Seven Stories of Mystery and Horror

This book has following seven stories of mystery and horror, written by Edgar Allan Poe.

1. THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM, a prisoner wakes up to find himself in a dark cell with a deep pit.

2. THE GOLD BUG, a golden insect leads to an incredible discovery.

3. THE FACTS IN THE CASE OF MR VALDEMAR, a patient is hypnotised minutes before he dies. Is he really died?

4. THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER, a man visits an old friend and finds himself in a house full of horrors.

5. DOWN IN THE MAELSTROM, a sailor describes a terrifying trip through the maelstrom.

6. THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH, prince Prospero has a party in his castle. But no one can scape the red death-not even a prince.

7. THE OBLONG BOX, a traveller boards a ship to New York. What does he carry in the oblong box?

I felt human's death and fear from every stories, especially THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM and THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER. Only THE GOLD BUG is a story of adventure and solution of a riddle, that's why it is the most favorite one in this book.

Junji

The Phantom airman

Last time I read "Unquiet Gloves" written by Allan Frewin.

This is a series of story that four children who are belonging to archeology club. It was a boring story for me and I couldn't understand well it at first.

However, after reading the story I tried 'Points for understanding' and repeated to read it roughly, I understand it at last. I found that this is a difficult story, because suddenly the four children is taken away to the about sixty yeas ago many times by a ghost, the key character in this story.

Unquiet Graves

This is a horror story.

Frankie, Regan, Tom and Jack, - these girls and boys are members of their school's archeology club. They were in an archeological site on their half term holiday.

An archeologist Leo told them Eleanor's a sad story. After that, Flankie has met many strange things. She was possessed by something evil.

This evil was a ghost of Eleanor's lover, Todd. He lead Frankie, then made understand her the truth of Eleanor's death. These lovers has been unhappy two hundred years, but these two lovers were dead finally at peace, by a help of Frankie. 

However, it was a bit boring story for me.

Junji

The Phantom airman

This story is difficult understanding for me because it mixed the story of past and the story of present in the novel, although the story is interesting.
The four kids investigates various thing related to the phantom airman.They are brave and curious.
There are a lot of the story of past in the story. Their experience of the past are taken hints to solve for this story's mystery. They got many hints of the past and solves mystery at the present.
I think the Glen of the phantom airman was complaining to the present people about traitor is too bad.
I regretted having my low knowledge of English about grammar, word and so on. I don't understand easily.I hope to become understandable a man.

The Canterville Ghost and Other Stories

There are three stories in this collection.

The first is about a comical but pitiful ghost, who lives in the Canterville for three hundreds years. He has not been dead peacefully, so he appears to frighten people in this house. However, only some rich Americans, Otis and his family aren't afraid, and they frighten the ghost. They treat him with a sneer. The ghost feels very unhappy. At last, the daughter helps the ghost kindly, so he could be dead peacefully. This part is touching.

The second is a very short story. There is a very good looking and kind gentleman. He has many friends. He wants to marry, but unfortunately he is poor. The girlfriend’s father tells him “If you want to marry with my daughter, make one thousand pounds”. However, he gets one thousand pounds unexpectedly. This story is the most favourite for me in this book.

The last story is about a man’s fate. He has a plan to get married. A palmist reads the man’s fortune at a party that he would kill someone. He believes his fate that the palmist told him. He decides to make his own future that he won't marry with fiancée until he will kill someone. He fails to kill two people, but at last he succeeds in killing one person. He finally get married then he feel very happy to have made his own future.

Reading club - Old Rock meeting

I met "my lads" last night in the pub for a pint; they have earned a drink because of their very hard work in my class the last six months - well, two years now...

I have to say I am really impressed with this bunch because they are forever challenging each other to 'speak English' - and they really do try hard. Last night was no different, and we had a really good chat (some topics we really can't do when I am 'on the clock') about all sorts of stuff. For example, are Osaka girls hotter than Yamagata beauties? Shikoku - backwater or home of mental matsuri? Should Satoru come back and study with us - or concentrate on his 19 year old playmate? Serious things to ponder as we monitored the quality of the Guinness.

Naomi joined us and the tone civilised; she also works in IT so the boys had a lot to chat about, especially as her daughter and Ya-chan's son study at Luna. Just to cap things off, one of my ex-students from NHK told everyone (quite rightly) what an amazing guy I am! (Actually, I was a bit embarrassed)

In April 'my lads' will recommence their studies; I am sure they will continue to make great progress and read everything that is put in front of them. Classes like this (which started from scratch, I need to add) make my day. Every now and again they make my evening too! Thanks lads!

Recycling

Q4. What can we do about plastic bags? Here are some ideas. Discuss which are the best, and give your reasons.

a) Give shoppers a recycling bag which they can use again and again.

b) Make shoppers pay for plastic bags.

c) Use bags made from recycling material.

d) Make supermarkets pay for recycling plastic bags.

e) Make it easy for shoppers to recycle old plastic bags.

f) Give shoppers a small amount of money when they use their own bags.

I think c) is the best way in a consumer's position, by the way I got this bag by a).

However, I often forget to bring it when going to shopping.

Some (or many?) supermarkets adopt the item f) by giving stamps for discount in future. It is glad frankly as one of service, but it might not be essence for recycling.

MARTIN LUTHER KING

Although I had seen the name of the minister "King" in news programs etc, for years, I know about him by reading this book for the first time. I think he had a strong dream and conviction, the reason why he was a very strong and patient man.

It is not always easy not to use violence to break unfairness for all people. The new United States President, Mr. Obama was elected by all Americans, it is wonderful thing. However, someone may appear who have dissatisfaction with him some day. I hope he will solve many problems by peaceful way.

The place where I live - Yamagata

I live in Yamagata, which is a small village neighboring southwest Matsumoto city. It has a population of about 8000 people.

There are mountains and houses to the west of the village, and a farming area spreads to the east. There is good nature in this village, and I can look at mountains and the Matsumoto Plain around here on fine, clear days. Autumn colors of mountains and yam farms are also very beautiful.

The weather in Yamagata is similar to Matsumoto's. Yamagata is located a little higher above sea level than Matsumoto city, so the temperature is a little lower than Matsumoto.

Agriculture is the most active industry in this village. There are plenty of farms which produce many kinds of vegetables and fruits, - yams, apples, water melons, soba, and so on. Good things for a lot of people is good farm products, and a beautiful view.

I think the best things about Yamagata village are the comfortable climate and the peace and quiet, and the good location near Matsumoto or Shiojiri city, and the helpfulness of local people. I think this is why the population increased recently.

Junji