Somebody remembered!

Nothing but the Truth

“Which of Hu’s friends do you like the most ? Why ?”

I like “John” the best. Though John is the newest friend for Hu, he is honest, and he feels warmly about Hu. If he didn’t tell the truth to his mother, I don’t know what could have happened to Hu.

How about Hu’s future ? Hu’s dream ? Hu’s situation ?

Actually, I like John’s mother the best in the casts. However she isn’t Hu’s friend. Thus I like John the best in her friends. The reason is John’s mother has confidence and she gets a lot more energy. She is fighter for justice. I think John is influenced by his mother. I want to be like her.

A Puzzle for Logan

After reading 4. Logan is a woman who does what some people think is a man's job. Did this cause her any problems in A Puzzle forLogan?

No, it didn't. Instead, she had so much luck in her investigation because of it.

If she were a man, Angus MacLeod would not talk to her. Since she met him, she could hear an eyewitness report from him and she could get one of the most important piece of a puzzle.

And also, other people in this story look be off their guard for her. It helped her job so much. Then she could complete her puzzle.

The Fruitcake Special

There are five short stories in this book. Each story is very interesting, unrealistic, mystical one. Each story has quite different attraction. It is difficult to select a story that I enjoyed most.

In such situation, I chose most favorite story “The Fruitcake Special”.
Because of the perfume made by accident, all the man (of course the owner of her company includes it) comes to like her. At first, she couldn’t understand why this situation had happened. But she knows the reason, and the attractive perfume can’t make more. How would she have it?

I liked that she did not indulge in this fact. She found way of life of oneself by herself. I recommend this book.

Eye of the Storm

Q. What is the worst weather you have seen ?

I never forget the heavy rain of the summer 2006 which made big damage around Suwa area. Many persons died. Also some rivers flooded and the traffic network were paralyzed. The quantity of water of Togawa-rever, which is near my home, was unusual.

During heavy rain, I helped with fire brigade of my town to make many sandbags that is called “Dono”. After the storm, my wife and I participated to help the dredging to the channels for recovery.

I strongly understood that it is important to help each other and to connect with community.

Masanori Yagasaki

The Amsterdam Connection

The Amsterdam Connection is a name of a syndicate which manages football betting in Amsterdam. This is a murder story with players and owners of RCFC (Rotterdam City Football Club). Mr. Martijin Christiaans who is a mastermind of the Amsterdam connection is earning a large amount of money by fixed game. Kate’s last message was very impressive for me, “Some things never changed”

Q2. Imagine you are making a film of the book. Which actors would you choose to play the main characters? Would you make any changes to the story?

I put following actor and actress in my film. It seems a bit expensive.

Kate Jensen: a news reporter on the Daily Echo in London. She’s adept at karate.
Actress: Cameron Diaz

Elly van Praage: a policewoman in the Amsterdam police and Kate’s friend
Actress: Jodie Foster

Martijin Christiaans: a Dutch businessman. He is a mastermind of the Amsterdam connection.
Actor: Robert De Niro

I guess this story was made as basing of fixed scandal in Serie A. Then I think I should change the story based on real cases. In this case, the football team should be Real Madrid C.F, and the title maybe “Madrid connection”?

Koa

Berlin - book review

I think it’s fair I share my own book report with readers here, as we teachers ‘bully’ our students to read a lot and to post their reviews here.

I have spent ages reading “Berlin – The Downfall 1945” by Antony Beevor. It took me a long time because it’s a long book, detailing the end of World War II in Europe. It’s a very well researched history, and fascinating in the detail it goes into of not just the battles and traumas of the final months of the war, but also the personalities and motives of the various political and military leaders.

This is a part of the war I knew very little about, as it is dominated by events on the Eastern Front where the Russians sought to reach Berlin before the Allies. (Being British, I naturally learned from and of the western perspective when I was young). The book follows the collapsing German resistance to overwhelming Russian advances; some brave, some futile, some callously selfish. While the Germans had wrought devastation upon the Russian motherland in their invasion in 1941 (Operation Barbarossa), with unimaginable cruelty on civilian populations along the way, it seems to me the Russians were equally intent to payback like with like.

What was particularly interesting for me was the clear chronological analysis of what was happening within Hitler’s inner circle of henchmen in his bunker, and of Hitler’s spiraling loss of grip on reality. It is also clear that even in 1945 Stalin was paranoid and playing his generals against each other. He also allowed Churchill and Roosevelt to con themselves that Russia had any intention of allowing Poland to become strong & independent once liberated from the Germans. The Allies could, and in my opinion should, have made haste towards Berlin themselves. Not doing so left Stalin with all the cards he needed for the division of Europe in his image, and the resultant Cold War impasse.

The Russian push towards the capture of Berlin was obviously relentless and brutal. It cost hundreds of thousands of lives, many civilian and with a shocking amount of rape. January to May 1945 is a short period in the history of the last century, but one I am very glad to have been able to learn about with this gripping book.

What am I going to read next? “Momentous…the history of the conflict surpasses all others” says the blurb. I bought this book two years ago and have been looking forward to reading it. ‘1914-1918 The History of the First World War’. Might take a while…

After reading 2. Do you think The House by the Sea is a good title?
Make up a different title.

Yes. I think this is a good title as thriller, because no one can guess that story from the title easily. If it is changed, I'll prefer to change its title to "Yellow dress and shoes" since they are key items in this story.

9. Here is the blurb from another book at this level: Just Good Friends

It's Stephany and Max's first holiday away together and they want to get to know each other. They go to Italy and stay at Stephany's friend Calro's flat in a Mediterranean village. But Carlo's wife is not very happy to see Stephany - and the two couples find out why, and a lot of other things about each other, in a hot Italian summer.

Do you want to read Just Good Friends?

Yes. But, if it was a mystery book, I would love to read it as soon as possible. Anyway I'll try to read it promptly if it's my turn.

(posted for Hiroaki)

'Anne of Green Gables' an appendix by Minemura

It has been a year since Mathew had gone. Anne and Marilla missed him very much. Marilla was also not well, and she could not read and write well. She had to be careful about her eyes, and was wearing glasses. But she was very happy because Anne was with her. She had been working as a teacher at a school in Avonlea since she graduated from college.
One Saturday afternoon Anne's friend Gilbert visited Anne and Marilla in Avonlea. He was also a teacher and worked in the next village. He had also grown up to be a nice teacher. Marilla was very pleased by him. Anne and Gilbert were talking about the teaching life. Marlla was very happy because they were good friends. While Anne was in the kitchen, Marilla said to Gilbert, who was very tall and goodlooking "You are just like your father and remind me of him when he was younger. Your father John and I were very good friends you know. I am very happy if you like Ann and help her. Gilbert said, "Yes, Ann is nice. I like Ann."
Sometimes Gilbert visited Green Gables and helped Ann and Marilla. Ann thought he was very kind and gentle. One day Ann asked him "Why did you call me Red Hair, Carrot?" He answered "I was sorry to say Carrot, but I liked your red hair. It was prettier and more charming than any other hair."
Ann understood him and they were married next spring.
The apple trees on Green Gables were full of sweet-smelling, snowy-white flowers. Soon they had a pretty baby.
Marilla was glad and became very well. She told the baby about Mathew and Green gables. Ann and Gilbert could continue teaching and kept beautiful Green Gables house. Marilla was very happy and lived her long life until 100 years old.
-The end-

After reading "A Matter of Chance"

After reading A Matter of Chance, how important do you think chance has been in your life?

I was fun to read this story. In some chapters I couldn’t stop reading. Question is about chance in my life. I’ve never think about chance I had before. I mean that the chance is a very good opportunity to do something or to change the direction which I want to head. About 20 years ago, I had chance to take my post in Amsterdam but I didn’t. In about 1986, my colleague invited me to go paragliding. I got the chance to start paragliding. If I hadn’t the chance, I wouldn’t injure my legs. In some senses, these were all matters of chance and its influence was serious in my life. However I don’t think that chance is everything. It is only an opportunity. I believe that depends on how we look at it in the end.

The Beast

Here is a local newspaper headline: THE BEAST OF BRYNMAWR RETURNS.
Write the story for the newspaper.

Before dawn May 20, two of Tom Lloyd's sheep that killed by someone was found.And May 19, a carcass of sheep was found in a gate of Charlie Blackm's villa.
There is opinion that criminal is a fox or a dog.
However, there was no hemorrhage though each sheep had the injury. Some person in local says "THE BEAST OF BRYNMAWR RETURNS." and is frightened from that.

"THE BEAST OF BRYNMAWR" is a name of the monster of this region's legend. It is known as a monster that sucks blood.

The local police says "We have no comment yet" about this matter.

The House by the Sea

Q4,

Imagine five years have passed. What do you think is happening in Carl and Linda's lives now?

Linda lives happily with Bill at the house by the sea.

One day she received a letter.

Dear Linda,

I still love you and you should live with me.

I will pick you up soon.

Love

Carl

It was the letter from Carl and it seemd like he has become a madman, since he never accepted that theri marriage was over.

After reading the letter, Linda shook with fear.
It was the start of the next story...

The Ironing man

Dear Jim-san,

I finished to read "The Ironing man". I reply 2 questions to "After reading".

Question2.
Tom: Because he really love Marina even if she cannot do housework and she would fall in love with the Ironing man

Question5.
Marina: Please continue to love Tom, because he is a very good man.

Best regards, Yoichi

After reading 2: Campbell was sent to prison for fifteen years. How long do you think Baxter should stay in prison?

I think Baxter should stay in prison more than fifteen years. Because Baxter
killed two people on purpose and destroyed evidence on the murder case.

10. Here is the blurb from another book at this level.
A married couple, Carl and Linda Anderson, buy a house by the sea to spend
their weekends. But one weekend Linda does not arrive at the house and Carl begins to worry. What has happened to her? Who is the taxi driver that follows Carl? And how much do the people in the village really know?

Do you want to read The House by the Sea?
Yes, I do. Since I wanted to know about it in a little more detail, I looked for the information on the Internet. After I ran throw the catalogue web page, I'd really like to read it.

Posted for Hiroaki

Double Bass Mystery

Ｔｈｅ Double Bass Mystery is poor Simon's story.

He killed Frank who was a Orchestra manager only for money.He didn't know what was the most important things for life. He believed a lot of money,but I don't think so at all. Of course we need a money to live for our life. A money can't make us happy.

We can be happy when we are talking,having a meal,playing something with our family or friends and doing something which we like. We don't need so much money for our life.

I think that enjoying our life is very important.

posted for Shin

The Big Picture

I read a book "The Big Picture". This book was very fun!

After reading Q7: What do you think Ken does after the end of the story?

Ken started live in the country, Nagano-Ken. Sachiko and Tetsuro very very happy every day. Because they had big house, big garden and beautiful landscape. But Ken wasn't happy. He lost a work. He went to "Hello Work" every day, but he didn't seek a job yet.
He reopened take photos. Not take famous people, only take a beautiful landscape. He think my best work is landscape photographer, this is very healthy work!

He didn't like the country life before. But he started live in the country six month, gradually like now.

Noriko

Postcard from Iguassa Falls, Brazil

Dear Jim,

There is a spectacle view in front of my eyes. It's IGUASSU Falls.
I'm staying a hotel in a national park. I've never seen this kind of magnificent view.

I have worked really hard this week to take a holiday on this weekend. I'll show you my lots of photos include my reading book.

See you soon - Koa

Running Dictation

This team only just beat their opponents, with one point to spare. The object of the game was to remember as many words as possible and make a list, with extra points being awarded for spelling. Picture cards were placed behind a screen and the 'runner' and 'writer' together had to compile a list of the given items. Neck and neck the whole way, this game relied on both speed and accuracy. Well done to both teams! Jolly well played.

Postcard from the Red Sea

How are you guys?

I'm in a passenger ship which is cruising on the Red Sea. the sea is beautiful deep blue! Everything of this voyage is like a dream! So romantic!

I can enjoy lots of culture class and fitness programs in the ship. The ship is going to call at Port Safaga in Egypt tomorrow morning. I'm going to visit Luxor. After that the ship is going to Greece.

Teruki on the Red Sea

The Ironing Man

(Q2) Which character do you like the most? Why?

Phil impressed me favorably.

He is a typical detective in a comic film. He behaves as if he is Sherlock Holmes or James Bond. Although he was a careless person in reality. He looks stupid.

But he was also kind man. When he looked Tom became sad from his 'incorrect' report, he could not tell Tom about his investigation anymore. He noticed later it was his misunderstanding. If anything, he was happy when he knew the fact. He gave a comical element to this serious(?) story.