Ave Maria

“WAS this His coming! I had hoped to see
A scene of wondrous glory, as was told
Of some great God who in a rain of gold
Broke open bars and fell on Danae:
Or a dread vision as when Semele
Sickening for love and unappeased desire
Prayed to see God's clear body, and the fire
Caught her white limbs and slew her utterly:
With such glad dreams I sought this holy place,
And now with wondering eyes and heart I stand
Before this supreme mystery of Love:
A kneeling girl with passionless pale face,
An angel with a lily in his hand,
And over both with outstretched wings the Dove. “

In my own opinion, this poem written by Oscar Wilde really reflects the figure and role of Holy Mary. All the pictures he describes and the feelings he shows reminds me of The Angelic Salutation “Hail Mary”. As you know, Wilde is one of the classic poets that you should have in your shelves (and one of my favorites I must say), but particularly this poem causes on me the same effect that the Gregorian Chant “Ave Maria” has on almost all people. It makes me feel melancholic, calm and pure. I invite you to read it and share your thoughts.

Evan

How to Grow Old by Bertrand Russell

Despite the title, this is an interesting essay in which the author gives several suggestions on how “not” to grow old or, what is more suitable, on how to grow old properly.

First, he mentions the influence of one’s ancestors. He explains who his ancestors were; focusing on his maternal grandmother who, after having a difficult life, managed to overcome problems and tried to keep her mind occupied so as not to notice that she was growing old.

Then, as regards health, he does not suggest doing anything besides enjoying what life brings up.

After that, he mentions that psychological well being is kept by directing one’s thoughts to the future, without thinking only about what is part of one’s past life, and also by avoiding “sticking” to youth so as not to become a burden for them.

Last but not least, he suggests the reader not to be afraid of death. He compares one’s existence with the “life” of a river, small at first, then rushing passionately past rocks, until it grows wider and becomes part of the sea. In this way people will notice that life is a cycle and that fear of its end should not take place, since everything will for ever keep starting and finishing for all of us.

Sunshine

“Brave New World” and “Brave New World Revisited” by Aldous Huxley

“Brave New World” (1932) is a science fiction novel written by the English writer Aldous Huxley (1894-1963). In this novel he presents a futurist world dominated by technology: human beings are artificially “cultivated” and genetically modified to belong to particular castes. Everyone is made to be “happy” by a process of hipnopedia. They live under the rules of a totalitarian man, the creator of the world, ironically called Ford. Everyone who does not belong to this world is considered a savage.

“Brave New World Revisited” (1958) is a recopilation of essays which had been published on the magazine “Newsday”. In this set of essays, Aldous Huxley himself analizes (30 years after the publication of “Brave New World”) the themes of his own novel.The book consists of 12 chapters, each of which deals with a certain topic such as “Brainwashing”,”The art of selling” and “Education for freedom”.Then, Huxley verifies that most of his ideas and predictions were right and some others wrong.

The first time I was asked to read “Brave New World”, I was at secondary school, and I can remember that I found it quite a tedious and odd book, because I have never liked science fiction stories. The thing is that when I was asked to read it for the second time (then at higer education), I read it with much more enthusiasm. I think that I could read between the lines and go beyond the story itself. Moreover, I decided to read “Brave New World Revisited” on my own, and then I found both of them interesting books. It is incredible how Huxley describes and asserts on his predictions of the western world. Even if you read it almost 80 years before the first edition, the description of a society managed by a few, where the influence of government limits citizens on their thoughts, is in a way what is happening nowadays with uneducated people.

IZZIE

All the troubles of the world

All the troubles of the world is a science fiction short story written by Isaac Asimov. This story was first published in 1958 and it is about an intelligent machine with great responsibilities, called Multivac.

“Multivac was the greatest machine in the world” begins this brilliant story, introducing to us in this way to a great computer which has the daily job of working with facts. It deals with every person’s facts of the entire world.

In a context in which crime has been eradicated, Multivac predicts a case of murder. People who work inside the machine are certainly worried and start an investigation which ends up in a shocking discovery. After arresting Joe Manners, and later on his son, Ben, it is discovered that Multivac is tired and was it that started a plan to die. Surprisingly, this extraordinary machine has developed human sensitivity and it is exhausted of dealing with every single trouble of the world.

Isabella

Charles by Shirley Jackson

Charles is the story of a five years old boy named Laurie going for the first time to kindergarten. When he came home, after his first day of school, his parents asked him about school and if he had learnt something. He asked roughly that he had not learnt anything and that the teacher had spanked a boy for being fresh. His parents wanted to know the boy´s name and Laurie said it was Charles.

The following day Laurie told his parents that Charles had been bad again and had hit the teacher. The third day, Charles bounced a see-saw onto the head of a little girl. The rest of the week Charles´s behaviour had been even worse.

Laurie´s parents reflected on his behaviour, his toughness and bad grammar, seeing Charles as a bad influence to their son. They even thought of kindergarten being unsettling to him, but they just waited for him to come from school and tell them the news about Charles.

Charles´s behaviour was the same for a couple of weeks, yelling during story hour, hitting a boy in the stomach, kicking a teacher´s friend, and so on. However, during the third and four weeks Charles changed. Laurie told his parents that Charles had been so good that the teacher gave him an apple, and that he had been the teacher´s helper. Then things went back to normal, Charles told a girl to say a word, she said it and the teacher washed Charles´s mouth out with soup.

Laurie´s parents missed the first P.T. A meeting ( parent-teacher association ), but Laurie´s mum went to the second one, hoping to find Charles´s mother there. Although she scanned every face trying to find “the one” looking haggard, she could not find her. In addition, nobody mentioned Charles at the meeting. After the meeting she looked for Laurie´s teacher and she told her that Laurie liked kindergarten because he talked about it all the time. The teacher said that they had had a little trouble adjusting the first weeks, but now he was a helper, with occasional lapses. Laurie´s mum said that her son adjusted quickly but she added that she supposed it was Charles´s influence this time. “Charles?” asked the teacher, we don´t have any Charles in the kindergarten.”

This short story should be useful for parents as a way of reflection about their children misbehaviour. There is a trend nowadays to blame classroom mates at school or teachers, avoiding the real problems children have at home.

QueenV.

Mrs. Dalloway

In this novel, three stories of three different people are developed at the same time. The first one is about Clarissa Dalloway, an upper-class housewife, who is about to give a party for all her friends, something that makes her feel really anxious. When she returns from flower shopping, an old suitor and friend, Peter Walsh, drops by her house unexpectedly. Years earlier, he proposed to her but she refused, a fact he never forgot. Peter asks Clarissa if she is happy with her husband, Richard, but before she can answer, her daughter, Elizabeth, enters the room. Peter leaves and goes to Regent’s Park where he thinks about Clarissa’s refusal, which still obsesses him. After that, there is a shift in the story towards Septimus, a veteran of World War I who was injured in trench warfare and now suffers from shell shock. Septimus and his wife, Lucrezia, pass time in Regent’s Park while waiting for Septimus’s appointment with Sir William Bradshaw, a celebrated psychiatrist, who thinks Septimus is crazy and decides to send him to a mental institution. As he doesn’t want to go because he thinks the doctors would destroy his soul, he jumps from a window and dies. The third important character that appears in the novel is Clarissa’s husband, Richard. Richard Dalloway eats lunch with Hugh Whitbread and Lady Bruton, members of high society. After lunch, Richard returns home to Clarissa with a large bunch of roses. He intends to tell her that he loves her but finds that he cannot, because it has been so long since he last said it. All these three characters meet at Clarissa’s party, which turn up to be a success. Everyone is enjoying the party but Clarissa, who feels dissatisfied by her own role and acutely conscious of Peter’s critical eye. Sir William Bradshaw arrives late, and his wife explains that one of his patients, the young veteran (Septimus), has committed suicide. Clarissa retreats to the privacy of a small room to consider Septimus’s death. She identifies with Septimus, admiring him for not compromising his soul and she feels, with her comfortable position as a society hostess, responsible for his death. The party is about to end when Clarissa enters the room to say goodbye to the guests.

Sun

My son the fanatic

This story written by Hanif Kureishi tells us about the conflict between a father and his son. Parvez is a Pakistani immigrant who is living with his wife and his son, Ali, in London. The story begins with Parvez worries about his son´s behaviour which has changed significantly. Parvez discuss his worries with his friends and they come to the conclusion that Ali is taking drugs. On the contrary, Ali´s attitudes have nothing to do with drug´s adiction, but with the fact that he wants to keep his identity by practising his religion strictly. Besides, Ali is very upset with his father because he is "too implicated in Western civilization" and he breaks the Koran’s rules by drinking alcohol and eating pork.
Personally, I think this story is really interesting because it shows us that wherever you are you have to keep your own roots in order to avoid losing the characteristics, beliefs and feelings that distiguish you from other people in a society which is not yours. In other words, “keep your ancestors´traditions to avoid losing your identity.”

Bryana

BOOKS ON WHEELS

This is about a project on reading, but not as a skill, or a subject matter. It means Reading for pleasure. The writer reminds about having been read some books by her mother, and realized that most children don't visit bookshops to "choose the book to read at bed". That's why she thought to implement this project at her school, "Books on Wheels club". The fist aim is that children get in contact with books. So, she stated a day for reading, chose a quiet place at school and brought pillows for them to sit on. Children listen attentively and then they work with it.They make a book trolley, decide the difficulty of the book ,through using traffic light system, they write their impression of that reading,etc. After the class each pupil can take one book for reading at home. Through these experiences students develop their creativity, their imagination, self-confidence, accuracy, fluency and at the same time they discover a fascinating worl of magic. It seems an interesting project. It might be a nice experience. Good Luck!

Kelro

The catcher in the rye (J D Salinger)

It was one of the most censored books in the story of the United States ,due to several things:a vulgar language,sexual references,blasphemy,moral codes,and so on.(taught in public schools).This story starts at a mental institution and consequently,it immerses the reader in the profound mystery of his tragic life ...and ending.The main character ,Holden Cauldfield,tells the story in first person.He was expelled from the prep school in December of his school days.His teacher,Mr Spencer,informs him of his expulsion,Holden goes to visit him,who is very ill.He feels misunderstood by the entire society,out of context,lost,alone,specially as regards his family. There is a contrast of him in the story,that is his successful brother,that he calls "prostitute",because of his work,in which he sells himself in the city to reach what he wants.His brother is a writer ,that lives in Hollywood,and is called Jaguar ,like the car.He is a phony man.Interesting?Maybe this information is not enough to understand the story ,but it is a start.

Sky

“A story for Christmas”

Last Christmas I felt a strong will to read a short story or novel. So, I looked at my collection of "books to be read... someday" and I discovered the one , the perfect story for the occasion."A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an extremely insensitive and antisocial businessman that has devoted his life to work very hard and hoard money. But during the Christmas Eve, he is visited by four spirits that change his life for ever.

The first one is his dead best friend and partner Jacob Marley, the man for whom he had managed "Scrooge and Marley" firm for many years. Jacob reappears in Scrooge´s life to explain to him that every man has to walk among the others. So, if it does not happen in life, he has to do it once dead. That is why Marley´s soul is condemned to wander among the living. But luckily for Scrooge, Marley´s phantom also foretells the arrival of three more ghosts that will show Scrooge the correct way for him to avoid suffering from the same condemnation.

The second ghost is the Ghost of Christmas Past. It carries him back to many places where he had spent his childhood, adolescence and early adulthood. Thus, they witness old Ebenezer Scrooge´s moments at school and home; they see Ebenezer Scrooge´s friends, his girlfriend and his family. Throughout this journey, the aim of the spirit is to remind Mr. Scrooge about his old life-style, feelings, and happy experiences; and to force him to think about his past actions.

The third ghost is the Ghost of the Christmas Present. This spirit conducts Scrooge to the city streets at Christmas morning when people are having fun and sharing moments of joy. Then, they go to visit Scrooge´s clerk and his family –poor but sweet and honest people whose youngest child is severely ill. Since they have serious problems with money, the little boy cannot have the especial medical treatment he needs. The wealthy but greedy Scrooge had always refused to help them; but now, he experiences the flavour of regret.

The fourth ghost is the Ghost of the Christmas Future. It is the most frightening specter because it never speaks to Scrooge but uses one finger to point to the things for Mr. Scrooge to look at them. They go to Scrooge´s mourning where everybody is stealing some of his possessions –except for his niece and his clerk. Thus, he realizes that since he had inflicted such cruelty on people, he receives the same treatment. Almost nobody felt sadness when he died, nor did they miss him. He clearly sees that he has passed away leaving no loving memories in the others.

Mr. Scrooge learnt the lesson. After the ghosts visits he was not any more the man he used to be. His heart was laughing and his goodness was overflowing. He made amends for his wrong actions and from that moment onward his Christmas spirit was the most shining of the town. So, this year when December comes, if you feel the Christmas spirit growing inside you, I recommend you to read Dicken´s story. I believe it is quite easy to follow. What is more, perhaps you could have something to learn from it.

Lorna

Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift

Gulliver's Travels is a novel written in 1774. The novel recounts the story of Lemuel Gulliver, a practical-minded Englishman who is a surgeon. Gulliver takes to the sees when his business proved to fail. Gulliver's Travels is narrated in the first person and does not show any sign of deep emotional response or self reflection. Gulliver narrates the adventures that befall him on these travels. Gulliver's adventures in Lilliput starts when he wakes after his shipwreck to find himself bound by many tiny threads and addressed by tiny captors. His captors are in awe of Gulliver but fiercely protectiveof their kingdom. Although they use violence against Gulliver with their tiny arrows, they are hospitable and risk famine in their land and still feed him. Lilliputians get to abore Gulliver because they consider him to be different, since he cracks eggs in a very different way. Later Gulliver is convicted of treason for putting out a fire in the royal palace with his urine and is condemned to be shot in the eyes and starved to death. Gulliver is able to escape to Blefuscu, where he repairs a boat and set sail to England. He stays in England with his wife and family for two months, and then he undertakes his next sea voyage. He goes to a land of giants called Brobdingnag. The natives treats him as little more than an animal, keeping him for amusement. Gulliver is sold to the queen by a farmer. Gulliver feels repulsion for the physicality of the Brobdingnagians, whose ordinary flaws are magnified by their huge size. Gulliver feels startled by the ignorance of the natives, even the king knows nothing about politics. Fortunately, Gulliver leaves the place when his cage is plucked by an eagle and dropped into the sea. Gulliver sets sail again, and after being attacked by pirates, ends up in Laputa, where a floating island onhabited by theoreticians and academics oppresses the land below, called Balnibarbi. The scientific research undertaken in Laputa and Balnibarbi proves to be totally impractical, and its residents too appear to be wholly out of touch with reality. Gulliver sail to Japan and from there back to England. In his fourth journey, Gulliver sets out as captain of a ship, buy after the mutiny of his crew and a long confinementin his cabin, he arrives to an unknown land. The land is populated by Houyhnhnms, rational-thinking horses who rule and by yahoos, brutish creatures who serve the Houyhnhnms. Gulliver learns their language and then he narrates his voyages and explains the constitution of England. The horses treat him with great courtesy and kindness and is enlightened by his many conversations with them and the exposure to their noble culture. The horses finds him similar to a Yahoo, and he is banished. Gulliver leaves the place and arrives in an island, where he is picked by a Portuguese ship captain that treats him well. Gulliver can not help seeing all humans as shamefully Yahoolike. Gulliver concludeshis narrativewith a claim that the lands he has visited belongs by rights to England, as her colonies, even though he questions the whole idea of colonialism. The novel is a satire of the society of the period in England. Where people were too much concentrated on superficial matter, and science. Moreover colonialism was a very importan aspect for England. I recommend reading this novel since it is very fanny and imaginative.
Angels.

A sweet story for a gloomy afternoon

Do you like stories? Well, this one is somehow connected with the Apollo Landing in 1969. But in fact, it goes beyond that event. It has to do with family relationships, childhood, memories, affection. Though it is written in Spanish, I think it worth reading; but remember, your comments must be in English. The name of the story is "El abuelo en la Apolo". Click HERE to read it.

Anahí

Warrior's Song by Catherine Coulter

Warrior's Song is a romantic novel. The novel depicts the eighteen years old princess Chandra de Avenell. Although Chandra looks like a delicate golden princess, she fights like a warrior. Moreover this beautiful blue eyed girl wears a warrior's pride and wants to be free and independent for ever. She does not want to get marry in order to help and protect her father who taught her to fight as a man.
Chandra's father chooses her a husband, Sir Jerval de Vernemon. Her father considers Chandra can not live as a man because she is a beauty. The moment Sir Jerval is introduced to Chandra he gets mad in love with her, however, Chandra likes him as a friend and enjoy riding with him. The
Chandra gets maried to Jerval against her will and threatend by her father. Chandra leaves her kingdom to settle down in her husband's kingdom. Jerval is so deeply heart with her wife's behavior that he even hits her once so that she stops running away early in the mornigs to be in the forest or doing different warrior's activities.
At the end of the novel Chandra is really in love with her husband. She is able to be loyal to her husband after facing really hard situations that make her realize that war and fighting are not something to be proud about since many innocent people die. She is pregnant and they are terrifically happy.
I highly recommend the novel because it depicts the limited possibilites women had many centuries ago. In addition, Warrior's Song also shows that women in some countries were treated just as sexual objects that can be taken for rich men without any kind of consideration.

Angels