Summary Pleasure Reading 6

Martin Eden
Summary 6.

As a result he roused himself and began glancing through his mail. There were a dozen requests for autographs — he knew them at sight; there were professional begging letters; and there were letters from cranks, ranging from the man with a working model of perpetual motion, and the man who demonstrated that the surface of the earth was the inside of a hollow sphere, to the man seeking financial aid to purchase the Peninsula of Lower California for the purpose of communist colonization. There were letters from women seeking to know him, and over one such he smiled, for enclosed was her receipt for pew-rent, sent as evidence of her good faith and as proof of her respectability. Editors and publishers contributed to the daily heap of letters, the former on their knees for his manuscripts, the latter on their knees for his books — his poor disdained manuscripts that had kept all he possessed

Summary Pleasure Reading 5

Martin Eden
Summary 5.

Once he made a trip to San Francisco to look up the “real dirt.” But at the last moment, as he stepped into the upstairs entrance, he recoiled and turned and fled through the swarming ghetto. He was frightened at the thought of hearing philosophy discussed, and he fled furtively, for fear that some one of the “real dirt” might chance along and recognize him.

Summary Pleasure Reading 4

 Martin Eden
Summary 4.

Thought Martin can’t understand that these works all are already finish, they haven't been changed as well as Martin himself. Why does everybody flatter him today? Finally, Ruth comes back. But Martin is completely discouraged. He is so disappointed that he tells her he doesn't want to see her any more. He no longer writes a character. He leaves all his money to his sister and his laundry room partner Egypt. Then he goes on a ship and jumps into the sea.

Summary Pleasure Reading 3

Martin Eden
Summary 3.

Anyway Ruth leaves Martin then. The only real friend of Martin, Brissenden, is dead now. At this time, a huge change happens in his life that the publication magazine starts to use his work actually. The publishing house in order to his reputation has also accepted he all sorts of harsh requests, all in all he became the famous writer.

Summary Pleasure Reading 2

Martin Eden.
Summary 2.

Then Martin Eden looks for Ruth, reads his work to her, asks her to judge. Ruth does not appreciate his work either. After is repeatedly defeated but he still persists to write. Gradually Ruth is losing the confidence to him, but Martin still attacks her and the people of the upper level of society. Martin sees Ruth and her family clearly. Once, they participates in the time which the socialist party person assembles by a tabloid reporter confusedly is interpolated in the report, becomes the anarchism leader, encounters the isolation and besieges.

Summary Pleasure Reading 1

Martin Eden.

Summary 1.

Martin Eden is a 21-year-old sailor, as a result of an accidental opportunity, he meets Ruth, falls in love with her, and with her family, her life. In order to match Ruth he works hard. He reads a plethora of books. Ruth helps him to study writing. Martin writes 40 drafts circling unceasingly throughout in various magazine company. He doesn't understand why his own works aren't accepted, but these have a liking for the spiritless thing always. 

Summary Individual Reading - 6

The Moon and Sixpence.

  It is Tiare who introduced Dr. Coutras to Crabbe. The doctor reveals Strickland's lst years that died of leprosy. Ata consider herself to be separated from the other people and decides her husband should live with her in isolation too. Anyway Dr. Coutras is allowed to have a visits to them. Several years later the doctor has a chance to visit them again and founds out Strickland is dead. The walls of the house inside are painted with Strickland's hand, it seems to the doctor so mysterious. Nevertheless Coutras feels such a great impression being recognized a kind of a genius in Strickland. 

  As the matter of fact Strickland himself makes him whole soul to penetrate into his last masterpiece. He releases the demon that has possessed him for many many years. Ata as she promised burns the house down after Strickland's death.

  As the result the narrator comes back to London and meets Mrs. Strickland, Strickland's ex-wife. The narrator founds out she has many of the reproductions of Strickland's paintings. Mrs. Strickland has grown-up children. For some unstated reason the narrator remembers Strickland's horrible death. Anyway his death is not in vain.

  

    

Summary Individual Reading - 5

The Moon and Sixpence.

Time passes by and Crabbe gets to Tahiti. Right there Stricland spend several years of his artistic life and finally becomes a famous person. Crabbe meets Nichols there. He is a captain who tells the conditions they lived with Strickland in the Marseille port. The captian also tells about Strickland's fleeing from Tough Bill's revenge. Some people in Tahiti deserve to call Strickland a tramp. Anyway they have sad feeling about Strickland's works that can be bought for a huge amount of money.

The story teller settles in the Tahitian hotel for a while. It is seventeen year old girl Ata who tells the narrator that she knows Strickland enough. The fact is that Strickland spends his three years in a happy way. He continues to paint.

Summary Individual Reading - 4

The Moon and Sixpence.

Some time later after it was Stroeve who reports about his decision to come back home to the Netherlands. Anyway he also reports that he saw Strickland after the wife's death. Meanwhile dirk says he founds a Strickland's picture in the studio, it's not a secret anymore that Blanche is depictedin it in the nude way. So the burst of jealousy comes as he wants to destroy the picture.

As a result here comes the month that passes by while Crabbe meets Strickland. He doesn't feel remorse at all for the death of Blanche. And as a result Strickland feels no pity for destroyed life of Stroeve. He has never wanted to separate Blanche and Stroeve but to use Blanche as an artist's model. He is not interested in women at all. Fluently Strickland decides to show the paintings by him to Crabbe. The effect of it has a strong impression on the narrator in a certain way. Paintings are so ugly for him. Anyway there's something interesting and touchy in it. Crabbe has never seen him again.

Summary Individual Reading - 3

The Moon and Sixpence.

12-24 chapters.
The story continues when Strickland and the story teller have some drink and they also have a nice talk. Strickland agrees with the fact he won't return to his wife as he doesn't love her and his children. The only desire he has is painting and the desire has been growing since he left his wife. The fact is that the author is very shoked, even frightened to see Strickland's answers strict and simple. The story teller leaves Paris and drive to Mrs Strickland to tell her everything he knows. Stricland's wife was shocked so much as she doesn't even know the reason that caused this idea to settle in Strickland's mind. Now she hates him from this very moment.

Summary Individual Reading - 2

The Moon and Sixpence.
6-12 chapters.

The author leaves his place and only comes back in autumn. When he is away Strickland leaves his family in order to move away to Paris. He has a girl as his companion. This event makes Strickland's wife ask the narrator to drive to Paris and find her husband. She wants him to come back home being dissapointed and strongly depressed. The story teller agrees and finally he finds Strickland in the hotel located in the suburbs. Strickland suggests him to have a drink. 

Summary Individual Reading - 1

The Moon and Sixpence.

1-6 chapters.

The author involves us into the world of Charles Strickland, the main character. The story teller is invited to have a breakfast with Strikland and his wife. The latter invites unusual people as a rule to their place. Anyway Strickland is quite far from literature and he is considered to be a kind of a boring person. At first sight it is really so as Strickland is seemed to be dull, ordinary but honest in a certain way. Neverthelessto have a chat with him is hardly possible. 

Film Review 4

The Great Gatsby (2013).

It is a 2013 romantic drama film. An adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel of the same name.

The Plot: Nick Carraway, a Yale University graduate and World War I veteran, is a depressed and disillusioned alcoholic staying in a sanatorium for treatment of his alcoholism. He talks about a man named Gatsby, describing him as the most hopeful man he had ever met. When he struggles to articulate his thoughts, his doctor suggests writing it down, since writing is what brings him solace.

When Nick calls the Buchanans to invite Daisy to Gatsby's funeral, he learns that she, Tom, and their daughter are leaving New York. Only the press, whom Nick chases out, attend the funeral. The media accuse Gatsby of being both the murderer and lover of Myrtle, leaving Nick as the only one who knows the truth. Evidently disillusioned with his fascination for the East Coast, he soon moves back to the Midwest to escape the disgust he feels for the people surrounding Gatsby's life, as well as the moral decay and emptiness of the wealthy of the East Coast. Back in the sanatorium, Nick finishes his memoir and titles it, "The Great Gatsby."

The film "The Great Gatsby" is a great example of the screen version by the Fitzgerald's novel, inspired by the parties he had attended while visiting Long Island's north shore, began planning the novel in 1923 desiring to produce, in his words, "something new — something extraordinary and beautiful and simple and intricately patterned." Progress was slow, however, and Fitzgerald completed his first draft following a move to the French Riviera in 1924. His editor, Maxwell Perkins, felt the book was too vague and convinced the author to revise over the next winter. Fitzgerald was ambivalent about the book's title, at various times wishing to re-title the novel Trimalchio in West Egg.

"The Great Gatsby" is a film of different actors and roles. Even Luhrmann himself said the results from the movie's workshop process of auditioning actors for roles in The Great Gatsby had been "very encouraging" to him. Leonardo DiCaprio was cast first in the title role of Jay Gatsby. Tobey Maguire was cast to play Nick Carraway.

 This is the movie, which makes think over itself and over the time and that is great I suppose.  

Film Review 3

Shakespeare in Love (1998).

Shakespeare in Love is a 1998 British romantic comedy-drama film directed by John Madden, written by Marc Norman and playwright Tom Stoppard. The film depicts a love affair involving playwright William Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes) while he was writing the play Romeo and Juliet.

The Plot: William Shakespeare is a poor playwright for Philip Henslowe, owner of The Rose Theatre, in 1593 London. After learning that his love was cheatingon him with his patron, Shakespeare burns the comedy and restarts, then writing Twelfth Night. Suffering from writer's block, he is unable to complete the play, but begins auditions for Romeo. A young man named Thomas Kent is cast in the role after impressing Shakespeare with his performance and his love of Shakespeare's previous work. Kent is actually Viola de Lesseps, the daughter of a wealthy merchant who desires to act but, since women are banned from the stage, she must disguise herself.
Viola and Shakespeare part, resigned to their fates. The film closes as Shakespeare begins to write Twelfth Night, Or What You Will imagining his love washed ashore in a strange land after a shipwreck and musing, "For she will be my heroine for all time, and her name will be...Viola", a strong young woman castaway who disguises herself as a young man.

So the original idea for Shakespeare in Love came to screenwriter Marc Norman in the late 1980s. He pitched a draft screenplay to director Edward Zwick. The screenplay attracted Julia Robertswho agreed to play Viola. However, Zwick disliked Norman's screenplay and hired the playwright Tom Stoppard to improve it (Stoppard's first major success had been with the Shakespeare-themed play Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead).

What is more I liked several scenes where Viola tries to act and she does it very well being a fancy artist.

To my mind Shakespeare in Love is a great example of modern way to attract young public and to make young generation read more classics and study the poets that made a pattern for many many genres and styles.

Film Review 2

The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Cast: Will Smith as Chris Gardner, Jaden Smith as Christopher Gardner Jr., Thandie Newton as Linda Gardner. 

Director: Gabriele Muccino.

Synopsis: In 1981 San Francisco, Chris Gardner (Will Smith) invests in portable bone-density scanners which he tries to demonstrate and sell to different doctors. The investment proves to be successfull, as a result, his wife Linda (Thandie Newton) doesnt believe in him and leaves Chris moving to New York. Their son Christopher (Jaden Smith) remains with his father as Chris has insisted on it. While downtown trying to sell one of his scanners, Chris meets Jay Twistle (Brian Howe), a manager for Dean Witter and impresses him by solving a Rubik's Cube during a short cab ride. Then Jay is impressed by Chris's potential and Chris has an opportunity to become the member of the society where Jay is. Then rought times come to the live of the father and the son. Almost a half of a year Chris has passed reading and learning. Finally he is called into a meeting with his managers. His work has paid off and he is offered the position. Hardly preventing himself from bursting into tears, he rushes to his son, hugging him. The end seemes to take place when Chris walks with his son Christopher  Jr. in such a successfull way, then the text lets us know Chris has become the multi-millioner owner of the famous firm. 

This film is an inspiration for me. I've watched this one several times.

Film Review 1

Shutter Island (2010)

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio as Edward "Teddy", Daniels Mark Ruffalo as Chuck Aule, Ben Kingsley as Dr. John Cawley, Max von Sydow as Dr. Jeremiah Naehring

Director: Martin Scorsese.

Synopsis: In 1954, two U.S. Marshals, Edward "Teddy" Daniels and his new partner, Chuck Aule, travel to the Ashecliffe Hospital in order to investigate the situation that concerned with the patient Rachel Solando who disappeared. After they arrive it was storm that prevented them from leaving this strange place. After they spend some time on this island "Teddy" meets Dr. Sheehan and Dr. John Cawley who try to make him be sure that there is no any patient called Rachel Solando. "Teddy" refuses to believe in this and continues his investigation alone. Suddenly he meets this patient hiding herself in the rocks. He believes her that she is not insane and gets to know about some experiments at the patients. 

Finally there is a question: was it really true? I mean the whole situation concerned with this missing woman... or was it an imaginary plot of dreaming "Teddy"?

This film is a great example of DiCaprio's acting mastery.

I like it very much and I believe everyone is ought to watch this film in order to think it over and invent new thoughts.

Rendering 16 Music

The history of rock music.

The headline of the article is "The History of Rock Music". The author of the article is Mihaela Schwartz. The article was published on the web site www.helium.com on May 04.2012. The article provides the information about the the foundations that laid by the rock and roll.

   In the beginning of the article the author states that people nowadays call rock is a musical genre that developed on the foundations laid by the rock and roll. The latter one has its roots in various styles of Afro-American music. When trying to trace the origins of rock music, we as back as the late 30s and to the big jazz bands of Count Basie and Jay Mc Shann. Their music, inspired by rhythm and blues, was afterwards popularized by black artists like Chuck Berry and Fats Domino, before being adopted by white singers such as Bill Haley and Elvis Presley.

   Mihaela also states in her article that the year 1954 featured by Bill Haley’s recording of “Around the Clock” (that remained number one in the U.S. for 8 weeks and went on to sell 20 million copies worldwide) is considered the official date when the rock music was born. The same year, Elvis Presley nicknamed The King issued one of earliest rock pieces – “That’s Alright Mama” – in which he introduced elements of country music. 

   The author in her article states that in the 60s, the rock music starts getting into Europe. The beginning of this decade is marked by several moves such as the first Rolling Stone’s concert in 1962 and the first hit of the notorious Beatles – Love Me Do. At the end of this decade, the sentimental words of rock songs give way to more committed texts, particularly under the influence of Bob Dylan - an artist whose work was influenced by the American folk.

  In conclusion the author gives us the information about this period that was also marked by major figures such as Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, The Who, Pink Floyd and Jefferson Airplane, all influenced by the hippie movement and by the emancipation events of the years 1968-1970 in the U.S. and Europe.

   In my opinion Mihaela is right to say that rock and roll music has some roots from the Afro-American culture. As for me I didn't know before this article about it.

Rendering 15 Music

Angelina Jolie's aunt Debbie Martin dies of breast cancer

The headline of the article is "Angelina Jolie's Aunt Debbie Martin Dies of Breast Cancer". The author of the article is Sam Jones The article was published on the web site www.guardian.com on May 27.2013. The article provides the information about Angelina Jolie's aunt has died of breast cancer less than two weeks afterthe Hollywood actor revealed that she had undergone a double mastectomy to avoid the disease that killed her mother at 56.

In the beginning of the article the author states Debbie Martin, 61, died in a hospital in Escondido, near San Diego, California, according to her husband, Ron. She was the younger sister of Jolie's mother, Marcheline Bertrand, whose death from ovarian cancer in 2007 prompted the actor to have the surgery she described in a New York Times article this month.

Then Sam reports that Jolie revealed that she had a defective gene, BRCA1, which significantly increased her risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. "Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and to minimise the risk," she wrote.

Anyway the author states that Ron Martin said his wife also carried the gene but had not been not aware of it until she was diagnosed with cancer in 2004. "Had we known, we certainly would have done exactly what Angelina did," he told Associated Press. Also the author states that Ron added that after developing breast cancer, his wife had her ovaries removed to minimise her chances of the disease returning.

The author adds that in the New York Times article, published on 14 May, Jolie explained how her mother's death had informed her decision to have surgery. "My mother fought cancer for almost a decade and died at 56," she wrote. "She held out long enough to meet the first of her grandchildren and to hold them in her arms. But my other children will never have the chance to know her and experience how loving and gracious she was."

In the very end of the article the author provides the information of Jolie's decision to share her experiences was widely praised. Wendy Watson, founder of the UK's National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline, said the article had helped to focus attention on the issue. "It is excellent, because it is the highest profile you can get for it," she said. "It raises the profile for other women to look to if they have a family history and would benefit from being screened more frequently, or having surgery or having a genetic test.

"She probably feels that undergoing the operation is common sense but it probably does take a certain amount of courage to face it."

In my opinion it is very sad because younger sister of Jolie's mother had defective gene but was not aware of it until cancer diagnosis in 2004.

Rendering 14 Music

Stormy Weather Can Set the Stage for Sounds Both Old and New

‘The Baroque Vanguard,’ at the Miller Theater

   The author of the article is Anthony Tommasini. It was published on April 30, 2013 on the page of the New York Times. The article provides the information about the Miller Theater at Columbia University has long been a hot spot for adventurous programming. But in promoting “The Baroque Vanguard,” the second of three concerts in the theater’s “Bach, Revisited” series, which took place on Saturday night, the presenters may have overstated its novelty.

   In the beginning of the article the author reports that the program was fresh and pleasurable. The lively harpsichordist Kristian Bezuidenhoutjoined Ensemble Signal, the dynamic New York-based contemporary-music group, under its conductor Brad Lubman. Just a week earlier on the same stage the ensemble had played a formidable program of works by the British composer Oliver Knussen, who was in attendance. Then Anthony states saturday’s concert opened and ended with wild pieces separated by 260 years, both inspired by stormy weather: “Chaos” by the French Baroque composer Jean-Féry Rebel was the first, and “Weather One” by the American composer Michael Gordon, written in 1997, the last. In between the ensemble played seldom-heard sinfonias by C. P. E. Bach and W. F. Bach and a well-known piece by their father, J. S. Bach: the Harpsichord Concerto in D minor.

   Futher the author emphasizes that mr. Bezuidenhout, as quoted in the program notes, promised that the combination of old and new works would make for “a very progressive and challenging” experience. But these days juxtaposing old and new music has become quite common.

  Then Anthony, the author of the article, states that still, “The Baroque Vanguard” was a good concert and it was inspiring to see the accomplished players of Ensemble Signal reveling in the 18th-century pieces. “Chaos,” from Rebel’s suite “Les Élémens,” depicts the emergence of the universe from turbulence. From the way it started you might have thought this was some crazy contemporary piece. Cosmic chaos is conveyed through gnashing tremolos and dissonant harmonies. As the music unfolds, the intensity subsides, but the overall flow remains radically formless, until strands of lines and inner voices slowly coalesce.

  In conclusion the author reports of Mr. Gordon’s “Weather One,” an engrossing 20-minute piece scored for six strings, opens with insistent riffs that repeat obsessively, though with strategic alternations and fractured bits. Chaotic weather is evoked through music that sputters, growls and tosses phrases into fits. In the context of this program the piece seemed linked in spirit to the era of extreme Baroque inventiveness.

  As for me I think that the Miller Theater at Columbia University is really an undoubtful spot for  programming. And I believe that more and more concerts will be played in this Theater. So if I had an opportunity to visit it, I wouldn't miss it.

Rendering 13 Music

Jessye Norman to Sing Ellington, Simone, Baker and More in Paris

The author of the article is PlaybillArts Staff. It was published on 01 Sep 2010, on the website www.playbill.com. This particular article provides us with the information about  Jessye Norman who a famous musician and performer who was going to give a concert in Paris.

In the beginning of the article the author gives the epigraph that states: "Acclaimed soprano Jessye Norman will make a rare appearance at Paris' historic music hall, the Olympia, November 19.". According to the text after her lyric career spanning forty years that took her to the great opera houses of the world, she returns to sing her songs of the Duke Ellington, Nina Simone, Josephine Baker, Ella Fitzgerald and others. 

Further the author states about the program: "My Baby Just Cares for Me, "J'ai deux amours," "Stormy Weather" and other jazz standards. So that 

The informer also states that the Olympia is hallowed ground for the world of song. There are mentioned some  musicians and producers such as Edith Piaf, Jacques Brel, Marlene Dietrich, Josephine Baker, Judy Garland and Charles Trenet. 

In conclusion the author tells that these famous people gave iconic concerts there, and many still available on recordings. Among other names treading those famed boards were Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, Luciano Pavarotti, the Beatles, the Jackson Five, James Brown and even Lady Gaga. 

In my opinion the performance is ought to be seen by many people who managed to hear about at least some of these people. If you are interested in music you can't but visit Paris and see the performance.