Raining Rainy Day|我和我的一二三四天

★ Julia Gillard 6.24 新晋澳大利亚总理。女人喏。推友在热烈地讨论她的口音。“她说的英语真是我听过的澳大利亚味儿最浓的！可能她是只袋鼠？”

“email our new PM and encourage her to dump the net filter. Julia.Gillard.MP@aph.gov.au” 

★ Ana Maria Braga  Mmmmm…… 大家在推上热切讨论，谁是Ana Maria Braga。

“Ana Maria Braga is a Brazilian R&B composer who is working with Lady Gaga and with Ke$ha for their new album.”

“RIP Brazilian Secretary of State, Ana Maria Braga”

“what’s that?a female football player?”

★ Soulja Boy - Pretty Boy Swag                   Soulja Boy的新歌，twitter上宣传势头很猛。听了下，厄……那个pretty的p字，吐得很有林永健的风骨。

“Pretty Boy Swag is trending? Oh my God. ”

★ Rudd                for one possibility it could be Kevin Rudd    很多中国人看了就高兴的陆克文同学。

“Julia Gillard has deleted Kevin Rudd as a friend on facebook.”

★ General McChrystal   阿富汗战争中重要的一员大将，麦克克里斯托将军请辞。

But they say, “Obama fires McChrystal, names Petraeus.“

我没想评论这事儿，只是觉得这句话好玩儿。这两天那位高筒靴太火了，一定兴奋得“心神不宁”。不上网还好，一上网搜索，免不了“又反复了”。这种人算不得走狗的，也不算汉奸，只是个太监。小时候每天吃完晚饭看完天气预报就坐在小板凳上看焦点访谈，看得有时候心潮澎湃，有时候义愤填膺，有时候感慨万千。从这点上来说过滤掉“低俗”信息也是没用，像我，小时候受了那么根苗正红的教育，现在该恶心的时候不还是觉得恶心？小时候中央一套是要从七巧板/大风车一直看到新闻联播一直看到天气预报一直看到焦点访谈一直看到八点档电视剧才肯睡觉去的。现在多半只剩我外婆这么看了。哦，她不看大风车。

赶紧赐我一套绿爸，我每天去黄色网站看这看那，心神不宁得快挂了。

今天来加班，因为四六级。不过现在还米啥事情。自己的电脑锁在办公室了，我要度过一个无脑的周末。闲着我来读读书。

今天看《巴菲特与索罗斯的投资习惯》，梁子筒靴介绍给我看的，好看。嗯哈哈。下载了个pdf。

最近还在读《ABC谋杀案》，训练一下逻辑思维；”Rebecca”，歌特文学就是让人胸闷；《芭巴拉少校》，来自王小波推荐的Bernard Shaw。

Some reading guide questions I would love to have them answered later.

1. One of the most famous first lines begins the novel, “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.” At some point as you read the novel, the meaning of this line will become clear. Jot it down here.
2. What are the setting and circumstances at the beginning of the book?
3. What has happened to Manderley?
4. As memories of Jasper, Manderley, Favell, and Mrs. Danvers (whoever they all are) float through the narrator’s mind, a flashback takes us back to the narrator’s late teenage years. What trip does the narrator remember?
5. Who is Mrs. Van Hopper? What type of person is she?
6. Why is Maxim de Winter in mourning?
7. When Mrs. Van Hopper gets sick, the narrator ends up lunching with someone. Explain why that lunch turns out to be important.
8. Who is Rebecca, and how is she connected to a book of poetry?
9. Fill in this quote: “We can ____________ go back _______________, that much is certain. The _____________ is still too __________________ for us.”
10. What effect does Maxim have on the narrator?
11. Explain this quote (p. 37), “I’d like to keep this moment and never forget it.”
12. What do you think represents the “great gulf” between Maxim and the narrator represents? Explain your answer, noting pages 37-41.
13. Why does Rebecca become a phantom to the narrator?
14. In chapter 6, what happens to change the course of events?
15. Explain the narrator’s vision of what the future holds for her and Maxim. How does Mrs. Van Hopper react?
16. Describe Manderley as the narrator first sees it.
17. Who is Frith? What are your first impressions of him?
18. Who is Mrs. Danvers? What are your first impressions of her?
19. The narrator senses a distance developing between herself and Maxim. Why does she think it is happening?
20. Rebecca seems like a ghost at times, but she doesn’t need to appear in bodily form. Who keeps her presence “alive” in the house? Why?
21. Danvers would tell you the name of the real mistress of Manderley. Who would that be?
22. Explain the statement (p. 90), “[Mrs. Danvers] came…as though she were a warden and I in custody.”

The clues about Rebecca continue….

23. Who arrives for a visit and what effect does this have on the new Mrs. de Winter?
24. The narrator puts on the infamous raincoat and she and Maxim go for a walk. What happens, and why do they quarrel?
25. Who is Frank Crawley?
26. What information about Rebecca does Frank Crawley offer?
27. Who is Beatrice, and what information does she offer about Rebecca?
28. Beatrice and Giles rarely visited the house while Rebecca was alive, and now they come often. Explain.

Good looking, friendly, drives a sports car, but he‘s no Maxim…

29. What does the narrator break, and how does she cause disruption in the house?
30. Why do the de Winters quarrel?
31. Why does Maxim briefly leave?
32. Who does the narrator meet on the beach? Why is he somewhat like a prophet-figure?
33. Who arrives in a sports car to visit Mrs. Danvers?
34. Where have Mrs. Danvers and the visitor, somewhat secretly, been visiting?
35. Is the narrator comfortable with the visitor? Explain.
36. After the visitor leaves, where does the narrator decide to go?
37. What does the narrator find when she explores the west wing?
38. Why does Mrs. Danvers blame herself for Rebecca’s death?
39. What conclusions about Mrs. Danvers do you come to, after reading the west wing scene?

“Where is dear Rebecca?”…

40. Who is Gran, and what guffaw does she make in the narrator’s presence?
41. Explain the grandmother’s retreat into the past.
42. What additional facts do you now learn about Rebecca?
43. What grand affair will soon be held at Manderley?
44. What does the narrator decide to wear? How does she get the idea for the outfit?
45. Why does the outfit cause a stir at the ball?
46. How does Maxim react to the narrator’s outfit? What about Maxim’s reaction leaves a lot to be desired?
47. Why does the narrator mutter, “I ought to have known” following her appearance in the costume?
48. Does the narrator return to the ball? How does she dress?
49. When Maxim fails to turn up in their bedroom that night, what does the narrator fear?
50. Do you think the narrator establishes herself as the new mistress of Manderley to the party-goers? Why or why not?

Danvers is confronted, and rockets are launched……

51. After the narrator sees Danvers watching her from a window, what does the narrator decide to do?
52. Describe Danvers ’ reaction to the confrontation. What does she explain?
53. Why does Danvers lead the narrator the window?
54. Guns boom and rockets are launched from the cove. What is going on?
55. What news does the harbormaster bring?
56. Why does Maxim say, “It’s too late, my darling. We’ve lost our little chance of happiness” ?
57. Maxim FINALLY describes his first marriage to the narrator. What does he say?

True Confessions…..

58. How does the confession change the narrator? Does she seem younger and more innocent or older and more mature? Explain.
59. Explain the relationship between Rebecca and Jack Favell.
60. Why does Maxim keep the marriage going?
61. Where did Rebecca repeatedly take lovers?
62. It is now revealed why Beatrice would not have visited at Manderley often when Rebecca was alive. Explain.
63. What does Rebecca tell Maxim that night on the boat that drives him into a rage?
64. Why would the idea an heir upset Maxim so?
65. What is the real story of Rebecca’s death?
66. Why has the boat stayed submerged so long?
67. How does the narrator react after she hears the story?
68. Who are Captain Searle, Colonel Julyan, and Inspector Welch?
69. How did Maxim deal with a dead body turning up on another town’s shore months after Rebecca’s death?

The inquest cometh…..

70. After Colonel Julyan leaves, Maxim tells the narrator something about a bullet wound on the corpse. Explain.
71. What does Frank Crawley caution Maxim to do at the inquest? Why? What does the narrator suspect about Frank?
72. Who is Tabb, and why is his testimony important at the inquest?
73. The coroner asks Maxim to describe his marriage to Rebecca. Just as Max is about the answer, what conveniently happens?
74. What verdict does the coroner eventually settle on?

Jack Favell’s side of the story….

75. What is in the note a drunk Jack Favell carries?
76. What does Jack demand?
77. How does Frank respond?
78. Why does Maxim call the magistrate?
79. At this point, the readers often take a different perspective than is typical. Are you rooting for or against the police at this point?
80. What does Favell tell Colonel Julyan?
81. Why did Maxim kill Rebecca, according to Favell?
82. Why is Ben suddenly an important character?
83. What book is Danvers able to produce to help Colonel Julyan’s investigation?

A quick trip to London for the real scoop…..

84. Who is Baker, and why is he important?
85. Why do Maxim, Favell, the narrator, and Colonel Julyan all trek into London ?
86. Maxim fully expects Baker to reveal what about Rebecca?
87. How did Rebecca disguise her identity to Baker?
88. What diagnosis was Rebecca given?
89. Colonel Julyan seems satisfied after the visit with Baker and decides to close the case. Why?
90. On the way back to Manderley, Maxim phones home and receives surprising news about Danvers . What is it?
91. Maxim and the narrator decide to drive home (through the night) to reach Manderley as soon as possible. Why?

Mrs. de Winter, get your science facts straight….

92. The narrator thinks she sees the sunrise in the morning, but alas, the sun does not rise in the West. What is the light?
93. What has happened to Manderley?
94. Who is to blame, do we guess, and why would this have happened?
95. Why is the ending “just” or “unjust”?
96. Would Maxim and the narrator been able to ever live at Manderley with Rebecca’s “ghost”?
97. This novel is circular in structure. That means, it begins and ends at the same place and time. Explain how Rebecca is circular.
98. Look over the notes on the “gothic tradition” at the beginning of this study guide. How does this du Maurier novel fit the genre?

Gothic Tradition: Rebecca has been called the first and best gothic romance of the twentieth century.  Before you start reading it, you might want to review what you have already learned about the “gothic tradition” in literature. Your earlier studies of Poe’s short stories will help you understand Rebecca. Gothic literature often contains the following characteristics:

。subtle or obvious use of the supernatural
。individual characters who see themselves at the mercy of forces out of their control, which they do not understand
。motif of the “double”—an individual with both good and evil characteristics; a house with a “good” side and a “bad” side
。often involves the persecution of a young, insecure, fair-haired woman who is forced apart from her true love
。hero-villains who are haunted by the past
。often a secondary character with a disability will offer words of unusual insight and truth, which may be disregarded by the primary characters
。a witch-like character
。dream experiences
。a circular structure (begins and ends at  same place)
。elements of death and decay, blood and violence, and fear of death
。dark mysterious houses that seem to take on a personality of their own
。common images: black, moon, moonlight, snakes, cobwebs, spiders, covered furniture (looks ghostly), fur, pounding seas, thunderstorms

“Tell me,” he askes,”what have you done with my future, what have you done with your life?” And I tell him that I have tried. That I have tried to keep memory alive, that I have tried to fight those who would forget. Because if we forget, we are guilty, we are accomplices.

- The Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech Delivered by Elie Wiesel, 12/10, 1986

ARBEIT MACHT FREI

近来在读的Night里看到的这句话，纳粹集中营的标志性slogan。1872年一个叫Lorenz Diefenbach的德国作家写了同名的一本书，这句话就成为了民族主义者的一句口头禅。后来被纳粹刻到了多所集中营的大门上，包括最臭名昭著的、Night作者全家关进的奥斯维辛。

昨天熬夜看完了《换子疑云》，果真够胸闷。整个故事就是让你感觉到和主人公一样黑压压的无边的孤单，当政府二字压到你头上时，你刹那间就变成了一个无力的人，即使拼命呐喊，别人也视而不见。

好在美国就是美国，即使是80年前的那个年代，你一样可以坚信正义可以战胜邪恶。可是不管怎样，即使政要全部下台，即使刽子手被处死，你还是觉得之前的痛苦积压得太浓重，怎样的复仇都触不到快感。美国人的那种性格还是很让人敬佩，即使所有暴力机关都来压着，他们还是能够坚持自己的信念。我想这是人家崇尚自由的美国梦的一部分。要自由，就要拒绝洗脑。

咱们国家还真是要禁止放映这部片子，看了真是深觉讽刺。不免有些指鹿为马的昏庸幕僚，做出让人哭笑不得的缺德事来。急于遮羞，是因为已经暴露了整个身体。

14 East 95th St.
New York City

December 8, 1949

Sir:

(It feels witless to keep writing “Gentlemen” when the same solitary soul is obviously taking care of everything for me.)

Savage Landor arrived safely and promptly fell open to a Roman dialogue where two cities had just been destroyed by war and everybody was being crucified and begging passing Roman soldiers to run them through and end the agony. It’ll be a relief to turn to Aesop and Rhodope where all you have to worry about is a famine. I do love secondhand books that open to the page some previous owner read oftenest. The day Hazlitt came he opened to “I hate to read new books,” and hollered “Comrade!” to whoever owned it before me.

I enclose a dollar which Brian (British boy friend of Kay upstairs) say will cover the /8/ I owe you, you forgot to translate it.

Now then. Brian tole me you are all rationed to 2 ounces of meat per family per week and one egg per person per month and I am simply appalled. He has a catalogue from a British firm here which flies food from Denmark to his mother, so I am sending a small Christmas present to Marks & Co. I hope there will be enough to go round, he says the Charing Cross Road bookshops are “all quite small”.

I’m sending it c/o you, FPD, whoever you are.

Noel

Helene Hanff 

Noel：法语的Christmas吧。

c/o：care of 转交

今天发现电影终于下好了，忍不住看。还是很忠于原著的。
电骡下载|BT下载A B

MARKS & CO., Booksellers
84,  Charing Cross Road
London, W.C. 2

26th November, 1949

Miss Helene Hanff
14 East 95ht Street
New York 28, New York
U.S.A.

Dear Miss Hanff,

Your four dollars arrived safely and we have credited the 12 cents to your account.

We happen to have in stock Volume II of the Works & life of Walter Savage Landor which contains the Greek dialogues including the one mentioned in your letter, as well as the Roman dialogues. It is an old edition published in 1876, not very handsome but well bound and a good clean copy, and we are sending it off to you today with invoice enclosed.

I am sorry we made the mistake with the Latin Bible and will try to find a Vulgate for you. Not forgetting Leigh Hunt.

Yours faithfully,   
FPD                            
For MARKS & CO.