BR 3-3: Seasons and celebrations

In November, winter is near, and hundreds of years ago people thought that bad spirits, like ghosts, came in the winter. (p.24) 

Are you preparing for Halloween? All you have to do is dress up, share horrible sweats and play games. However, the origin of Halloween is not just the event, and have more meaningful story. I don't know why but in every country has an idea that cold season brings bad things. More interesting thing is to keep them away people imitate ghosts, witches and monsters. I've thought that they can get along with the bad spirits because people have also the same figures with bad things. By the way, what do you play? I want to try 'bobbing for apples,' In fall, many apples fall off the tree so people use them to enjoy playing game. The apples stay on top of the water and people struggle to catch them using their mouth. If you are interested in it, why don't you try it with your family?

Maguire, Jackie.  Seasons and celebrations. (2008).Oxford University Press; Oxford.

BR 3-2: Seven stories of mystery and horror

'I've been sleeping, but now I'm dead,' said Mr Valdemar. (p.39)

     This book has seven stories which are all intriguing and appealing to the readers. Among them, I'll introduce my favorite story.

     The main character is a hypnotist who helps sick people with their bodies and minds. In this time, Mr Valdemar is his patient, who is dying and suffer from pain. He wants to die quickly rather live longer. Therefore, the doctor hypnotizes him in order to comfort his pain and allows him to die more easily. As usual, the doctor starts and notices that he is not dying but sleeping. Moreover, the doctor talks to him, he answers his question as he is living. Even after a few months passes, his state doesn't change. This is different from other patients whom the doctor has ever seen. He is getting guilty that he prevents him from dying comfortably. At last, he ends the hypnotism. Suddenly, yellow liquid comes from his body and smells bad. His body is disappearing...

     Can you guess the reason that the patient has been dying?

Poe, Allan Edgar. (2005). Seven stories of mystery and horror. Macmillan reader; Oxford. 

BR 3-1: Emma

'If I loved you less, I could talk about it more,' Mr Knightley said. (p.103) 



     When you fall in love with someone, how could you know that? Emma, the main character is an important woman in her village. She is so concerned with everything, especially marriage, so she likes matchmaking and gives her friends a way of happy life. At a certain time, she introduces a farmer man to Harriet, her friend. She is guessing he has an interest for Harriet because he is approaching on purpose, which looks him blind. However, her decision fails. Actually, he loves Emma herself!! Of course, at first, he prefers Harriet, but Emma talks to him a lot to ask about his feeling for Harriet, so he thinks Emma likes him. Emma thinks it is a pity that lovely Harriet doesn't reach marriage, but she changes her mind and starts matchmaking again. Finally, Harriet and Emma obtain satisfying life each, but I couldn't tell you about it in detail so that I want you to see the girls' feeling, effort and way.
   
     This is written by Jane Austen, a British novelist. She was born in the middle class family and grew up in the countryside. We can see the countryside's calm scenery and people's life in her novel. Mostly, she inclined to depict woman's marriage, one of her big theme. Austen herself has fallen in love, but her desire was interfered by the social system. Many women was in limited situation due to their family's property. This is drastically different from the time when we can love and choose a partner as intended. If you were in that kind of time, what would you do?

Austen, Jane. (2005). Emma. Macmillan readers; Oxford.