Comments

Hello Hellen I wish you a very happy birthday. Oh dear! how young you are. My birthday was yesterday and today I'm 53 and for me it seems like it was yesterday when a was a teenager. Life run so fast! I like reading the blog very much but I'm not very fond of writing in it. Lots of times I don't feel clever enough to do so, and definitely I don't like to do homework. I'm not in a hurry in my learning process, so I do it at a snail pace. I'll try to read some of the books in your lists. At the moment I'm reading "The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame. I've started reading this book a lot of times, but always gave up, but tonight I'm going to finish it. Have a wonderful birthday. See you soon.

Hi Helen. Thank you so much for make my "voice" be heard. Here we need a bit more of new cultures than ourselve's cultures. I think it can make us more strong as a folk! I must say that Veronica Decides to Die couldn't be a borring book because it was written by Paulo Coelho and he's amazing. I had an oportunity to see him face to face on the sand of Copacabana beach. He is very simple man who like to read books while he is sitted down in his beach chair. I have to confess that I didn't read the intire Animal Farm maybe because I expected something like the 1984 also written by George Orwell. Fantastic writter. Read is one of my passions and do it in english is a sweet challenge. I have a doubt. Even though You have not mentioned the book 1984 by George Orwell, and off course, I have read it in portuguese, I saw that George creats new words in that book that in portuguese looked little simple and strange at the same time because many words he has written there simply don't exist and proposal of that dicatorship regime's aim were kill the sense of good literature, history or something like that. Could you tell me if in english I could find it hard to understand those possibles changed words? P.S. 32 Again? lol Funny. It remembers my friends jokes. Come on, you're too young. Regards from Brazil.

Hello Helen, Many More Happy Returns of the Day. How are you going to celebrate your birthday with Pankaj, Isabel and friends there? Are you going out today? Do you like Sri Lankan food? Is it different from Indian food? You must be a bookworm. “A good Read” blog made us our mind to read more. First I try to read some of the second list of yours and go for some of the first one on later. We have annual book fair in one of our city in the coming week. I will try to get which is available. Challenge 1 When I was a little girl, I can still remember, on a more positive note and I tend to agree.

Hi Helen, Happy Birthday! You look so nice in your picture. I'll try to read some books in list 2. Thanks. Challenge 1. Well a few replies first, Well, I am goning to give you 2 lists, once you have done that, but I am pleased to say

Hello!Helen and hapy birthday.Thank you for the recommenedations that i really in need to both of them.However ,i think that reachng the second one to me is still a long shot.Unfortunately,there is no MORITANIAN English writer i can introduce to you as this language is still at the begining over here.But our people start realising the necessity of it in today`s world .So we are also welcoming a branch of Brich Council eventhough the weather in the SAHARA is not that apealing. Here are the frasal verbs.1-I grew up here in NOUAKCHOTT. 2-i like to set upmy friends parties. 3-i am browsing through my computer trying to find the missing file. 4-By forming these phrases ,the new words wouldhopefuly come in to my vocabulary. 5-During the last night gust, i had to hold onto a tree. 6-I made up a nice story. 7-i looked the highlited word (persona)up in the dictionary.

Dear Helen, Your blog and its worm atmosphere made me brake my silence and try to comment on BBC again. First of all, Happy Birthday to you and everybody who will share the celebration :-) I wish you to stay as frank and positive, as we read you here at BBC! Thank you for your should-read-lists and essential review! In response I can tell you about two masterpieces which are stable pillars in literature for me. The first one is “The Master and Margarita” by Russian writer Mikhail Bulgakov. The plot is turning around devoted faith, human genius, and love which is stronger than death. The book is remarkable not only for its immortal subjects, but also for original stile and sophisticated humor. The second gem of a book is “The Dream of the Red Chamber” by Chinese author Cao Xueqin. The novel particularly describes the long period of bloom and fall of an aristocratic dynasty. From one side – the story is full of magic and mythology, from the other – it’s deeply realistic! Both novels demand an advanced reader who will devote some time to the history and cultural life of these two countries of origin. Every time I explore something new in these books. Both are translated to English, so I hope you and your readers here can share my admiration! BR

Hi helen! First of all, happy birthday to you,and I wish you to have the greatest birthday today.Any way, I think your 32th birthday is so special because you're blessed many readers all over the world, don't you think so? To get onto the subjec of books I used to read lots of books until I got into a rat race and spend many hours in a book shop flicking through.I loved to collect new books that just hot off the press. Unfortunately my appitite for books has dicreased.The part of the reason is I have been so busy looking after my family,widening vacabulaies, grammer and improving on speaking English so on.Now I try hard to devide time between studying english and reading books.Actually I've managed to finish off several books recently and I have found it so relaxing.I am determined to hang on to it,and have just decided to treat myself to buy some books from your lists.I'll wager that you're so excited about you dad's visit.I reckon you're so lucky to have your dad still around you.I wasn't about to write a long comment,and do my homework which I have been grappling with.Oh! some of your context make me torture my brain because I can't understand.1.hard backs.2.the more creased the spine,the closer I feel to it. Please, put me out of my misery. Phew!I feel like running out of steam right now and I need a cup of fine green tea.Do you drink green or hurbel tea? The place where you sit and read a book looks so tranquill and meditative.i am really off now. Have a fabulous day!xx

Hi Helen, Still, birth day party was going on, I am happy that I have completed the challenge set by you yesterday in that way I complement to the blog teacher on her birth day. Elders do not want to throw the old things out. Political leaders always give false promises up to the people at the election time. I looked “Really learn Phrasal verb” book up to know the meaning of the phrasal verbs. A Good Read blog of Helan made up my mind to read more as I failed to do in the past. Once again my birth day wishes to you. There has been a continues rain in the southern parts of Tamil Nadu under influence of cyclone in the bay of Bengal.

Happy Birthday Helen! Thanks for your reading suggestions. I am very interested in reading "The White Tiger". If I am not mistaken, Aravind Adiga won the Man Booker Prize 2008. As for me, I advise you these novelists: Umberto Eco, Erri de Luca, Antonio Tabucchi and Susanna Tamaro. About the contemporary Italian novelists, I suggest: Niccolò Ammaniti, Paolo Giordano, Isabella Santacroce, Roberto Saviano and Simona Vinci. Cheers!!

Dear Helen, happy birthday to you! As I mentioned before, I'm not keen on reading books. I want to change it! Now I'm reading a book from Mark Haddon called “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time”. This book was recommended by Mr. Stephen Keeler somewhere here on the BBC websites. It's fascinating story about an autistic boy Christopher and his world. Thank you for your suggested books. After I read the mentioned book, I will try to read some book from your list number 2. I tried to solve the challenges you wrote, but as usual I'm not sure about it. Challenge 1: 1.Well a few replies first … 2.I do hope that ... 3.In my last blog I said … 4.Well, I am going to give you … 5.On a more positive note, … 6.I tend to agree – ... 7.Remember, … Challenge 2: 1.to set up - literal and non-literal 2.to grow up - literal 3.to throw out - literal and non-literal 4.to give away – non-literal Good bye, Dusan

Hi Helen!I agree with you! I read Veronica decides to die and Animal Farm,I think they're great. In particular I love George Orwell, I think he was a genious and his novels aren't boring. Now I'm studying Aldous Huxley and I want Brave new world to read! I love reading and writing...it's so relaxing =) Happy Birthday from Italy

Hi Helen! Oh... what a lovely place for reading! I love Dostoyevsky novels. I like the way he described the psychological nuances of his characters. Besides, my favourite Brazilian writers are Machado de Assis and Clarice Lispector. Both of them have some similarities to Dostoyesvsky´s writing stile. Clarice books are about the philosophical issues that distress the human being soul and mind, whereas Machado in Dom Casmurro describes what guilt and doubt can do with a man. By the way, my heart broke when I read Tess of the Dubervilles. It´s so said... Anyway, happy birthday ( why 32 again?)!!! Ana Paula.

Hi Helen, today I go short of time but I didn't want to close my PC without send you a real congratulation and a virtual rose. Great moment, enjoy the life. See you, Toni.

Hello Helen, Have you gone through R.K Narayan’s Novel? He wrote many short stories. I have finished Malgudi Days, one of his short stories recently. I like it, if you have a chance go through some his novels, you may like it.

Hi Helen, happy birthday! Thanks for sharing with us your feelings about reading. You are pretty thoughtful to give us two recommended book lists. Honestly speaking, I have not even heard of those books. I do need to take more time to read some English literature. At this stage, I'm afraid I'm only capable to read the books on the list 2. I'm going to pick up one of them to read. As for the homework, I just found out three narrative devices from your post. 1. That's not to say that... 2.On a more positive note 3.What I mean .... Luckily, there were more than 4 phrasal verbs I could identify. 1. hot off 2. dream of 3. throw out 4. give away 5. make up. Here are samples I made from them. 1. When I was a little boy, I dreamed of being a professional football player. 2. I went out of my house and threw out a bag of garbage. 3. I bought a new mp3 player so I decided to give the old one away. 4. Every single sentence making up the official announcement should be checked carefully. Have a wonderful birthday party!

Your list of favourites is uncannily close to mine (at least the writers, I haven't read all those actual texts). My Mum has just got me Toni Morrison's latest book 'Mercy' which i'm realy looking forward to reading...Beloved is I think the best novel written in the 20th Century! Have you read McEwans Chesil Beach? It's stunning. Happy Blogging!

Hi Helen, it's a pleasure to wish you Happy Birthday! I have never read a lot but strangely I started over when I decided to learn english. Now I'm interested in short stories because as you said in your blog, more accessible to those who are learning english. these stories are short so I'm able to reach the end trying to improve my comprehension and widening my vocabulary. Sometimes I try to write in a brief summary of the story. When I read these books it is like to be disconnected from the world and completely plounged into the stories so when I finished reading them some little pieces stay with me and represent what I've learned. One of the italian writer i'd like to introduce to you is Roberto Saviano who wrote "Gomorrah" a story about italian Organized crime. time to sleep for me now See you soon.

Hi! The swan song to paint was a challenge on my way. It takes no more than 10-15 minutes the walk around the caste here, iluminated beautifuly after early falling darkness. There were two of them, white, on the night glittering wather surface in the castle´s trench. I might obsereve the two on one heavy white winter and next fragile frosted one. I have got them in my room since a few days. On the canvas, the white cutted in two apart on both sites and black and white plaited to merge in one in the middle. Doubting, however, that it might be better than grace ever best flamengos. Lots of banality may be there in the swan motif. And my use of English and the painting are both on such simple basis (there are colours fortunately). Last, again winter evening, I stopped to look at them by chance, now the three young yet not white with them. And, that´s the better hope in the reality, the life, to see them more and more, than to catch and imprisoning a deep saddness of the song somewhere. I wanted, as a child, to be a librarian. To sit in the twillight and tranquillity of the space full of books gave me the high importance of that woman sitting there like the Qeen of the fairy kingdom. If I didn´t write it yet before, I like the most these words ´that´s my own invention´ from Alice in Wonderland. With the very best thanks and the best for All! Marianna

Good Evening or shall I say, Good Morning, Well, I would like to know you opinion about Stephenie Myers novel, Twilight for the affects upon young adult literature and its perception of young women?

It was very interesting for me to read this article. Thank author for it. I like such topics and anything that is connected to them. I would like to read more on that blog soon.