There's a way.

The Reader (Vintage International) (2008/11/25) Bernhard Schlink 商品詳細を見る

My favorite actress, Kate Winslet, finally won an Oscar for best actress in a leading role in the film, "The Reader." I'm still very interested in this book, even though I gave up reading it a few months ago because there were so many difficult expressions or words that I couldn't follow the story without looking through my dictionary.
It is a story about two people: a teenage boy and a woman in her thirties. They fell in love and had a wonderful time together, but one day she left him. She was so attractive that he couldn't forget about her; one day he found her in a court of law...
The movie will come out this June. I won't miss it.

I had my hair cut today. A short time later, I happened to know that the hairstylist who cut my hair and I had interests in reading; he intruduced some interesting-sounding mystery novels.
I've been reading English novels since I started studying English, but I rarely try Japanese books these days. I was stunned when I realized that I wasn't familiar with any name of successful Japanese writers. Japanese is my mother tongue; I will keep reading like I did when I was a child.


★Looks much better!★
While I was chatting with the hairstylist, we found out that we share a common interest in reading.

まるごとラジオ英会話 (1999/11) マーシャ・クラッカワー 商品詳細を見る 何度くり返し聴いてもオモシロイ！　様々なテーマを題材に、大人の英会話に欠かせない活きた表現が学べます。

Let me show you one of my favorite English textbooks. This is it. I've been studying English with it for over ten years.
When I took up learning, I was a working mother and had no time to set aside. I wanted to improve my poor English skills, but I had no choice but teach myself because I couldn't afford to attend any English class. I happned to know the textbook one day, and as soon as I got one, I fell in love with its contents.
The author, Marsha Krakower, used to teach English in one of NHK radio English programs. I never missed her program, but I had trouble understanding because of my awful listening and reading comprehension skills. Still, I enjoyed her program a lot: every dialogue written by Ms. Krakower was quite interesting and very educational. I can assure you that this textbook will be a key to speak English fluently. I've been learned many useful expressions which we can hear in some TV dramas or Hollywood movies.
I'd say I can speak English (a bit) now because I've sticked with this textbook.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard (UK) Standard Edition (2008/12/04) J. K. Rowling 商品詳細を見る

I've been reading a new book written by the fabulous storyteller, J.K.Rowling. When I finished reading the final story entitled "Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows," I felt a bit lonesome thinking about my life having no expectation of any new Harry's adventure. Now, I'm so happy to be with a wonderful book to read!
This book is about some famous children's story in wizards' world, and one of them plays a quite principal role in Harry Potter series.

13歳のハローワーク (2003/12/02) 村上 龍 商品詳細を見る

I joined an English lesson for free conversation in the morning, and I enjoyed speaking English with other participants as usual. During the time, I introduced one book entitled 「１３歳のハローワーク」, which might be translated "Job-placements for 13-year-old" in English, sold well here in Japan several years ago. This book is aimed at children at the age of around 13 to help them find their future jobs. The author, Ryu Murakami, shows the details of many professions in this book, such as how to get particular licenses or which college to choose to take a degree for a certain job.

I can't remember exactly why I introduced this book during the lesson, but I remember talking about my daughter, who hasn't had any longing jobs yet. When I ask her about her dreams, she always replies that she hasn't come up with any ideas. Don't get me wrong, though. I don't mean to meddle. She has her own life. I perfectly understand that I should'nt stand in her way.

Having said that, I feel awkward to hear my daughter saying "I'm not interested in my future jobs." When I was a child, I really wanted to be a teacher. As I had already determined to go to a college until the age of 7, I never hesitated to choose which high school to take. My daughter is 10 years old, and the age is old enough to think about the future. Having no dreams, is it possible for us to choose the path to go through?

Oh, you don't bother to say "She is still young!" to me. I've never pushed her, of course. However, sometimes I can't understand why she isn't so interested in her future life.
"I'd like to be a singer."
"I'd like to have a cake shop."
"I want to be an actor and marry wealth!."
Whatever is welcomed, don't you think? Children live at present and in future. They are wonderful because they can desire whatever they want. It doesn't matter to make their dreams come true. The thing is, dreaming in itself is important. Every time I hear my daughter's answer, I'm wondering whether our current society fails to let children have their own dreams...