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="2240" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2e2u50BmI9IZ-vMQSCPbmkmgRfCqub-2eSqRMGd_Hcnpu9ofJPjk4Dvi6tAfRydDKqEdu65BS7BTlN95u_im-J_6RqgTOWGXpEwUttqloO2v-SFxA1hjfYenJktpG9P-6d0PJMBdallbJef0izmxoub666czxXTId8EWsK7O012lLgV8WFmswYxjWoYA/w640-h360/teach-1820041_1920-16x9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; margin: 1.25em 0px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Teaching, undoubtedly one of the most demanding professions, is often associated with burnout and health concerns. While I acknowledge the inherent stress that comes with the job, I can't help but wonder why I still hold such a deep love for it, even as retirement approaches, casting a shadow over my career. Admittedly, I'm aware that my days of being as effective and active as required to engage with energetic teenage students are numbered. However, instead of succumbing to sadness about the inevitable transition, I'm working on embracing this new phase of life with acceptance. Here's why I still adore my teaching profession...</span></span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; margin: 1.25em 0px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xsEYY4kK58WnPXJ46aFHAXB8K1QgcTqMc35e5RmY1SuwhCRkpxCZA0f8SYt6qwHMYo6MfAgL4FG_cD_xNJR4pFrmJyAdyrdWiRkIwOABVMJdxWZyPNigbOtsDxBFPLXGkWH_f28a8WjpBunxR5_2yD0kgeMMjfXJXl0Soi_MFpOq5mUgZ5YPawK9_Lc/s900/students.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xsEYY4kK58WnPXJ46aFHAXB8K1QgcTqMc35e5RmY1SuwhCRkpxCZA0f8SYt6qwHMYo6MfAgL4FG_cD_xNJR4pFrmJyAdyrdWiRkIwOABVMJdxWZyPNigbOtsDxBFPLXGkWH_f28a8WjpBunxR5_2yD0kgeMMjfXJXl0Soi_MFpOq5mUgZ5YPawK9_Lc/w640-h426/students.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><ol style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; counter-reset: list-number 0; display: flex; flex-direction: column; list-style: none; margin: 1.25em 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-bold); font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-weight: 600;">I Love Whom I Teach</span></div></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Teaching isn't just about imparting knowledge, it's about connecting with students on a personal level. I've made it my mission to understand their world better. I dive into their interests, read about their generation, and watch what they enjoy to gain insights that help me create stimulating lesson materials. Striking a balance between being demanding and sympathetic, I prioritize their feelings and needs. Every day, I experiment with different strategies to motivate them. Being around young people fills me with energy and strength, and sometimes, it feels like I'm absorbing their youthful vitality.</span></div></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-bold); font-family: inherit; font-weight: 600;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-bold); font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-weight: 600;">I Love What I Teach</span></div></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-bold); font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-weight: 600;"><br /></span></div></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My passion for the English language and British culture has been a lifelong affair that began when I was just 11 years old. This enduring love affair has naturally led me to a career in teaching English as a foreign language and English literature, particularly in the final years of high school.</span></div><p></p></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-bold); font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-weight: 600;">I Love the Way I Teach</span></div></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-bold); font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-weight: 600;"><br /></span></div></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the secrets to my enduring enthusiasm for teaching is my ability to integrate my personal passions and hobbies into my lessons. Here's how I do it:</span></div><p></p><ul style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; list-style: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1rem; padding: 0px;"><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--tw-prose-bold); font-weight: 600;"><br /></span></span></span></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--tw-prose-bold); font-weight: 600;">Blogging:</span> I've encouraged my students to create a <a href="http://letsblog3a3b.blogspot.com/">web magazine in English</a>, and I've even set up a blog, <a href=" http://learnonline-mgs.blogspot.com/">LEARN ONLINE</a>, filled with valuable lesson materials.</span></span></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--tw-prose-bold); font-weight: 600;">Multimedia Approach:</span> I incorporate multimedia elements into my lessons by combining reading with visual content, such as period dramas and costume movies.</span></span></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--tw-prose-bold); font-weight: 600;">Travel:</span> I've had the privilege of accompanying my students on overseas trips, organizing class exchanges and host family stays coupled with language courses.</span></span></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--tw-prose-bold); font-weight: 600;">Diverse Resources:</span> I constantly explore various resources like books, songs, authors, themes, and magazines to align my teaching with my students' interests.</span></span></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--tw-prose-bold); font-weight: 600;">Lesson Recordings:</span> The advent of the Covid era prompted me to record lessons for my students, a practice that proved invaluable even after the pandemic had passed.</span></span></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; display: block; margin: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--tw-prose-bold); font-weight: 600;">Personal Journals:</span> I encourage my students to maintain personal journals in English, and occasionally, I read their entries to foster self-expression and language development.</span></span></li></ul></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div></li></ol><ol style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; counter-reset: list-number 0; display: flex; flex-direction: column; list-style: none; margin: 1.25em 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Teaching may indeed be an arduous journey, but it's one I wouldn't trade for anything. My connection with my students, my love for the subjects I teach, and the creative ways I've embraced in my teaching method make it an incredibly rewarding profession. As retirement looms, I'm not merely resigning myself to growing older and poorer; instead, I'm preparing to embark on a new chapter with a wealth of cherished memories and experiences to carry with me.</span></div></li></ol>Maria Graziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-61694445359372279862023-09-17T08:00:00.001+02:002023-09-17T08:00:00.137+02:00BOOKS & MORE BOOKS - THE BURNOUT SOCIETY BY BYUNG-CHUL HAN<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_WrB1T5bbDK6k28iiA833ploijuVE19vk-G8Etlc09BUY0bsTbQ1n0rq8otpb1JN_whQW94cUN5bmS52IFE3LfhywJMhJAqn7o6wUzONVYJ852tpa5fOKOOWSuyyFOlLmK5VY8u4BvkjSCOQnt0dRlLZE4ziQWnehdnMtdOCYhFx5b-WHD_jxA9AvNQ/s600/pid_25725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="375" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_WrB1T5bbDK6k28iiA833ploijuVE19vk-G8Etlc09BUY0bsTbQ1n0rq8otpb1JN_whQW94cUN5bmS52IFE3LfhywJMhJAqn7o6wUzONVYJ852tpa5fOKOOWSuyyFOlLmK5VY8u4BvkjSCOQnt0dRlLZE4ziQWnehdnMtdOCYhFx5b-WHD_jxA9AvNQ/w400-h640/pid_25725.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></u></b></div><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></u></b><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; margin: 1.25em 0px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i style="background-color: white;"> I wanted to kick off this blog post by sharing a little personal journey I embarked on during my summer holidays. You see, recently I've had a deep fascination with philosophy, especially the profound insights that Asian philosophy offers. So, this summer, instead of hitting the typical beach reads, I dived headfirst into a few thought-provoking books and even enrolled in an intriguing online course.</i></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><i style="background-color: white;">And let me tell you, it was nothing short of mind-blowing! These philosophical adventures turned out to be not only thought-provoking but also immensely motivational and, dare I say it, life-changing. One particular book, "The Burnout Society" by Byung-Chul Han, left such an impact that I just had to share my reflections with you. So, buckle up, because we're about to delve into a world of ideas that might just transform the way you see the world too. Here's my review, I hope you'll find it interesting and enjoy reading it. </i></p><div><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></u></b></div><div><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Unmasking the Strains
of Modern Life</span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">In an era characterized by ceaseless connectivity, rapid
technological advancements, and the relentless pursuit of productivity,
Byung-Chul Han's groundbreaking essay, "The Burnout Society," emerges
as a poignant exploration of the contemporary individual's struggle to cope
with the demands of late-modern society. Han's work delves deep into the core
of our hyperactive, performance-driven culture, shedding light on the
distressing consequences of living in a world that celebrates positivity and
convenience at the cost of genuine human experience.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;">The Contemporary Struggle</span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Byung-Chul Han's analysis of the modern individual's plight
resonates profoundly in today's world. Our lives have become increasingly
digitized, with multitasking and the relentless pursuit of efficiency becoming
the norm. But, as Han argues, this constant striving for productivity has given
rise to a host of psychological and emotional disorders.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Consider the prevalence of depression, attention deficit
disorders, and borderline personality disorders in contemporary society. These
are not merely individual issues; they are symptomatic of a broader societal
problem. Our incessant drive for positivity and convenience has made it
difficult for us to navigate negative experiences. We've grown accustomed to
instant gratification and have little tolerance for discomfort or adversity.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;">The Erosion of Negativity</span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">One of Han's central ideas is the erosion of negativity in
our lives. In our pursuit of happiness and success, we've become averse to
negative emotions and experiences. The constant exposure to curated, idealized
lives on social media reinforces this obsession with positivity. We are
expected to be happy, successful, and content at all times.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Think about how social media platforms encourage us to share
our highlights, but rarely our struggles. The pressure to maintain a façade of
perpetual positivity can be mentally exhausting. We've lost the capacity to
embrace negativity as an essential part of the human experience.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4MOe-SYbp8BzB5MxFqLxnXVQHuhlmC2f_yPsCujubnTXBYb9bBuv2EDielYRfqj_wYd6L_rL2bDWJJBU3eNramwERsqKXnECVw7QkYEHKYejYwC1I_qXrBmqRbyrl88_g4dY-EgwPDdxVk7RvENa09XzUC7G3Q7drOmOXQ4GfMO7Del4fhPpAhRcYCA/s1200/Han.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4MOe-SYbp8BzB5MxFqLxnXVQHuhlmC2f_yPsCujubnTXBYb9bBuv2EDielYRfqj_wYd6L_rL2bDWJJBU3eNramwERsqKXnECVw7QkYEHKYejYwC1I_qXrBmqRbyrl88_g4dY-EgwPDdxVk7RvENa09XzUC7G3Q7drOmOXQ4GfMO7Del4fhPpAhRcYCA/w640-h360/Han.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Byung-Chul Han is a South Korean-born philosopher and cultural theorist living in Germany. He was a professor at the Berlin <br />University of the Arts and still occasionally gives courses there</b></span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;"><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Hyperactivity and Multitasking</span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Han also scrutinizes our obsession with hyperactivity and
multitasking. In today's world, we are constantly juggling multiple tasks,
responding to notifications, and striving to be "efficient." This
frenzied lifestyle not only affects our mental health but also erodes our
ability to engage in deep, meaningful reflection.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Consider the smartphone, a ubiquitous presence in our lives.
While it offers convenience and connectivity, it also fosters a culture of
distraction. We're rarely fully present in the moment, always on edge, waiting
for the next notification. This perpetual state of hyperactivity has
consequences for our well-being, contributing to stress, anxiety, and burnout.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;">The Loss of Sacred Time</span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Han's exploration of the concept of time is particularly
thought-provoking. He contrasts the profane time of hyperproduction with the
sacred time of celebration and play. In our modern, hyperactive society,
moments of celebration and genuine playfulness are rare. We're so consumed by
our relentless pursuit of productivity that we often forget the importance of
taking time to savor life's simple joys.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Incorporating Han's insights into our present-day lives, we
can reflect on the urgency of reevaluating our priorities. Are we sacrificing
our well-being for the sake of productivity and efficiency? Are we overlooking
the value of negativity and the lessons it can teach us? How can we reintroduce
sacred moments of celebration and play into our lives to counterbalance the
constant demands of hyperproduction?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b><u><span style="font-size: medium;">A path towards a more balanced, fulfilling existence</span></u></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Byung-Chul Han's "The Burnout Society" provides a
profound examination of the strains of modern life in a world driven by
performance, positivity, and hyperactivity. It serves as a wake-up call, urging
us to reconsider our values and priorities. In an age where constant
connectivity threatens to consume us, Han's insights offer a path towards a
more balanced, fulfilling existence where we can embrace negativity, celebrate
life's simple joys, and rediscover the sacred in our everyday experiences.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a data-ved="2ahUKEwjow-aDra2BAxUOS_EDHVLQBcsQFnoECA8QAQ" href="https://www.amazon.com/Byung-Chul-Han/e/B001JONWGA" jsaction="rcuQ6b:npT2md" jscontroller="M9mgyc" jsname="UWckNb" ping="/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.amazon.com/Byung-Chul-Han/e/B001JONWGA&ved=2ahUKEwjow-aDra2BAxUOS_EDHVLQBcsQFnoECA8QAQ" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); background-color: white; color: #1a0dab; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; outline: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;"></a></p><h3 class="LC20lb MBeuO DKV0Md" style="display: inline-block; line-height: 1.3; margin: 18px 0px 3px; padding: 5px 0px 0px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="Byung-Chul Han: books, biography, latest update"> Byung-Chul Han: books, biography, latest update</a></span></div></h3></div>Maria Graziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-1585992451166557302023-09-15T15:19:00.000+02:002023-09-15T15:19:47.509+02:00THE TIMELESS ALLURE OF COSTUME DRAMAS: WHY THEY REMAIN POPULAR<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #374151;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8zjKEMqGJL--DuJ7vgS0aEyLePuNjPvloadcdYI2LVpjwKQI9q8-iEQCrXWEBQSyx3aGV68jS7dC6iLgxLlXt9uJojpnpJXjLF6HsCmCJSjLRQSWPb-Rs58VPlLFWXtvrzC8lC9O-IVtphw_QM41Gws8ZGjvnI_kC94m5lfVzNB602n7ELT2pi4A6Vc/s800/sanditon-2-800x500.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8zjKEMqGJL--DuJ7vgS0aEyLePuNjPvloadcdYI2LVpjwKQI9q8-iEQCrXWEBQSyx3aGV68jS7dC6iLgxLlXt9uJojpnpJXjLF6HsCmCJSjLRQSWPb-Rs58VPlLFWXtvrzC8lC9O-IVtphw_QM41Gws8ZGjvnI_kC94m5lfVzNB602n7ELT2pi4A6Vc/w640-h400/sanditon-2-800x500.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Rose Williams as Charlotte Heywood in Sanditon season 3, based on Jane Austen' s unfinished novel</b></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">In a world filled with modern technological marvels and fast-paced storytelling, it may seem surprising that costume dramas, period dramas, and historical dramas continue to captivate audiences. Shows like Bridgerton, Peaky Blinders, Downton Abbey, Outlander, The Gilded Age and adaptations of Jane Austen's novels transport viewers to bygone eras, providing a glimpse into the past. Yet, these productions are far from relics; they are thriving in the age of streaming services and digital entertainment. So, what is it about these narratives that continues to draw us in? Let's explore the enduring appeal of costume dramas and why they remain relevant and popular today.<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><u>Escapism to Another Time</u></b></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHVPxN-TEe2U7J64p8pY3aGm93Sm-W1mTFnJGJ3su1pLOz50gqfL6wlYkCdycEclZI3AwA6GsyxalCI8rjkJthWo0Qd9A1irMPjQRvrr1vrjSGKk8duJlKVRZQBdlGmXMzQ_0JBLJkSnvEeI7hW8aOCa1e_UGvOuvSwzFTW2uJ22CTS7mihauiC6-FEc/s1200/1689664905-outlander-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHVPxN-TEe2U7J64p8pY3aGm93Sm-W1mTFnJGJ3su1pLOz50gqfL6wlYkCdycEclZI3AwA6GsyxalCI8rjkJthWo0Qd9A1irMPjQRvrr1vrjSGKk8duJlKVRZQBdlGmXMzQ_0JBLJkSnvEeI7hW8aOCa1e_UGvOuvSwzFTW2uJ22CTS7mihauiC6-FEc/w640-h480/1689664905-outlander-7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan as Claire and Jamie Fraser in season 7</b></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></b></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">One of the primary reasons for the popularity of costume dramas is their ability to transport viewers to a different time and place. Whether it's the Regency-era London of Bridgerton, the gritty streets of post-World War I Birmingham in Peaky Blinders, or the 18th-century Scotland of Outlander, these shows offer a form of escapism that allows us to step away from our modern lives and immerse ourselves in the past. This escape is especially appealing in today's fast-paced world, where many seek solace in the nostalgia and romance of bygone eras.</span></p><ol start="2" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; counter-reset: list-number 0; display: flex; flex-direction: column; list-style: none; margin: 1.25em 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><u>Rich Historical Settings</u></b></span></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5euholnkAVeKDk80I7qwJa12GvpVrEf4dUHP_L6iB13oGlM_3EwfdwaWjczfK6IZd910dls_4DYv8DcYQOGKEF4veP4KQKp-hGcl0zni1Z0NdL143iIcRiekcrc_L26qeqi011DgI1Vjtzp0vDlPD9NX1NyRzY0aMR8OQ1xCw7eIGIznjbK3ewpASe8/s1920/the-gilded-age.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1232" data-original-width="1920" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5euholnkAVeKDk80I7qwJa12GvpVrEf4dUHP_L6iB13oGlM_3EwfdwaWjczfK6IZd910dls_4DYv8DcYQOGKEF4veP4KQKp-hGcl0zni1Z0NdL143iIcRiekcrc_L26qeqi011DgI1Vjtzp0vDlPD9NX1NyRzY0aMR8OQ1xCw7eIGIznjbK3ewpASe8/w640-h410/the-gilded-age.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: AdobeGaramondPro, serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: 20px;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Much of </b></span></i></span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: AdobeGaramondPro, serif; line-height: inherit; text-align: start;">The</span><span style="font-family: AdobeGaramondPro, serif; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: AdobeGaramondPro, serif; line-height: inherit; text-align: start;">Gilded Age</span><span style="font-family: AdobeGaramondPro, serif; text-align: start;"> and, especially, ep. 9 in season 1, is centered around who—and who was </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: AdobeGaramondPro, serif; line-height: inherit; text-align: start;">not</span><span style="font-family: AdobeGaramondPro, serif; text-align: start;">—invited to a party.</span></b></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">Costume dramas are often meticulously researched and crafted to recreate historical settings with remarkable detail. From the elaborate costumes and set designs to the historical accuracy of the dialogue and cultural norms, these shows provide a window into the past like no other. Viewers can learn about different time periods, social hierarchies, and the challenges people faced during those times, all while being entertained. This combination of historical accuracy and storytelling prowess appeals to those with a love for history as well as those who simply enjoy a well-crafted narrative.</span></span></li></ol><ol start="3" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; counter-reset: list-number 0; display: flex; flex-direction: column; list-style: none; margin: 1.25em 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><u>Compelling Characters and Relationships</u></b></span></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSdTVCo_2qsfTO2Kh-XdSldtpeKjiHGxBdObfK6_-hqbh2jpBDTrb1neCIqZABcZcrAUdX_H9sXrcusMmE-Qtl13BjY6wwJ5uG31XL2ihTZvpHg9NRI_blAF9MxDgB7UMtLZlS1khbwcx0mCkAGEkxDrxUgZ5wInOIF8Tp8XH4ezsy7gH-hq3CZKLIiYM/s1920/Downton.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSdTVCo_2qsfTO2Kh-XdSldtpeKjiHGxBdObfK6_-hqbh2jpBDTrb1neCIqZABcZcrAUdX_H9sXrcusMmE-Qtl13BjY6wwJ5uG31XL2ihTZvpHg9NRI_blAF9MxDgB7UMtLZlS1khbwcx0mCkAGEkxDrxUgZ5wInOIF8Tp8XH4ezsy7gH-hq3CZKLIiYM/w640-h360/Downton.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Promo still for the movie Downton Abbey, A New Era</b></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><br /></b></span></li></ol><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">At the heart of every great costume drama are the characters and their relationships. Whether it's the witty banter and budding romances of Bridgerton or the complex family dynamics of Peaky Blinders, these shows excel at creating characters that resonate with viewers. They struggle with universal themes like love, power, ambition, and morality, which are as relevant today as they were in the past. We become invested in their lives, rooting for their successes and lamenting their failures, much like we do with characters in contemporary stories.</span></p><ol start="4" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; counter-reset: list-number 0; display: flex; flex-direction: column; list-style: none; margin: 1.25em 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><u>Timeless Themes and Social Commentary</u></b></span></li></ol><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #374151; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9h2vGEeVZ2z1pLejJoCD8m-yebqV562p4mfekxj7wSJYE9I6abKdEDF8NFyZDoS13eInMAbIh_lsqqqahjDGnTUOFgPa74bwdKp-Hl3wN7oB-sE97BG4TeA5i8Yb36zKm0I9_4U5R0vH6VsbWoqxy1eYm3VSE1u9kxnZ0rPBE3F9hKzGsASNIqser2wY/s500/Peaky%20Blinders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9h2vGEeVZ2z1pLejJoCD8m-yebqV562p4mfekxj7wSJYE9I6abKdEDF8NFyZDoS13eInMAbIh_lsqqqahjDGnTUOFgPa74bwdKp-Hl3wN7oB-sE97BG4TeA5i8Yb36zKm0I9_4U5R0vH6VsbWoqxy1eYm3VSE1u9kxnZ0rPBE3F9hKzGsASNIqser2wY/w640-h360/Peaky%20Blinders.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Peaky Blinders- A gangster family epic set in 1900s England, centering on a gang who sew razor blades in the peaks of their caps </span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #374151; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #374151; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Costume dramas are not just about pretty costumes and lavish settings; they often tackle timeless themes and offer social commentary. Outlander, for example, explores themes of love and loyalty across time, while Peaky Blinders delves into issues of class and power. These shows provide a lens through which we can reflect on our own society and the ways in which it has evolved or remained unchanged over the years. In this way, costume dramas offer a form of cultural critique that is both thought-provoking and entertaining.</span></div><ol start="5" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; counter-reset: list-number 0; display: flex; flex-direction: column; list-style: none; margin: 1.25em 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><u>Modern Relevance and Diverse Representation</u></b></span></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDPDlH6ZVfV8NA2QfJv3fg35EWE_QKjczcUgaumIogBeJ53WeguVB-z2Vmufa84g9a0HKNWt3KMC3T0rc1BF59fuEi59zo0Gbz1hHP_QWiomLt5eonEFRvB0Ekus0czORTbOCzM7ODXsJvr119-CqaMNb7fP-sV09HhaFRPX9IkMQ3bciq19IoRZtLng/s2048/24bridgerton-review-superJumbo-v2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="2048" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDPDlH6ZVfV8NA2QfJv3fg35EWE_QKjczcUgaumIogBeJ53WeguVB-z2Vmufa84g9a0HKNWt3KMC3T0rc1BF59fuEi59zo0Gbz1hHP_QWiomLt5eonEFRvB0Ekus0czORTbOCzM7ODXsJvr119-CqaMNb7fP-sV09HhaFRPX9IkMQ3bciq19IoRZtLng/w640-h428/24bridgerton-review-superJumbo-v2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page in Bridgerton season 1</span></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b style="font-size: large;"><br /></b></span></li></ol><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">In recent years, costume dramas have also adapted to address modern sensibilities. Shows like <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80232398" target="_blank">Netflix's Bridgerton</a> have embraced diversity and inclusivity, featuring a racially diverse cast and addressing issues of race and class in a historical context. By doing so, they not only make the past more accessible to a wider audience but also highlight the relevance of historical narratives to contemporary conversations about representation and identity.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGGOl85kewBYwv_GYG8s-Diqq2xKpYibJF_7ziZJ1MwBAAu-VdIcEXu34Aum284FvD0Sw7Rx3RiCpxz6DoAiDi3nizv9_uQb07UpvGyaovL9c5Yxp_6PY2a1KRSxAPDk7PIg5a5s9ir1Ep1pG4yCR-_Cj1pqCzQ2lEM3tFY9aL_FPKqiEMSXOQ5i53F0/s1222/Persuasione.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1222" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGGOl85kewBYwv_GYG8s-Diqq2xKpYibJF_7ziZJ1MwBAAu-VdIcEXu34Aum284FvD0Sw7Rx3RiCpxz6DoAiDi3nizv9_uQb07UpvGyaovL9c5Yxp_6PY2a1KRSxAPDk7PIg5a5s9ir1Ep1pG4yCR-_Cj1pqCzQ2lEM3tFY9aL_FPKqiEMSXOQ5i53F0/w640-h358/Persuasione.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Dakota Johnson as Anne Elliot in Netflix Persuasion 2022</b></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">The enduring popularity of costume dramas, period dramas, and historical dramas like Bridgerton, Peaky Blinders, Outlander, and Jane Austen adaptations can be attributed to their unique ability to blend elements of history, romance, escapism, and social commentary. These shows transport us to different worlds while simultaneously addressing themes and issues that remain relevant today. In an ever-changing media landscape, costume dramas offer a comforting and enriching experience, reminding us that the past has much to teach us about the present and the future. So, it's no wonder that they continue to capture our hearts and minds, proving that some stories are truly timeless.</span></p>Maria Graziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-51136051876292821632023-09-14T16:13:00.001+02:002023-09-16T16:37:36.476+02:00THE KOREAN WAVE: AN AUTHENTIC FUSION OF TRADITION AND MODERNITY<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJMOjHb2A6mCRuPJAQvFwAYSh24jn43-YxfQ0M62us-mzGL2O8HNM9LSd3QIObesEodWKcNu9x_69SR1RaEtcH3Ma30nR9cty3lWJwStaZpf9iD8xShsBSC2whAqwwhkOEG_NlekpQ_FqHZJ3tK-aAyTXuQlV-nsNggY-yOY8muPdFxXi7w3D0IJNXuw/s2200/Haedong-Yonggungsa-Temple-in-Busan-South-Korea_Credit_Alamy_WD2J5W.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="2200" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJMOjHb2A6mCRuPJAQvFwAYSh24jn43-YxfQ0M62us-mzGL2O8HNM9LSd3QIObesEodWKcNu9x_69SR1RaEtcH3Ma30nR9cty3lWJwStaZpf9iD8xShsBSC2whAqwwhkOEG_NlekpQ_FqHZJ3tK-aAyTXuQlV-nsNggY-yOY8muPdFxXi7w3D0IJNXuw/w640-h256/Haedong-Yonggungsa-Temple-in-Busan-South-Korea_Credit_Alamy_WD2J5W.webp" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /><br /></b><p></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1.25em 0px;"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I recently had the privilege of taking <a href="https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/what-is-korean-philosophy" target="_blank">an online course on Korean philosophy,</a> and I must say it was a truly enlightening experience. This course, rooted in the rich cultural tapestry of Korea, delves deep into concepts that resonate with anyone seeking a new perspective on life.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div><i style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">One of the most captivating aspects of this course was the exploration of the "Korean Matrix." It's a concept that beautifully illustrates how Korea has absorbed and transformed external influences, crafting a cultural identity that is uniquely Korean. Understanding this process allowed me to appreciate the depth and authenticity of Korean thought. What follows is my final assignment, an article which had to combine present-day culture and the aspects of philosophy we considered as the most interesting in the course. </i><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span><a name='more'></a></span></i></span></div><p></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1.25em 0px;"></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In recent decades, South Korea has experienced an extraordinary cultural phenomenon known as the "Korean Wave" or "</span><i style="color: #374151; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Hallyu</i><span style="color: #374151; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;">," where Korean film, TV, and music have captured the hearts of global audiences.</span></div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #374151; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This cultural wave is a fascinating case study in the way Korean thought and worldview have influenced and shaped modern Korean culture.</span></div></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">One striking aspect of the Korean Wave is its innovative
nature. Korean entertainment has managed to be both adaptive and disruptive
simultaneously. It adapts by embracing elements from various global cultures,
such as Western pop music and Hollywood storytelling, but also disrupts the
status quo with its unique blend of tradition and modernity. It's a prime example
of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Korean Matrix</i>, where foreign
influences are expertly digested to create something authentically Korean,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>as exemplified</span> <span style="line-height: 115%;">in hit TV series like
"Crash Landing on You" and films like "Parasite."<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbrgXha-CvosxoeriS3A_C--lsx7zVXeftkCttwJjIvDCdGU91nzh86cdDrd3N2RVSJ4PZt3uI6-4lHi4CFFzS7x4SwJ8WjrCOsyzN8eeLdCwupzUqsIv8m1QPIMfLwIUuX4YoIKJ40fGuR89-Otj46Csp3I8gxz9SBv8CVlOwqS0hN0VMR_ZXXtK-O4/s719/caption.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="719" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbrgXha-CvosxoeriS3A_C--lsx7zVXeftkCttwJjIvDCdGU91nzh86cdDrd3N2RVSJ4PZt3uI6-4lHi4CFFzS7x4SwJ8WjrCOsyzN8eeLdCwupzUqsIv8m1QPIMfLwIUuX4YoIKJ40fGuR89-Otj46Csp3I8gxz9SBv8CVlOwqS0hN0VMR_ZXXtK-O4/w640-h428/caption.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>A scene from the K-drama series Crashlanding on You (2019)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">The Korean way of thinking plays a
pivotal role in shaping this cultural innovation. One of the most evident
aspects of the Korean worldview is the concept of "<i>Han</i>" and the
mind-heart duality. Han represents the deep, collective sorrow and resilience
of the Korean people, and this emotion is often portrayed in Korean dramas and
films. Characters in these narratives often grapple with intense emotional
conflicts, reflecting the Korean belief in the interconnectedness of the mind
and heart, as</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">portrayed in the emotional depth of Korean dramas like
"Reply 1988" or “Pachinko”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHM4-i_9Lu-WniSxP-BGkOTM9xALAYHKv2j_yMmma2KT1vyK_UwMigq3NRvaJu-4m2Jd0p9mMXidNpyb_dcyqEoFqVpWsnMxS35x7XfmVMNimc4qmn0fQz_LfcXHwrll6geh_hekyGa2jFmNy9_VE4ID8RBbrr19ANRLNwYSrdEX9y13m-LxEa5Vdrw2U/s1280/AAAABQiLySv67Z00six6BhU4PgKg_NXjsV_7gyzO_2FklWxZfb3-ZTCvYbGG8oH3WcDKvMdR3gibmujM2Kp7Wm25ubT4AdlKuHMCSyYj.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHM4-i_9Lu-WniSxP-BGkOTM9xALAYHKv2j_yMmma2KT1vyK_UwMigq3NRvaJu-4m2Jd0p9mMXidNpyb_dcyqEoFqVpWsnMxS35x7XfmVMNimc4qmn0fQz_LfcXHwrll6geh_hekyGa2jFmNy9_VE4ID8RBbrr19ANRLNwYSrdEX9y13m-LxEa5Vdrw2U/w640-h360/AAAABQiLySv67Z00six6BhU4PgKg_NXjsV_7gyzO_2FklWxZfb3-ZTCvYbGG8oH3WcDKvMdR3gibmujM2Kp7Wm25ubT4AdlKuHMCSyYj.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The cast of K-drama series Reply 1988</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Moreover, the Korean emphasis on
the collective "we" can be seen in the strong sense of community and
family values depicted in Korean entertainment. Korean dramas, in particular,
highlight the importance of interpersonal relationships and how they shape an
individual's life. This emphasis on everyday feelings and morality underscores
the Korean belief in the interconnectedness of people and their impact on each
other.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Korean music, notably K-pop, also
embodies the Korean worldview. K-pop's emphasis on group dynamics, teamwork,
and synchronized performances reflects the Korean notion of the collective over
the individual. The emphasis on discipline, hard work, and humility mirrors the
values deeply ingrained in Korean society,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>which is reflected in the success of pop music bands like BTS, Stray Kids, Exo, Blackpink and others, where
teamwork and unity play a pivotal role in their global acclaim.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVo02Ljuw63oReKRltZzq4Eeu0Qt3lD4AFHCmD85iWDTARgwLdxbDu8qhOYlTBgvwh0-OC1qsDN24_pog3Qy2N8zqGj62dE662TiWO83U1_T4qhx6gUYNXW-mND4f5pQx7NYcZAr0E4GO6r6Ty6wQ-OivOzwJCVJBW5qYRll2sW6Ft0K4AcmdBKUUOfY/s976/BTS.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="976" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVo02Ljuw63oReKRltZzq4Eeu0Qt3lD4AFHCmD85iWDTARgwLdxbDu8qhOYlTBgvwh0-OC1qsDN24_pog3Qy2N8zqGj62dE662TiWO83U1_T4qhx6gUYNXW-mND4f5pQx7NYcZAr0E4GO6r6Ty6wQ-OivOzwJCVJBW5qYRll2sW6Ft0K4AcmdBKUUOfY/w640-h360/BTS.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">BTS's synchronized choreographies </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In conclusion, the Korean Wave is a
remarkable showcase of how Korean culture has adapted to global influences
while remaining rooted in its traditional worldview. It's an innovation that
manages to be both adaptive and disruptive, drawing on concepts like the
mind-heart duality, the Korean sense of collective identity, and the importance
of everyday emotions and morality. The Korean Wave not only entertains the
world but also provides a window into the unique and profound aspects of Korean
thought and culture.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>Maria Graziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-74801611870751497482023-09-09T21:46:00.000+02:002023-09-09T21:46:38.745+02:00BOOKS & MORE BOOKS: PACHINKO, A TIMELESS EPIC OF LOVE AND RESILIENCE<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsOEBXkn1jAytoN8piIBdvkrRQkwitCUrH2eskU6UIwL0txhnYPAeEADiY3GzeArKlRTxp5LoDJVKQB_eyEX7N7e90GxgiOG1yltQmCAKqexgHTucLnvq-lPh8YMZ2WAXPsl6xgtYErkUCbBNpxHQGu8Ct4Rl_ztR-tGv52NmApwqQtG3PPNVi4JabNo/s2560/pachinko-finale-scaled.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsOEBXkn1jAytoN8piIBdvkrRQkwitCUrH2eskU6UIwL0txhnYPAeEADiY3GzeArKlRTxp5LoDJVKQB_eyEX7N7e90GxgiOG1yltQmCAKqexgHTucLnvq-lPh8YMZ2WAXPsl6xgtYErkUCbBNpxHQGu8Ct4Rl_ztR-tGv52NmApwqQtG3PPNVi4JabNo/w640-h360/pachinko-finale-scaled.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pachinko the series is available in streaming on Apple TV</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I recently had the pleasure of delving into the mesmerizing
world of Min Jin Lee's Pachinko (2017), a literary masterpiece that sweeps
you off your feet and takes you on an unforgettable journey through time and
generations. I’m now ready to watch the first season of the critically
acclaimed TV series starring Korean actor Lee Minho among others and
I eagerly anticipate the release of the second season. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Now, </span>I can't help but share my immense enthusiasm
for this extraordinary family saga.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Set against the backdrop of Korea and Japan in the early
1900s, "Pachinko" is a heartrending tale of love, sacrifice,
ambition, and unwavering loyalty that transcends borders and generations. At
its core, this novel tells the story of Sunja, a resilient young woman whose
life takes an unexpected turn when she falls for a wealthy stranger. What
unfolds is a captivating narrative of one family's triumphs and tribulations,
set against the backdrop of a turbulent historical period.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Min Jin Lee's storytelling prowess is nothing short of
remarkable. Her prose is richly textured and deeply moving, weaving a tapestry
of emotions that tugs at your heartstrings. From the bustling street markets of
Korea to the hallowed halls of Japan's finest universities, and even the
enigmatic pachinko parlors of the criminal underworld, Lee's vivid and complex
characters come to life on every page.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5zstWVuxons2PrSsfdsPsWcudNvgM6N84aA9Wbxzd33xt_j0eBdPmweS-WZ6qWLq0vwvueP0OoUwHh3hStPyZ_Rk1KEeE9iXwWiijfTQrfhR0H4xkWg6zzI6eg0fnVCCccjqob3LqixrOXf0NQjNYIBwF-m2XtWfGwqIbO8bV-tGLKtLdLRyooJX7Fo/s665/pachinko2-665x392.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="665" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5zstWVuxons2PrSsfdsPsWcudNvgM6N84aA9Wbxzd33xt_j0eBdPmweS-WZ6qWLq0vwvueP0OoUwHh3hStPyZ_Rk1KEeE9iXwWiijfTQrfhR0H4xkWg6zzI6eg0fnVCCccjqob3LqixrOXf0NQjNYIBwF-m2XtWfGwqIbO8bV-tGLKtLdLRyooJX7Fo/w640-h378/pachinko2-665x392.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">On the left actor Lee Minho starring in the adaptation of the book - on the right the book cover</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table> <br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">What sets "Pachinko" apart is its ability to
capture the essence of the human spirit in the face of adversity. The
characters, especially the strong and determined women, devoted siblings, and
conflicted fathers, grapple with moral dilemmas and navigate a world that is
often indifferent to their struggles. Through it all, they not only survive but
thrive, leaving an indelible mark on the reader's soul.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The novel's exploration of identity, cultural displacement,
and the enduring power of love makes it an incredibly relevant and
thought-provoking read. As we follow the lives of Sunja and her descendants, we
gain insight into the complexities of Korean-Japanese relations and the lasting
impact of historical events on individual lives.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">As a nominee for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best
Historical Fiction in 2017, "Pachinko" has rightfully earned its
place among the literary greats. It's a testament to the power of storytelling
to educate, inspire, and evoke deep emotions. I have no doubt that the TV
adaptation will do justice to this extraordinary tale, and I eagerly await the
second season with bated breath.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">If you haven't yet had the pleasure of reading
"Pachinko" by Min Jin Lee, I wholeheartedly recommend immersing
yourself in this gripping family saga. It's a timeless masterpiece that will
leave an indelible mark on your heart and mind. I can't wait to see how the
story unfolds on screen and hope that, like the book, it will continue to
captivate and move audiences around the world.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pachinko-National-Book-Award-Finalist/dp/1455563927/ref=sr_1_1?crid=F4L5CT0KOPNH&keywords=pachinko+book+by+min+jin+lee+english&qid=1694288327&s=books&sprefix=PAchinko+book%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C221&sr=1-1">Check the book at Amazon </a> and <a href="ttps://www.amazon.com/Pachinko-Min-Jin-Lee-audiobook/dp/B01MU4SLKN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=F4L5CT0KOPNH&keywords=pachinko+book+by+min+jin+lee+english&qid=1694288365&s=books&sprefix=PAchinko+book%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C221&sr=1-1">Audible </a></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Maria Graziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-64220514824685280012021-07-22T10:37:00.004+02:002021-07-22T10:54:26.902+02:00BOOKS & MORE BOOKS: THE FAIR BOTANISTS BY SARA SHERIDAN <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKT0nSSYGfCYCqIDKM3Dv9AR1mTQazKfxFXadTCs8fHpgNf-PzjBGjzIT9EJODuTvSOgVkpnl_ajUJ7sPPBWEtL3G2f8kyJrEl_V_eGLPFiOgJmiwNpXIAfqs6eXwYmweLLYWqwxLN0M/s970/19347c4e-14f7-4b3a-99c9-dc9b9df19906.__CR0%252C0%252C970%252C300_PT0_SX970_V1___.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="970" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKT0nSSYGfCYCqIDKM3Dv9AR1mTQazKfxFXadTCs8fHpgNf-PzjBGjzIT9EJODuTvSOgVkpnl_ajUJ7sPPBWEtL3G2f8kyJrEl_V_eGLPFiOgJmiwNpXIAfqs6eXwYmweLLYWqwxLN0M/w640-h198/19347c4e-14f7-4b3a-99c9-dc9b9df19906.__CR0%252C0%252C970%252C300_PT0_SX970_V1___.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; letter-spacing: 0.3pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Reading <b><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fair-Botanists-Sara-Sheridan/dp/1529336201">The Fair Botanists</a></b> has been my latest fascinating journey back in time. I’m
grateful I had the chance to fling away to Edinburgh back then, in 1822, at a time of cultural brilliancy and great
change. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; letter-spacing: 0.3pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As I am
fond of Scotland, the 19<sup>th</sup> century, historical fiction and - why
not? - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>flowers and perfumes, how could I
not enjoy Sara Sheridan’s latest novel?<span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; letter-spacing: 0.3pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">BOOK
BLURB<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">Could one rare
plant hold the key to a thousand riches?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.3pt;">It’s the summer of 1822 and Edinburgh is abuzz with
rumours of King George IV’s impending visit. In botanical circles, however, a
different kind of excitement has gripped the city. In the newly-installed
Botanic Garden, the Agave Americana plant looks set to flower – an event that
only occurs once every few decades.</span></div>
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; line-height: 115%;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.3pt;">When newly widowed Elizabeth arrives in Edinburgh to live with her late
husband’s aunt Clementina, she’s determined to put her unhappy past in London
behind her. As she settles into her new home, she becomes fascinated by the
beautiful Botanic Garden which borders the grand house and offers her services
as an artist to record the rare plant’s impending bloom. In this pursuit, she
meets Belle Brodie, a vivacious young woman with a passion for botany and the
lucrative, dark art of perfume creation.</span></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.3pt;">Belle is determined to keep both her real identity and the reason for her
interest the Garden secret from her new friend. But as Elizabeth and Belle are
about to discover, secrets don’t last long in this Enlightenment city . . .</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And when they are
revealed, they can carry the greatest of consequences.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; letter-spacing: 0.3pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; letter-spacing: 0.3pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">MY
MUSINGS<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; letter-spacing: 0.3pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love when you smell, touch and clearly see in
your <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">inward eye</i> – quoting one of my
favourite Romantic poets, Wordsworth - what the words narrate and describe. Well, it practically means I love when a story is very well written. I appreciate even
more when I can recognize research, accuracy and respect behind the good
story-telling. You find all that in <i><b>The Fair Botanists</b></i>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; letter-spacing: 0.3pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The cast of compelling characters is led by two
charming heroines, Elizabeth and Belle, and include illustrious historical
figures you’ll be delighted to meet in Sheridan’s lively portrayals. Just one
name for them all, Sir Walter Scott. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; letter-spacing: 0.3pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; letter-spacing: 0.3pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk863ivRylZkd-eT1Jbu2R_cjAK_PV-ti_AziUwnDyBbjv87j7yBHEkNIQgqQGyQQuusYMTKk4m0HyPt4OaYlOlHRdPkPqmOR7QgHCW4D-No692f78DApFlP37j7nrR5128xl-e-vjipI/s900/Sir-Walter-Scott-e-il-Paranormale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk863ivRylZkd-eT1Jbu2R_cjAK_PV-ti_AziUwnDyBbjv87j7yBHEkNIQgqQGyQQuusYMTKk4m0HyPt4OaYlOlHRdPkPqmOR7QgHCW4D-No692f78DApFlP37j7nrR5128xl-e-vjipI/w640-h320/Sir-Walter-Scott-e-il-Paranormale.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; letter-spacing: 0.3pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; letter-spacing: 0.3pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But you’ll also be intrigued by less
famous real-life characters like William McNab and Robert Graham, whose
well-documented stories have been interwoven with the fictional
lives of many of the characters, obtaining an interesting, multi-layered,
lively picture. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; letter-spacing: 0.3pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was hooked by the mystery and the secrets,
engaged by the historical references and the social issues hinted at, charmed by
the flowers and the perfumes, entertained by the lively style, titillated by
the romantic liaisons. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; letter-spacing: 0.3pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m sure you’ll love Elizabeth and Belle and
their adventures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope they’ll stay with you, in Sara
Sheridan’s words, “<i>as an echo of our foremothers and the lives they might have
lived, for history is endlessly complicated and full of secrets, and in my view
is as much <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><b>herstory</b></span> as his one”. </i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; letter-spacing: 0.3pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRkc8zEIK8BBL6KqOEB1pSbm1Jvyl98q0v10cdD7nnbkKMJuNoBYdEkjwO-NS_ETHe5w2j1yfjVhxtV973_GBLvqZIrLS74y3MIztld9wZt1Q88bmJHi3-Ca3fXus7wlMph-rI96oyu0/s340/9781529336214_0_221_0_75.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="221" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRkc8zEIK8BBL6KqOEB1pSbm1Jvyl98q0v10cdD7nnbkKMJuNoBYdEkjwO-NS_ETHe5w2j1yfjVhxtV973_GBLvqZIrLS74y3MIztld9wZt1Q88bmJHi3-Ca3fXus7wlMph-rI96oyu0/w260-h400/9781529336214_0_221_0_75.jpg" width="260" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /> </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; letter-spacing: 0.3pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">MORE PRAISE FOR
THE FAIR BOTANISTS<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;"><br /></span></div><span lang="EN-US" style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt; line-height: 115%;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><i style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"><span style="background: white;">A charm of
a book. A spirited tale of female empowerment set amongst the blossoms of
enlightenment Edinburgh, it is suffused with the rich perfume of its historical
era. Lively and generous-hearted, with an array of utterly engaging characters,
this enchanting novel reads like a warm tonic for the soul</span></i><span style="background: white; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"> -- Mary Paulson-Ellis</span></div></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;"><br /></span></div><span lang="EN-US" style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt; line-height: 115%;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><i style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"><span style="background: white;">Delightfully
original, sensuous historical fiction, led by a charge of female characters as
captivating and complex as the brightest of botanical flowers</span></i><span style="background: white; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"> -- Cari Thomas</span></div></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;"><br /></span></div><span lang="EN-US" style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt; line-height: 115%;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><i style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"><span style="background: white;">Enchanting
and absorbing . . . [I enjoyed it] because it's about women and women's lives, people
I know and talk to, and am</span></i><span style="background: white; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"> -- Anstey
Harris</span></div></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;"><br /></span></div><span lang="EN-US" style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt; line-height: 115%;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><i style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"><span style="background: white;">There's no
enlightenment without enlightening women, and Sara Sheridan gives us two great
ones to reckon with in Belle and Elizabeth. <b>The Fair Botanists</b> gives
us a glimpse into the complex life of Edinburgh in the 1820's with joyous
female characters at the heart of the story</span></i><span style="background: white; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"> -- Annie Garthwaite</span></div></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4px;"><br /></span></div><span lang="EN-US" style="letter-spacing: 0.3pt; line-height: 115%;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><i style="font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.3pt;"><span style="background: white;">Impressively
researched, <b>The Fair Botanists</b> weaves incredible fact - the
transfer of the Botanic Gardens to a new site and the incredible journey of the
trees across the city, and the much-anticipated flowering of the century aloe -
with the intricately-plotted loves and fortunes of Belle, a forward-thinking
courtesan and perfume maker, and Elizabeth, a widow who<span style="color: #548dd4;">
</span>steps out of the shadows of her unhappy marriage to learn her own worth</span></i><span style="background: white; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.3pt;">. -- Claire Gradidge</span></div></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #548dd4; letter-spacing: 0.4px;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #548dd4; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.3pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span lang="EN-US">A SHORT STORY</span></u></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; letter-spacing: 0.3pt; line-height: 115%;">Among the real life characters you meet in <b><i>The
Fair Botanists</i></b>, botanist <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://digital.nls.uk/travels-of-henrietta-liston/listons/henrietta.html">Henrietta
Liston</a></i></b> has a lovely cameo role. Lady Liston returned from her
residency in the Ottoman Empire to Edinburgh society in the winter of 1821.
Follow <i><b>the link below</b></i> the portrait and read how Sara Sheridan imagined Henrietta's meeting with one
of the heroines of her novel, Belle Brodie.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIqKwqC3QJXPAIYnQiqgSydLdB40g5Ct3O9RgbVNsnrdxE9uLVFd_a0iqHvBeVwbDb1WDq2kTkY8gQXR9pblBkrjhl2hrwqCWNSKSaKJz0pdIn5uVOmmLaJJzODmoOW1Bs4XZBlie7eU/s967/800px-Henrietta_Marchant_Liston_%2528Mrs._Robert_Liston%2529_A14809.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="967" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIqKwqC3QJXPAIYnQiqgSydLdB40g5Ct3O9RgbVNsnrdxE9uLVFd_a0iqHvBeVwbDb1WDq2kTkY8gQXR9pblBkrjhl2hrwqCWNSKSaKJz0pdIn5uVOmmLaJJzODmoOW1Bs4XZBlie7eU/w331-h400/800px-Henrietta_Marchant_Liston_%2528Mrs._Robert_Liston%2529_A14809.jpg" width="331" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; letter-spacing: 0.3pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://digital.nls.uk/travels-of-henrietta-liston/long-reads/sheridan.html">https://digital.nls.uk/travels-of-henrietta-liston/long-reads/sheridan.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">ABOUT THE AUTHOR</span></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; letter-spacing: 0.3pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sara Sheridan is an Edinburgh-based
novelist who writes cosy crime noir mysteries set in 1950s Brighton and
historical novels based on the real-life stories of late Georgian and early
Victorian explorers. She has also written for children – her picture book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I’m Me</i> has appeared on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">CBeebies </i>three times – and occasionally
takes on commercial non-fiction project including <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>writing the companion guide to the ITV series,
Victoria: <span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.amazon.it/dp/B074PFFJX3/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" target="_blank">Victoria and Albert: A Royal Love Affair</a></span> (2017) and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.amazon.it/dp/B07W5DVGDF/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1" target="_blank">Sanditon</a> (2019). <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; letter-spacing: 0.3pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUU0tSXBOm47BUeTtq9vwHY2TmetZqRxdlCgA8RN5S_tPU0w9oWcTQrX_W0dZnDQFgg2tkePuDOiczRRO7hyXl7VB6xLgXDfpEq_JRLaS93Bx2Ja3tv07NJM6yAXLKYbiY0u3gsX1ob8/s512/5QcggLWF.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUU0tSXBOm47BUeTtq9vwHY2TmetZqRxdlCgA8RN5S_tPU0w9oWcTQrX_W0dZnDQFgg2tkePuDOiczRRO7hyXl7VB6xLgXDfpEq_JRLaS93Bx2Ja3tv07NJM6yAXLKYbiY0u3gsX1ob8/s320/5QcggLWF.png" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; letter-spacing: 0.3pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.sarasheridan.com/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Visit Sara
Sheridan’s Official Website</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://thesecretunderstandingofthehearts.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-world-of-sanditon-interview-with.html" target="_blank">Read my interview with Sara at My Jane Austen Book Club</a></b></p>Maria Graziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-24151164614023993572021-07-15T09:39:00.004+02:002021-07-21T14:25:02.834+02:00BOOK BLAST - THE CASE OF THE PECULIAR INHERITANCE, A MCKENZIE SISTERS MYSTERY NOVEL <p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCqNLtqLZOi-njGUo_SUVnCCPBnaHnFsiOccvdPT75_Urw3-SMiaAiP7sopTA959U3GdQFdbMNi2Pk09ZvLLlEtC-LCd4a_bUP91zRFhOKH5H48bWhbvA5Ucio-VLEa4aRM-7xmNOkKE/s1585/The+Case+of+the+Peculiar+Inheritance+BANNER.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1207" data-original-width="1585" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCqNLtqLZOi-njGUo_SUVnCCPBnaHnFsiOccvdPT75_Urw3-SMiaAiP7sopTA959U3GdQFdbMNi2Pk09ZvLLlEtC-LCd4a_bUP91zRFhOKH5H48bWhbvA5Ucio-VLEa4aRM-7xmNOkKE/w640-h488/The+Case+of+the+Peculiar+Inheritance+BANNER.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">Second summer reading recommendation in the McKenzie Sisters series: The Case of the Peculiar Inheritance. Click <a href="http://flyhigh-by-learnonline.blogspot.com/2021/06/book-blast-case-of-copper-king-mckenzie.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> for my previous post. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"> I love historical fiction, I'm hooked by the fascinating allure of the past, and if you enjoy that too, this book is a lovely addition to your TBR list: it's a f</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">un and light-hearted mystery with a touch of sweet romance. Scroll down to discover more! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span><a name='more'></a></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18pt; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Case of the Peculiar Inheritance</span></div><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-892789df-7fff-e230-c837-7c6de2755cae"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A McKenzie Sisters Mystery Novel</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 25px; overflow: hidden; width: 113px;"><img alt="A picture containing text, clipart
Description automatically generated" height="25" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/O3sjWHrqh7tiOCxTFl-6EZx76hBYjXcJQT_yftkOK3PGV4W8YqqLuYIOQO1tWJ5xxNtnuVVmpETtvJre2r1XXqjFalbe7irneRAQJ_7ChaoOcZFCLte6KcUDgWJsdVMYvClDxhg" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="113" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SAMANTHA ST. CLAIRE</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><hr /><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Witty and irascible Rose McKenzie tackles Denver’s criminal cases with a woman’s intuition and a loaded Smith and Wesson tucked in her skirt pocket.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.7pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Eager for adventure beyond her scientific experiments, Rose accepts her uncle’s challenge to become Denver’s first female private detective. When a wealthy woman employs her to track down a burglar, Rose zealously applies her unique investigative talents to prove she can handle any job. After two more home invasions turn violent, Rose races to find the perpetrator before another innocent shows up on a slab at the city morgue.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.7pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.7pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With the stakes raised, Rose employs the help of her friend, the attractive Dr. Taylor Whitman, to lure the perpetrator out of hiding—with Rose as the bait. What Rose fails to foresee is the complexity of the crime, involving more than one perpetrator tasked with silencing her. Will her cunning be enough to unravel the clues before it’s too late?</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 0.7pt;"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-indent: 0.7pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Step into Denver’s bustling city streets at the turn of the century with Rose McKenzie, a spirited private investigator and a woman brave enough to undertake any case. </span></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.7pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.7pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t miss </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Case of the Peculiar Inheritance</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, a stand-alone novel in the delightfully entertaining McKenzie Sisters Mystery series.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpX9Ri9dCbDLgqbLBtq0Ub2sQF35omNswz59yd2wgchZE7GMTDCruM3LeuAjq5owt8t6aYusoxTfVGdg43iU4SAo98cq2s30YNyKtL35S5gIVdDjscUV-pEdZ-I5e9rrXylelej_h3oC0/s1500/The+Case+of+the+Peculiar+Inheritance_Samantha+St.+Claire_3D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="1500" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpX9Ri9dCbDLgqbLBtq0Ub2sQF35omNswz59yd2wgchZE7GMTDCruM3LeuAjq5owt8t6aYusoxTfVGdg43iU4SAo98cq2s30YNyKtL35S5gIVdDjscUV-pEdZ-I5e9rrXylelej_h3oC0/w640-h490/The+Case+of+the+Peculiar+Inheritance_Samantha+St.+Claire_3D.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Check the eBook at </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B095PVNQMR" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kindle Unlimited</span></a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-case-of-the-peculiar-inheritance-mckenzie-sisters-mystery-series-by-samantha-st-claire" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Add to BookBub</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> | </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58218830-the-case-of-the-peculiar-inheritance" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Add to Goodreads</span></a></span></p><h1 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-weight: 400; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></h1><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h1 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><u>About the Author </u></span></span></h1><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 0.7pt;"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-indent: 0.7pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Samantha St. Claire</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-indent: 0.7pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is the pen name of an author passionate about American history and the people whose legacies are woven into the fabric of a nation. She writes these characters to life in her novels of the western frontier, their trials and triumphs. Coming from a family of pioneers, she honestly claims her roots as a Daughter of the American Revolution and descendant of a Scottish Laird.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-indent: 0.7pt;">Never faint of heart, her signature protagonists face the hazards of the frontier with courage, wit, and a healthy pinch of humor. </span></div></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.7pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.7pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sign up for Samantha’s newsletter at </span><a href="http://www.samanthastclaire.com" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.samanthastclaire.com</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for early notifications of new releases and interesting news relevant to readers of historical fiction.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="display: inline-block; position: relative; width: 100px;"></span></span></span></p><h1 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Praise for the Writings of Samantha St. Claire</span></span></h1><div><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 25px; overflow: hidden; width: 113px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="A picture containing text, clipart
Description automatically generated" height="25" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/O3sjWHrqh7tiOCxTFl-6EZx76hBYjXcJQT_yftkOK3PGV4W8YqqLuYIOQO1tWJ5xxNtnuVVmpETtvJre2r1XXqjFalbe7irneRAQJ_7ChaoOcZFCLte6KcUDgWJsdVMYvClDxhg" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="113" /></span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 25px; overflow: hidden; width: 113px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"This intrepid heroine kept me guessing till the end and made me laugh out loud! Rose is the epitome of the perfect heroine that I love to follow. She’s colorful, amusing, ingenious, and brilliant. I loved the setting Colorado 1899 and the atmosphere with a delightful blend of humor and adventure." </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—Books & Benches, Top Pick (</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">on </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Case of the Peculiar Inheritance)</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Rich descriptions and entertaining characters bring to life the beauty and struggle of life in the 19th-century West. This cozy tale grounded in the everyday will surely delight historical romance fans.” —Publisher’s Weekly Starred Review on </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Comes the Winter</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Samantha St. Claire's style of writing is captivating. She lures you in with vivid word imagery and takes you on a journey with a well written sequence of events that make this book very difficult to put down. Samantha St. Claire's language and storytelling skills combine to give us a very enjoyable, sometimes emotional adventure to another time and place." —</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Readers' Favorite</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“A wonderful book, and an auspicious start to The Sawtooth Range series!” —InD'Tale Magazine on </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kat’s Law</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.7pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Miss St. Claire's stories unfailingly take readers to places and times of transformation. The author shows an affinity for confronting the crossroads in life. “Portrait of Dawn” is part of Samantha St. Claire’s “Sawtooth Mountain series,” but it stands on its own as a fully realized story and will be enjoyed by a first-time reader. I do recommend seeking out other titles in the series. These are sweet, heart-warming stories, perfect for relaxation, inspiration, and, sometimes, quiet introspection." —</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Constant Reader</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="display: inline-block; position: relative; width: 100px;"></span></span></span></p><h1 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Read an Excerpt from</span></span></h1><div><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Case of the Peculiar Inheritance</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJVcDiXg0-3CSMUayFvE2yOP5VQEeO87s8ou45_EPmN0MSvyN0ByAIkU3yMb_bk0EHptiXNt3iwIEcWMsMx7uOWdYQ2tYwQDLhUPgTogg8_JzbDRb4d1pX8aaicVwYBeoNY3O4iLb1KlQ/s2048/The+Case+of+the+Peculiar+Inheritance_Samantha+St.+Claire.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJVcDiXg0-3CSMUayFvE2yOP5VQEeO87s8ou45_EPmN0MSvyN0ByAIkU3yMb_bk0EHptiXNt3iwIEcWMsMx7uOWdYQ2tYwQDLhUPgTogg8_JzbDRb4d1pX8aaicVwYBeoNY3O4iLb1KlQ/s320/The+Case+of+the+Peculiar+Inheritance_Samantha+St.+Claire.jpg" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b><br /></b></span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 25px; overflow: hidden; width: 113px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="A picture containing text, clipart
Description automatically generated" height="25" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/O3sjWHrqh7tiOCxTFl-6EZx76hBYjXcJQT_yftkOK3PGV4W8YqqLuYIOQO1tWJ5xxNtnuVVmpETtvJre2r1XXqjFalbe7irneRAQJ_7ChaoOcZFCLte6KcUDgWJsdVMYvClDxhg" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="113" /></span></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Denver, Colorado 1899</i></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 3.135; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">T</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">he explosion was small compared to her previous miscalculations, blowing out only one window of the study and merely scorching the hem of the damask drapes covering it. Miss Rose McKenzie and her housekeeper, Mrs. Constance Pennyworth, quickly extinguished the subsequent fire. The housekeeper tore down the damaged drapes and threw them on the remnants of Rose’s ruined experiment.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After she raised the window sashes to give the cloud of acrid smoke somewhere to go besides their lungs, she collapsed on the stool across from Rose. The housekeeper fanned her face with her soot-covered apron and grumbled, “Well now, what have you learned from that experiment, Miss Rose? I surely hope it was worth the expense of a broken window and two rather costly drapes.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rose pulled a pencil from the mass of auburn curls pinned high on her head and scribbled notes on the still-smoking clipboard. “Reduce the potassium chloride to magnesium ratio.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mrs. Pennyworth pushed herself to her feet with a small grunt and heaved a sigh of surprising force for a woman so small in stature. “I came upstairs to ask if you wanted me to bring your breakfast up. If you recall, you didn’t eat your supper last night.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rose tapped the pencil against the clipboard and surveyed the disheveled state of the laboratory. “I suppose I should eat downstairs this morning.” Mrs. Pennyworth's scowl transformed into an expression of concern. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She rounded the table with impressive speed for a woman who’d seen more than a half-century of birthdays come and go. She grasped Rose’s face in her two calloused hands and leaned in for closer inspection. “Why, you’re bleeding!” This time she expressed her opinion with a disapproving cluck of her tongue. “Miss Rose, you are going to do yourself in one day with all this experimenting.” She blew another ponderous breath. “I’m going to ring Dr. Whitman. That might need stitches.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rose drew the back of her hand to dab at her temple, surprised to feel the sticky evidence of Mrs. Pennyworth’s pronouncement. “Hmm. I would have expected more blood from a head wound.” She rose quickly from her stool and stepped to the wall mirror, inspecting her forehead with sharp interest. “It’s a clean cut. It might even develop into a quite colorful bruise. You’re right, Mrs. Pennyworth, I should probably have it tended to.” Rose shook small shards of glass from her lab apron and observed brightly, “I’ve never had stitches. I’m most interested in the experience.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As her housekeeper stormed off, the exasperated blow from her lips sent a good portion of smoke out the open windows. “I’ll give the doctor a call and set another place for breakfast.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Oh, did I forget to tell you? We’re going to the museum today. There’s an exhibit on the embalming techniques of Egyptian mummies, which promises to be interesting.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“I approve of your company, but to my way of thinking, you’ve a morbid fascination with death.” Mrs. Pennyworth harrumphed as she left the room, her footsteps hammering down the staircase.</span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> <b>Book Trailer</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4lwSLgNRij0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> </center>Maria Graziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-30008312925697450632021-07-08T23:43:00.002+02:002021-07-08T23:43:53.077+02:003 SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUR TBW LIST<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqlvo2JIII5y6pl6zIDW1KoF7oz9ycxC1OOrO-yf7Mngw3UPgOc6_-3rtODc1J6LAqATJh7R421oaGGMDLpd9yjGWUtPtBLU5qbmBFVlbNAhnR-57gOH5VuQEoppecT2RERver_L99Wk/s681/MARE+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="681" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqlvo2JIII5y6pl6zIDW1KoF7oz9ycxC1OOrO-yf7Mngw3UPgOc6_-3rtODc1J6LAqATJh7R421oaGGMDLpd9yjGWUtPtBLU5qbmBFVlbNAhnR-57gOH5VuQEoppecT2RERver_L99Wk/w640-h360/MARE+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Mare of Easttown</span></span></u></b><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After reading several positive reviews, I've finally managed to watch Kate Winslet in her latest role as the lead of HBO's <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10155688/" target="_blank"><b>Mare of Easttown</b></a>. Fortunately, it was available on Italian Sky channels. Have you seen it? <span><a name='more'></a></span></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Coarse, stubborn, mercurial Mare Sheehan is a difficult character to like. Mare is a police woman, a complex, tough woman who reminded me of Sarah Lancashire’s character in BBC Happy Valley. Mare is played magnificently by Kate Winslet . What an amazing performance she delivers! The audience can perceive and relate to every ounce of regret, fear, shame and heartbreak on her face. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Though Mare of Easttown is probably not the most original TV series you will find on TV, Kate Winslet’s performance only is worth watching the 8-part show. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you like contemporary psychological thrillers, I’m sure you will find it engaging, to say the least. In Mare’s story there are cases to be solved, but also personal complicated issues to be faced. Truly touching. </span></div></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Atlantic Crossing</span></b></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><u><b></b></u></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYNFapPrXYfFm81C7iSJv9MrBn_9vMkwKuTnrxiED71hi_GVcl8xAwBvH2ioOxFKUrMqkIqpx17Cw6qIBXIxNXFXfnYRY66BqCfgpyLKsDCKLBQqSjlkL5u34A1xCrHHJeXCiB3dRpmc/s1600/atlantic+crossing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYNFapPrXYfFm81C7iSJv9MrBn_9vMkwKuTnrxiED71hi_GVcl8xAwBvH2ioOxFKUrMqkIqpx17Cw6qIBXIxNXFXfnYRY66BqCfgpyLKsDCKLBQqSjlkL5u34A1xCrHHJeXCiB3dRpmc/w640-h360/atlantic+crossing.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></u></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></u></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Among the interesting things I have been
watching lately, I’d also recommend<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9348700/" target="_blank"><b> Atlantic Crossing</b></a>. It was an interesting
discovery, a 6-part drama series about a part of WWII history I knew nothing
about. Worth watching if you love good, traditional period drama. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Atlantic
Crossing is a Norwegian TV show set during WWII and based on a true story: the
relationship between Princess Martha of Sweden and Franklin Roosevelt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw it on Italian TV, precisely on Rai Tre,
but I know it was on Masterpiece PBS before, if I’m not wrong in spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The story
starts when Nazi Germany invaded Norway in April 1940 and the princess and her
children fled to Sweden at first, but since they were not welcome there, they later
accepted the invitation of President Roosevelt and found refuge in the
USA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Martha and the children lived at
the White House, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>while her husband,
Prince Olav of Norway and his father, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>moved
to London, where the exiled Norwegian government went on working <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The family
remained separated for most of the war and, while living in the US, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Princess Martha and President Roosevelt formed
a deep bond, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>which influenced the
American President’s 1942 speech “Look to Norway” and which writer Gore Vidal
described as Roosevelt’s last true love. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The series
investigates the relationship between the two, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>wondering if it also affected the fate of WWII
itself, that is to say, if Roosevelt’s “Lend-Lease Act” which supported Great
Britain in the fight against Germany and changed the course of the conflict,
was due to Princess Martha’s influence on the American President. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The series
focuses on the human more than on the political aspects of the events narrated.
The watcher is involved in the tough time the royal family has to go through,
torn between the demands of their public role and the struggle to survive the
tragic adversities. The lead cast Emy Kyle MacLachlan as Franklin Delano
Roosevelt and Sofia Helin as Princess Martha are truly charismatic in their
gripping performances.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">The Pursuit of Love</span></u></b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></u></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><b><u></u></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiR8q5IHU5gD7MNBst2LisI2UOkrNY3D4dN3VPTbgTSKAen_jmSUfeVbck8a8ha3SDBeM47dtkW6UZbpXJn7-2HFMVyDcMOkadcqq_75kBrj0WivcHsKeH06uZgWdRAGuiyNHNfhHGyFI/s1180/_methode_sundaytimes_prod_web_bin_fde2054e-b321-11eb-8f2a-87b6de480dfc.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="1180" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiR8q5IHU5gD7MNBst2LisI2UOkrNY3D4dN3VPTbgTSKAen_jmSUfeVbck8a8ha3SDBeM47dtkW6UZbpXJn7-2HFMVyDcMOkadcqq_75kBrj0WivcHsKeH06uZgWdRAGuiyNHNfhHGyFI/w640-h360/_methode_sundaytimes_prod_web_bin_fde2054e-b321-11eb-8f2a-87b6de480dfc.jpg" width="640" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #121212; line-height: 115%;">This is the latest good period drama show I could catch up with. I loved
it! I have not read any </span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; line-height: 115%; padding: 0cm;">Nancy Mitford in my life</span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #121212; line-height: 115%;">, including her most famous novel <b><a href="https://www.amazon.it/Pursuit-Love-Nancy-Mitford/dp/0307740811" target="_blank">The Pursuit of Love</a></b>,
though it seems to have been a bestseller since its publication in 1945.</span>
Well, it’s time to remedy, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must add some
Mitford to my TBR list. BBC 3-part miniseries was such a pleasant watching
experience, such a treat intertwining the pain with the laughter, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>which made this adaptation feel like a real classic.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #121212; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10556338/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">The Pursuit of Love</a></b> is a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>funny
and sharp show about love and growing up, it is set in the 1930s and during WWII, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> is </span>directed by Emily Mortimer and stars Lily
James, Andrew Scott and Dominic West. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #121212; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Longing for love, obsessed with weddings and sex, Linda Radlett, her
sisters and her cousin Fanny are on the lookout for the perfect lover. But
finding Mr Right is much harder than any of the sisters had thought. Linda must
suffer marriage first to a stuffy Tory MP and then to a handsome and humourless
communist, before finding real love in war-torn Paris <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #121212; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nancy Mitford’s book series continues in LOVE IN A COLD
CLIMATE and DON'T TELL ALFRED. More brilliant BBC drama coming soon? </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>Maria Graziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-72416848395324622912021-06-22T10:39:00.000+02:002021-06-22T10:39:04.963+02:00BOOK BLAST - THE CASE OF THE COPPER KING, A MCKENZIE SISTERS MYSTERY NOVEL<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wNzehFpJydbLNa5M7AcwyfRpwVtXlV5EsMgQDEzVjke6i835nbchyphenhyphenNjmNvxalGtIQwk1ncY6kiDaxCxMLp-vkdEpjzJP8QjzM8WL0qziHWpsaXEqVWyx_WjnrgCdkYhqETdwdp4X8jY/s1338/BANNER+The+Case+of+the+Copper+King.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="1338" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wNzehFpJydbLNa5M7AcwyfRpwVtXlV5EsMgQDEzVjke6i835nbchyphenhyphenNjmNvxalGtIQwk1ncY6kiDaxCxMLp-vkdEpjzJP8QjzM8WL0qziHWpsaXEqVWyx_WjnrgCdkYhqETdwdp4X8jY/w640-h260/BANNER+The+Case+of+the+Copper+King.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Summer is here and it's time to pick up new reads to take with us on holiday. </span><span style="background-color: white;">You know I'm fond of historical fiction and if you are too, today I have the perfect recommendation! </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">What about a </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">fun and light-hearted novel filled with adventure, mystery, and a touch of sweet romance? <span><a name='more'></a></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdu5yfzrjPM8lgt6ZOxudjjFqnHIVkHEWd_Ufieggsz21cZbenU5UdBIDYmnYvuqysW9ooSx7kI4t8PkYofAhoLKmrBV4R1u19eLIz-r1etLVD-oZuNBSYkl1yrRPQIzUXaIUb-ZT3UCI/s1500/The+Case+of+the+Copper+King_MK+McClintock_3D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="1500" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdu5yfzrjPM8lgt6ZOxudjjFqnHIVkHEWd_Ufieggsz21cZbenU5UdBIDYmnYvuqysW9ooSx7kI4t8PkYofAhoLKmrBV4R1u19eLIz-r1etLVD-oZuNBSYkl1yrRPQIzUXaIUb-ZT3UCI/w640-h490/The+Case+of+the+Copper+King_MK+McClintock_3D.png" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>The Case of the Copper King</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">A McKenzie Sisters Mystery Novel</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 25px; overflow: hidden; width: 113px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><img alt="A picture containing text, clipart
Description automatically generated" height="25" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/PJoBP5MUOosKmbGM6-vWy31fFsyVmkaRbJ00zMVgQ_PQ5YExN_XHiMBVDjNbA5qGUqsbAVxtHMpA5H32BGl_lkGtQ170hbv5s_0WXimMfIf7HvraWm9waHO0AGY_wgoZCdTl-dY" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="113" /></span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">MK MCCLINTOCK</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><hr /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-9fda77e2-7fff-e492-4097-475df7945411" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Clever and feisty Cassandra McKenzie engages her newest assignment for the Pinkerton Agency with a knack for deception and a blade in her boot.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">Smart, skilled, and unafraid to get her hands dirty, Cassandra grudgingly takes on a new assignment in one of Colorado’s busiest mining towns, where murder and theft draw her deep into a puzzle of lies, quarries, and forgery. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">When the mysterious and handsome Quinn Morgan is enlisted to help solve the case, she reluctantly accepts his presence for an undercover scheme meant to draw out the crooks and retrieve the stolen money before they end up buried in a mountainside. Will their talents be enough to untangle truth from deceit before they run out of time?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ride the rails to Durango at the turn of the century with Cassandra McKenzie, a woman cunning enough to solve the toughest cases in some of the Rockies most rugged and beautiful places. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Immerse yourself in </span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Case of the Copper King</span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a stand-alone novel</span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in the delightfully entertaining McKenzie Sisters Mystery series.</span></p><h1 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-variant-caps: small-caps; white-space: pre-wrap;">Buy Links</span></h1><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">E-Book: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B095PWZTY2" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kindle Unlimited</span></a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Paperback: PENDING </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-case-of-the-copper-king-mckenzie-sisters-mystery-series-by-mk-mcclintock" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Add to BookBub</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> | </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58205515-the-case-of-the-copper-king" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Add to Goodreads</span></a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-size: large; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-size: large; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">Book Trailer</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-size: large; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4lwSLgNRij0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></p><h1 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-weight: 400; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span>Author Bio</span></h1><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Award-winning author </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MK McClintock</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> writes historical romantic fiction about courageous and honorable men and strong women who appreciate chivalry, like those in her Montana Gallagher, British Agent, and Crooked Creek series. Her stories of adventure, romance, and mystery sweep across the American West to the Victorian British Isles, with places and times between and beyond. She enjoys a quiet life in the northern Rocky Mountains. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MK invites you to join her on her writing journey at </span><a href="http://www.mkmcclintock.com" style="font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.mkmcclintock.com</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> where you can learn more about her many books and series, explore reader extras, subscribe to receive the latest news, and browse the blog. </span></p><h1 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: small-caps; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Praise for the Writings of MK McClintock</span></span></h1><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 25px; overflow: hidden; width: 113px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="A picture containing text, clipart
Description automatically generated" height="25" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/PJoBP5MUOosKmbGM6-vWy31fFsyVmkaRbJ00zMVgQ_PQ5YExN_XHiMBVDjNbA5qGUqsbAVxtHMpA5H32BGl_lkGtQ170hbv5s_0WXimMfIf7HvraWm9waHO0AGY_wgoZCdTl-dY" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="113" /></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"An absolutely delightful mystery adventure that will keep you guessing till the last chapter! </span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Case of the Copper King</span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is a must to read if you love western mysteries with a touch of romance and lots of twists and turns." —</span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nicole Laverdure, 5 Stars</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #292929; font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Ms. McClintock’s stories are adventurous and full of budding romance that transports you back to a simpler time where the outside world ceases to exist once you open one of her books." —</span><span style="color: #292929; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My Life, One Story at a Time</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Ms. McClintock succeeds in masterfully weaving both genres meticulously together until mystery lovers are sold on romance and romance lovers love the mystery!" </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—InD'Tale Magazine on </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Alaina Claiborne</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Wow! What a series. I guarantee you won't be able to stop reading. Well done MK!” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pioneer Hearts Reader </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">on The Montana Gallagher series</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #292929; font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"</span><span style="color: #292929; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Journey to Hawk's Peak</span><span style="color: #292929; font-family: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by MK McClintock is one of the most gripping and thrilling western novels that anyone will ever read. This is probably the best novel that I have yet read as a reviewer. It clicks on all cylinders—grammar, punctuation, plot, characterization, everything. This novel is a serious page-turner, and for fans of western fiction, it is a must-read." —</span><span style="color: #292929; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Readers' Favorite</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #292929; font-family: inherit; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">"This book was perfectly-paced with mystery, romance, adventure, and so much more. I am definitely recommending that everyone who loves historical fiction in general read this book. I cannot wait to start reading the next book in this series."</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #292929; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—Dreams Come True Through Reading on </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #292929; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blackwood Crossing</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #292929; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEb7HYmIH7HSM4wQGpsMRNpKusg7qB_rzgOpA3p_nQ48cVOeJ9dY8DFgL7DKaoF_a6DzBuy3kDsu1sCEPqF_p9kJgh3zWB35J4piKkl2S2ynCJw4fF2S2JxJwcnqxHod5ZXTsbm2ImJ8/s2048/The+Case+of+the+Copper+King_MK+McClintock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEb7HYmIH7HSM4wQGpsMRNpKusg7qB_rzgOpA3p_nQ48cVOeJ9dY8DFgL7DKaoF_a6DzBuy3kDsu1sCEPqF_p9kJgh3zWB35J4piKkl2S2ynCJw4fF2S2JxJwcnqxHod5ZXTsbm2ImJ8/w400-h640/The+Case+of+the+Copper+King_MK+McClintock.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><h1 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: small-caps; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Read an excerpt from</span></span></h1><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>The Case of the Copper King</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: yellow; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 25px; overflow: hidden; width: 113px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="A picture containing text, clipart
Description automatically generated" height="25" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/PJoBP5MUOosKmbGM6-vWy31fFsyVmkaRbJ00zMVgQ_PQ5YExN_XHiMBVDjNbA5qGUqsbAVxtHMpA5H32BGl_lkGtQ170hbv5s_0WXimMfIf7HvraWm9waHO0AGY_wgoZCdTl-dY" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="113" /></span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 14pt; margin-top: 14pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Colorado Springs, Colorado 1899</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>As one of five women making the rounds in the Lone Dog Saloon, the proprietor expected her to be in high demand. The silky blond hair was pulled up to frame her face while the rest flowed around her shoulders. She drew the attention of every man she passed at the tables, offering a wink, smile, or small wave to each of them. </i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>None of them held her interest. </i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>She sidled up to one man and held a half-full bottle close to her chest. </i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“Care for a drink, cowboy?” </i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“I like a little sugar with my whiskey.” </i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“Sugar is extra, sweetheart.” </i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“How much extra?”</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Amber liquid fell from the bottle into the shot glass on the scarred bar. “Ten dollars.” </i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“That’s mighty steep for a place like this, darlin’.” </i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her fingers trailed up his dusty vest. “I’m worth it, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">darlin</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">’.” </span></i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>His boisterous laugh startled a few of the patrons. “Where’s your room?”</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“Not so fast. I like to know the names of the men I take to my bed.” </i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“Name’s Fletcher. I ain’t gonna take you to bed, darlin’. I’m gonna take you to heaven.” </i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Casey palmed the Deringer and pressed it against her quarry’s belly. “Fletcher Jones. You’ve been a hard man to find.” </i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Fletcher’s smile vanished as he looked at her with cold, hard eyes. “You got me mixed up with someone else.”</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“I don’t think so.” </i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“You ain’t got what it takes to pull the trigger.” </i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“I’ve heard a lot of things about you, Fletcher. Not all accounts agree on what you look like, who you ride with, or how many innocent people you’ve killed, but they agree on one thing.” </i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>He smirked. “What’s that?” </i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“You’re a very stupid man.” She pressed the pistol harder against his gut. “No, no, stay right there. Don’t make this worse for yourself. I want an audience, but I’m guessing you don’t. Where is your partner?”</i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Fletcher leaned close, the whiskey on his breath pungent and unpleasant. “Who are you?” </i></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 14.4pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Casey smiled. “The person tired of hunting you.” </i></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Maria Graziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-9763078246112690872021-06-20T23:25:00.002+02:002021-07-04T23:48:51.195+02:00MY SUNDAY'S PERIOD PICKS: MISS MARX (2020)<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3oOnyXYQVuv9e8UcW3TEivXU6xod2bt7qTfUKbJW7kOxb-Up-ynoJIkc3snDNgei88is6hhP7nr5-kzVx2XTlVCt0AZ3iGPa9ZjMO4WPeKmEbstFxWzp9P2PL7aEmXToPH6k7GDuT_I/s1500/Miss-Marx-film-recensione.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="998" data-original-width="1500" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3oOnyXYQVuv9e8UcW3TEivXU6xod2bt7qTfUKbJW7kOxb-Up-ynoJIkc3snDNgei88is6hhP7nr5-kzVx2XTlVCt0AZ3iGPa9ZjMO4WPeKmEbstFxWzp9P2PL7aEmXToPH6k7GDuT_I/w640-h426/Miss-Marx-film-recensione.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span data-offset-key="brru1-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11009666/" target="_blank">Miss</a></i></b></span><span data-offset-key="brru1-2-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11009666/" target="_blank"> Marx</a></i></b>" premiered at Venice Film Festival 2020 and is <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_Marx" target="_blank">Eleonor Marx</a></b>’s biopic, directed by Susanna Nicchiarelli and starring <b><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0304801/?ref_=tt_cl_t_1" target="_blank">Romola Garai</a></b>. </span></span><p></p><div data-block="true" data-editor="268dp" data-offset-key="fjcqt-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fjcqt-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Eleonor was Karl Marx’s youngest daughter. Nicknamed Tussy, she was brilliant, cultured and passionate. She wrote, translated and studied and was a committed political activist with the socialist party and the trade unions. She highlighted the connection between feminism and socialism, took part in protests and riots, fought for women’s rights and against the exploitation of children in work. <span><a name='more'></a></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="268dp" data-offset-key="5e7ro-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5e7ro-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="5e7ro-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="268dp" data-offset-key="8117e-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8117e-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="8117e-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The movie starts in 1883 with Karl Marx’s death and tells the story of adult Eleanor – flashbacks apart – since her father’s funeral and the first meeting with her partner of a life, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Aveling" target="_blank"><b>Edward Aveling</b></a> (Patrick Kennedy).</span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8117e-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="8117e-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8117e-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="8117e-0-0"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwk5T_jqdfRbEioDDBIgOg_kJ0QUE2TE16id5mvjNOLOoYdB9CQ1DK2yKp3pvouo_32SFwAF_S66owy0WCXr3AY87BrDTeTjOMsa5Mpx8R7O2ds3LJ7GHLgiUcIIaT3qo-EKjB7Ls0sys/s1280/coverlg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwk5T_jqdfRbEioDDBIgOg_kJ0QUE2TE16id5mvjNOLOoYdB9CQ1DK2yKp3pvouo_32SFwAF_S66owy0WCXr3AY87BrDTeTjOMsa5Mpx8R7O2ds3LJ7GHLgiUcIIaT3qo-EKjB7Ls0sys/w640-h360/coverlg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="268dp" data-offset-key="iji3-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="iji3-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="iji3-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="268dp" data-offset-key="dts8u-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dts8u-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="dts8u-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It reveals many aspects of Eleanor’s life, as for example her being the translator of fundamental works in the narration of the woman question, like Madame Bovary or A Doll’s House. </span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="268dp" data-offset-key="c81p2-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c81p2-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="c81p2-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="268dp" data-offset-key="7sj26-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7sj26-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="7sj26-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Susanna Nicchiarelli, who also wrote the screenplay, avoids rethorical and celebrative tones and, at the same time, she depicts a round heroine, with her weaknesses, her personal disillusions and the bonds with her father, with Friederich Engels, with her sisters and nephew, with her half-brother and, especially, the love of her life. </span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="268dp" data-offset-key="5djl7-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5djl7-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="5djl7-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5djl7-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="5djl7-0-0"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsrb91bwQfRFcIGIrgnOYWoY_Os48QH-4DJ06hc1RGhfP7OVWrOX3Qs76NqI0Q0dfbjBj19KOiTWICWlWxxZm6n7gjP895MDhZ6S_HVnycgG9hqmXEnJRJ1t4CzTxveSLUTUEbRgpzsg/s1024/Miss-Marx-recensione-twitter.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsrb91bwQfRFcIGIrgnOYWoY_Os48QH-4DJ06hc1RGhfP7OVWrOX3Qs76NqI0Q0dfbjBj19KOiTWICWlWxxZm6n7gjP895MDhZ6S_HVnycgG9hqmXEnJRJ1t4CzTxveSLUTUEbRgpzsg/w640-h320/Miss-Marx-recensione-twitter.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="268dp" data-offset-key="e49op-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="e49op-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="e49op-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The complexity of the task of juggling the theory and the practice of her outstanding ideals, the impossibility of actually achieving them in her personal life, is what makes Eleanor's story so human and so painful. The movie focuses on the contradictions in Eleanor’s life choices, her accepting to live her whole life with a selfish man, who doesn’t respect her and makes her so unhappy that she finally betrays her favourite motto: “<i>always forward</i>”.</span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="268dp" data-offset-key="49ehl-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="49ehl-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="49ehl-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div data-block="true" data-editor="268dp" data-offset-key="bld8e-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bld8e-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="bld8e-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Romola Garai delivers one of her best performances.</span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bld8e-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: justify;"><span data-offset-key="bld8e-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bld8e-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span data-offset-key="bld8e-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>TRAILER</b></span></span></div><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bld8e-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: center;"><span data-offset-key="bld8e-0-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div></div>
<center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DDMeV4TIPtI" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></center>Maria Graziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-77267683086318670322020-05-29T18:58:00.000+02:002020-05-29T22:04:19.214+02:00RICHARD ARMITAGE, DR GRAY & DR ASTROV<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAjXekbOdxHjVPqjISBTF06dBT4zKkicJlYDCXnPmOXgiRiT2q9iVRDy1BeWtyAhxdGtLuWqsYwR1zguOnlDiImnAoM7WZPizicpdAdGNSOwMIvUWcbQEdB6d47yyTB4fda8xX70N3vY/s1600/IMG_20200528_004917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAjXekbOdxHjVPqjISBTF06dBT4zKkicJlYDCXnPmOXgiRiT2q9iVRDy1BeWtyAhxdGtLuWqsYwR1zguOnlDiImnAoM7WZPizicpdAdGNSOwMIvUWcbQEdB6d47yyTB4fda8xX70N3vY/s640/IMG_20200528_004917.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>graphics by Cyn on Twitter @dainty_c</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Hello everyone! It’s weird to be back blogging in these
absurd and totally unexpected days, but it can be very comforting, nevertheless. Going back to the good old times may help us all. When <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://twitter.com/Natazukii"><b>@Natazukii</b></a></span> on Twitter surprised
us with the idea of a Richard Armitage Blogger Reunion,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I first wondered, am I in the mood to do it? Because being at home
for months and teaching remotely endless hours, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with zero social life and with worrying, awful news thrown at us all the time, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> has not been easy at all. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
But here I am, happy to be still part of a loyal community
of RA well-wishers and curious to know what they all have been doing meanwhile. Now, what am I going to tell you about RA or about me? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Out of sight</u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u> out of mind?</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
My latest RA-dedicated posts date back to 2017 (<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://flyhigh-by-learnonline.blogspot.com/2017/04/5-reasons-to-watch-berlin-station.html">HERE</a></b></span>
and <span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://flyhigh-by-learnonline.blogspot.com/2017/08/richard-armitage-in-brain-on-fire-and.html">HERE</a>)</b></span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much life has passed by since then.
Unfortunately, in the latest few years, little by little, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started neglecting my this blog. Life
and teaching took over, but more than that – blame me – I started being more
engaged on facebook or twitter since it was quicker and easier to post there. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
What about Richard Armitage, meanwhile? Well, I’ve been following him on <span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://twitter.com/SMaryG">Twitter</a></b></span> and <span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/flyhigh_learnonline/">Instagram</a></b></span>
and have been able to catch up with any news he has wanted to share about<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>his life and career. I'm always updated about his project and plans. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
You say that’s not actually an effort for a real RA admirer?
OK, let’s find something more … tasty to tell you. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Just last night I fell asleep
caressed by his soothing, velvety voice...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For hours in the dark of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>my
bedroom, comfortably lying in my bed,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I …<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> no, I was not dreaming, I was really listening to his voice. I was actually </span>listening to his brilliant reading of <b><span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Jane-Austen-Society-Novel/dp/1250248736">The Jane
Austen Society by Natalie Jenner</a></span>. </b>In fact, in the latest weeks I got a review
copy of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the ebook first and of the
audiobook after.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m due to feature both
on my other blog, <span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://thesecretunderstandingofthehearts.blogspot.com/">My Jane Austen
Book Club</a></b></span>, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on June 1st.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
After listening to Ms Jenner say
in a talk <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>about the book that her Dr
Gray was written with Richard Armitage in her mind, listening to the story read
by Richard Armitage himself and figuring out one of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>its most charming protagonists as tall, dark,
blue-eyed and handsoome has been a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>thrilling
experience. It’s such a lovely story! It reminded me of one of my favoutite
book about books, <span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://flyhigh-by-learnonline.blogspot.com/2018/08/three-great-bookish-films.html">The
Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society</a></b></span>, but<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with the addition of my beloved Austen’s
world! I hope <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Jane Austen Society</i>
may become a lovely movie soon and, in that case, I really wish Richard Armitage
may be Dr Gray on screen.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
For more about the story and the
audiobook I’ll wait for you on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My Jane
Austen Book Club</i> on June 1st. Meanwhile, you can listen to a sample of
Richard’s work <span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/orionbooks/the-jane-austen-society-by-natalie-jenner-read-by-richard-armitage">HERE</a></b></span>
or preorder it <span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/hz/audible/mfpdp/B082VL7VRR?ref=tmm_aud_title">HERE</a></b></span>.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
What? All this sound just like coincidence? Me blogging about
everything Austen-related and bumping into an audiobook read by the man HIMSELF
by chance?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not proof enough of my being
a true, worthy admirer? Well, I believe any coincidence has a soul so I think all
this was meant to be and well connected by destiny. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>From Dr Gray to Dr Astrov<o:p></o:p></u></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><br /></u></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9A2gknyaofOZcydZmTsX29ArXH1sKMnnk_7j-_A-FWKFHOoRUBAYlxhPaVb1IZUYoDt3ypqsSH722aBonlNtUlnXYho3IrEaR8c1inlbk5lIgIXwD86Sx6CG7Pya6_EVmo_Q5snw5Vw/s1600/IMG_20200124_065605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1535" data-original-width="1535" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9A2gknyaofOZcydZmTsX29ArXH1sKMnnk_7j-_A-FWKFHOoRUBAYlxhPaVb1IZUYoDt3ypqsSH722aBonlNtUlnXYho3IrEaR8c1inlbk5lIgIXwD86Sx6CG7Pya6_EVmo_Q5snw5Vw/s640/IMG_20200124_065605.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Now, let’s see, what more can I tell you? I’ve also seen <span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81001209">The Stranger</a></b></span> on
Netflix as soon as it came out and in only two days. Can that count in my
favour? Still not enough? Well, then, what about flying from Rome to London
just to see him on stage? <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
That sounds slightly better, I
knew it! I should have told you about this before. But here we are, last but not least, I'm ready
to share a few memories of my<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>trip to
London in January,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>right on Brexit Day
and on the verge of a pandemic. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Honestly, I’m not an actual fan
of Checkov<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and his theatre,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but it was not the first time Richard
Armitage had <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>me convert to a new faith. Now,
I did not really joined a new faith for his sake but, as I used to say on my
RA-Fridays, he has again contributed to widen my horizon. As in the past I read and saw things that I would have never read or seen if it wasn't for Richard Armitage (see Strike Back
or The Hobbit), I came to appreciate the adaptation of Checkov's Uncle Vanya. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
After decades from my first unenthusiastic reading
of some plays by the Russian playwritgh for my Theatre exam at university, at
the end of 2019 I started rereading Uncle Vanya, booked tickets and flight, and
joined my friends for a weekend in London at the end of January 2020. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYeOJArwKRgDjpYbwpYrxeGEj-nlUT_02lPg4rw9jJA8sTivuCuwpqmrEwtRND2oL6za6aDfkxwb3H1znxO-CmiYY19seX8aovwYfXnQkHmzYJ55CWCTDFzDumS81zFXVh5LopzgNsCL8/s1600/IMG_20200124_065824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYeOJArwKRgDjpYbwpYrxeGEj-nlUT_02lPg4rw9jJA8sTivuCuwpqmrEwtRND2oL6za6aDfkxwb3H1znxO-CmiYY19seX8aovwYfXnQkHmzYJ55CWCTDFzDumS81zFXVh5LopzgNsCL8/s640/IMG_20200124_065824.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
And , after <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>years from <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://flyhigh-by-learnonline.blogspot.com/2014/07/london-crucible-experience.html"><b>The
Crucible experience</b></a></span> back in 2014, watching Richard Armitage live on stage
and briskly meeting him at the stage door was<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>again a very exciting experience. His role in <i>Uncle Vanya</i>, Dr Astrov, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was, maybe, less powerful than his John Proctor,
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but it was more poetical and romantic,
philosophical and visionary.<br />
<br />
Our night at the <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://www.haroldpintertheatre.co.uk/uncle-vanya"><b>Harold Pinter Theatre</b></a></span>
was blessed by the presence of Ralph Fiennes in the audience, sitting just a
couple of rows in front of us, and by the extreme kindness of all the actors we
met at the stage door after the show: Richard Armitage as well as Toby Jones,
Ciaran Hinds and Peter Wight.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AsHRB-EpFvjl0m_-fEIik0UMqc5XYP45DOsDh2Nbn8C0jNj2tH2fgtwoGlGxB66uJh9-dRQCkADHbryWkrChtlOEFN1nZeKh2d_i3Q5HbxFISZpbR7WlTRmth1q7qLU5OYDdpNZxa-c/s1600/1590766920586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AsHRB-EpFvjl0m_-fEIik0UMqc5XYP45DOsDh2Nbn8C0jNj2tH2fgtwoGlGxB66uJh9-dRQCkADHbryWkrChtlOEFN1nZeKh2d_i3Q5HbxFISZpbR7WlTRmth1q7qLU5OYDdpNZxa-c/s640/1590766920586.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_1774921101"></span><span id="goog_1774921102"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Back to reality</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It was - and probably will also remain for a while - my
last very happy night. Scary news of Coronavirus were already spreading
and reaching us from China while we were there. I can't forget how worried I was waiting for my flight back at
Heathrow International Airport, it was awkward and worrying enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In those days, everything was planned for me to
go back to the UK with my students in March and, also, my friends and I had started
gathering ideas for our usual summer tour together. But all our plans (and much
more)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>were marred by Covid-19 and in the latest months I have
spent most of my life working in front of a screen inside my home. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Like RA from his own home studio inside his claustrofobic wardrobe, I’ve been very productive, completely involved in my complicated
task of carrying on teaching my 6 different class groups, 116 students, from home.
It has helped me be focused on something important and avoid being caught in nightmarish,negative thoughts, but it has left me rather exhausted. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUf7S6at1_yRhp-MLPpKIzTUVM2q80oHtymADqZHrupSC0yxercYxjTp0JBSXbUL02C4QIs-nomOyxi-jbHOYpAZL3IovSyBXrVBzcOHY_uoz43aahU4wHVX6PA97iwMN69D6M8X1V_o/s1600/IMG_20200528_171250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUf7S6at1_yRhp-MLPpKIzTUVM2q80oHtymADqZHrupSC0yxercYxjTp0JBSXbUL02C4QIs-nomOyxi-jbHOYpAZL3IovSyBXrVBzcOHY_uoz43aahU4wHVX6PA97iwMN69D6M8X1V_o/s640/IMG_20200528_171250.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Slowly we have started to go out
again here in Italy, respecting social distancing and with all the necessary
precautions. Schools are still closed, but the school leaving exams for my
oldest students will be held at the presence of a committee of teachers and I’m due to be back from
mid-June. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
How have you all been coping? Being in touch with my family, my friends and many lovely people from all over the world thanks to technology and the Net,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>finding a safe place in
books, movies and TV series, has truly helped me through these difficult
weeks. What about you?<br />
<br />
Take care and stay safe wherever you are. Huge virtual hugs. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: right;">
Maria Grazia</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<b>#RicharArmitageBloggerReunion </b><br />
<br /></div>
<br />Maria Graziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-86150415171644501152019-10-03T00:00:00.000+02:002019-10-03T00:00:04.651+02:00JUDITH STARKSTON, PRIESTESS OF ISHANA: THE QUEEN BEHIND THE CHARACTER<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PSlYighcjPMcYahbzRxsAISvzvx8QZL-N9-ge_kdPEOwW7VR5xYCcgg_8DXZmhmTiVPEvt_xGnhyImUvphj9nToOavfRz6GWXu1xrS__GN9x_AzcAgLFqhG6StApowdljj69qzS7cT4/s1600/priestess+cover+500x750px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5PSlYighcjPMcYahbzRxsAISvzvx8QZL-N9-ge_kdPEOwW7VR5xYCcgg_8DXZmhmTiVPEvt_xGnhyImUvphj9nToOavfRz6GWXu1xrS__GN9x_AzcAgLFqhG6StApowdljj69qzS7cT4/s640/priestess+cover+500x750px.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US">October 2-6</span></b><span lang="EN-US">
Priestess of Ishana, Book 1 of the Tesha Series is available </span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/2DXpdXt">FREE on Amazon</a> </b></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://amzn.to/319vuIj">Sorcery in Alpara</a></span></span><span lang="EN-US">, Book 2 of the Tesha Series launches October 14, 2019 </span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">and is
available now as preorder<a name='more'></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <b><u>The Queen Behind the Character</u></b></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I write historical fantasy based on the
Bronze Age Hittites (c. 1275 BCE)—an empire of the ancient Near East nearly buried
by the sands of time. In spite of the vivid glimpses of this lost kingdom
brought to light by recent archaeology and the decipherment and translation of
many thousands of clay tablets, there still remain vast gaps in historians’
knowledge. To be honest about my imaginative filling of those gaps, my
storytelling combines fantasy and history. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For instance, I give my historical figures
fictional names, though often only minimally different from their real names. I
also let the magical religious beliefs of these historical people find full
expression in the action. My “quarter turn to the fantastic,” to borrow Guy
Gavriel Kay’s phrase, allows me to honor what we actually know while also
owning up to my inventive extensions. Allowing room for the fantastical
elements suggested by Hittite culture makes for the best storytelling.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What really drew me to this forgotten
kingdom—one that stretched across what’s now Turkey into Syria and down into
Lebanon—was one remarkable ruler, Queen Puduhepa. She ruled for decades over
the most powerful empire of the Late Bronze Age, but because the Hittites were
lost to history for so long, very few people know about her. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She ruled with her husband Hattusili III as
an equal partner—often, in fact, as the more active ruler when her husband’s
health limited his work. Queens under Hittite law and custom had high political
power and remained rulers even when their husbands died, unlike other Near
Eastern queens such as Babylonian and Egyptian. Most of the Hittite queens mentioned
in the written Hittite records didn’t exercise this allowed power to such an
extent, but Puduhepa had the personality and drive of a highly effective
leader.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In my novels the character who represents
Puduhepa is named Tesha after the Hittite word for ‘dream’ because the historic
woman was famous for her visionary dreams, which she believed came from the
goddess Ishtar as divine guidance (a goddess renamed Ishana in my fiction). The
character of her husband, Hattusili, goes by the shortened name Hattu.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Puduhepa demonstrated brilliant skills as
queen in many areas: administrative, diplomatic, judicial, and familial. Her
most famous accomplishment was corralling Pharaoh Rameses II into a peace
treaty. Egypt and the Hittites had fought a draining war in 1274 BCE. Neither
kingdom was eager for a rematch, but Hattusili and Puduhepa had an even greater
need than Egypt for stability. Several of Puduhepa’s letters to Ramses survive.
They reveal a subtle diplomat with a tough but gracious core that allows her to
stand up to Ramses without giving offense. When the final treaty was put on
public display—in the form of a solid silver plaque, which sadly does not
survive, although clay versions do—Puduhepa’s own seal was on one side, her
husband’s on the other. They did sometimes use a joint seal. I think it’s
revealing that on this most impressive accomplishment that depended so much on
Puduhepa’s talents, they chose to use equal and independent seals. Thus,
Puduhepa’s role is not subsumed under her husband’s. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I could not resist using the life of this
exceptional queen as the basis for my main character, Tesha, in a historical
fantasy series. The first book of the series, <i>Priestess of Ishana</i>, opens
with the moment Tesha and Hattu meet—following the known details of this
historical event. There was the ever so tantalizing detail in Hittite records
that accusations of sorcery were brought against Hattusili around this same
time. A love story <i>and</i> sorcery? Irresistible! The second book in the
series, <i>Sorcery in Alpara</i>, carries on their story with a curse that consumes
armies, a court full of traitors, a clutch of angry concubines and some fantastical
creatures who appear regularly in Hittite art, but may not have actually walked
the earth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tesha and the real queen behind my
character offer an intriguing model of a female leader succeeding in ways that
made the world more peaceful and just. So, if you like your fiction to be a
mixture of worthwhile ideas, magical fun, and a unique, ancient world, give the
Tesha series a read. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i><b>Judith Starkston</b></i></span></span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><b>About the Books</b></u><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“What
George R.R. Martin’s <i>Game of Thrones</i> did for the War of the Roses,
Starkston has done for the forgotten Bronze Age Hittite civilization. Mystery,
romance, political intrigue, and magic…” -Amalia Carosella<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Priestess of Ishana</u></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><br /></u></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"> Free on <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://amzn.to/2DXpdXt">Amazon</a></span> October 2-6, 2019</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A curse, a conspiracy and the clash of
kingdoms. A defiant priestess confronts her foes, armed only with ingenuity and
forbidden magic. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An award-winning epic fantasy, <i>Priestess of
Ishana</i> draws on the true-life of a remarkable but little-known Hittite
queen who ruled over one of history’s most powerful empires.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A
malignant curse from the Underworld threatens Tesha’s city with fiery
devastation. The young priestess of Ishana, goddess of love and war, must
overcome this demonic darkness. Charred remains of an enemy of the Hitolian
Empire reveal both treason and evil magic. Into this crisis, King Hattu, the
younger brother of the Great King, arrives to make offerings to the goddess
Ishana, but he conceals his true mission in the city. As a connection sparks
between King Hattu and Tesha, the Grand Votary accuses Hattu of murderous
sorcery. Isolated in prison and facing execution, Hattu’s only hope lies in
Tesha to uncover the conspiracy against him. Unfortunately, the Grand Votary is
Tesha’s father, a rash, unyielding man, and now her worst enemy. To help Hattu,
she must risk destroying her own father. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If
you like a rich mixture of murder mystery, imperial scheming, sorcery, love
story, and lavish world-building, then immerse yourself in this historical
fantasy series. See why readers call the Tesha series “fast-paced,”
“psychologically riveting,” and “not to be missed.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbSQ8or9M2bRhqiH7ACt-SrCvC4EYeKXM4pjGZ_wnHCbUfCWlPqegT0xPhXyXjuGgs5oqZaNW7Q-1faIIjqs8Vpaguqr7fCxw5aT9Z5zgsK8Bw35d1Tgq4CMfD_gRWiFQMtyMPaH823k/s1600/Sorcery+cover+-+500x750px.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbSQ8or9M2bRhqiH7ACt-SrCvC4EYeKXM4pjGZ_wnHCbUfCWlPqegT0xPhXyXjuGgs5oqZaNW7Q-1faIIjqs8Vpaguqr7fCxw5aT9Z5zgsK8Bw35d1Tgq4CMfD_gRWiFQMtyMPaH823k/s640/Sorcery+cover+-+500x750px.png" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Launching October 14, 2019. Now <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://amzn.to/319vuIj">available in preorder</a> </span></span></span></b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sorcery in Alpara</span></span></b></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A curse that consumes armies, a court
full of traitors, a clutch of angry concubines and fantastical creatures who offer
help but hate mankind. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tesha’s about to become queen of a kingdom
under assault from all sides, but she has powerful allies: her strategist
husband, his crafty second-in-command, and her brilliant blind sister. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then betrayal strips her of them all. To
save her marriage and her world, she will have to grapple with the serpentine
plot against her and unleash the goddess Ishana’s uncontrollable magic—without
destroying herself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Based on historical events in the
Bronze Age, Starkston wraps history and magic together in an unforgettable
package.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you like unique world building, ancient
sorcery, and mythical beasts, with richly portrayed characters and
enthrallingly complex plots, then immerse yourself in <i>Sorcery in Alpara</i>,
the second in this award-winning epic historical fantasy series. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>About the Author</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUDh4neWeCKImH9eZb_pk2kaKB9pJddTvWMVAVCD0Rt4D731YPgKi_WOmK1Uh6-NCYlUxVnrwHOwCQH0p1Uv3zdApaSJKQ1enmTHT-GSgu-3AqEcNtoE8XbNnbbfoeExpnt5PHT43Vac/s1600/Author+Photo+under+90K.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="563" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUDh4neWeCKImH9eZb_pk2kaKB9pJddTvWMVAVCD0Rt4D731YPgKi_WOmK1Uh6-NCYlUxVnrwHOwCQH0p1Uv3zdApaSJKQ1enmTHT-GSgu-3AqEcNtoE8XbNnbbfoeExpnt5PHT43Vac/s320/Author+Photo+under+90K.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -36pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Judith
Starkston has spent too much time reading about </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -36pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and exploring the remains of
the ancient </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">worlds of the </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -36pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Greeks and Hittites. Early on she went so far as to
get </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -36pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">degrees in Classics from the </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">University of California, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -36pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Santa Cruz and
Cornell. She loves myths and telling stories. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -36pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This has </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">gotten more and more out
of hand. Her solution: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -36pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">to write historical fantasy set in the Bronze Age. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -36pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Hand
of Fire</i> was a semi-finalist for the M.M. Bennett’s </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -36pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Award for Historical
Fiction. <i>Priestess </i></span></span><i style="font-family: inherit;"> of Ishana</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> won the </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -36pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">San Diego State University
Conference Choice Award.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Judith has two grown children and lives in
Arizona with her husband. She is represented by Richard Curtis. Find out more
at Judith’s <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://www.judithstarkston.com/">website</a></span>
JudithStarkston.com <span style="color: black;">and find her on </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/judy.starkston">Facebook</a></span><span style="color: black;"> and </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://twitter.com/JudithStarkston">Twitter</a></span><span style="color: black;">. Sign up for Judith’s author </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://www.judithstarkston.com/sign-up-for-my-author-newsletter-for-books-news-special-offers-and-freebies/">newsletter</a></span><span style="color: black;"> for a free short story, book news and giveaways.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Maria Graziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-5421321731682389462019-10-02T00:30:00.000+02:002019-10-02T00:30:00.240+02:00THE CHRISTMAS EVE SECRET - BLOG TOUR & GIVEAWAY <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.virtualauthorbooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Christmas-Eve-Secret.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Eve Secret by Elsye Douglas" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-7668" height="400" src="https://www.virtualauthorbooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Christmas-Eve-Secret-203x300.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Christmas Eve Secret</b>: Time Travel Novel by Elyse Douglas </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Publisher</b>: Broadback (September 16, 2019) </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Category</b>: Time Travel, Historical Fiction, Romance, Christmas </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Tour Dates</b>: October-November, 2019 </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>ISBN</b>: TBD
Available in Print and ebook, 440 pages
</div>
<h2>
Description Christmas Eve Secret: Time Travel Novel by Elyse Douglas</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A mysterious man from the past steals the time travel lantern.
When Eve and Patrick find it, they destroy it.
Eve’s life is shattered.
She must return to the past, where secrets await.
In the third novel of THE CHRISTMAS EVE series, Eve and Patrick Gantly are living a normal life in 2019 New York, preparing to celebrate the Christmas season. Patrick is taking courses in forensic psychology and Eve continues to work as a nurse practitioner. To their delight, she is three months pregnant.
Despite their happiness, Eve is having premonitions that something dreadful is about to occur. Concerned about the future and the safety of their child, she insists that they destroy the time travel lantern. Patrick is more cautious.
One afternoon when Patrick is out, a sinister man breaks into the apartment and forces Eve to give him the lantern. In many ways, Eve is relieved the lantern is gone. She hopes they can now live a more normal life.
A day later, Patrick shadows a woman who has been staking out the Gantly’s brownstone apartment, and he confronts her. To his and Eve’s utter shock, they learn that Lucy Rose is from 1924 and that she time-traveled with the man who took the lantern. He returned to 1924, but she chose to stay behind. She offers to sell the lantern back to Eve and Patrick, and they reluctantly agree, hoping to keep it out of unscrupulous hands.
Convinced that the lantern is a threat to their future happiness, Eve and Patrick decide to destroy it.
But the lantern has more power than they could have ever imagined. Once the lantern is destroyed, Eve’s life is completely changed. She must set off on an adventure, in a struggle that will return her to the past, where she will learn the secret of the lantern’s origin and delve into the farthest reaches of her heart.</div>
<a name='more'></a><div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><u>Guest Review by Betty B.</u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is the third installment in the ‘Christmas
Eve’ series from Elyse Douglas.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I've
been waiting for this one! I absolutely adored the first two books in the
series and I'm so glad for another one to dig into.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In book three, we once again return to the
lives of Eve and Patrick Gantly, the dynamic married couple who possess a
magical lantern that allows them to travel through time. Now that Eve and
Patrick are happily married and expecting a baby, Eve decides that she wants to
destroy the lantern, feeling that it brings too much chaos into their lives.
But, as the couple are still deciding what to do with it, a man who seems to be
from a different time breaks into their house one day and demands that Eve give
him the lantern.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Soon afterward, Patrick corners a
mysterious and frightened woman who seems to be stalking the couple. When the
woman confesses that she is a time traveler too, it sets up another thrilling
adventure for the couple to embark on. When Eve and Patrick decide once and for
all that they want to destroy the lantern, they must first find it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love the writing in this series and the
witty dialog that Douglas uses to create this world. There are so many great scenes
between the main characters and so many little details that are added to the
world building. Eve and Patrick's relationship has evolved so beautifully over
the course of the series; it's a real treat to read their interactions in this
one. They really behave like an actual married couple, with just enough passion
and romance to keep the story spicy!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you enjoy this book, I highly recommend
reading more of Douglas' writing, it's all fantastic and worth taking the time
to find! ‘The Christmas Eve Secret is
another 5 star read from the writing team of Elyse Douglas!</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><u>Read an excerpt</u></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></span></div>
<div class="JUSTSINGLE">
<span lang="EN-US">Eve and Joni stood close, near the
fireplace, feeling its heat. The
medium-built man with bony features, tight build and hard, menacing eyes kept
the gun pointed at them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JUSTSINGLE">
<span lang="EN-US">Joni’s hands trembled. Eve’s heart pounded, and she instinctively
touched her stomach as if to protect her baby.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JUSTSINGLE">
<span lang="EN-US">“What do you want?” was all Eve could say.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JUSTSINGLE">
<span lang="EN-US">“Where is it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JUSTSINGLE">
<span lang="EN-US">“Where is what? Money?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JUSTSINGLE">
<span lang="EN-US">“I don’t give a damn about your money,”
the man said, his voice low and breathy.
“Where’s the lantern?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JUSTSINGLE">
<span lang="EN-US">Eve was so startled that, for a few
seconds, she thought maybe this was some kind of joke. Maybe Patrick had sent the man. Maybe Joni.
They were the only two people on the Earth who knew the lantern existed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JUSTSINGLE">
<span lang="EN-US">“What lantern?” Eve forced out, searching
the man’s face and eyes for signs of a grin.
There was no grin. His dark eyes
hardened, and they were pointed at her, just like the barrel of the gun was
pointed at her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JUSTSINGLE">
<span lang="EN-US">“Okay, hotsy-totsy, stop with the doe-dumb
eyes. I’m no sap. I know you’ve got it, so go get it. There are real bullets in this gun, and I’ll
use them on the both of you if I have to.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JUSTSINGLE">
<span lang="EN-US">Eve and Joni exchanged frightened
glances. His voice was strange. His inflection odd, his use of slang
cartoonish. But the man before them was
no cartoon. His evil intent was evident
and palpable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JUSTSINGLE">
<span lang="EN-US">Georgy Boy, sensing something was wrong,
left the comfort of the fireplace and retreated to the bedroom, where he
wriggled under the bed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JUSTSINGLE">
<span lang="EN-US">When the truth struck, Eve felt the cold
fill her up, a cold that the heated fire couldn’t touch. Her legs went rubbery, and she fought to stay
on her feet and not faint. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JUSTSINGLE">
<span lang="EN-US">This guy was from the past: his look, his gestures, his slang. There was no doubt about it. But what past? What year?
What date, and how did he know about the lantern?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JUSTSINGLE">
<span lang="EN-US">“Who are you?” Eve said, her voice a
little whisper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JUSTSINGLE">
<span lang="EN-US">“It don’t matter who I am, doll. You just go get the lantern,” he snapped,
waving the gun around. “I don’t plan to
stay here all day until your big boy husband shows up. Get the lantern. Now!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JUSTSINGLE">
<span lang="EN-US">Eve’s breath sped up. Her only thoughts were of her baby. Protect her baby. Give this man anything he wants but protect
her baby. Eve took a couple of steps
forward, gathering strength. Joni
stared, her eyes two terrified circles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JUSTSINGLE">
<span lang="EN-US">Eve moved past the man, down the short,
carpeted hallway toward the bedroom.
Patrick had texted that he’d be home about 5 p.m. What time was it? She’d taken off her watch. Her phone was on the coffee table in the
living room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JUSTSINGLE">
<span lang="EN-US">The man followed her close, the barrel of
the gun pointed only four feet from her back.
Inside the bedroom, Eve glanced at the digital clock near the
queen-sized bed. It was 4:23 p.m. Maybe Patrick would be early. On the other hand, Eve didn’t want him coming
through the front door. The man looked
determined to get what he wanted, and he might shoot Patrick. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JUSTSINGLE">
<span lang="EN-US">Eve paused at the bedroom closet, her mind
suddenly running through speculation. If
this man knew about the lantern, then it was reasonable to assume that he knew
how it worked and what it was capable of.
She breathed out a jet of air.
Her worst nightmare had come true.
For days she’d had the premonition that something concerning the lantern
was about to happen. Why hadn’t she just
tossed the thing into the river when she had the chance?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JUSTSINGLE">
<span lang="EN-US">“Hurry up,” the man demanded. “I don’t have all day.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JUSTSINGLE">
<span lang="EN-US">Eve glanced back at him. His expression was ugly. His tight mouth twitched. His eyes held resolve.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JUSTSINGLE">
<span lang="EN-US">“It may not work for you,” Eve said, in a
small voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JUSTSINGLE">
<span lang="EN-US">“Don’t you worry your head about that,
doll face. Get it! And don’t try anything. I’m sure you have a gun hidden back there
someplace, just in case something like this happened. But don’t even think about it. You’ll be dead before you can reach for it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JUSTSINGLE">
<span lang="EN-US">Actually, there was no gun hidden
away. She and Patrick never thought
they’d need to protect the lantern, other than to put it in a safe. Except for Joni, no one knew about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JUSTSINGLE">
<span lang="EN-US">Inside the closet, Eve crouched down. To her left stood the three and a half foot safe. Patrick had found it online. It was constructed of steel, was
pry-resistant and seamlessly welded with a military, scratch-resistant finish. The inside was carpeted and integrated with
an LED light. It was accessed by a
six-digit PIN that was easy to remember because it was her mother’s birthday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JUSTSINGLE">
<span lang="EN-US">“Hurry up in there,” the man growled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="JUSTSINGLE">
<span lang="EN-US">Eve nervously punched in the PIN, tugged
on the handle and opened the safe door.
In the glow of the LED light, the old lantern looked eerie and
ominous. Her temples pounded as she
reached for it, feeling sad, confused and angry. Of all the people to get the lantern, this
man was surely not worthy. Who knew what
he’d do with it, or what he’d already done? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
Praise Christmas Eve Letter: Time Travel Novel by Elyse Douglas</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>“If you are a fan of authors such as Nicholas Sparks and Marybeth Whalen, or H.G. Wells or Jack Finney, you need to add this book to your shelves.
This is a romantic suspense novel with many dangerous and tense moments. As always, when one travels in time, the concern of consequences and potential changes to history and the future weigh heavily on both the traveler’s and readers’ minds. Those worries added to the atmosphere but were also handled skillfully. I smiled at a certain twist of color. It is a perfect bookclub read.”</i>- <strong>Laura’s Interests</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>
“The Christmas Eve Letter is a beautiful, poignant story. It is well written and will have you turning the pages eagerly.
All of the characters are well thought out, and believably written, together with the well-constructed scenery, that has you feeling as if you yourself have just stepped into the past.
The story is unique and moving. It will hold you long after you turn the last page. A perfect Christmas tale of love and hope.”</i>- <strong>Whispering Stories</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>
“The Christmas Eve Letter is a wonderful time travel book and one of my favorite books of the year.”</i><strong>- The Book Return Blog</strong>
</div>
<h2>
Praise Christmas Eve Daughter: Time Travel Novel by Elyse Douglas</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“This book is the perfect vehicle for a movie, and I can only hope that there will be more in the series. This novel is truly as close to perfection as the reader could imagine! 5 Stars!”<strong>- My Devotional Thoughts Blog and Reviews</strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“I enjoyed the new characters, an update on characters from the first book, and the possibility for more books. If you enjoy time travel-themed novels you will love these books!”<strong>- </strong><strong>StoreyBook Reviews</strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“I am most impressed that this book did so well as a stand-alone novel. Kudos to the author! If you are looking for a good Christmas book with time travel, give this a go!”<strong>- </strong><strong>Carole's Bookshelves</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><br /></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><br /></strong></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.virtualauthorbooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Elyse-Douglas.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Eve Secret: Time Travel Novel by Elyse Douglas" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-5086" height="169" src="https://www.virtualauthorbooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Elyse-Douglas-300x169.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<h2>
About Elyse Douglas</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Elyse Douglas is the pen name for the married writing team Elyse Parmentier and Douglas Pennington. Elyse grew up near the sea, roaming the beaches, reading and writing stories and poetry, receiving a master’s degree in English Literature. She has enjoyed careers as an English teacher, an actress and a speech-language pathologist.
Douglas has worked as a graphic designer, a corporate manager and an equities trader. He attended the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and played the piano professionally for many years. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Website: <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.elysedouglas.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">www.elysedouglas.com</a></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Twitter: <span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://twitter.com/douglaselyse" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/douglaselyse</a></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Facebook: <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/elyse.authorsdouglas" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/elyse.authorsdouglas</a></span>
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
Pre-Order Christmas Eve Secret: Time Travel Novel by Elyse Douglas</h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://amzn.to/31LHM9I" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span>
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
Giveaway Christmas Eve Secret: Time Travel Novel by Elyse Douglas</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This giveaway is for the winner’s choice of one print or ebook copy of the book. Print is open to the U.S. only and ebook is available worldwide. There will be 3 winners. This giveaway ends November 29, 2019, midnight pacific time.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="e23ee71d1292" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e23ee71d1292/" id="rcwidget_2rh7fgf7" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.virtualauthorbooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Christmas-Eve-Secret-1.jpg"><img alt="Christmas Eve Secret: Time Travel Novel by Elyse Douglas" class="alignleft wp-image-7689 size-full" height="300" src="https://www.virtualauthorbooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Christmas-Eve-Secret-1.jpg" width="600" /></a></h2>
Maria Graziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-2128231606218653352019-09-19T08:30:00.000+02:002019-09-19T22:21:10.851+02:00BLOG TOUR - THINGS TOO BIG TO NAME BY MOLLY BEST TINSLEY. REVIEW & GIVEAWAY<a href="https://www.virtualauthorbooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Things-Too-Big-To-Name.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Things Too Big To Name by Molly Best Tinsley" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-7594" height="386" src="https://www.virtualauthorbooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Things-Too-Big-To-Name.jpg" width="250" /></a><br />
<h2>
Description Things Too Big To Name by Molly Best Tinsley</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Margaret Torrens trades academia for early retirement and the solitude of a cabin in the Oregon mountains. Four months later, she is locked in a ward for the criminally insane undergoing assessment, and a charge of murder is in the air. Pried out of her by an impatient young psychologist, Margaret's story features Jane Farrow--a former student, who showed up at the cabin uninvited with an odd, mute child in tow--and Victor--Margaret's alleged victim, who put his claim on both. As Margaret works to control this narrative of the recent past, she is waylaid by secrets, borne by the ghost of her young husband, lost decades before.
</div>
<h2>
Advance Praise Things Too Big To Name by Molly Best Tinsley</h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The psychological drama of <em>Things Too Big to Name</em> plunges us into the mind of Professor Margaret Torrens as her plans for rural retirement unravel and she's forced to confront the life choices she’s made since the death of her musician husband years before. One of her first students, Jane Farrow, appears at her mountain cabin with a strange child and asks to be taken in. Days later, disruption threatens to explode in violence when Victor Primo barges in looking for them. Molly Tinsley's distinctive braided narrative offers intense story-telling, studded with surprises, that keeps us on edge until the end.”- <strong>Merrill Leffler</strong>, poet, <em>Mark the Music</em> and publisher, Dryad Press </div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“A prickly but appealing narrator unspools events from her recent—and distant—past. The plot’s gradual unfolding vibrates with the tension of unwilling confrontation and detonates with a satisfying jolt. A fun and absorbing read; I zoomed through it. - <strong>Allyson Booth</strong>, <em>Postcards from the Trenches</em> and <em>Reading </em>The Waste Land<em> from the Bottom Up</em> </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“A recently retired English professor must explain to a Qualified Mental Health Professional the events leading to her arrest and commitment to a mental hospital. The more this brilliant psychological thriller excavates the layers of Margaret's mystery, the more we understand how we all hide parts of ourselves. Molly Tinsley's established talent for narrative and her familiarity with classic literature fold into one of the best novels I've read.”- <strong>Sheila Bender</strong>, poet and memoirist, <em>A New Theology: Turning to Poetry in a Time of Grief</em><em>.</em>
<br />
<em><br /></em>
<em><br /></em>
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: start;">
Read an excerpt</h2>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">Day 1.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="basic-alt">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">For the record, I am not a violent person, I announced </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">to the
empty corridor. All night going over my speech, and I started spilling it
before I got in the room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal-alt">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Behind
me, the tight-lipped, tight-permed guard gave one last push, and I was through
the doorway, staring at a blank wall. Some trouble catching my breath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal-alt">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Forced
eyes right: pelt of black, garbled hair and fleshy male, young enough to be my
son, if I had one. He sat behind a table looking uneasy, but maybe I was
projecting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal-alt">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
flexed a smile. I do not make a practice of intentionally inflicting harm on
other living beings, I said. (Voice squeaked.) I’m not counting the occasional
pest from the lower orders—insects, arachnids, slugs. They have their world. I
think I have the right to remove them from mine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal-alt">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">His
dense eyebrows jumped a little, but no return smile. He pointed me to a seat
opposite.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal-alt">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
slid into it, delivered my finale: I would like to convey my gratitude to your
employers for my private room. However, you might want to reassure whoever <br />
orders that person to disturb me every half hour: if I were going to commit
self-harm, I would have done so a long time ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal-alt">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
sat there, head bobbing on a wad of neck. Heavier than he should be, candidate
for Type II diabetes any minute. I’ve got him to thank for this pen and paper,
but if I had, he might have guessed I’ve got my own plans for their use.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal-alt">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Well,
he said finally with a startling wink, here we are. He put on the wire-rims
hanging on a strap around his neck, and his uneasy dark eyes turned beady,
remote, as he followed his puffy fingers down my file, fingernails chewed back
halfway to the cuticles. Both chins needed a shave—heavy stubble’s called a
half-beard these days, I think, i.e. intentional. Time will tell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal-alt">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Margaret
Torrens, I said to be helpful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal-alt">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
looked up—another wink. I see you’re a retired English teacher.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal-alt">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Professor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal-alt">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Nodding:
No need to call me doctor. Just Alec is fine. The corners of his mouth tucked
in a dimpled smirk: Is it true double negatives are a no-no? He sat back as if
to show off the strip of wrinkled shirt that bulged below the ribbing of his
V-neck sweater and above his belt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal-alt">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Stepping
over his joke: It’s kind of you to try to get me to relax, but that’s very
difficult under the circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal-alt">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">(Yesterday,
outside the courthouse, Lawyer Amanda, coatless and high heels clicking,
intercepted my path to a plain white vehicle. Warned, <u>Be careful.</u> Seems
this guy, who talks just as fast as she does, is the district attorney’s choice,
not hers. Amanda’s a fan of temporary insanity, but says the DA doesn’t believe
in it. I’m supposed to trust her.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal-alt">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Alec
leaned in: Actually as your Qualified Mental Health Professional, my job is to
help you find a way back to your Life Path. We both know you don’t belong in a
place like this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Normal-alt">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">My
voice pretty firm here: Speak for yourself.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal-alt">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="text-align: start;">
Guest Review by Nora S.</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Absolutely fascinating, enthralling and
intense-- This book will make you question everything you know about mental
illness. Margaret Torrens is an intelligent, witty, normal woman who, one day,
out of nowhere, begins going crazy. Or, does she? Even Margaret herself isn't
sure. She thinks that she's seeing the ghost of her dead husband. She's also in
an institution with no real memory of what she did to end up there. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As the story unravels, Margaret's memories
of her life and her experiences with her own sanity begin to be revealed in
stunning and surprising ways. She carefully picks apart her own psyche
throughout the narrative showing sides of herself and revealing past trauma
that, as the title suggests is “Too Big To Name.” Sometimes, things just are. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I adore Molly Best Tinsley's style of
storytelling. It reminds me a bit of Gillian Flynn or Chuck Palahniuk, two
authors who have a very stripped down, no-nonsense prose that is acerbically
sarcastic and doesn't mince words. Tinsley's writing brought me in to the
narrative immediately and didn't let go. I can't believe how quickly I read
this book and I wish that I'd slowed down a little so that I could enjoy it for
longer. By the end of the novel I felt like I'd just gotten done watching an
excellent movie. I want more of this main character and more of Tinsley's
writing all around. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I wish that I could give this more than 5
stars, but unfortunately that is all Goodreads will go up to. This is a book
for the intrepid and insatiable reader. The kind who won't be satisfied with
something light and airy. The kind who wants a full 8-course meal and not just
an appetizer. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<h2>
About Molly Best Tinsley</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<a href="https://www.virtualauthorbooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Molly-Best-Tinsley.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Things Too Big To Name by Molly Best Tinsley" class="size-medium wp-image-7595 alignright" height="203" src="https://www.virtualauthorbooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Molly-Best-Tinsley-300x203.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In an episode of sanity, award winning author, Molly Tinsley resigned from the English faculty at the US Naval Academy and moved west to write full-time. .
She is the author of MY LIFE WITH DARWIN (Houghton Mifflin) and THROWING KNIVES (Ohio State University Press), she also co-authored SATAN'S CHAMBER (Fuze Publishing) and the textbook, THE CREATIVE PROCESS (St. Martin's). Her more recent books are the memoir ENTERING THE BLUE STONE and another Victoria Pierce spy thriller, sequel to SATAN'S CHAMBER: BROKEN ANGELS.
Her fiction has earned two fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Sandstone Prize, and the Oregon Book Award. Her fiction has been widely published and her plays have been read and produced nationwide. She lives in Ashland, Oregon.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Website: <span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://fuzepublishing.com/authors/fiction/molly-best-tinsley/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">https://fuzepublishing.com/authors/fiction/molly-best-tinsley/</a></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Facebook: <span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/molly.b.tinsley" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/molly.b.tinsley</a></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Twitter: <span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://twitter.com/mbtinsley" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/mbtinsley</a></span></div>
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Buy Things Too Big To Name by Molly Best Tinsley</h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Things-Name-Molly-Best-Tinsley/dp/1733034404/ref" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span>
<span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/things-too-big-to-name-molly-best-tinsley/1132154389?ean=9781733034401" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">BarnesandNoble</a></span>
<span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781733034401" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: blue;" target="_blank">IndieBound</a></span>
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Giveaway Things Too Big To Name by Molly Best Tinsley</h2>
This giveaway is for the winner’s choice of one print or ebook copy of the book. Print is open to the U.S. only and ebook is available worldwide. There will be 3 winners. This giveaway ends November 1, 2019, midnight pacific time.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="e23ee71d1289" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e23ee71d1289/" id="rcwidget_b531w1or" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
</div>
<h2>
Follow Things Too Big To Name by Molly Best Tinsley Tour</h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.virtualauthorbooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Things-Too-Big-To-Name-1.jpg"><img alt="Things Too Big To Name by Molly Best Tinsley" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-7685" height="300" src="https://www.virtualauthorbooktours.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Things-Too-Big-To-Name-1.jpg" width="600" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="OLE_LINK2"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="OLE_LINK1"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"></span></a><a href="http://theteddyrosebookreviewsplusmore.com/"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-CA">Teddy Rose
Book Reviews Plus</span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK2;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-CA">Sept 18 Guest Review <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">Maria <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://flyhigh-by-learnonline.blogspot.com/">FLY HIGH!</a></span></span><span lang="EN-CA"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">Sept 19 Guest<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Review
& Excerpt</span><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="https://elizabethmckenna.com/my-blog/">Elizabeth McKenna - Author</a></span></span><span lang="EN-CA"> Sept 20 Excerpt<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Catherine<span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://cuzinlogic.com/"> <span style="line-height: 115%;">Cuzinlogic</span></a></span> Sept 23 Guest
Review & Excerpt<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Candace <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Things-Name-Molly-Best-Tinsley/dp/1733034404/ref">Amazon</a></span>
Sept 24 Review<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA">Susan </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://dabofdarkness.com/">Dab of Darkness Book Reviews</a></span></span><span lang="EN-CA"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">Sept 24 Guest Post</span><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kim <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Things-Name-Molly-Best-Tinsley/dp/1733034404/ref">Amazon</a></span>
Sept 25 Review<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jody <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Things-Name-Molly-Best-Tinsley/dp/1733034404/ref">Amazon</a></span>
Sept 26 Review<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://www.caroleraesrandomramblings.com/">Carole Rae's Random Ramblings</a></span></span><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span> Sept 27 Review<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Becky <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://whatutalkingboutwillis.com/">What U Talking Bout Willis</a></span>
Sept 30 Review<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">Beaten Coffee Barista <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Things-Name-Molly-Best-Tinsley/dp/1733034404/ref">Amazon</a></span></span><span lang="EN-CA"> Oct 1 Review<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">Dawn <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://bound4escape.com/" target="_blank">Bound 4 Escape</a></span></span><span lang="EN-CA"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">Oct 2 Guest Review</span><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">Wendy <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://wall-to-wall-books.blogspot.com/">Wall-to-wall books</a></span></span><span lang="EN-CA"> Oct 3<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Review<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">Laura <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://fuonlyknew.com/">FUONLYKNEW</a></span></span><span lang="EN-CA"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">Oct
9 Review<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">Steve <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://www.silverscreenvideos.com/">Silver Screen Videos</a></span></span><span lang="EN-CA"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">Oct 14 Review & Interview<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">Kathleen <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://celticladysreviews.blogspot.com/">Celticlady's Reviews</a></span></span><span lang="EN-CA"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">Oct 15 Guest Review & Excerpt <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">Dan <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Things-Name-Molly-Best-Tinsley/dp/1733034404/ref">Amazon</a></span></span><span lang="EN-CA"> Oct 17 Review</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">DTChantel <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Things-Name-Molly-Best-Tinsley/dp/1733034404/ref">Amazon</a></span></span><span lang="EN-CA"> </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">Oct 21 Review<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">Jas <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://internationalbookpromotion.com/">International Book Reviews</a></span></span><span lang="EN-CA"> Oct 24 Review<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="background: white; color: #373737; line-height: 115%;">Writergideon
</span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46320795-things-too-big-to-name">Goodreads</a></span></span><span lang="EN-CA"> Oct 25 Review</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;">Todd <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Things-Name-Molly-Best-Tinsley/dp/1733034404/ref">Amazon</a></span></span><span lang="EN-CA"> Oct 28 Review</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dee <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://donadees.com/">Donadee's Corner</a></span> Oct 29 Review</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Maria Graziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-19566051338363442532019-08-02T08:30:00.000+02:002019-08-02T08:30:00.384+02:00BOOKS & MORE BOOKS: THE RED PEARL BY CHLOE HELTON <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqEvYH2U3pbMEUvv3cSA-Q7ZXXeCYmUqkUM8f3frrNgYBZw0KPcsGVRuFiHukHhaJBZ1y19sxh03P5zC5BWLiM1ZM2jFrcOQdpjckfPgWnn7dEIMP43UwX_UL-qB3MR7I9G0jmT_3WFo/s1600/Red+Pearl+Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="797" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqEvYH2U3pbMEUvv3cSA-Q7ZXXeCYmUqkUM8f3frrNgYBZw0KPcsGVRuFiHukHhaJBZ1y19sxh03P5zC5BWLiM1ZM2jFrcOQdpjckfPgWnn7dEIMP43UwX_UL-qB3MR7I9G0jmT_3WFo/s640/Red+Pearl+Banner.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He</span></span></span><span style="color: #222222; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">llo, dear readers!</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">If you’re hoping to finish off your summer
with a crackling, suspenseful read, take a peek at an excerpt of </span><i style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">The Red Pearl</i><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">. You’ll find a marriage on
the rocks, a little bit of lost love, the trials of wartime, and the main event
-- espionage.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN">During the American Revolution, a meek
little innkeeper’s wife becomes privy to some explosive secrets. Read more
below! And if you want the rest of the book, you can visit my <u><span style="color: #1155cc;"><a href="http://chloeheltonbooks.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">website</span></a></span></u> or find it on <u><span style="color: #1155cc;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Red-Pearl-Novel-American-Revolution-ebook/dp/B07P76J9BZ/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=the+red+pearl&qid=1564671815&s=gateway&sr=8-5"><span style="color: #1155cc;">Amazon</span></a></span></u>.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<b style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<b style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chloe Helton</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<h3>
<b style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><a name='more'></a>Read an excerpt</u></span></span></b></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Boston, 1778</span></span></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For a moment, when I
woke up, I was back at home. My mother had started to boil water for the
porridge, and the faint smell of cinnamon shimmered near my nose. My father’s
heavy boots sounded on the steps, and he hummed as he went down. My father was
always humming, just as my mother was always praying. Between the two of them,
his song and her prayer, there was never silence in the house.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 14pt 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But I wasn’t at my
father’s home anymore, and it was silent now. I hadn’t lived with my parents in
almost six years. When I married Jasper, I’d vowed never to speak to my father
again, and although I had eventually broken that promise, I still kept my
distance. When Ma got sick in ‘77, the bitterest winter I’d ever lived through,
I stayed there awhile to help her. Not much since then.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">No, I was not at
home. Jasper’s arms were around me, his body the only warmth in our bed now
that we were nearing winter, his face nuzzled in my hair. In the beginning, I
told myself it was only for warmth that I let him wrap around me like a
parasite, but now we did it every night, even during the summer. I’d begun to
accept it, just like I now tolerated the rough taste of stone fence, a drink of
hard cider and rum, now that I was a tavern-keeper’s wife.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 14.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When I started to
move, Jasper mumbled something. He wasn’t much of an early riser, but the sun
was splashing through the windows now and we couldn’t let the guests wake
before us. It had become my responsibility to make sure of that. “Up,” I urged,
nudging his shoulder. “Imagine if Robby gets in the kitchen before we do.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now he blinked.
Robby, our hired boy, was an honest worker, but he was useless without direct
and clear orders. If he tried fiddling with the pots and pans without my
direction, they’d all be broken before we even made it downstairs. “Didn’t we
just fall asleep?” he groaned.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Oh, enough. You’re terrible
in the morning.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">“Come back down,” he
said, wrapping an arm around my waist to pull me. “Lay next to me just a minute
longer.”</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I couldn’t have
resisted, really, even if I wanted to. He was too strong. I brushed a hand
through his clipped black hair. There had been days when I yearned for another
kind of man, shaggy blonde hair and sharp blue eyes, but although he crossed my
mind every day, almost, he was now little more than a ghost swirling in the
morning fog. I was here with Jasper, who was dark and quiet and excruciatingly
clean-shaven. There was drink to brew and mouths to feed here and I wasn’t a
girl anymore.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Jasper,” I said. I
hadn’t been planning to mention this, but he was the one who pulled me back
down to bed. “Are you planning to let those Tory meetings go on long?”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“What d’you mean?”
he mumbled, his eyes barely open. “If they pay for it, they can have their
meetings. And you shouldn’t call them that.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It had been a long
while since the word “Tory” was something to gape at. A group of half-a-dozen
men had been holding clandestine late-night meetings in our pub for the past
few weeks, and you couldn’t tell by looking at them but the various chatter
that caught my ears as I poured their drinks made things clear. Nobody who
supported the revolution called the Continental army “rebels” and “hooligans”.
It was unclear what they met about, but their leanings were no mystery, at
least not to me.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">“They might scare the others away, is all I mean. You know how our city is; think what would
become of us if our neighbors discovered loyalists under our roof.” In Boston, of all places, it was no good to play both sides.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">He rubbed his eyes,
apparently realizing that he actually had to participate in this conversation.
“We don’t know that for certain. All that matters is that they’re fine
customers. Pay on time, leave coins on the bar for us when they leave, and they
don’t shout and fight like the patriots do. It wouldn’t be so bad if we scared
off a few radicals, now would it?”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 14pt 0cm 18pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He’d never listen.
Jasper Finch refused to take a side in the war, and yet it was impossible not
to. We had married while the harbor was closed after the Tea Party, and I’d
watched him buy smuggled rum and sugar, because if the Crown had its way we
would all have dry throats and empty bellies: fair retribution, in their eyes,
for our act of rebellion. So the rum had to be snuck in bales of hay, among
other methods, and Jasper struggled for months with the books in order to keep
bringing those goods in. And yet, he claimed to be neutral, as if such a thing
were possible in Boston, where the spark of revolution had first been lit, and
where it still echoed through the streets even after every last redcoat had
scampered away in terror behind General Howe.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 14.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To house Tories in
our inn, even if he was doing naught more than accept their business, wouldn’t
do him well. There was no city that hated the British more than ours. “I
suppose not,” I lied. “I know it’s best to be neutral.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Neutral,” he
repeated, satisfied. “That will get us through this.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I remembered my
father saying much the same. </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Jasper knows
not to pick sides</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">, he’d told me, </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">unlike
that boy of yours</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">. And that was why I was in this soft bed in a tavern
called The Red Pearl rather than with Sam on the battlefield, wiping sweat from
my forehead as I threw pitchers of water on the cannons. My father had not
wanted that life for me, so I was here.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 18.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 14.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Well, I suppose it
is time,” Jasper said finally, grunting as he pulled himself out of bed.
“Sometimes I wish I could sleep all day.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Funny, because in
this place, where the dusty wooden walls closed us off from the war that raged
outside, it seemed we were asleep all day. “Someday, when we’re very old and we
have a son and a sweet daughter-in-law to take care of us, we’ll do just that.
Sleep from dawn till dusk.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“With you, I would,”
he smiled.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My heart skittered,
and he pecked me on the cheek. “I hope Robby hasn’t tried to make porridge
already.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“God’s bones,”
Jasper cursed. “It would taste like pig slosh.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">With that, we hurried downstairs.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><i><span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hungry for the next chapter? Click <u><span style="color: #1155cc;"><a href="http://chloeheltonbooks.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">here</span></a></span></u>
to get a new chapter in your inbox every week, or find it on <u><span style="color: #1155cc;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Red-Pearl-Novel-American-Revolution-ebook/dp/B07P76J9BZ/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=the+red+pearl&qid=1564671815&s=gateway&sr=8-5"><span style="color: #1155cc;">Amazon</span></a></span></u>!</span></span></i></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>About the book</u></b></span></span></h3>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitnROWJIv6hyFtNeF_M0n_ZZeMB2NBfZYOe4UZO_ovexUpAqBUTbr8EZYDmICxeXXCmUq3KWAxPswKvl-aazucarWUQ6sbuQii5346gUN2go4bMfcrv0byUL-78kTY4nWfYdo9UCpn4qA/s1600/Red+Pearl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1066" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitnROWJIv6hyFtNeF_M0n_ZZeMB2NBfZYOe4UZO_ovexUpAqBUTbr8EZYDmICxeXXCmUq3KWAxPswKvl-aazucarWUQ6sbuQii5346gUN2go4bMfcrv0byUL-78kTY4nWfYdo9UCpn4qA/s400/Red+Pearl.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: start; white-space: normal;">"The Red Pearl is a delight. Meticulously researched, it transports the reader to the inns and backstreets of Boston in 1778. Lucy Finch’s personal tragedy spurs her on to take an active role in the revolutionary war, despite the immense danger it brings to herself, her family and friends. Ms. Helton’s characters are warm, living beings with gifts and flaws. Their relationships are altered — broken or strengthened — by the battles on distant fields and the evil of individuals closer to home." </span></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: start; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: start; white-space: normal;">Carrie Bedford, Author of Nobilissima</span><br style="text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><br style="text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><span style="text-align: start; white-space: normal;">There’s something peculiar about the small group of men who have begun to frequent The Red Pearl, the tavern that has hosted a variety of Boston’s men since before the Revolutionary War began. In a rebellious city that does not tolerate Loyalists, men could come here and speak freely without fear of the repercussions -- and Jasper Finch, the tavern-keeper, has always been proud of that.</span><br style="text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><br style="text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><span style="text-align: start; white-space: normal;">But now the war is in full force, and Lucy Finch -- the tavern-keeper’s wife -- is growing nervous about The Red Pearl’s most loyal customers. Their clandestine meetings and hushed whispers suggest dark secrets -- secrets which may threaten the safety of Boston, and the future of the war itself.</span><br style="text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><br style="text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><span style="text-align: start; white-space: normal;">Lucy struggles to stay loyal to her husband’s wishes while grappling with the surprising truths of America’s war for independence. When a terrible assault makes her ache for revenge, she must make a choice: Will she keep quiet about the explosive secrets she has learned, or will she expose them and risk her marriage and possibly her life?</span><br style="text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><br style="text-align: start; white-space: normal;" /><span style="text-align: start; white-space: normal;">Set in the wild and unpredictable world of the Revolutionary War, fans of historical fiction will fall in love with Lucy Finch, who faces impossible choices that may change the fate of a nation.</span></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span></div>
Maria Graziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-79836554620587634102019-05-24T22:33:00.000+02:002019-05-24T22:33:03.116+02:00WHY SHOULD STUDENTS STUDY LITERATURE? <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFYZxoQ89Q1hREWPLgDsSf8cUCle0eBgaGt62XAqe654oi8HWHaM4QlGkCsrP2s8XbSIo8PEiMxFunamNuw8e7k-d2CwgnH0IjjPl_ePnociccqH-T86XUIJSYrKNymP0dH_u74q7XLQ/s1600/IMAGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1289" data-original-width="859" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFYZxoQ89Q1hREWPLgDsSf8cUCle0eBgaGt62XAqe654oi8HWHaM4QlGkCsrP2s8XbSIo8PEiMxFunamNuw8e7k-d2CwgnH0IjjPl_ePnociccqH-T86XUIJSYrKNymP0dH_u74q7XLQ/s400/IMAGE.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;"><i>(by Melisa Marzett)</i> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">One who reads a lot knows a lot</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">,</span><span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;"> a
Russian proverb</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> says</span><span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">. Does it apply to books in English? Is it worth reading?
Previously, literature and newspapers were almost the only sources of
information. In the modern world, you can watch movies, videos, listen to
podcasts to practice English, and receive new information. We offer to figure
out why to read books in English.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">1.Increas</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">ing </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">vocabulary and improvement </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">literacy</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">
skills<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">Everyone has their preferences in
the literature. But, regardless of the genre of the book, you will run over the
eyes of a hundred different words in the text. It is an incredibly effective
way to enrich your vocabulary because the vocabulary is always used in context.
Instead of mechanical searching and memorizing words from a dictionary, you can
easily “absorb” them from a book. The more attractive the work, the more
quickly you learn the new vocabulary.</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">2. Activation of passive vocabulary<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">You understand the meaning of
many words and use them efficiently in speech. This vocabulary refers to the
active vocabulary. But there are such words and grammatical structures that </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">become</span><span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">
passive. You can guess the meaning of the latter in the context, but do not use
it in speech. Why? Because it is always easier to use a standard set of
phrases, one that you know well. However, it is reading in English that helps
activate passive vocabulary. Your speech becomes richer; you will not notice
how you will begin to speak with the words of your favorite book characters.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">3. Studying grammar in practice<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">The texts in the books are
written correctly so you can see how English grammar works. Cannot figure out
the articles? When reading any book, try to pay attention to each piece and
explain to yourself why it is worth it. Gradually, you will deal with this
topic in practice, and the difficulties with articles will be a thing of the
past. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">4. The development of conversational skills<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">While reading the book, you will
memorize new words and phrases, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">speech
patterns</span><span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">, and idioms.
Something will be forgotten, but something will remain in memory, and this
knowledge can be used in your speech. The more you read, the more you can say.
Your statement will become more complex and beautiful thanks to reading books.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">5. Improving your English pronunciation<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">Every English learner would like
to sound like a </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">language
speaker</span><span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">. Reading books in
English will help you with this. Read English texts aloud to improve your
pronunciation. In this case, all the words should be familiar to you;
otherwise, you risk memorizing the wrong version of the sound of the word. It
is best to find an audiobook and text to it. First, listen to what the
announcer says: pay attention to the pronunciation of sounds, intonation,
logical pauses, and stress. After that, turn off the audio recording and start
reading the text, trying to copy the pronunciation of the native speaker
exactly. Enough to engage in this way just 10-15 minutes a day, and after a
couple of months, you will feel significant progress. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">6. Full understanding of the language and style of the author<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">Many complain that it is not
unusual to read books in translation; the meaning is distorted by a translator.
D</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">o you w</span><span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">ant to feel how the characters of Chuck Palahniuk or Jack
London talk? Read their original works! You will be surprised by the new
momentum, apt phrase, humor, different synonyms. Reading the books of one
author, in the future, you will recognize his style, fall in love with every
word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJAFjxygv40jiJIW6ujx9fOzf4xtrrSlEqGDTOOs1xqy9LJnr7vy6jWQPEvRVssQqCoIDmmBg05FJgTbvoMQxYfprkRrFLgx6W4cMqhpf25VZGTNLEgrf-mcetUUnxWjAz4rzllWnFYY/s1600/IMAGE+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="1430" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJAFjxygv40jiJIW6ujx9fOzf4xtrrSlEqGDTOOs1xqy9LJnr7vy6jWQPEvRVssQqCoIDmmBg05FJgTbvoMQxYfprkRrFLgx6W4cMqhpf25VZGTNLEgrf-mcetUUnxWjAz4rzllWnFYY/s640/IMAGE+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">7. A cure for old age<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">Reading in any language makes our
brain work, reflect on what we read. And reading in English makes us put twice
as much effort. Such a useful exercise will allow you to develop and keep your
memory and thinking in good shape. British scientists have already proven that
reading is one of the best ways to protect against Alzheimer's disease. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">If you w</span><span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">ant
to be healthy, read books in English! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">8. Improv</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">ing</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;"> concentration<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">Is it difficult for you to
concentrate on work? Then start reading books in English in the evenings. You
can read both aloud and to yourself. In any case, you will focus on the text,
without being distracted by external stimuli, such as the TV in the next room
or the beloved parrot chirping. In this way, you will learn to concentrate on
one thing that will help you succeed not only in learning English but also at
work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">9. A great hobby and a way to learn something new and interesting<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">Reading is a great hobby that
suits everyone without exception. And those who make their first steps in
English, and those who are systematically moving to the top, improving their
knowledge of the language. You can read anywhere: at home in a chair with a cup
of tea, in the subway, on the bus. For this</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">,</span><span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;"> you
need a desire and a book. Before you open the rich world of heroes, characters,
and situations, reading foreign literature, you will learn about the
socio-cultural characteristics of the life of the British, Americans, or
Australians.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">10. Increase self-esteem and a </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">sense of pride in yourself<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="UK" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: UK;">Imagine how great you feel when
you chose a book in English, read it from beginning to end and enjoyed not only
the process but also the result! Learning English is paying off: you can read
and understand, discuss what you read, and share your impressions with friends
or a teacher. It makes you proud of your achievements and motivates you to
further success.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><u><br /></u></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><u><br /></u></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><u>About the author</u><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><u><br /></u></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Melisa Marzett is a freelance
writer who <span style="background: white;">travels a lot</span> and
works for <o:p></o:p></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><a href="http://resumeperk.com/">http://resumeperk.com</a></b></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>She is
also a huge fan of reading in general and English literature in particular. Hardly
a day passes without reading and writing for Melisa. </i></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Maria Graziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-58993409783240347172019-04-03T17:20:00.001+02:002019-04-03T17:20:30.091+02:00GREG JOHNSTON, SWEET BITTER CANE - THE UNCERTAINTY OF MIGRANTS <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAs53mqGR3N4vOnX6oUtP9nKVGZNKucuWiYDWHONn0aEXC9x9ogI11dy7RtFNil9puPlS-_KIaLz4B3y6dFTRAOKbqKTKfc3A7O7k4S4CD-aDffVsaUTDF4M2rdfw1qHcQtMMZxnXQ6hA/s1600/BeFunky-collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="1600" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAs53mqGR3N4vOnX6oUtP9nKVGZNKucuWiYDWHONn0aEXC9x9ogI11dy7RtFNil9puPlS-_KIaLz4B3y6dFTRAOKbqKTKfc3A7O7k4S4CD-aDffVsaUTDF4M2rdfw1qHcQtMMZxnXQ6hA/s640/BeFunky-collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #212121; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #212121; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Bitter-Cane-Italian-Australian-World-ebook/dp/B07L8XWKDP/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Sweet Bitter Cane</a></b></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #212121; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">
<b>is a story of Italian migrants who travelled to Australia to work on the
sugarcane fields of Far North Queensland</b>.
The first arrived in Townsville in December 1891, the result of an Italian immigration agent with the venerable
name </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Chiaffredo
Venerano Fraire. These immigrants came
mainly from Italy’s north, from the Veneto but by the 1920s, a mass migration
of Italian workers to the Queensland cane fields had begun. </span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The Italians worked extremely hard, communally,
sharing labour and equipment, and soon bought land, crossing the great divide from
workers to landowners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Of
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">course,</span> most thought they would return to
Italy with a small fortune after a few good seasons of cane cutting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But things fall apart; hearts are lost and
won, marriages <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">made</span>, children born, and
soon the migrants’ paths to easy return are slippery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Italo-Australian came into being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But as the
1930s fascist rumblings in Europe increased, more and more the Italian cane
farmers became the victims of suspicion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">Quite</span> what subversive acts they
were meant to be involved in on the other side of the planet is unclear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when Italy entered the war in June 1940, <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">they were</span> immediately classified as Enemy
Aliens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The men were arrested without
accusation and taken to concentration camps, far away from their homes and
families in South Australia and Victoria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So the
Italians who had traversed the globe had grown from recruited <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">worker</span> to <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">prosperous</span>
landowner and finally to an enemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">mostly</span> they’d done nothing but the hard work of
tilling the soil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>The recent events
in New Zealand</b> sadly demonstrate again the fragile, brittle position a migrant to
any country inhabits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Officially welcomed,
needed, rejoiced, soothed and integrated, and yet so quickly a gun can be drawn
against them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the last few lines of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sweet Bitter Cane</i>, a character notes
about discrimination in Australia: </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 36pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">"Would you hear such things today levelled at Italians
and Greeks and Maltese? Perhaps in jest, as we gobble the pizzas and <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">yiros</span> and golden <span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">pastizzis</span>. But this country holds little of its history; it
relishes the palatable and scorns anything in need of stern mastication, sucks
the jelly and leaves the bone."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>The New Zealand attacks</b> are perplexing, especially the
individual’s ferocity, but the source of the problem is old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to take note of history – the answers
are written there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If only we could
learn from them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b>GREG JOHNSTON</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHlv3cs7DvwGZw992MYVhmqSGIhrKKoZutwim4sxImHaNkz-XP9fkB0w2HybUSYXq2XycUYGZtFjRzhC6zKNkkUEDaeXJiMIi_JI-bCuvL3NLD_VzwwywpCO1fo-GFuqzCGkXvlox-M0/s1600/Cane_Cover_Art_Master_03A+kindle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="825" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHlv3cs7DvwGZw992MYVhmqSGIhrKKoZutwim4sxImHaNkz-XP9fkB0w2HybUSYXq2XycUYGZtFjRzhC6zKNkkUEDaeXJiMIi_JI-bCuvL3NLD_VzwwywpCO1fo-GFuqzCGkXvlox-M0/s400/Cane_Cover_Art_Master_03A+kindle.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b><u>ABOUT THE BOOK</u></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b style="background-color: transparent;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">One woman. Two men. A war.</span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Twenty-year-old
Amelia marries Italo, a man she’s never met. To escape an Italy reeling from
the Great War, she sails to him in Far North Queensland to farm sugarcane. But
before she meets her husband, she’s thrown into the path of Fergus, a man
who’ll mark the rest of her life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Faced
with a lack of English and hostility from established cane growers, caught
between warring unions and fascists, Amelia’s steady hand grows Italo’s
business to great success, only for old grudges to break into new revenge. She
is tested by forces she couldn’t foresee and must face her greatest challenge:
learning to live again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Sweeping
in its outlook, <i>Sweet Bitter Cane</i> is
a family saga but also an untold story of migrant women – intelligent,
courageous and enduring women who were the backbone
of the sugarcane industry and who deserve to be remembered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAykQnoS_40dEDe_BCyxMMi8MHUqzB4Tly1i5z9seTOsXKAtsmoGGHWHCYFPCRjqdABf-dztLyW91sOA2aZKm63qVtbY_ZI_zzB-6zIkV9Ffn0jlyBBKkXJ9pAyLYPSJTFTxcirv9eg8/s1600/Photo+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAykQnoS_40dEDe_BCyxMMi8MHUqzB4Tly1i5z9seTOsXKAtsmoGGHWHCYFPCRjqdABf-dztLyW91sOA2aZKm63qVtbY_ZI_zzB-6zIkV9Ffn0jlyBBKkXJ9pAyLYPSJTFTxcirv9eg8/s200/Photo+2.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<b><u>ABOUT THE AUTHOR</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU">G.S. Johnston is the author of three
historical novels, Sweet Bitter Cane (2019), The Cast of a Hand (2015), The
Skin of Water (2012). And a fourth novel set in contemporary Hong Kong,
Consumption (2011). The novels are noted for their complex characters and
well-researched settings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU">After completing a degree in pharmacy, a
year in Italy re-ignited his passion for writing and he completed a Bachelor of
Arts degree in English Literature. Feeling the need for a broader canvas, he
started writing short stories and novels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-AU">Originally from Hobart, Tasmania, Johnston
currently lives in Canberra, Australia. He is treasurer of the Historical Novel
Society Australasia. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-AU">Links <a href="http://www.gsjohnston.com/">website </a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GSJohnston.author/">facebook </a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GS_Johnston">twitter </a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gsjohnston_author/">instagram</a> <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/g-s-johnston">G.G Johnson at bookbub </a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Bitter-Cane-Italian-Australian-World-ebook/dp/B07L8XWKDP/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Buy the book at amazon.com</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Maria Graziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-5761476769829207582019-02-24T22:53:00.001+01:002019-02-24T23:03:03.103+01:00A FEW READING TIPS FROM THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZt9Dn4UOclowPDgRGEGaPC1wF-LzBAWeGBtp0-sXj-uiifP-7szNIOvUo9Vy1ul9oo6cCqexObufnngxv4k-SjboNRtYmGxwslExETZiThCCLJ_YrX-krykr0qh6k3YXPCUHS76xfMbo/s1600/Guernsey_feature-565x376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="376" data-original-width="565" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZt9Dn4UOclowPDgRGEGaPC1wF-LzBAWeGBtp0-sXj-uiifP-7szNIOvUo9Vy1ul9oo6cCqexObufnngxv4k-SjboNRtYmGxwslExETZiThCCLJ_YrX-krykr0qh6k3YXPCUHS76xfMbo/s640/Guernsey_feature-565x376.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
If you like me love reading<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>books and period drama, you may have seen this film and you may also
have read the book it is an adaptation of. If you haven't yet, you must! My suggestion is ... start from <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Guernsey-Literary-Potato-Peel-Society/dp/0385341008/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">the book</a></b>, of course!<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b>The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society</b></i> is a
delightful epistolary novel and a beautiful costume movie. Starring Lily James and Michiel
Huisman, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>supported by a remarkable cast
including Glen Powell, Jessica Brown Findley , Matthew Goode, Penelope Wilton
and Tom Courtney, the 2018 movie is directed by Mike Newell. You can find it on
<b><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80223371">Netflix</a></b> or <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Guernsey-Literary-Potato-Peel-Society/dp/B07CG7QK59"><b>on DVD</b></a>, if you’ve missed it when it was released in cinemas. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
But I’m here to talk books and reading more than the movie
itself. The message of both the Guernsey novel and the movie is that books can
help people cope with the hardest times of their lives and that reading can create
precious bonds among human beings. The Society formed by the rather improbable
readers protagonists of the story during the years of the Nazi occupation of
the island of Guernsey is a gripping example of that. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7PNP_9xcyPhiy1k6AEw3faEBmH5xz6gxydkUBxQhByGDB1EBXo1ilu8wTsQMU6mSuvjqhe47RzL4M99_Mp0x32n9N13UD-F32zLbLXeNscDNB-rRlMWjGkHmqoVVXL37iGAIR_YTkMM/s1600/The+Society.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="1335" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7PNP_9xcyPhiy1k6AEw3faEBmH5xz6gxydkUBxQhByGDB1EBXo1ilu8wTsQMU6mSuvjqhe47RzL4M99_Mp0x32n9N13UD-F32zLbLXeNscDNB-rRlMWjGkHmqoVVXL37iGAIR_YTkMM/s640/The+Society.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
By the way, if you want to know more about the plot and the
characters, try this post I wrote soon after watching the movie last summer.
(<b><a href="https://flyhigh-by-learnonline.blogspot.com/2018/08/three-great-bookish-films.html">HERE</a></b>)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Today, instead, I’d like to focus on what you can learn
about reading and books from the Society itself. Ready for some very good
reading tips from the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4He12DHxYnGAFhNPMdAoSNPYSHDxkixXDlGjdKZV8eXT6QzBkpEuuhabQcf5djLvcKIcXDmXflWCUc5Tp5Uo9FGcRW9oOLoyNEK_3IAXNGri6GFSVV4SS0UaMpflUnH3XpAsIZqnS7mQ/s1600/at+the+pub.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="1262" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4He12DHxYnGAFhNPMdAoSNPYSHDxkixXDlGjdKZV8eXT6QzBkpEuuhabQcf5djLvcKIcXDmXflWCUc5Tp5Uo9FGcRW9oOLoyNEK_3IAXNGri6GFSVV4SS0UaMpflUnH3XpAsIZqnS7mQ/s640/at+the+pub.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;">
<i><br /><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">1</span></b>.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>A pocket book is your ticket to anywhere.
Whatever it is you’d rather not be doing (quite possibly eating potato peel
pie!), a book is the perfect way to escape to far-flung<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>lands and experience life in another’s shoes.
You can go anywhere you want in just minutes – if you keep a book in your
pocket.</i><i style="text-indent: -18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;">
<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> 2</b></span>.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Laughter is medicine. It was Charles Lamb’s wit
that kept Dawsey going through the Occupation, so dig out an author who makes
you laugh and even the darkest days will be bright again for a little while.<br /><o:p> </o:p></i></blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3zFeaTdkkxnCqG6OA724zmV_TvsxsRK8ZKQpkfanjlvhCHalqnk_rlWy9zdd3vRPaUyGEJ5EAyyZaI-cIMNz1END1nDxpnS34s9DjqDMLkWM-TKcCKBnN5Ss3447xa48TkUoLJzQSHU/s1600/Guernsey+books.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="1264" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf3zFeaTdkkxnCqG6OA724zmV_TvsxsRK8ZKQpkfanjlvhCHalqnk_rlWy9zdd3vRPaUyGEJ5EAyyZaI-cIMNz1END1nDxpnS34s9DjqDMLkWM-TKcCKBnN5Ss3447xa48TkUoLJzQSHU/s640/Guernsey+books.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;">
<i><o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> 3.</b></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Lose track of time. Put away your phone. When
you finally lose sense of time and space, that’s when you know it’s a really
good book.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;">
<i><o:p></o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <b><span style="font-size: large;">4</span></b>.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Recommend, recommend, recommend. We are
transformed into the literary society each time we recommend a book and each
time we say “if you liked that, I bet you’d like this”.<br /><o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQz6geOLtkGmqZTnuBnmlLz57mQd_MlGRgfUecnKJKzcrG7Dj1Sy9fKK5DGz0XXFj1V0MycmcG1_TG_Yn0TcKVshOvcYm25ZjU5L-cWZYMItYbjHYf5KRS8dfMl7SZYl1PxPkpkZUbbwU/s1600/Dawsey+reading.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="1263" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQz6geOLtkGmqZTnuBnmlLz57mQd_MlGRgfUecnKJKzcrG7Dj1Sy9fKK5DGz0XXFj1V0MycmcG1_TG_Yn0TcKVshOvcYm25ZjU5L-cWZYMItYbjHYf5KRS8dfMl7SZYl1PxPkpkZUbbwU/s640/Dawsey+reading.png" width="640" /></a></i></div>
<i>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"></span></span></i></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;">
<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <b><span style="font-size: large;"> 5.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b></span>Follow the trail. Every book you read is like a
trail of breadcrumbs – each read is a little speck of interest that leads you
to another book and then another. And for no other reason than sheer pleasure!</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;">
<i><o:p></o:p><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <b><span style="font-size: large;">6.</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Books have a homing instinct. Most people wander
around bookshops, waiting for a story to call to them. If you believe that
there’s a perfect story out there for everyone, then accept recommendations,
take inspiration in bookshops and let your ideal book find its way home to you.<br /><o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzXpyKPKpO7u48T-DKpXXoqpCjl2ZOcpJcxSDujjS2b5dzRCifqEb3v4itepkQyLdCHLdRiNeHrH9-Cyiq4UZHwu0SsTQEGgvnV5oonj_qTuQdkNuKFLQbqEEgjsDJny5FTD_3zLUpW4/s1600/Reading+for+Kit.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="1165" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzXpyKPKpO7u48T-DKpXXoqpCjl2ZOcpJcxSDujjS2b5dzRCifqEb3v4itepkQyLdCHLdRiNeHrH9-Cyiq4UZHwu0SsTQEGgvnV5oonj_qTuQdkNuKFLQbqEEgjsDJny5FTD_3zLUpW4/s640/Reading+for+Kit.png" width="640" /></a></i></div>
<i>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span></span></span></i></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;">
<i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> 7.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></b></span></span></span>Scribble in the margins. It’s a wonderful thing
to open a book you’ve been given and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>find another’s notes, questions and reactions scattered through it. It
reminds us that a book becomes much more than just a book when you pass it on,
letting our thoughts reache through time the next reader.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;">
<i> <b><span style="font-size: large;"> 8. </span></b>The story doesn’t have to end. If you’ve had
such a thrilling time exploring another world that you’ve been dreading
reaching the end, there is a way to keep it going. Share the story with your
friends, let it live in your discussion about it.</i></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
P.S. I've recently discussed both the book and the movie with one of my classes. You'll find the materials I prepared for them on my <b><a href="http://learnonline-mgs.blogspot.com/2019/01/guernsey-has-great-story-to-tell.html#more">LEARN ONLINE</a></b> blog. My students are Italian, like me, and they study English as a foreign language.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;">
<i> <o:p> </o:p></i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Maria Graziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-16085713597941972962018-10-31T14:41:00.003+01:002018-10-31T17:20:46.504+01:00MY HALLOWEEN TREAT: THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyu3rhjn5JUeBetDRmJXv2Eg1MZ9TP04AbU1TvkfLkJpqJl8aHSt-I2a2PjORXMFStk1nrXkIrInM0F8wE1K9YYpxkdMvSP1TsZwFve__sDbr7NwW_AT1KzKek6XUk_DpUbp2kqbbGV8/s1600/HOHH_101_Unit_01909R-920x584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="920" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyu3rhjn5JUeBetDRmJXv2Eg1MZ9TP04AbU1TvkfLkJpqJl8aHSt-I2a2PjORXMFStk1nrXkIrInM0F8wE1K9YYpxkdMvSP1TsZwFve__sDbr7NwW_AT1KzKek6XUk_DpUbp2kqbbGV8/s640/HOHH_101_Unit_01909R-920x584.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Do you remember Hitchcock's Spiral Staircase? Well, there's one in Hill House</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I'm really happy to find myself in the position of enjoying a few days off starting from today, so I'm here to share with you my joy and one of my latest exciting watching experiences, which may fit the somewhat-dark merriment of today. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Let me be honest first: Halloween has never been a big deal to me because<br />
<br />
<b>1.</b> It generally isn't in my country, Italy<br />
<b>2. </b>I'm definitely not attracted to things macabre and gloomy.<br />
<br />
But ... there's always a BUT, isn't there?<br />
<br />
I've been unexpectedly enjoying a show that may be the perfect <i>pumpkin</i> in your Halloween special -things-to-do list, if you are not going to a party and are planning a stay-at-home celebration, alone or with friends. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Here's my treat: <i><b>The Haunting of Hill House</b></i> on <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80189221"><b>Netflix</b></a>. I am the first to be puzzled by my suggestion since I never thought a horror show about a haunted house could be something worth watching. But now I'm sure I never thought that, not because I had never seen one before (NE-VAH!), but because I had not seen this one yet! </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1j3w11OoAuckQDwMvQwjayYyD8bOgiNE691jmVD1FukjQDm0y_ma-o6ffAYWojubj6f1yhrQy8btEq-uK44Nk9-ksb9twnZKYXzUbZlJVqhLCc2RPKkmbVBsoKRh_GOXh1w3m4Wigw4I/s1600/9780241389690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1043" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1j3w11OoAuckQDwMvQwjayYyD8bOgiNE691jmVD1FukjQDm0y_ma-o6ffAYWojubj6f1yhrQy8btEq-uK44Nk9-ksb9twnZKYXzUbZlJVqhLCc2RPKkmbVBsoKRh_GOXh1w3m4Wigw4I/s320/9780241389690.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
Very loosely based on Shirley Jackson's 1959 gothic horror novel of the same title, <i><b>The Haunting of Hill House </b></i>was released globally on October 12th by <b>Netflix</b>. It is a 10-hour series, it is directed, written and produced by Mike Flanagan and it is so much more than a plain scare-jump rollercoaster! I was totally in awe - and obviously also scared - while watching it, in just two sessions and as soon as it was available online.<br />
<br />
<b><u>A High-Quality TV series</u></b><br />
<br />
First of all <i><b>The Haunting of Hill House</b></i> is a stunningly accurate and rich production, which is unusual for horror movies, and it has an incredibly talented cast as well, which is indispensable to successfully render the deep psychological insight into the complex characters populating the story. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="yZlgBd" style="background-color: white; display: inline; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The ensemble cast includes Oscar winner Timothy Hutton, Carla Gugino, Henry Thomas, Michiel Huisman, Elizabeth Reaser, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Kate Siegel, Victoria Pedretti and a group of very cute, professional children actors. </span></span></div>
<span class="yZlgBd" style="background-color: white; display: inline; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="yZlgBd" style="background-color: white; display: inline; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The story follows the Crain <i>siblings who, as children, happened to live for a few weeks in what would go on to become the most famous haunted house in the country. Now adults, they are forced back together in the face of tragedy and must finally confront the ghosts of their past. Some of th</i><span class="yZlgBd" style="display: inline;"><i>ose ghosts still lurk in their minds, while others may actually be stalking the shadows of Hill House</i>. (from Rotten Tomatoes)</span></span></span><br />
<span class="yZlgBd" style="background-color: white; display: inline; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="yZlgBd" style="display: inline;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHD7__JamDnAs42eM9TZYv4mpDWktdgE0YD4QZvYbXTLCjcr1wotbCVO_0Fdw34DMhaNWeyMJZrVGtHn4j2lUJtJdTdm6l3Vz0N-U9gnsywA7qQHgl1ObDbzIYpNl338_GtctfGbI-ek/s1600/bed-for-the-night-the-haunting-of-hill-house-season-1-episode-5.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="520" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHD7__JamDnAs42eM9TZYv4mpDWktdgE0YD4QZvYbXTLCjcr1wotbCVO_0Fdw34DMhaNWeyMJZrVGtHn4j2lUJtJdTdm6l3Vz0N-U9gnsywA7qQHgl1ObDbzIYpNl338_GtctfGbI-ek/s640/bed-for-the-night-the-haunting-of-hill-house-season-1-episode-5.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Little Nell doesn't want to sleep in her room, so Olivia sleeps with her in the sitting room. But the bent-neck lady knows!</b></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><b><u>The Crain family</u></b> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">The family includes the parents, <b>Hugh</b> (Henry Ford and Timothy Hutton) and <b>Olivia</b> (Carla Gugino) and five children: </span><br />
<ul>
<li><b style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; text-align: start;">Steven</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> (Michiel Huisman) - The famous paranormal author who doesn't believe in ghosts.</span></li>
<li><b style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; text-align: start;">Shirley</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> (Elizabeth Reaser) - The stern mortician </span></li>
<li><b style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; text-align: start;">Theodora</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; text-align: start;">"Theo"</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> (Kate Siegel) - The child psychotherapist with ESP skills activated through touch.</span></li>
<li><b style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; text-align: start;">Luke</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) - One of the young twins struggling with drug addiction. </span></li>
<li><b style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; text-align: start;">Eleanor "Nell"</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> (Victoria Pedretti) - The other young twin, the most traumatized of the 5 siblings, coping with depression and grief.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETr8Ncx7lg0MwUcYD3-rWZJyZrDJeN2Y-AyKngiPdv1_tC5wNLz_ocuVZsB7d2QN68sz-kWMMAxOEsK8jhdVoZNDd2ezAng8lc6ITy8u3zss802evtttJIomp6I2a_Dl-gIVsGOoQgXE/s1600/haunting-hill-house-crain-family-five-stages-grief-theory-1140849.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETr8Ncx7lg0MwUcYD3-rWZJyZrDJeN2Y-AyKngiPdv1_tC5wNLz_ocuVZsB7d2QN68sz-kWMMAxOEsK8jhdVoZNDd2ezAng8lc6ITy8u3zss802evtttJIomp6I2a_Dl-gIVsGOoQgXE/s640/haunting-hill-house-crain-family-five-stages-grief-theory-1140849.jpeg" width="640" /></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Theo, Steven, Nell, Luke and Shirley Crain as adults</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
They are all gripping characters you will be drawn to love. Their story-lines and their dialogues or monologues are so well - written that you immediately start to care for them and you are terribly frightened, if not for yourself, for their safety. And this was the trick that swept me off of my feet and made me love a terrifying experience like watching this series: the focus is on the psychological effects which living in a haunted house for a few weeks has on a lovely, loving family. The ghosts and the nightmares, the apparitions and the mysterious events are only part of the Crain family's greater drama.<br />
<br />
<b><u>The literary quality of the screenplay</u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
I loved a monologue from one of the final scenes of the final episode. I found it simple and direct, but touching and thought-provoking. The scene involves the two rational siblings, Steven and Shirley, and their spouses. The two siblings are finally coming to terms with their own personal ghosts. The following words are delivered by Steven:<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>"I've lived with ghosts since I was a kid. Since before I knew they were even there. Ghosts are guilt, ghosts are secrets, ghosts are regrets and failings. But ... most times... most times a ghost is a wish. Like a marriage is a wish. A marriage can be like a house and can be haunted (...) </i><i>I've built a wall all around a big part of my life and hid behind that wall, and I thought that wall kept us both safe, but walls don't work that way. Walls never work that way." </i><i>(Steven Crain, The Haunting of Hill House, 2018) </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Steven Crain often uses Shirley Jackson's own words from the novel while writing or reading his own novel on the show:<br />
<br />
<i>"This house, which seemed somehow to have formed itself, flying together in its own powerful pattern under the hands of its builders reared its great head back against the sky without concession to humanity. It was a house without kindness, never meant to be lived in, not a fit place for people, or for love, or for hope." (Shirley Jackson, The Haunting of Hill House, 1959)</i><br />
<br />
<b><u>Dealing with the scary moments</u></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
How did I cope with the most frightening scenes? Not very well, actually, that is to say, jumping and screaming, although I had tried to get myself ready with some defensive techniques.<br />
<br />
- Before I started seeing the series I had watched all the featurettes and cast interviews - actors telling behind the scenes anecdotes or explaining how they shot certain particular scenes - and I kept them in mind while watching, in order to remind myself that what was scaring me was just fake, that it was all about acting, that it was just a TV series.<br />
<br />
- I watched most of it in the afternoon and with my family around the house<br />
<br />
- I covered my eyes when I really couldn't make it.<br />
<br />
Silly as it may sound, I'm very proud of myself , since I got through till the end and even watched it again from start to end to catch up with the bits I realized I had missed. (OH, the red room!)<br />
<br />
What scared me the most? The bent-neck lady haunting little Nell's nights and generally the creepy atmosphere in the house. And, of course, this scene below with little Luke in the dumb elevator!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqEp1AfbI3RJ6YupWaGsf97rTU2ci1WtIfXrvUtO4GSA-DmWORtvm7I1cBqnQ_d-mMUQoqfqTE4lPVSAWKV0Qx_y6jYgboMZyiaNWOy9bc8Qg5bZejYCRXBKwC-_r4mFQcBnh_k3O_Zs/s1600/HOHH_103_Unit_01903R.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="440" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqEp1AfbI3RJ6YupWaGsf97rTU2ci1WtIfXrvUtO4GSA-DmWORtvm7I1cBqnQ_d-mMUQoqfqTE4lPVSAWKV0Qx_y6jYgboMZyiaNWOy9bc8Qg5bZejYCRXBKwC-_r4mFQcBnh_k3O_Zs/s640/HOHH_103_Unit_01903R.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><b>Young Luke asks young Theo to help him go for a ride on the dumbwaiter. Wrong direction, though!</b></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b><u>Ten good reasons to watch the series</u></b><br />
<br />
<i>1. Psychological in-depth</i><br />
<i>2. Very good story-lines for each one of the siblings</i><br />
<i>3. Awesome acting from both the senior and the junior members of the cast</i><br />
<i>4. Intriguing dynamics between the characters</i><br />
<i>5. Tension and suspence ingeniously created</i><br />
<i>6. Touching monologues and unforgettable lines</i><br />
<i>7. Episode 6 uniqueness with its stage quality (and only 4 cuts!) </i><br />
<i>8. The need to rewatch after ending to catch up on the bits you realize you've missed</i><br />
<i>9. Familiar faces you have definitely already seen in great movies or series</i><br />
<i>10. A very satisfactory finale which leaves you satisfied, moved and very happy you made it alive!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSjCauJ0yzU4MZTg0soew0kwakfUeGszf6h_kETNbh793-ZP9HRjryej1TTGKgc56Uz0nM052CCbGjVV508mQTQ9WoDx07xOff0ZmVdN5Iq5z9N8kaXmOdlfGfrZ3lbdUFHkUWluRZmc/s1600/c23490bb-2f08-47f9-98ae-df6bc0afd7e5-hill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSjCauJ0yzU4MZTg0soew0kwakfUeGszf6h_kETNbh793-ZP9HRjryej1TTGKgc56Uz0nM052CCbGjVV508mQTQ9WoDx07xOff0ZmVdN5Iq5z9N8kaXmOdlfGfrZ3lbdUFHkUWluRZmc/s640/c23490bb-2f08-47f9-98ae-df6bc0afd7e5-hill.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><b>Steven and his father go back to Hill House after many years</b></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><br /></i>
<b><u>Some friendly advice</u></b><br />
<br />
If I've made you curious and you are willing to try <i><b>The Haunting of Hill House</b></i> today or in the next future, just remember:<br />
<br />
- brace yourself for an extraordinary, emotional, thrilling journey (friendly advice)<br />
- you may want to watch it alone, but it is much better with friends (very friendly advice!)<br />
- choose a comfortable armchair and take the snacks and the drinks at hand, because once you start, you will wish nothing or nobody to interrupt you. (super friendly advice!!!)<br />
<br />
It's highly bingeworthy material! And if you haven't subscribed to Netflix yet, you can always use the one-month free trial subscription they offer!<br />
<br />
<b><u>Sharing a secret</u></b><br />
<br />
<b>P.S.</b> If any of you is wondering how a period drama lover who had always been picky when it came to horror stuff ended up watching this series, well, I'll tell you but ... KEEP IT A SECRET!<br />
<br />
Everything started with <i><b><a href="http://flyhigh-by-learnonline.blogspot.com/2018/08/three-great-bookish-films.html">The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society</a></b></i> and a <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0401264/"><b>certain fascinating Dutch actor</b></a> playing sweet, handsome <b style="font-style: italic;">Dawsey Adams</b>, whom I had never seen before in anything at all.<br />
<br />
Well, now I'm quite the expert fan, instead. I've been catching up with his filmography: 2:22, The Ottoman Lieutenant, The Age of Adeline, The Invitation, Irreplaceable You and even some episodes of Game of Thrones, Nashville and Orphan Black. I blame you, Michiel Huisman!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qdFi23mbYUVTSO3R-ZzNbDWqTtSYmZHGz6Zaf8ijHUO1tvaybOZC5PurtF9jFiWU-V6NSjXmheDDiydTHWTvydhQsc3LDnsMPCUqbaJ-dQWSQ9tNYHdaaeOgebYiHlBbHWorpo99YOc/s1600/haunting-of-hill-house-steven-denial--1140853.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="800" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qdFi23mbYUVTSO3R-ZzNbDWqTtSYmZHGz6Zaf8ijHUO1tvaybOZC5PurtF9jFiWU-V6NSjXmheDDiydTHWTvydhQsc3LDnsMPCUqbaJ-dQWSQ9tNYHdaaeOgebYiHlBbHWorpo99YOc/s640/haunting-of-hill-house-steven-denial--1140853.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Michiel Huisman as Steven Crain in The Haunting of Hill House (2018)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnS_2eaRVNAMh00uekvblPUqGwSFc-lqjysldzw9mxCXr6F-Rf8pyZF7RhB34axUrXJAtPGxWs3YNKaxMWvfZel5sE_hq3H7SfxHWPBmGF9IgmShAsx2nUYmoRacaeJ5elFsJ91ITCaE/s1600/GLPPS-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="550" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnS_2eaRVNAMh00uekvblPUqGwSFc-lqjysldzw9mxCXr6F-Rf8pyZF7RhB34axUrXJAtPGxWs3YNKaxMWvfZel5sE_hq3H7SfxHWPBmGF9IgmShAsx2nUYmoRacaeJ5elFsJ91ITCaE/s640/GLPPS-01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Michiel Huisman as Dawsey Adams with Lily James as Juliet Ashton in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society</span> (2018)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b><u>Praise for The Haunting of Hill House</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE, revised and remodeled by Mike Flanagan. I don't usually care for this kind of revisionism, but this is great. Close to a work of genius, really. I think Shirley Jackson would approve, but who knows for sure." (<b>Stephen King</b> on Twitter)</i></span></span><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">"Netflix's </span>The Haunting of Hill House<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"> is officially a trending hit, offering viewers a mix of rich family drama and frightening supernatural </span>horror<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">. However, what seems to be connecting with a lot of viewers is the almost literary level of narrative and thematic sophistication that showrunner Mike Flanagan brought to the show, which has allowed fans to peel back layers of meaning and connect a lot of thematic dots, to discover even deeper and richer levels of meaning to the story of the Crain Family, and the ghosts (literal and figurative) that haunt them from childhood into adulthood." </span></i></span><i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">(comicbook.com)</span></i><br />
<i style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"Hill House is not a paranormal story so much as a meditation on the distinct way grief and trauma maim the living." (Vulture.com)</i></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
</div>
Maria Graziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-8745738442524491192018-09-26T00:30:00.000+02:002018-09-26T00:30:06.754+02:00ITALY BOOK TOURS: A LIFE BY DESIGN - 5 QUESTIONS TO AUTHOR LUCY APPADOO <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OiinNHiDhws/W5wOZXl2gzI/AAAAAAAAFto/Y1YbVnBUvToAxiZxkzmvJ-TE1u5Z2CeEgCLcBGAs/s1600/A%2BLife%2Bby%2BDesign.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OiinNHiDhws/W5wOZXl2gzI/AAAAAAAAFto/Y1YbVnBUvToAxiZxkzmvJ-TE1u5Z2CeEgCLcBGAs/s640/A%2BLife%2Bby%2BDesign.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calisto MT",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">1. </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Where do you get inspiration for your stories?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">For <i>A Life By Design (The Italian Family Series)</i>, I was inspired by this story through the character, Elena who had a role in <i>Dancing in the Rain</i> (The Italian Family Series). Elena was very creative in the previous story with her sister, Valeria from <i>Dancing in the Rain</i>, so I wanted to have a character that showed her creative skills in fashion. I adore Italian fashion with the most modern trends, so I wanted to be a part of that excitement of creating modern and contemporary fashion. Elena is the part of me that loves to create (as I like to write), and I have a fascination with Italy as I had visited Italy a number of years ago. The plot came to me by knowing Elena’s character and how her feisty character would be able to handle all the intrigue that came her way. Generally, my inspiration for my other stories comes partly from my imagination (when I’m in a meditative space) and partly from past experiences that are similar or embellished.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calisto MT",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calisto MT",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calisto MT",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">2. </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">How did you do research for your book?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I did research for my book in a number of ways. Firstly, I searched on the Internet about the city of Milan, the history of fashion and design, and the Italian police. I used a service known as Time Etc, and a virtual assistant researched particular aspects of my novel, including details about the fashion institute in Milan, the city of Milan, and fashion. I later did further research by continuing to read articles on the Internet and talking to my parents about their knowledge of Milan.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calisto MT",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calisto MT",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">3. Is there a specific ritualistic thing you do during
your writing time?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calisto MT",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calisto MT",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I ensure I am well
hydrated by having a cup of peach tea, water, and a protein shake. I also close
my eyes if I’m getting stuck on a scene, whether it’s during my actual writing
of the story or the writing of the chapter outlines. I make sure I take regular
breaks and stretch my body so that I don’t get any kinks. A brief walk also
helps to stimulate my creative senses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calisto MT",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calisto MT",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">4. What is your next project?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calisto MT",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calisto MT",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I am working on
completing my first draft of a romantic suspense story that is part of my
Hearts Series. The story focuses on romance, a villain, the character’s
traumatic past coming back to haunt her, and the struggle to stay focused in
her work with a range of dangerous incidences. The novel is set in Melbourne,
Australia, but I still have a way to go to complete the story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calisto MT",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calisto MT",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">5. What advice would you give budding writers?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<b style="font-size: x-large;">
</b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calisto MT",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I believe it’s
important to have a writing coach or mentor, as writing a novel has a great
learning curve. It’s also important to read a lot of books in your genre so you
get a feel of the story structure. Finally, I believe that completing online or
face to face writing courses are amazing to learn about the different aspects
of writing fiction or non-fiction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-size: x-large;">Book Description</b></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When 20-year-old Elena Allegro leaves the Italian village of Laurino to study Fashion Design in Milan, she’s certain her dreams are about to come true. Despite her father’s warnings that risk comes with her newfound freedom, she loves her studies and develops a love interest with Francesco, the handsome young entrepreneur who offers her a part-time job in a Milan clothing store.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It seems like an idyllic situation—until a stalker targets Elena, tormenting her with mind games and threatening her safety. In the face of escalating danger to herself and to Francesco, Elena must fight for her freedom, her love, and her survival.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-size: x-large;">Buy the Book</b></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Life-Design-Italian-Family-ebook/dp/B07GSL3LNH/">Amazon</a> ~ <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-life-by-design-lucy-appadoo/1129290884">Barnes & Noble</a> </b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> <b></b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><b><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1425538609">iTunes</a> ~ <a href="https://www.kobo.com/au/en/ebook/a-life-by-design">Kobo</a> ~ <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=OxdrDwAAQBAJ">Google Play</a></b></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><b><a href="https://www.books2read.com/u/3J8ene">Other retailers</a> ~ <a href="https://marketplace.odilo.us/opac/?id=02145242#recordCard">Odilo for Libraries</a></b></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>
</b></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14186931.Lucy_Appadoo">Add to Goodreads</a></b></b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>
</b></span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-size: x-large;">Meet the Author</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_KdHGGk_UFo/W5wOmsRg9oI/AAAAAAAAFts/HguHqCmSQXs0TA3q1AOfz45IzZ9RCrqsACLcBGAs/s1600/Lucy%2BAppadoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_KdHGGk_UFo/W5wOmsRg9oI/AAAAAAAAFts/HguHqCmSQXs0TA3q1AOfz45IzZ9RCrqsACLcBGAs/s1600/Lucy%2BAppadoo.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Lucy Appadoo</b> is an author of romantic suspense, historical fiction/coming of age, short story thrillers, and non-fiction books. She is also a Registered Counsellor/Wellness Coach, and works as a Rehabilitation Counsellor for the Australian Government.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Lucy enjoys reading romantic suspense, romance, thrillers, crime novels, family/historical drama, and sagas. She has enjoyed travelling to exotic places such as Madrid, Mauritius, and Italy, and draws on these experiences in her creative writing.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Lucy’s favourite authors include Kendra Elliot, Christiane Heggan, Theresa Ragan, Tara Moss, Nicholas Sparks, Adriana Trigiani, Erica Spindler, and James Patterson (to name a few).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Lucy’s interests include meditation, exercising, journal writing, reading fiction and nonfiction texts about writing, coaching, and counselling, ongoing professional development, spending time with her husband and two daughters, and socialising with friends and family.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Connect with the Author: <a href="http://www.lucyappadooauthor.com.au/">Website</a> ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/LucyAppadoo">Twitter</a> ~ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lucy.appadoo">Facebook</a></b><strong style="background-color: white; color: #515151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></strong></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Enter the Giveaway!</b></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ends Oct 19, 2018</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="defcd44e411" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/defcd44e411/" id="rcwidget_9qi81le4" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> <script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ALwJLU2_yCM/W5wO7v1ewtI/AAAAAAAAFt4/GHpEXzCfL5AFCvBSaQU-SJlQPza80QBagCLcBGAs/s1600/Italy%2BBook%2BTours%2BLogo%2Bofficial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="1570" height="65" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ALwJLU2_yCM/W5wO7v1ewtI/AAAAAAAAFt4/GHpEXzCfL5AFCvBSaQU-SJlQPza80QBagCLcBGAs/s400/Italy%2BBook%2BTours%2BLogo%2Bofficial.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Book Details</b></span><br />
<br />
Book Title: A Life By Design (The Italian Family Series) by Lucy Appadoo<br />
Category: Adult Fiction, 211 pages<br />
Genre: 20th Century Historical Romance, coming of age story set in Milan, Italy<br />
Publisher: Self-published<br />
Release date: Aug 24, 2018<br />
Format available for review: ebook (mobi, PDF, ePub)<br />
Tour dates: Sept 24 to Oct 12, 2018<br />
Content Rating: PG-13 + MMaria Graziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114395886235179043.post-90925623133193080532018-09-24T00:00:00.000+02:002018-09-24T00:00:09.070+02:00WHAT KIND OF PRINT BOOK READER ARE YOU? - THE WISDOM OF LISTENING BLOG TOUR (AUTHOR GUEST POST & GIVEAWAY)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimygRjJL6wFRdE6ptfcpdkeusXQn-3-1c4u2mCB9bF8VgqrL63ujClX4UvD-FRJVkSLcBMmZ7Ey9wMA-mR8oYAd1CcEb-kNgH99KBDi01bMkSMI3t3ucA02bjraXpRoSL_ZVyRH29Qsh8/s1600/a313639a58eadc8bc350dbb811d16a1a--reading-girl-girl-reading-drawing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="625" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimygRjJL6wFRdE6ptfcpdkeusXQn-3-1c4u2mCB9bF8VgqrL63ujClX4UvD-FRJVkSLcBMmZ7Ey9wMA-mR8oYAd1CcEb-kNgH99KBDi01bMkSMI3t3ucA02bjraXpRoSL_ZVyRH29Qsh8/s400/a313639a58eadc8bc350dbb811d16a1a--reading-girl-girl-reading-drawing.jpg" width="313" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-CA">I have come to realize there are at least
three kinds of print book readers I see on a regular basis. First is the tidy
reader, second is the messy reader, and third is the hybrid reader. Do you know
which you are?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
To the tidy reader, reading a book is like eating a gourmet meal in a five star restaurant. All of their books are purchased brand new, although exceptions might made for signed first editions. They want to be the first to crack that stiff spine open and love that new book smell. In a bookstore these readers never take the front book from a shelf or the top book in a stack. They reach behind and under to find the most pristine copy they can. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
New books are brought home with as little jostling as possible and stored carefully on a bookshelf or stacked neatly on a table next to their reading chair. When they read, they sit upright and always turn a good reading light on. No drinking or eating is allowed to avoid staining the pages. No notations are ever made or corners turned down to mark their place. Only a proper book mark will do. When finished, the books are still in pristine condition. Only another tidy reader would know that its spine had already been cracked. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
At the other end of the spectrum is the messy reader. Reading for them is more like eating while camping with no table, chairs or utensils. Books come from every source – new and used book stores, thrift stores, library sales, garage sales and friends. It doesn't matter whether the book is in fabulous condition or a little raggedy; is clean or a little marked up; and dog eared pages aren't even noticed. As long as all the pages are intact and it's a good read they're happy. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Purchased books are dumped into backpacks or shoved into store bags. Once home, they are tossed where ever makes them easy to grab. Sprawling on the furniture, stretching out on the floor or even lounging in the bath are their preferred reading places. Snacks are a welcome addition as a stain here and there doesn't matter. For the messy reader it's all about comfort and ease. When they are done the books look well used whether they started that way or not.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Somewhere in between these two extremes is where I fall – the hybrid reader. Reading for me is more like having a relaxed meal is a cozy cafe. I love books from all sources, new and used, and take reasonably good care of them. In my youth, I used to turn down page corners to mark my place, but that changed long ago. One day I began to realize how sad the books looked with dog-eared pages and decided to treat them better. Sometimes I use a beautiful bookmark I purchased, but if it isn't handy, I grab a very thin slice of paper to tuck in.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I do love to sprawl on furniture or in bed when I read – the floor makes me too stiff – and very occasionally I have a snack next to me. However, I try to be very careful about leaving any stains and feel really bad if I slip up. I'm also proud to say when I finish a book, it's still in good shape. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Lately, though, I feel like I'm am drifting towards becoming a tidy reader. One of my friends wanted to borrow a new book I'd just finished and I lent it without a thought. When she returned it, however, there was a broken spine, worn feel to it. Out of the blue the urge hit to go buy a brand new copy. I talked myself out of doing that as I was being silly, right? I doubt I'll ever become a tidy reader as I love my reading sprawl too much, but I'm not sure I'll say yes when asked to lend a book in the future.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In the end, what type of reader you are doesn't matter. Any time you pick up a book, your goal should simply be to get so caught up in it you lose track of time. Whatever reading style helps that happen is the right one for you. As one of my mother's elderly friends said to me one day, “Whatever blows your skirt up!”
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: right;">
<b>Marilyn R. Wilson</b></h3>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0R9fqFa6o2o/W5xmsEw6yaI/AAAAAAAAFuI/gBQe-s5ucWs5vWG9rQ7Kcrnug87xW2tywCLcBGAs/s1600/The%2BWisdom%2Bof%2BListening.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1546" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0R9fqFa6o2o/W5xmsEw6yaI/AAAAAAAAFuI/gBQe-s5ucWs5vWG9rQ7Kcrnug87xW2tywCLcBGAs/s400/The%2BWisdom%2Bof%2BListening.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
<div>
<b style="font-size: x-large;">Book Description</b></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The next time you're out in public, take a moment to look around you. Each and every person you see holds wisdom in their pockets--pieces of gold they've accumulated as they walked their own unique life journey.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Within these pages, Marilyn shares some of the many pieces of gold she has received over her decade-long career. They have been offered to her during interviews, through random encounters and while facing difficult challenges. The most important? We are each unique and exactly who we are meant to be.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Are you ready to dig for gold? All you need to do is be brave, be present in the moment and be open to the possibilities--then start a conversation.</div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Praise for The Wisdom of Listening</b></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Every life has a story and, no matter our background, we share similar hopes, dreams and fears. This book not only gives you insight into the varied lives of its subjects but, through Marilyn's reflections, shows how we each walk a similar spiritual path."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
-<b> Robbin Whachell, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Bahamas Weekly</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
"Marilyn shows us, through her compassionate and incisive interviews, how to grasp and link those golden moments, like sparkling prisms of light, into an animated and profound acceptance of ourselves, the people we encounter, the relationships we build, and the dreams that will set us free."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
- <b>Gabriella Contestabile, Author, Founder of Su Misura Sensory Journeys</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“I was reminded we are collectively each walking our own paths, but often experience similar emotions, feelings, obstacles, challenges, triumphs, rewards and successes. We all learn as we go and we all become wiser as time passes. This is humanity. The diversity in each of us as a whole is awesome.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
- <b>RozeMerie Cuevas, Co-Founder and Designer at JAC by Jacqueline Conoir</b></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Buy the Book</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0995314721/">Amazon</a> ~ <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Wisdom-Listening-Pieces-Decade-Interviewing/dp/0995314721">Amazon.ca</a> ~ <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-wisdom-of-listening-marilyn-r-wilson/1128832320">Barnes and Noble</a></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/MarilynRWilson">Add to Goodreads</a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Meet the Author</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TZP8CklbT9c/W5xnMvUmrhI/AAAAAAAAFuQ/M3QaOKPxNVQ1g1omIkfJCp8bU8Fau_u2gCLcBGAs/s1600/Marilyn%2BR.%2BWilson.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1036" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TZP8CklbT9c/W5xnMvUmrhI/AAAAAAAAFuQ/M3QaOKPxNVQ1g1omIkfJCp8bU8Fau_u2gCLcBGAs/s320/Marilyn%2BR.%2BWilson.tif" width="207" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Marilyn R. Wilson</b> is a freelance writer, published author and speaker with a passion for interviewing. Her career as a writer began in an unusual way: by answering a Craigslist ad from a NYC magazine. The world shifted when she conducted her first interview—she had found her passion.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Since 2006, she has interviewed over a hundred and fifty people from around the globe, co-owned a local magazine, wrote freelance for others, worked as an editor, published two books and provided author support for her publisher. Her goal as an author -- to give wings to the stories of others and to pay forward some of the many "pieces of gold" received during interviews - bits of wisdom that have changed her life.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Connect with Marilyn: <a href="https://www.marilynrwilson.com/">Website</a> ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/oliobymarilyn?lang=en">Twitter</a> ~ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MarilynRWilsonWriter/">Facebook</a> ~ <a href="https://www.instagram.com/marilynrwilson/">Instagram</a></b></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Enter the Giveaway!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
Ends Oct 19, 2018</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="defcd44e412" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/defcd44e412/" id="rcwidget_9xtell8f" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> <script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Is38ePeYvYU/W5xnaL4GqwI/AAAAAAAAFuY/4bihCjM3TWM5X8SBqmMaq1_oxHPXNuQmgCLcBGAs/s1600/iRead%2BWebsite%2Bnew%2Blogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="1570" height="65" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Is38ePeYvYU/W5xnaL4GqwI/AAAAAAAAFuY/4bihCjM3TWM5X8SBqmMaq1_oxHPXNuQmgCLcBGAs/s400/iRead%2BWebsite%2Bnew%2Blogo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Book Details</b></span><br />
<br />
Book Title: The Wisdom of Listening: Pieces of Gold from a Decade of Interviewing and Life by Marilyn R. Wilson<br />
Category: Adult Non-fiction, 220 pages<br />
Genre: Self-Esteem, Motivational, Personal Transformation<br />
Publisher: Real People - Real Lives Press<br />
Release date: May 28, 2018<br />
Tour dates: Sept 24 to Oct 12, 2018<br />
Content Rating: G<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Maria Graziahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876779286144473782noreply@blogger.com0