まろまろ記

I have uploaded “By Shakespear” to maromaro words.
Then you can use it insted of “up to you”, if you would like to .

“Frog and Toad Are Friends”, written by Arnold Lobel, Harpercollins Childrens Books, 1970.

“Frog and Toad Are Friends” is composed of 5 short stories which are dialogue of friendship between Frog and Toad.
They are an odd, but endearing couple, and hop along through stories.
Every story goes rhythmical, and even impressive.

My favorites in the book are “SPRING”, “THE STORY” and “THE LETTER”.

“SPRING” was comical, in which Frog (the one is more cheerful and smarter) uses his wit to convince Toad (the one thinks things in negative way) that it is time to wake up.

“THE STORY” was humorous and heart-warming.
In this story, Toad struggles to think up a story to make ailing Frog feel better.

The last one, “THE LETTER” was touching.
Frog tries to send a letter to Toad who is waiting mails day after day.
Frog asks a snail to carry it and it takes 4 days.
Everyone knows snails are the slowest creatures alive!

I love this book

check the amazon

２００８　１２／２２
洋書、絵本、English
まろまろヒット率4

annotation; this readingdiary was assisted by maropro.

I have uploaded “nice to meat sauce” to maromaro words .

“Gallop!”, written by Rufus Butler Seder, Workman Publishing, 2007.

This book is not only a picture book or a pop-up book.
It has to be called a “scamination picture book”.
The “scamination picture book” is a book which you can see charactors moving along fliping over pages.
I have never seen that kind of book.

This book impacted me “wow!” first, and warmed my heart the last.

check the amazon

２００８　１２／９
洋書、絵本、English
まろまろヒット率4

annotation; this readingdiary was assisted by maropro.

maromaro@when somebody asks me whether I can communicate in English, I recently answer “Are you look down on me? I am even able to say ‘I am a pen ’”.

“Big Fish” written by Daniel Wallace Pocket Books 2004.

There are two main characters in the book.
The father who likes to tell jokes and tales as a boaster.
The other is the son who does not like the father`s jokes and tales.
The son finally start to listen to the father`s jokes and tales, when he knew the father has short time to left…

As “fish story” means big talk and boast, the title “Big fish” is an extream boaster.
The main theme of this story is to understand between the father and the son, who have different personalities.
The last part of this story was toched for me as a reader.
I think it does not matter the jokes and tales are real or not.
The important thing is there are truth or not.

check the amazon

２００８　６／１７
小説、洋書、English
まろまろヒット率4

annotation; this readingdiary was assisted by maropro.

maromaro@as just a song, I like “L’Internationale” (The Internationale) .

“Animal Farm” written by George Orwell Penguin Books 2000 (orignal first published 1945).

There was a farm which was possessed by masters of human being.
One day, animals on the farm did revolt against human masters.
Animals got the farm by themselves and found “Animal Farm” of the animals, by the animals, for the animals.
“Animal Farm” had equal and ideal principle and it seemed like a utopia nation for animals.
Animals, however, started power struggles and changing principle by themselves…

This book is one of the most famous novels of George Orwell.
The story said how revolution`s ideal is disrupted by revoluters themselves.

It is mainly modeled after the Rossian Revolution.
But history proves any revolution proceed through as like “Animal Farm”.
I have felt melancholy but could not deny tha sad story when I have finished reading :’-( .

check the amazon

２００７　１２／３
小説、洋書、English
まろまろヒット率3

annotation; this readingdiary was assisted by maropro.

まろまろ＠実家にいる猫のホームズ(推定17歳以上)もかなりビッグファットキャットです。

さて、『ビッグ・ファット・キャットの世界一簡単な英語の本』向山淳子+向山貴彦 with studio ET CETRA著、たかしまてつを絵(幻冬舎)2001。

英語で論文をつまみ読みするだけでなく、ちゃんと英語の本も通読していこうと本を探していたら、
ペーパーバック紹介サイトなどでよくオススメ本として紹介されていたので手に取った英語の解説書。

英文の仕組に注目した解説本なので英文法の本に分類されているけど、
「言語は生き物で、本来はルールも文法もなく、慣例のみが存在するもの」として、
教科書的な文法ではなく小説などに出てくるアレンジの読み取り方なども解説している。

「英語を聞き取れないのは、発音が分からないからでも速度が速すぎるからでもなく、その文を見たことがないから」、
逆に「英語を聞き取ってもらえないのは、発音が悪いからではなく、文を切るところ(息継ぎの場所)がおかしいから」
というスタンスで英文を読みこなすことが上達の近道だとしている。

読んでみると例文に連続性があって、全体を通して一つの物語(big fat cat)になっているのが特徴的。
その物語がけっこうおもしろいので、最後は英文法だけでなく物語として読み終えた充実感がある。

また、イラストも充実しているので内容がイメージしやすかった。
特に化粧品(冠詞)と接着剤(前置詞)はどうしても日本語には訳せないし無理に訳すと変になるけど、
英語のニュアンスをつかむためにはイメージできるようになる必要がある。
そこで、たとえば・・・
“a”と”the”はその単語にスポットライトをどう当てるかの違い
→”a”=ぽつんとしたスポットライト
→”the”=華やかなスポットライト
・・・とイラストで紹介しているのは、なるほどと感じた。

「言語を学ぶ魔法の手段はありません。でも、言語自体は魔法です。時間も距離も越え、人と人をつなぐ人類最大の発明品です」
とする著者の姿勢に共感を持った一冊でもある。

ちなみに「世界一簡単」とあるけれど、本当に初心者には難しいので中級者以上にオススメ。

この本をamazonで見ちゃう

２００７　１１／３０
語学、英語
まろまろヒット率3

LOVENABE@boring virus mails.

“GUCCI-Business in Fashion-” written by PAOLA TRIMARCO Penguin Readers 2001.
This book is a story of “GUCCI”, one of the most famous brand companies.

Although I have never owned a GUCCI product, the cool cover design
of this book caught my eye at the book store, and I was tempted to buy it.
This (temptation to buy at first sight) is called “JAKEGAI” in Japanese .

The book was about how the GUCCI brand started off, and how it is managed today.
I was especially interested in the start for the GUCCI as a bland.

GUCCI’s first store was very small and had no original logo.
It took a long while for the GUCCI GG logo from a shape of a stirrup.
I was astonished by the amount of time it takes to establish a brand.

Reading this book gave me a fresh view of my own brand “MAROMARO”.
It’s a tiny enterprise, but even GUCCI was so in the past .

check the amazon

２００４　４／１
洋書、ブランドマネイジメント、English
まろまろヒット率3

annotation; this readingdiary was assisted by maropro.

LOVENABE@KOISHIKAWA, Japan.

“The Day of the Jackal” written by FREDERICK FORSYTH
Penguin Readers 1999(orignal first published 1971).

This is a very famous book.
I was interested in this book even before I’ve had a fetish about
catchy book titles.
Maybe I was so since I was a high school student.

The story was about a battle between two men.
One man, whose code-name, is Jackal was to assassinate the Frecnh
president, General de Gaulle.
The other one, the detective Lebel chased Jackal.

I liked this story because I was always interested in stories of
battles between these kinds of men,
such as chasing stories of a smart spy or criminal and a smart cop.
Also, the way the author writes was very thrilling.
One of thrilling pary was…
“As the two men looked towards each other unknowing across the Seine,
the Paris church clocks sounded midnight. It was now 22nd August.”…
The Day of the Jackal captured my mind and heart while reading.

check the amazon

２００４　３／９
小説、洋書、English
まろまろヒット率3

annotation; this readingdiary was assisted by maropro.

LOVENABE@somehow managed to remove.

“The Adventures of TOM SAWYER” written by MARK TWAIN
Oxford University Press 2000(orignal first published 1876).
This book is one of the most popular old literature in the United States,
and captured its popularity in Japan in cartoon TV shows.
Despite of its popular background, since I remember litle of it,
I opened this book again.

The story tells that how the boys attain to live happily
with their wisdom and encouragement in overall.
Their quick-witted actions exhilarated me.
I was also interested in “ABOUT THE AUTHOR” section at the end of the book.
When author was working as a guard of the Mississippi river,
“Mark Twain” was named.
The term of “Mark Twain” simply means “4 fathoms of water”.
This fact suprised me.

And this is the first book since I have removed to Tokyo.
So, I think my life is like a little adventure:-D

check the amazon

２００３　3／３０
洋書、文学、English
まろまろヒット率3

annotation; this readingdiary was assisted by maropro.

LOVENABE@have got my room in the Tokyo, I`m relieved:-)

“The Firm” written by JOHN GRISHAM Penguin Readers 1995
(orignal first published 1991).
The writer is one of the most popular novelist in contenporary America.
The story is famous as a movie too, but I have not watched it.
That` why I was excited reading this book.
The stage on the book is a laywer`s firm as title
and the leading part is a young lawyer.
He is involved in a big plot and fight it…it is this story.
However this book interested me, various characters,
complexd relations and professional terms confused me:’(
So, I think this book is a good text for comprehension of English.

check the amazon

２００３　２／２４
洋書、小説、English
まろまろヒット率3

annotation; this readingdiary was assisted by maropro.

I will write reading diary in English when I read English books,
LOVENABE@please tell me if you find some mistakes
or know more appropriate terms.

“The Scarlet Letter” written by NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE
Penguin Readers 2000(orignal first published 1850).
This book is one of the most famous american literatures
and known as “緋文字(HIMOJI)” in Japan.

“Hester Prynne” who is the heroine of this story
must put “A”, means “adulteress”, on her dress.
Because her daughter “Pearl”`s father nobady knows and Hester never say.
Who is her father?, this is a basis on the story.

I think this story says a woman who tried to live strongly and truthfully.
I remember that I was moved when I finished reading this book.
Last phrase in this book impressed me, “But not today”.

check the amazon

２００３　１／２７
文学、洋書、English
まろまろヒット率4

annotation; this readingdiary was assisted by maropro.