(YAP)Reading Note: The Catcher in the Rye

I’ve just finished a book which is brought from China as a souvenir: The Catcher in the Rye. Everything in this book is so real and so close to our life. Before I found out when the book was written, I always had a thought that it was a newly published one. Maybe I’m a little bit exaggerative, but it has really been a classic since it was born in 1951.

The leading character in this story is called Holden Caulfield, a 16-year-old young man, who has just been expelled from the high school Pencey, which was his fourth high school already. Holden is some kind of the Beat Generation in American history. Namely, he has the typical negative attitude towards society, speaking dirty slangs, talking about sex unashamedly, and satirizing everthing he doesn’t like. However, in contrast with those Beat Generation, Holden refuses drugs and looks down upon phonys, most importantly, he loves children and still holds a very pure dream and large goals.

The story developed as Holden left for New York, his hometown, without telling any of his families--elder brother D.B, a writer in Hollywood; rich parents and 10-year-old beloved sister Phoebe-- the fact of his dissmissal, and tells everything happened in his several days’ wandering in NYC, the strange or false people he has met, and all his mental changes.

My feelings ask me to tell you the truth that I began to read this book because I happened to have it with me; I continued reading after seeing those cynical words because this book is one which my very good friend gave to me, however, I finished it, because I loved it half way! It's nothing but a spirital match.

And here are some quotes I would like to share with you.
1.A feeling for leaving, which provides me with another idea:
"What I was really hanging around for, I was trying to feel some kind of a good-by. I mean I've left schools and places I didn't even know I was leaving them. I hate that. I don't care if it's a sad good-by or a bad good-by, but when I leave a place I like to know I'm leaving it. If you don't, you feel even worse. "( J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye, Chapter 1)
2.It's the end of this story, and I am just loving it:
"Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody. "(J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye, Chapter 26)

Stop Affecting (YSN)

An excellent satirical novel can not only make readers laugh ,but also make them feel ashamed and introspected.I think Milan Kundera's Life is Elsewhere is exactly this kind of novel.
I think every reader will laugh at the protagonist ,whose life is totally guided by his unpractical dream.He has a girlfriend but he doesn't suppose to love her at all.He just thinks that fall in love with an ugry and poor girl without caring her outlook and social position is very high-minded.And he enjoys the feeling that he himself is great very much.So he is together with the girl.Also,his affected poems are somethings that like advertisments;To make himself seems special as a poet chosen by god.Of course,he is moved by them very much.In addiction,his political attitudes,his way of speaking and even his death eventually are the reasults of his dreams.Live is elsewhere,for him,life is in his unpractical dreams.
Maybe for all of us,it does so,life is elsewhere,in the dream.That's what makes me feel ashamed after laughing at the protagonist.For me,I also have what to do can make myself special and high-minded in my mind,which sometimes makse me not me,instead,a laughable man.
We can see from our daily lives that there are countless people affecting all the time.Some people may like to be against with other's opinions,but from heart,they may not support the ideas they are talking about.They just want to be thoughtful and critical.Some people like to change their dressing styles all the time,although they don't like many of the styles.They just want to be in fashin or impress others that they have wide interests.
Stop affecting,be ourselves,by heart not by dreams.

Pride and prejudice (AW)

This week I have finished reading which is a rewrite story not Mr. Austen’s work. The story talks about Mrs. Bennet who had five daughters, they were old to marry, the oldest one, Jane, fell in love with their new neighbor, Mr. Bingley, but their engagement was interrupted by Bingley’s good friend Mr. Darcy. The hostess of this story, Elizabeth who was the second oldest one disgusted him, because of his proud, coldness, references to her inferior position and interference about the relationship between Mr. Bingley and Jane, through a conversation with Mr. Wickham who was a friend of Mr. Darcy, she knew how hateful Mr. Darcy was and she admired the charmed gentleman called Mr. Wickham, nonetheless Mr. Darcy pop the question to Elizabeth who was loved at first sight, she was astonished and felt nauseating by the proposal from this man at first. But she finally got the truth that Mr. Wickham was wicked that liked to destroy other’s reputation for his own benefit and he made Lydia who was Elizabeth’s sister to elope with him just wanted to have one piece of Mr. Bennet’s fortune, Mr. Darcy was a integrity person that he approved to pay money to Mr. Darcy which made them married, the reason why he disagreed her sister’s love was taken her foolish family into consideration which point was Elizabeth also thought so. At last, Mr. Darcy took these things out to love Elizabeth, began to respect her family. They and the couple, Mr. Bingley and Jane, both were married then enjoyed their happy life at the end of this story.
Though it’s a simple love story, I have a deeper interpretation on human characters. I believe everyone has prejudice about something or somebody, maybe you don’t notice it, but it’s a truth. We have two eyes, we use them to see, and it’s very easy to find other’s demerits but ignore own demerits, we will judge a person easily by his appearance and demerits outside not try to know his characters, maybe he is very warmhearted, wants to help you when you are stuck in trouble, but you think he will harm you because of the prejudice before, and you have pride that you are OK, it doesn’t matter, actually you really need help. So my friends, please take off the pride and prejudice glasses to know the people around you, do not always find fault with others, try to see his merits and learn to appreciate his good characters, don’t snag person who really thinks for you because of prejudice. At last, you can find that you have gotten a lot of benefits from your behaviors.

Kimi Raikkonen (JT)

Kimi is one of my favourate F1 drivers.The 28-year-old Finnish was born to race and he amazingly started to drive in a pedal kart at the age of 3.He showed great passion for racing and speed was the only thing he cared.
Kimi was born in a poor family and his parents couldn't afford his expense for racing.In this case,Kimi didn't give up his love for race cars.He had no choices but to gain the first places in every race and attract the sponsors for support.Then,at the age of 21,he graduated for Formula One direct from Formula Renalt.Maybe he was too tender to get a good position during his original F1 career in Sauber team,but his skillful driving still left deep impression on other people including Ron Danis who was the manager of Mclaren F1 team.Mclaren was a most famous team and every driver dreamt to drive for it.In his five years' season in Mclaren,Kimi had had the feeling of standing highest on the reward stage,also the terrible feeling of getting out of his mechanical-failed car.Many people held the idea that the breakdowns of his car were due to Kimi's tough driving pattern,however,I trust him and I believe it's problem of the team.Kimi was innocent anyway.
I think Kimi made a successful bid to join Ferrari team.When he finally got his first F1 world championship in his first season in Ferrari,I was almost motivated to cry.His continuous hardworking had been paid!He deserved this pretious reward! Even now ,I'm still excited about this.In the last grand prix of 2007 season,Kimi began his Brazil Grand Prix with 7 points' shortage compared with Lewis Hamilton.Allthe people in the world except Ferrari team would confirm that Lewis would get the championship and it was just a matter of time.Kimi just didn't give up and did the best of himself.With Hamilton making an unforgivable mistake,Kimi beat him at only one point and realized his dream.
I just give my best wishes to him and wish him more championships in future.

THE IN-FUSION (Lugg)

Today was another usual day. The things all happened exactly in the way like yesterday. I didn’t got up until 7:45 am in the morning, had my really fast breakfast-a bottle of milk and a piece of bread and then got on the last bus to NUS, just like what happened yesterday. In the morning, I struggled hardly from falling asleep and tried my best to concentrate on the class which indeed were very hard. At last, I got through it. As soon as the teacher said “Ok, you may have your lunch now”, I rushed out as fast as yesterday and sprinted to the canteen. There were crowds of people already in the canteen .It took me more time than expectation again to finish my lunch.
However, there was just one thing different from today after I left the canteen. I didn’t feel full at all, instead I found myself still able to eat up a big hamburger! So, I was just wandering alone to find something to fulfill my stomach when incidentally saw so many crowds of people under the central library. As I walked closer, I figure out it was the in-fusion! Oh, my goodness, that’s what I just needed! Many tables with so various kinds of food! I then rushed into the crowds and made my best to get close to the tables. There were kind server there serving food. When I got to the table, they smiled to me and said: “thanks for tasting!”. This made me more motivated to eat. Actually, though I couldn’t figure out their names, I tried many kinds of food such as the cakes, the bread, the meat , desserts with chocolate on it and some ice-cream. There was especially a kind of cake which was half white and half green. It was so tasty and soft that I really enjoyed it very much. After I satisfied my appetite, I was about to leave. Just at the same time, a presenter on the stage announced that there was going to be some performance. Holy great! How awesome it was to have something to watch after filling my stomach! Furthermore it was all free! Then I got really excited about this and seated myself in front of the stage. There were some Wu Shu performances which were performed by the students and a song performed by some Philippians. The performers were all enthusiastic and kind of skillful. I really enjoyed myself!
At last, I wanted to say how wonderful it was to have such a day among the

Friends to thank(JEGA)

Friends to thank
In our life, there are always friends somewhere to give us help and warmth when we need them. Of course, I have come across such friends during my school years, who have taught me a lot. I really want to thank them in some way, and perhaps writing is a good one. In my writing, I will not refer to their names, as you can’t know them anyway, so there’s no need.
In high school, there are people to thank, especially the following few. One of them is a girl. I spent the longest time with her in school. In the first grade, we were not in the same class, but for the sake that we worked in the same department in Student Union, we had a few chances to stay together, and in the second and third grade, we were assigned in the same class, when we always stay together. At that time, I was still a greenhand in doing the work in the Union, so I’ve done a lot of things silly and sometimes even displeased her much. She never cared about these things. She was always a happy girl even in the tensed life in school. When I was with her, I felt I was transmitted by the good mood. What a kind friend I have! Then I will talk about a boy, who is also an active and happy person. He came to my life in Grade Two, when I entered a new class. He was so talkative that he always had competition in fast talking with us. Thus we got to know each other and became very good friends. I feel I was lucky to have a friend like that since he was the kind of people who were straightforward, so I acted easily and didn’t need to think much before I spoke. I am grateful also because in spare time, he was willing to do sports with me. You know at that time, few people would waste time exercising instead of studying. It was good to have a skilled partner who could deal with my bad kicks when I played badminton. What’s more, I ‘ve learnt one thing very important from him. It is concentration. He played a lot in fact. At first, I wondered how he could study so well with the little time. Then around the end of Grade Three, I finally found he was extremely concentrated when studying. No wonder, each time I called him when he was studying, he either couldn’t hear that, or he was greatly shocked. It was too late for me to find the reason why he worked so well and also why I couldn’t learn well, because the college entrance exam was then just around the corner. Therefore, he is in Nanjing University, but I entered CSU. But past is past. Well, another person also had a big influence on me. He was the president of the Student Union, in other words, I am his underling. And afterwards we even became deskmates for about three months. I learned a lot from him and he is one of the few I admire. In the position, he was not as proud as I had thought. I don’t think he was bright, but he was no doubt hard working. When I sat beside him, he was always studying and encouraged me to study. Now I can’t even contact him, but whenever I think I’m on the edge of energy, I always remind myself of him. He is one year older than me, and I think he is more mature, too. I learnt from his actions to do suitable things and say suitable words. I did many things so badly, but he tolerated my mistake. I am always grateful for what he taught me in life. And when I look back today, I can still gain something from the days we sat behind the same desk.
When let myself say thanks, I am a lack of words, I don’t know how to express. Perhaps, I can just say I feel fortunate to meet these people, who brought something to my life. I have more people to thank, but today I think I should stop here.

reasons for my names (08)

REASONS FOR MY NAMES
People are often curious about my name.i think it's neccesary for me to explain the reasons.
Firstly,I love PRISON BREAK and I like Michael Scofield ,hoping myself to be such a wise person just like him.
Secondly,I ever kept a male dog ,who I called Michael as I didn’t know much about English then ,just knowing that Michael was a boy’s name.however,he was missing several months later.maybe because I was very young at that time and he has been the first pat I had ever kept.in addtion ,i really really miss him a lot even till today.so I keep Michael just to memorialise him.
Thirdly,I love swimming myself very much.meanwhile,the cute boy Michael Phelps has just won 8 gold metals on Beijing Olimpic games.i really like and admire him.hoping to be good at swimming like him and enjoy myself in the water more,I call myself Michael.
Fourthly,I myself is a little naughty which is suppose to be some characters that boys may have.as far as I am concerned,it makes no difference to be called a boy’s name or a girl’s name as long as you like it.
In a nutshall,I have many outstanding people,who are wise ,brave ,possitive ,optimistic, and how I want myself just to be .i’ve just figured out some of them.
One my part ,I really don’t want to change the name,cause it has come into my life and has been part of my life already.i have been called this name for two years or so but all on the internet.,
After coming into singapore,I ‘ve come across many circumstances which were really embarrassing.all my teachers have asked the reasons why I call myself such a strage name or a common boy’s name.furthermore,I have come to acquintent some of the locals .,when I intronduce myself as the name MICHAEL,they would just look at me in confusion.I am embarrassed to explain the reasons that I ‘ve repeated thousands of times.
Once I came across a local in singapore on SKRPE.as the conversation moving on ,we mentioned my name.after I spoke out my english name,he just kept in silence,he didn't ask the reasons this time .in stead,he seems cold to me and we didn’t talk to each other from then on .i am very confused about the result I have got from the local.i wonder if they had regarded me as a gay,or just a person who is strage or uneasy-going?
Anyway ,this name has caused so much trouble for me which often take me to an embarrassment.
So at last ,I change my name to Michelle temporarily,as I am not quite value my english name,whatever can be ok for me.people can call me whatever they like.
Anyway,i will always be MICHAEL in my heart,my michael.i will always be.