Good reads Voxopop group - Profesora Blanca Lara

Good reads- Voxopop group- Profesora Blanca Lara

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time- Reviewed by Yolanda González Nieto

Rebecca- Reviewed by Victoria Silva Soto

Dracula- Reviewed by Francisca Sánchez Martín- Sauceda

The Lord of the Flies- Reviewed by Francisco Javier Vinuesa Clavero

The Great Gatsby- Reviewed by Ana María Rus González- B2.2- EOI Málaga

The mask of the red death- Reviewed by Mayte- C1 EOI Málaga

Introduction for ‘The Masque of the Red Death’, by E. A. Poe An introductory commentary upon The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe Not only did his orphanhood, but also his struggle through life led the author to write such stories regarding existence: Was born, lived and passed away lamentably. When reading this story, the idea of retaliation comes into mind, not only in the traditional sense of ‘revenge’, but closer to the classic Greek style of hubris, i. e., the gods-coming punishment for pride. Apparently settled in the Italian Renaissance, the account traces how Prince Prospero and his opulent guests seal themselves off from the rest of the world in an attempt to protect themselves from an impending doom. But, can they elude the menace of the ‘Red Death’? The story is widely regarded as an allegory about the inevitability of death. Nevertheless, it is objected by many whether Edgar Allan Poe intended to indoctrinate his readers. What it is evident, is the close connection between Shakespeare’s The Tempest and this story. Both are based on the idea of isolation to escape an otherwise unavoidable fate, and there is also the coincidence of the main character’s name –Prospero. Another point that appears to be conveyed in Poe’s tale, is that the indifferent wealthy suffer the destiny they deserve. The aesthetics of the story possesses all the elements of Gothic: A surrounded castle by an unseen enemy, a luxurious world amidst the cataclysm, and also the boasting of having The Death himself tricked. Prospero’s seven rooms, each decorated in a different colour, seem to represent the seven decades of life. The first one is located in the eastern side of the corridor, a direction which has been associated with the Sun rising and therefore, with the beginning of life. The seventh room, decorated in black, and blood red, is located on the far west of the corridor, in the direction of death and of the setting Sun. The clock, intentionally placed in the room of death, tolls every hour, reminding the masqueraders not only of death, but also of the ephemeral passing of time. However, do not deceive yourselves: Precisely, the clock of death is something that never ever can be mocked. Group working in ‘The Masque of Red Death’, by E. A. Poe. English C1 – L10A

The man of the crowd- Reviewed by María C. & Nina Prado- C1 EOi Málaga

THE MAN OF THE CROWD
Recorded by Maria C. & Nina Prado

Speaker A: We welcome you to the EOI Malaga Radio Channel.
Today we have the pleasure of presenting you a review of one of the short stories written by the important and well known American poet and writer Edgar Allan Poe. Nina, could you tell our listeners what story we are talking about?

Speaker B: Yes, of course. It is “The Man of The Crowd”, an amazing short story, full of mystery, an ideal opportunity to enter Poe's complex and imaginary universe.

Speaker A: Edgar Allan Poe is a very important writer in the history of literature, I guess. He is recognized as the inventor of the modern detective story, isn't he?

Speaker B: Yes, in fact, “The Man of The Crowd”, which was published in 1840, is considered to be the prelude to the first detective story he wrote just one year later, called “The Murders in the Rue Morgue”.

Speaker A: Apparently, “The Man of The Crowd” is about a man who is sitting in a Coffe-House in London watching people go by.

Speaker B: Exactly. He is just recovering from a long illness and is enjoying outdoors life. London at that point of time was with great difference the biggest city of the world with a massive population which is classified and described by the man in the Coffe-House with such an extraordinary detail that you almost feel being part of the story, sitting next to him, and watching all these individuals with the same curiosity that he does.

Speaker A: So, you don't believe that Poe, being an American, choses Britain's capital city just by coincidence for this story.

Speaker B: I'm sure that he chooses London on purpose as it is the prototype of the modern city that emerges from industrial revolution.

Speaker A: I agree with you completely. So, there we have this main character, who is the narrator of the story, “The Coffee-House-Man” who let us see through his eyes the people go by during the afternoon. But Nina, is that all?

Speaker B: No, it isn’t Maria. Suddenly, out of the crowd, an old man arouses his interest so much, that he is compelled to follow him the whole night and the following day up until the afternoon without a pause, because he cannot give up to the necessity of finding out what his secret is.

Speaker A: I would rather say that the narrator not only follows the mysterious old man who wonders restless through London town, he much more chases him with an almost insane obsession. Don't you think so?

Speaker B: Well, as a matter of fact, we could divide the story in two parts. The first one consists merely in sitting and observing people, i.e. a psychological observation of them, whereas in the second part the action emerges as soon as the main character chases the old man who wanders all along the city.

Speaker A: And I think it is really exciting because the rhythm in the second part keeps changing constantly. When you believe that the persecution has reached its top point it gets even more frenetic, then it slows down, and so on.

Speaker B: That's right. It's exhausting. Edgar Allan Poe is a master. He uses a very rich vocabulary and links the ideas together brilliantly, so that the reader can live every single moment of the story just the same way as the main character.

Speaker A: But this is not all, is it? What makes this short story so special? What about the first paragraph? What would YOU say about it?

Speaker B: I must admit it is kind of weird. There you have the obvious plot, which is what we have been talking about, but if you take into consideration the introduction, the story acquires multiple possible readings and so, the mystery is served. But then, of course, we could not expect less from Poe, could we?

Speaker A: Yes indeed, Poe, the master of mystery has served us in “The Man of the Crowd” with an enigma. Will we be able to find it out?

Speaker B: At the beginning of the story Poe quotes La Bruyere, who is a French writer, “Ce grand malheur de en pouvour etre seul”. What do you think it means, Maria?

Speaker A: With this Poe refers to the constant search of companion the 19th century men experienced, men who want to know everything, even the unknown, even that knowledge that does not permit itself to be unveiled.

Speaker B: But still this is not enough to solve the enigma. If you want to find out, dear listener, you will have to read the whole story.

Speaker A: Oh, Nina. I believe it is going to be a very nice challenge. Enjoy!

The Cask of Amontillado- Reviewed by Eli- C1 EOI Málaga

The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe
Review written by Mª José Pérez Mezquita Beatriz Becerra Vera Elisa Villalón Castaño Emilio López López
Read by Elisa Villalón Castaño (group ING6L12A)

Darkness, revenge, punishment, cruelty and a thrilling twisted sense of humour come together in this classic horror story. Edgar Allan Poe sets its plot during the carnival season in a crowded nameless Italian city. Like in many other Poe's tales the main character's intentions are revealed at the very beginning of the story. Montresor, the narrator, vows revenge upon Fortunato, who had previously insulted and offended him by unexplained reasons. He also states that this revenge has to take place without placing himself at risk. One night Montresor comes across Fortunato and appealing to his ego (as he prides himself on being a considerable connoisseur in wine), attracts him to his vaults in order to verify the authenticity of a pipe of Amontillado he had recently acquired. This premise is just an excuse to fulfil his inner, long-before, and planned-to-the-detail revenge. 

Poe leads the readers into the damp and claustrophobic corridors of Montresor's subterranean vaults, accompanying the characters between casks of wine and skeletons of the catacombs, to a surprising ending. One of the keys of the story is that Montresor does not reveal why he wants to take revenge on Fortunato. This fact offers readers the liberty of choosing whether the punishment inflicted to Fortunato is adequate to the affront or not, or if Montresor is just an insane, despicable and cruel person. The text is also full of ironic puns: Fortunato is not so fortunate after all, and Montresor reminds us of a monster. 

The Cask of Amontillado, despite being written in 1846, is an appealing horror story that conserves all its validity, force and freshness. Its sinister atmosphere, irony, dark sense of humour, dialogued duel and, what is more important, feelings of sympathy for the villain are clearly present in TV series and movies like Dexter or Hannibal. Poe uses a very visual narrative technique: the flashback, as he is confessing what he did 50 years before. In many aspects Poe himself led a difficult life and this fact probably had a great influence in his horror stories. Hardly could he imagine that his tales written in the 19th century would be republished many times and even adapted to the screen. 

 So... do you fancy being scared with The Cask of Amontillado?

Eleonora- Reviewed by Silvia- C1 EOI Málaga

TITLE: Eleonora 
AUTHOR: Edgar Ellan Poe 
PUBLISHED IN: 1850 
REVIEW FROM: Felix Lopez, Rocio Hermana, Silvia Parra, Carmen de Miguel (group ING6L10A). Read by Silvia Parra 

To start with, we are going to summarize the story “Eleonora” written by Edgar Allan Poe. The story is set in a very perfect and heavenly valley called the “Valley of the Many-Colored Grass” where the characters settled their home. After years living isolated they fell deeply in love. This situation didn’t last long since she, Eleonora, was touched “by the finger of death”. 

However, before she died, she wanted him to make a vow, which consisted in neither marrying another woman nor leaving the valley. She accepted the vow and passed away calmly promising him to be by his side in the “form of censers of the angels and sighs” in order to help him keep his promise. 

After a while, having mourned her death, the pain was so unbearable that he decided to leave the valley and join “the vanities and turbulent triumphs of the world”. In this story, Poe, reflects two opposite worlds corresponding to different epochs of his life. On the one hand, the world of innocence, goodness, spirituality, and lucid reason. On the other hand, the world of evil, shadow and doubt. 

By the time he wrote the story, his “childwife”, as he used to refer to her, who was also his cousin, had just got sick and he was having an affair. That is why critics believe that this is an autobiographical story. It sounds as if the whole story were a desperate plea for forgiveness. The author describes the story by using elements of nature. He reflects his feelings comparing them with the Valley where they live. When he is enjoying his first love, everything (nature and his feelings) seem to be springing up, blooming, arousing as if proclaiming the birth and beauty of it, however, a paramount change will take place in this ideal landscape when his young lover dies. And hence, all the surroundings lost their splendor, and the valley got darker as the flowers faded away and a voluminous cloud hung over the valley. “Life departed from our paths”, writes Poe. 

It is the language he uses what is really remarkable, you can find a wide variety of adjectives, literature figures and old-fashion words in it. If you like romantic stories and Poe, we strongly recommend you to read this one as you will be surprised. Contrary to other Poe’s work, this one has a happy ending and will leave you a positive sensation.

A Spaniard in NY by Antonio Cortés

The Bridges of Madison County- Review by Jonatan Carabantes Díaz

The Bridges of Madison County

I have read The Bridges of Madison County, a 1992 best-selling novel written by Robert James Waller that was made into a film of the same name in 1995, directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Eastwood and Meryl Streep.

The book tells the brief love affair between Robert Kincaid, a post-middle-aged, freelance photographer, and Francesca Johnson, an Italian war bride, 45 years old who lives in Iowa with her husband and two children.

They meet by chance in the summer of 1965 while Francesca’s relatives are away at the Illinois state fair and Robert stops by the farmhouse to ask directions for Roseman Bridge. Although he is a completed stranger, she agrees to guide him to the nearby bridge and afterward invites him for iced tea and then supper. He talks of poetry, art and their mass-marketing enemies.

The dreamy Neapolitan girl, bored farm wife, wakes up. She invites him back for supper the next night, and with the help of a little brandy they begin their four-day affair, a secret sexual relationship that fundamentally changes them both.

After those four days they never meet again, bur their lives are interlocked until death.

Later, Francesca chronicles the affair in a diary which her grown children read; they never would have expected their mother to be capable of the passion she experienced with Kincaid.

This is the story of a special love that happens just once in a lifetime…if you are lucky.

Jonatan Carabantes Díaz. B2.2

A Christmas Carol- Chapter 1

Read and recorded by students at the Official School of Languages of Málaga on the occasion of the commemoration of the Bicentennial of Charles Dickens’s birth in February 2012.

Transcript of the recording

Alumnado participante: Álvaro Cazorla- Lorena Nogales- Inmaculada Fernández- Elena Blanes- María del Mar Ramos- Diego Pereira

Oliver Twist- Chapter One

Read and recorded by students at the Official School of Languages of Málaga on the occasion of the commemoration of the Bicentennial of Charles Dickens’s birth in February 2012.

Transcript of the recording

Alumnado participante: Francisco Bertolín- Román Fuster- Maite Rodríguez- Rebeca Chablani- Francisco García- Elena Blanes

Tales of the Unexpected- Review by Lorena Ramírez y Gloria Jalao

Tales of the Unexpected Review by Lorena Ramirez y Gloria Jalao

View more presentations from Alberto Lanzat

The Country of the Blind- Review by José María Román Díaz

JOSÉ Mª ROMÁN DÍAZ B2 TUES 11 NUMBER 43

A REVIEW DESCRIBING A PERSONAL VISION ABOUT “THE COUNTRY OF THE BLIND”

When this short story was proposed to be read, the overall idea that I had about H.G.Wells was that this author was well considered as a science-fiction writer and I had read some of his books of this genre. However, I had never considered him writing a sort of bittersweet tale for adults about an isolated society where everybody is blind, and how a foreigner can disturb the peace and the rules imposed by the tradition. The story is set in the early years of the past century in an imaginary society where Nunez, a stranger who can see, has to struggle to adapt himself to the rest of the people. Such strong prejudices do they have that he is forced to leave the valley, and Nunez ’s initial idea of becoming their king and finding love has to be abandoned.

One of the strengths of the story is the way the author makes us believe a plot that could be considered farfetched if the writer were less skilful at telling us the way this society is. Even when the author doesn’t spend a lot of time describing the characters, you can see them as real people, only with some little details that Wells gives little by little. As for the plot, it is extremely gripping although the action scenes are scarcely one or two, but when you finish reading it, you have the impression of having been riding on a roller coaster.

If I have to say something negative about the book, the only thing would be the huge amount of English vocabulary, sometimes old fashioned words, that we have to look up, but this is something related to our lack of knowledge instead of to the quality of the tale.

I would highly recommend this very well-written story, not only for the plot that is food for your thought, as well as the moral and how you can consider it as a metaphor of our society. I would say that this book can be specially appreciated by teenagers because they usually feel in the way that Nunez did. I dare say this character could be Wells’s “alter ego” because he considered himself as a one-eyed man in a country of blind.

The Country of the Blind- Review by Rocío Hermana Salcedo

THE COUNTRY OF THE BLIND

When our teacher told us that we had to read this story, I didn't feel very excited, but once I become immersed in the reading I enjoyed it immensely....

A Peruvian group fleeing from the lust and tyranny of an evil Spanish ruler, through frightful gorges and over an icy pass, arrived at a gorgeous valley.

It had everything a man could desire, but its inhabitants began to suffer a strange disease: all of them, little by little, became blind.

Due to a natural catastrophe, they remained isolated from the rest of the world. All of them but one, who was forced to start a new life without his family and his friends. He began to tell an amazing story that grew into a legend throughout the Andes...."The Country of The Blind".

By accident, Nuñez, our main character, was trapped in the valley.

On the one hand, when he was aware of the handicap they had, he was so confident that he assumed he could take over this society and make changes in order to enhance their lives. Most of all, he desired to explain to them how the outside world was, making them more open-minded.

On the other hand, the inhabitants of the valley treated him as an inferior person, nearly as an animal. For them, he talked non-sense, and had a brain not as bright as theirs....he was an idiot.

At the beginning he tried to rebel and impose his authority, but after a while putting up a real struggle, he bowed to the evidence that he was no able to do it.

Then, he decided he could submit himself to them. Even though he had fallen in love with one of the inhabitants, the circumstances left him in an enormous state of anxiety. So, on second thoughts, he made up his mind to put an end to the situation and he decided not to renounce everything he had enjoyed and, by the way, taken for granted in his previous life. Love didn't seem to be a strong enough reason to give up his freedom.

At this point, I would dare to say that it was not a real love. I think, it was just the attraction between a couple in the same situation : in a way, and for different reasons , they were discriminated.

The end is not well-defined but I presume that he died in his frustrated attempt to win his yearning freedom.

Although the tale was written more than a hundred years ago, I would firmly recommend it, since it can be a good reflection about intolerance and dictatorship nowadays.

I have understood it as a portrayal of any present society, where people are afraid of the unknown and tend to reject those different from them.

The Country of the Blind- Review by Aurelia Artolachipi

A personal review of “The Country of The Blind” by H. G. Wells

The book is set in a remote valley in Peru where a group of half-breeds arrived a very long time ago. The valley had all that the heart of man could desire and they led a quiet and happy life there. But in the course of time, a thing marred their happiness. A strange disease came upon them and blindness overtook them and all their descendants. Meanwhile, the volcano Mundobamba erupted and cut off The Country of The Blind for ever from the exploring feet of man.

Nevertheless, a mountaineer called Nuñez, got lost during an expedition and he eventually appeared in the valley a lot of years later. All things he saw were very queer and unfamiliar to his eyes, until he noticed that all the inhabitants were blind. At the beginning, he thought he´d be “the King” in a country of blind people, but as the days were passing, he realized that this wasn´t going to be as easy as he´d believed. At the same time, the blind considered him as a strange creature, which talked to them about unknown things. After a vain attempt of rebellion, Nuñez resigned himself to living with them and he even fell in love there. But the trouble was they believed Nuñez´s brain was affected by those queer things called the eyes and the solution would be to remove them, in order to turn him into a “sane and admirable citizen” and so, be allowed to get married to Medina-saroté.

It is an extremely gripping story with an amazing plot. The author uses this tale to talk about how an isolated civilization developes itself without some outward influences and the shock that means to everybody from both sides when, suddenly, someone turns up from the unknown world.

Furthermore, this story provides us with many things more. On the one hand, it makes us think about intolerance. We usually believe we are always on the right way and the other different people on the wrong one and we are also reluctant to change our minds. Nevertheless on the other hand, Wells gives us some hope through the character of Medina-saroté, stating that wherever you are, you can find people capable of tolerance. She doesn´t understand Nuñez at all, but she does love him, she loves his imaginative mind though it is so different from hers.

All in all, I´d highly recommend this book. Once you start reading it, you won´t be able to put it down.

AURELIA ARTOLACHIPI ESTEBAN

Going back to Granada by Fikria Laghmari

The Country of the Blind- Review by Vera García Iglesias

I started to read “The country of the blind” when my teacher asked me to do it.

The tale tells the story of a mysterious valley which was cut off from the world of men by a stupendous earthquake. This valley was the already named “The country of the blind”. As you can imagine, people were blind. They lived happily in their little world until one day, a stranger climber from outside slipped and fell towards the valley. This man, called Nuñez, thought that “in the country of the blind the one-eyed man is king”, but then, as the story goes on, you can realize that the things are not what they seem to be.

As first it did not make a very good impression on me because it cost me a lot to understand the beginning. However, little by little I began to get into it. I must admit that once this man appears I couldn’t put it down. The tale began becoming a gripping story. The only negative thing I would say about the book is that I would choose another ending, but even so, it is a great story to read.

Without a doubt, I would highly recommend this tale. Not only will the tale satisfy you but it will also make you learn. Moreover, I consider that if you are grand-mum or grand-dad it will be an excellent tale to tell grand-children and why not, to make them fall sleep.