Different World

Samantha is a 18-year-old girl who cannot hear anything because of her illness. She fell in love with a guy who works at the store in front of her house. She goes to the shop to meet him, but she can't say anything to him. One day, she meets him at a party and gets along with him. She feels very happy, though a girl who calls herself his girlfriend appears in front of Samantha and says, 'You can't make him happy because you can't hear his music which means the world to him!'. Samantha is very shocked by her words. She feels she lives the different world from him.

Boku ha benkyou ga dekinai

I borrowed this book from one of my friends. Now I miss Japanese novels more than any other things! I can see now how much I like Japanese sentences. I knew that I like reading very much and I also like reading in English, but I didn't know I like Japanese Language so much! I guess it is impossible for me to live without Japanese books. I was very happy when I got this book from my friend and I already finished the book in 2 days. I tried to take a long time to read it because I have no other books to read, but I couldn't help myself.

The main character in this novel is a 17-year-old boy Hidemi Tokita, who is not good at studying but loved by many girls. He likes playing soccer and has a good relationship with an elder woman who works at a bar. He doesn't care if people call him stupid, because he doesn't think it is important whether people get good marks on their tests or not. He has his original sense of value, same as his grandfather and mother.

I like Hidemi's relationship with his family. It seems little strange at first sight, because the have very different sense of value from other people. Though they never care about it and proud the way they live. I think they live very honestly, and that's why they can trust and love each other. I think they are precious family.

To improve my writing

I borrowed these books from KGU's library because I want to improve my writing skill. I think my writing is better than before. It is not so difficult to write some plane sentences in English now. But still, it is difficult for me to write smooth sentences. My sentences are often starts with same subject. I don't like that. It looks like the sentences a little child writes. So I borrowed these books and learned from them. One of them is the book for English discussion but I think I can use some phrase when I write logical papers. The other book called 'Eigo de kaku kihon ga minituku hon' is very useful. I learned many things I'd wanted to. I think it will help my writing very much. If you worry your writing skill, I recommend this book!

Sara Says No!

Norman Whitney

This is the story about a daughter and her father who sell fruit at a market. Sara's father is not honest. He always cheats his customers for money. Sara tells him not to do that but her father just keeps saying that's for their life. Sara says a prayer in her room for her and her father. Then, the next morning, a strange thing happens. Every fruits Sara's father touches goes bad! It makes him cannot sell fruits by his hands anymore. Sara starts to sell fruits instead of him. She is honest, and makes a lot of money. Sara's father stays home and does all house works instead of her. He says 'It's also a life'.

The Singer Not The Song

Liz Driscoll

Tony, Rob and Cindy are all members of Tony's band, Trio. One day, Tony gets a phone from the record company. They wants the band to make the first record. Cindy and Tony are very excited to hear it. Though, Rob is not that happy because he loves Cindy but she's not interested in him. Rob writes a beautiful song. It is the song for Cindy. Rob tells her that, but Cindy tries not to understand what he's meaning. Three of them practice for their first recording. They gets tired and are hungry, so Rob goes to buy their lunch, but he doesn't go back. He has an accident and dies. Cindy feels guilty because she's never tried to listen him. She can't sing Rob's song now. Tony also loves Cindy but he doesn't know what he can do for her. He decides to have his first solo concert without Cindy but he's very nervous. Cindy comes to his concert, and then she realizes what is important. It's the singer not the song.

I hadn't expected but it was a serious story. It was surprised to me. Do you think it is a serious story from this book cover? I wonder why the cover is the one scene of stories. Is it a corner-cutting or something? Besides, these pictures are very strange.

The Fisherman and his Soul

Oscar Wilde

A young fisherman catches a beautiful little mermaid. The mermaid says him to leave with crying and promises that she comes and sing for him whenever he calls her. He calls her every evening and he's in love with her. One evening, he calls her and asks her to marry him. But the mermaid says him 'I can't marry you because you have a human soul. Send away your soul, and then I can love you.' He wants to marry her so decides to send away his soul. Early the next morning, the fisherman went to the priest's house and ask him how he can send his soul away. But priest gets angry and says 'You shouldn't do that. The soul is as precious as all the gold in the world.' Then, he goes to meet the witch and ask the same question. She gives him some conditions. After that, the witch gives him a knife and says him cut his shadow with it. He does as she says. Then his soul says to him 'Don't send me out.' but the fisherman's mind aren't changed. His soul says 'Don't send me away without a heart. Please give your hart.' but he doesn't give it to his soul. His soul says him ' Once every year I will come to this place and call you' and goes to journey. After a year, the soul comes to the sea and calls the fisherman. The soul talks about his journey to East for wisdom and says 'Let's go there together', but the fisherman says 'Love is better than wisdom' and goes back to the sea. After the second year, the soul comes to the sea and calls the fisherman. The soul talks about his journey to South for precious and says 'Let's go there together' but fisherman says 'Love is better than riches.' and goes back to the sea. After the third year, the soul comes to the sea and calls the fisherman. The soul talks about his journey. 'I saw the girl dancing. It was really marvellous.' Then the fisherman remembers the mermaid has no feet and can't dance. He decides to go with his soul. They begins their journey together, but his soul always tell him to do bad things. The fisherman asks his soul 'Why you tell me to do bad things?' Then his soul says 'That's because you didn't give me a heart.' He tries to send his soul away but he can't do that two times. The soul tell him to do bad things again and again, but he doesn't listen. He just wait for the mermaid. But when he sees the mermaid, she already died. His soul tells him to run away from sea, but he doesn't move. He is dead in the water and the body of the little mermaid was in his arm.

I borrowed this book from stage1 corner but it is thick and I couldn't understand some words. However, I could understand the main story and the pictures are good! I especially like those two pictures.

The Book about Japan

I borrowed an interesting book from the library. A lot of English sentences about Japan are in this book. I heard most of people who went to foreign countries got embarrassed that they can't explain their own country. I'm going to go to Australia, so I should learn more about Japan before that. That's why I borrowed this book...well, it's not true. I'm not that earnest person. I borrowed it just because I taught some of sentences are interesting.
Anyway, there are a lot of things I haven't know. For example, do you know why temples ring bells 108 times in New Year's Eve? (actually, I haven't even know that it's 108 times...) Because it means removing the 108 worldly desires. According to Buddhist teachings, it seems people have 108 worldly desires. Can you see what 'worldly desires' means? It's 'bonnou' in Japanese. (for me, it's wow that 'bonnou' is called 'worldly desires' in English. Is it really collect expression?)
This book also teaches about Japanese monsters in detail. It says 'Sometimes demons ('oni' in Japanese) appear in the world disguised as handsome men or beautiful women.' I haven't know that they disguise and appear in the world. I think the parts of ' handsome' and 'beautiful' are the most important point. I should be careful.
It also says 'In Kanto and Tohoku, it was believed the One-eyed boy appeared in the evening of the eighth day of the second month and the eighth day of the twelfth month of the lunar calendar.' Wow! Have you known this? Of course I haven't at all. I wonder do some people from Kanto or Tohoku know this? I want to ask if I meet them...
Well, I think some sentences in this book are useful and some of them are very maniac... I like it! I'll read this book more.

The House on the Hill

Elizabeth Laird

Paul goes for a walk and meets a beautiful girl Maria. She lives in The big white house on the hill, she says. She is very rich. Paul loves her but he is poor. One evening, Paul gives her the poem he made for her and tells her 'I love you.' Then Maria tells 'I love you' to Paul. It makes him very happy. The next day, Paul and Maria meet again by the river. He takes her hand and propose her. Maria Shakes her head and runs away with tears. Paul can't understand her. When Paul is in his house, a servant comes his house and he takes Paul to Maria's house. Paul meets Maria and her mother there. Maria's mother is an ugly and cold woman, Paul thinks. She tells Paul that Maria's going to be married and Paul will never get Maria. Maria says 'I love you Paul, but I can't marry you. I want money. I don't want to be poor.' Paul is very shocked and can't eat anything for the long time. One day, He sees a picture of Maria and her husband on a news paper. He turned the newspaper over, and then he finds an advertisement. It is about a story competition. Paul thinks it's a chance for him. He write the story of Paul and Maria and sent it to the newspaper. Two weeks later, a letter comes from the newspaper. He wins. He gets a lot of money and a job on the newspaper. Paul loves his job and works hard, but still he loves Maria. One day, he hears the news that Maria ran away from her husband and Maria's mother dead. Paul is surprised to hear that. He goes to the funeral of Maria's mother, and after that, he goes to the house on the hill. He meets Maria there and ask her why she married and left her husband. She answered it with cold eyes. She looks like her mother. Then, Paul realizes she never loved him and he never loved her. He just loved her beauty.

I think Maria is right in some ways. You shouldn't marry to poor person if you don't want to be poor. I think money is not all but it's very important to live. This is not the happy ending love story. Paul loves wrong girl and it doesn't work, but I think it's not so bad thing. He had nothing before he meets Maria. He had no job, no money. Though he gets a good job and a lot of money because of her. I know of course he strove for it. If he didn't, this story became a very sad story.

Photo Finish

Polly Sweetnam
Lisa has a plan to go to Greece with her good friend Alice. They go to a post office to get their passport but Lisa doesn't have any photos for it. She need to take her photo so she goes to a photo booth at the old bus station. She takes her picture there, but what she got from the slot is not hers. There is a murder in that photos! Lisa and Alice go to a police station and show the photos. The detective says the murder will go back to the photo booth to get his photos. Then they catch the murder.

Help!

Philip Prowse

Frank Wormold is a writer but he's never finished his books. He has no jobs to make money and his wife Teresa is angry about it. Frank gets the letter from American film makers. They like Frank's book called "Every Morning" and want to read the second half of it. However, Frank's not finished the book. The film company buy Frank the best computer to help with his work. But the computer helps him too much... He wants to ran away from the computer. He throw it to a river. Then, he woke up. It was a dream. Teresa gets back home from the work. He talks about his dream to her and wonders why he had that dream. Then he realizes that's because his wife looks unhappy and he doesn't want her to be. He tells that to Teresa. She smiles to hear that and says he is the most important to her and he should write the story about the dream. Frank gets a notebook and a pen to write the story.

I don't want to have the computer like that. If I had that annoying computer, I would throw it up like as Frank did.

Dawson's Creek (Shifting into Overdrive)

STORY

Dawson, Joey, Pacey and Jen are good friends and all teenagers.

Dawson and Joey have been close friends since they were children and Joey was Dawson's girlfriend. Now, Joey wants to be Dawson's friend, not a girlfriend. Then they broke up but still Dawson wants Joey to be his girlfriend.

One day, Jen asks Joey to her cousin's birthday party in New York City. Jen used to be Dawson's girlfriend and she broke up with him because she wanted him to be just a friend. Jen and Joey both need to leave from Dawson. They decide to go New York City together. Dawson knows this. He doesn't want Joey to meet other boys so he follows them with Pacey.

Dawson's Creek is the highly popular TV show. I saw three other books of this series at the library and I guess I borrowed the final one of it without noticing. ha ha. It is interesting to read because the story is about life, love, school and parents. Things about all young people have interest. I want to read other stories of this series. I'll do!

The Truth Machine

STORY
Professor Verity loves truth and hates lies. He made the Truth Machine. Soon, millions of people know this invention. A lot of people send him letters and then, he chooses Mrs Seeker, Inspector Sack and Dr Simple for his first clients.
Mrs. Seeker has a husband but he loves another woman. Mrs. Seeker wants to know who he loves and uses the Truth Machine. Then she gets to know that her husband loves her best friend. It is very shock to her.
Inspector Sack came to the laboratory with his boss and some criminals. He uses the Truth Machine and all criminals tell the truth. Inspector Sack can judge them very easily and there are no more work for him. Then, he loses his job.
Dr Simple came with a spy. Dr Simple wants him to tell the truth. However, the spy says"I always tel lies and that is the truth." These words confuse Dr Simple. He can't understand what is truth.
All clients get angry and tell Professor Verity to get their money back. Professor Verity refuse this. Then, clients use the Truth Machine and make Professor Verity tell the truth. Professor Verity says he wants success and money and power. He doesn't love truth at all. Inspector Sack takes out his gun and shots Professor Verity and Dr. Simple destroys the Truth Machine.


I don't think telling the lie is always bad or wrong thing. Sometime the truth hurts people and the lie help people. It depends on the situation. I don't always tell the truth of course, and I think it's not a problem.

Sally's Phone

Sally is always busy with her phone. Her boyfriend Andrew often calls and says to her what to do and what not to do. Sally always obey him. Sally has to meet Andrew's new boss and he says her to wear a blue skirt. He likes her blue skirt, but she can't wear it because it's dirty. She goes shopping with her friend to buy a new blue skirt, but she found a nice red skirt. Sally knows that Andrew doesn't like red but she decides to buy the red one. After she bought a skirt, she went to a cafe alone. She met Paul there. He is next to her and he accidentally takes Sally's phone. After that, they found out that they have different phones and promise to meet again to change their phones. Sally thinks Paul is nice and Paul thinks Sally is beautiful. He asks Sally to his sister's birthday party. Sally has to meet Andrew and his boss that day but she doesn't worry about it anymore. She takes her phone out and turn it off. Then, Sally and Paul go to the birthday party happily together.

Bad love

Flick Lain is a detective. She meets Dr. Jack Daly at a party. He is a doctor at the University of Colorado. He is a tall and handsome man. They talk a little, and the next Monday, he phones her and they promise that they meet on Friday. But Flick never saw Daly again because he is discovered dead in his office. Why and who killed him?

Emma

Emma is a beautiful, clever and rich woman. She loves matchmaking and thinks herself is a good matchmaker. But is she really always right?

Hotel Casanova

STORY
Dino Bracco is a man who works at a reception of a hotel. He is handsome and gentle. His mother used to say him 'You must know what you want' , and he did what she said. He made a plan. In this plan, he gets marry when he is twenty six and has his own hotel when he is thirty. His plan was good, but one day, a beautiful woman comes to the hotel and he falls in love with her. It changes everything.

The Escape and other stories

STORY

The escape
This is the story of one couple. They engaged but one day, Roger realizes he doesn't love Ruth! (oops!) He wants to break up with her but if he tells her that, he should pay a lot of money to her. He doesn't want to. So he thinks how he can escape from her.

Well, I see what Roger feels but I think he should tell Ruth the truth. She is poor.

Louise
This is the story about a cruel and selfish woman Louise. She has a weak heart but, She takes advantage of it and always does what she wants.

I don't know if she really has a weak heart or not. Maybe she does, but I think she is very selfish because she is very unkind to other people. She always thinks about herself and doesn't care about anyone else.

The ant and the grasshopper
Many people know the story of the ant and the grasshopper. In this story, the ant which worked hard will be successful and the grasshopper which didn't work hard will do badly. But is it same in the real life?

I don't think you can always be success if you work hard in the real world. Sometimes, it happens that the grasshopper successes more than the ant. Though, it happens sometimes, I think.

The fall of Edward Barnard
Edward goes to Tahiti for two years on business. He has a girlfriend in Chicago and they promise that they will get married if he earn enough money and go back to Chicago. They write letters every month each other. Then two years pass, but he doesn't say anything about comming back in his letters.

What do you think about Edward Barnard? His girlfriend (I don't remember what her name.) says "He is poor", but you think he is poor? Maybe he lost a lot of things. His good job, good house, good clothes and credit by many people...But he really feels happy himself. I don't think it is a poor thing.

The blue cat club

What do you think this man in black tuxedo are doing? It is a very strange picture.

This picture is from a book called The blue cat club. You should read this book if you want to know what this man doing and what's the story like. It is a very thin book so you can read it in a few minutes.

I want you to look carefully this man's face. This book says "he is a friendly".
But...



You really think he is friendly ?!!
I think he is just a mean man!! LOOK!!!

Well, that's what I really want to say.
If you read this book, I want to know what do you think about this man.

The three musketeers

STORY
This is the story of d'Artagnan and three musketeers Porthos, Athos and Aramis. They fight bravely for their country France and for the king.

Well, I was shocked a little to read this story because I couldn't see that d'Artagnan is a righteous person. Maybe, he is not a bad man but I think he is a simple and very stupid person.
When his girlfriend Constance (actually, she's married but she loves d'Artagnan.) was kidnapped, he tried to help her out, but he met a beautiful Milady and fell in love with her! Then he completely forgot about Constance (what a man!) and tried to be close with Milady! He tricked Milady to love him. He lied to her but it turned out (actually, he confessed by himself. He is really stupid). Then, Milady got very angry for d'Artagnan's lie and tries to kill him.
Don't you think it is natural because d'Artagnan is wrong? I think it's all his fault.

Girl on a motorcycle

STORY

In a street in Los Angeles, someone robs a security guard outside a supermarket. The robber is somebody with long blond hair, and with motorcycle.

Kenny sees a woman with long blond hair at a motel. He tought he knows her face, but he can't remember who she is. Is she the robber or someone else?