書本介紹 – How to Train Your Dragon

今天要介紹的是How to Train Your Dragon！

嗯，大家一定想到那個很多人騎巨龍然後沒牙很大隻很會打的那套電影版吧？

這很正常，始終這電影很紅嘛

可是很抱歉，請你把電影的內容通通丟一邊去。

原作故事情節本來就跟電影版大不同：主角Hiccup跟他的同學們要畢業成為維京人，就要抓到並訓練一隻幼龍成為自己的同伴，可是Hiccup剛好抓到的卻是性格反叛的Toothless，Hiccup能不能夠順利畢業呢？同時，海底下沉睡的海龍似乎又蠢蠢欲動….

這裡沒有能騎的巨龍（聽說是系列之後的事情）也沒有很大隻很會打的沒牙Toothless，這裡只有很小隻很機八（喂）的沒牙。這裡的Hiccup跟Toothless看起來一點也不像英雄，連他的老爸都不相信他能夠成為大器，然而Hiccup到最後還是可以用自己的方法努力成為英雄。作者應該是想說，無論別人多麼看不起你，只要努力終有一天也是會成功的（很正路的主題呢）

還有這裡的龍會說話（雖然只有我們的主角Hiccup聽得懂的樣子），插圖風格很像小朋友的塗鴉，不論是人物名字以至故事裡出現的笑話也是…嗯，小男孩會喜歡的那種吧…

嗯，聽起來好像很孩子氣呢…但是在看起來很孩子氣的表面下其實是文筆實在的故事，倒不如說系列之後的劇情張力絕對可以跟其他小說一拼
單是系列第一作（也就是這本）Hiccup獨自面對海龍時的對答，就已經透露出故事的深度呢（實際內容當然也不會劇透啦）
人物的描寫也比想像中深入，Toothless從一個完全不聽話的屁孩變成願意相信，尊重Hiccup（雖然還是不太聽話）的伙伴，這種變化可以說是故事的另外一個重點。

就是這種故事張力，人物描寫跟作者透過這系列營造出來的世界覲才讓我愛上這個系列，無論有沒有看過電影版也不妨找這個原作看看喔！

This time I’m going to talk about “How to Train Your Dragon"!

Now when I mention that title, the first thing that pops into your head would be that one Dreamworks movie with the dragon-riding and the rare-and-powerful night fury Toothless, right?

That’s not at all surprising, the movie was a smash-hit after all.

However, please take the movie’s content and throw it out of the window.

This is a completly different story that we’re dealing with here: Our protagonist Hiccup alongside his classmates are about to graduate as full-fledged vikings, but before they can do that they need to catch and train a young dragon to be their companion. However, Hiccup ends up catching Toothless, a tiny dragon with a not-very-tiny attitude. Will Hiccup manage to graduate? Meanwhile, deep underwater something starts to stir…

Here we don’t have dragon-riding (that’s for the later books) nor do we have a big and powerful Toothless, all we’ve got in a tiny annoying package of scales and whining.
Here, Hiccup and Toothless look the least bit like heroes, and even his father isn’t convinced that he could grow up into a proper viking. However in the end Hiccup managed to become a hero anyways, except he did it his own way. I guess the message the author wants to give is that even if you are looked down upon by others, eventually you can succeed through hard work?

Not bad, just maybe a little bit cliche.

Here the dragons can talk (although only Hiccup could understand their language), the artwork is pretty much kiddy scribbles and the jokes are…well, pretty much the sort you’d hear from middle-school boys.

Sounds childish doesn’t it? But underneath the childish covers lies a well-structured story, to the point that the plots of the later books can get as serious and riveting as any other novel. Although this is only the first book, the authour’s writing strength already shines in the scene where Hiccup confronts the seadragon alone. (not going to reveal anymore because spoilers)

The characterization is also surprisingly deep, especially with Toothless who gradually changes from a disobedient, demanding spoiled child into a partner who trusts and respects Hiccup (to an extent?). In fact, you might as well say that how Hiccup and Toothless’ relationship develops is the other major plotline of the book or even the series in general.

The solid storytelling, the characterizations and the world the author paints through the books are what made me fall in love with this series. No matter if you’ve watched the movie or not, the books are definitely worth checking out!

英美大不同 – 薯條

說到薯條／士豆條的英文名稱大家都會想到某個藍藍路的French Fries了吧？
那你知不知道在英國，薯條有不一樣的名字嗎？

原來在英式英文裡，薯條叫chips，就跟大家印象中薯片的叫法potato chips那樣！
那麼薯片在英國怎樣叫？Potato crisps囉～

話說漫畫裡提到的fish and chips（炸魚薯條）是很經典的英國食物呢（雖然對我來說有點不太健康就是了）

British and American: Which is which!

When we talk about fast food we often think of french fries from places like McDonald’s, but did you know that the British call “french fries" differently?

In British English, they’re called chips just like how you call “potato chips"!
So how do they call -those- chips then? Potato crisps, of course!

By the way, the “fish and chips" mentioned in the comic is a pretty classic English food too (although it’s probably a tad unhealthy to me)

書本介紹 – Horrible Histories

今天要介紹的是Horrible Histories系列！

歷史科給人的印象總是沉悶，古板，還有一大堆又長又臭難以記誦的日期姓名。也許大家會覺得：成年人已經不想看歷史書了，更何況小朋友？

但是作者Terry Deary要跟你講，歷史可一點也不沉悶！

Horrible Histories的精妙之處，就是作者能透過輕鬆帶點英式幽默的文筆，配合很有梗的漫畫介紹不同地方和年代的歷史。當中介紹的不只是重要的事件跟人物，還有一些當時人們的生活方式，有關不同人物的冷知識等課堂不會教／懶得教的內容，讓歷史從書裡活了起來一樣～
小時候的我對歷史開始有興趣，也是拜這系列所賜的喔！

話說英國BBC曾經以這系列為藍本製作了兒童節目，雖然對英文能力有點要求不過風趣幽默程度可以跟原作一比，有興趣的話可以找來看看呢

Today’s book introduction is the Horrible Histories series!

History often gives people the impression of a miserable, boring pile of names and dates that’s difficult to be interested in much less memorize. So you might wonder: if adults already find it hard to read about history, how do you expect kids to get into history at all?

Well, according to the author, Terry Deary, it’s entirely possible. And he’s going to prove it.

What sets Horrible History apart from your common-or-garden history books is that it’s written in a casual manner steeped in British humour, with a load of hilarious cartoons thrown in for good measure.
It’s not just important events and people who make it into these books too, Terry also writes about the daily lives of people back then and little-known facts that schools don’t teach you, turning history into something that’s -alive- rather than just words stuck inside a paperback.

To be honest? Ever since I was a kid I have been interested in history, and these books played a large part in that!

Speaking of which, the BBC actually produced a TV series based on the Horrible Histories books. Sure it might be a bit more demanding in the English department, but its humour and style is certainly on par with the original books. So if your kid is keen on knowing more about history, be sure to also check out the TV show!

英文豆知識 – 這個會爆(物理)

 

(單用想就已經很蠢的冷笑話…)

其實bombed這個字除了可以解成字面上的炸掉了，還可以解成貨品賣不出去或者電影票房悲劇之類的情況

當然，這裡的用法是語帶雙關，你懂的（喂

(This already sounds like a rather dumb joke…)

The word bombed not only means literally stuff blowing up, but also can be used to describe something doing badly in the market – things not selling well or movies nobody wants to watch, that sort of thing.

Of course, here it’s used as a pun. You know what I mean.

 

書本介紹 – The Witches

第一本要介紹的書當然是出至小時候最喜歡的作者：Roald Dahl！

說到這傢伙，大家想到的應該就是出了兩套電影版的Charlie and the Chocolate Factory跟之後會出電影版的The BFG，年紀大一點的也許會記得電影化的Matilda跟James and the Giant Peach吧？

不過我們今天來聊聊別的。其實我想介紹的是The Witches～

顧名思義，這本書的主線自然就是主角VS巫婆啦
這裡說的巫婆可不是萬聖節那種會騎掃把的阿罵，也不是哈利波特那種穿長袍拿魔杖的女生，而是無聲無色混進普通人群中，偷偷找小孩下手的混蛋

嗯，很可怕的樣子（確信）

主角的婆婆年輕時是抓巫婆的好手，兩人到挪威旅遊時主角剛好碰到巫婆們在酒店裡面開會….之後的事情我還是別劇透好了（喂

也許是因為他的早期作品是給成年人看的吧？Roald Dahl的兒童文學可不是什麼很陽光很美好的童話，裡面依然帶有不少黑色幽默。而The Witches算是很明顯的例子，從巫婆們的性格以至主角的經歷跟故事結局也可以看到呢

當中最後的結局給小時候的我衝擊挺大的，不能劇透所以我只能說它很bittersweet，說不上是BAD END也不是大家期待的大團員結局。想到這本書推出的時期，會在兒童文學提到這種哲學（？）的恐怕也只有這位作者吧？只能說Roald Dahl能夠成為兒童文學大師不是沒原因的

For our first book introduction of course I’m going to talk about a childhood favourite: Roald Dahl!

When it comes to this guy, most people would think of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" movies and the upcoming “The BFG" movie, those who are a bit older might recall “Matilda" and “James and the Giant Peach" as well.

But that’s for another day. What I’m actually going to talk about is “The Witches"

Exactly what it says on the tin, this book focuses on the conflict between the protagonist and the witches. When we talk witches here, it ain’t your wart-faced broomstick-riding hags from Halloween, nor are they the flashy wand-pointing witches we see from Harry Potter. Oh no, far from it. Those witches would happily hide in plain sight and harm your kids when you’re not looking.

Creepy, aren’t they.

So our protagonist’s grandma turns out to be a Witch Hunter, and he ends up overhearing a witches’ meeting during a holiday in Norway. What happens next? Spoilers, mate!

Maybe it’s because his earlier works are meant for adults, Roald Dahl’s children books are known for their surprisingly dark humour. This ain’t no place for sunshine and puppies, and this book is a prime example of Dahl’s brand of writing.
This is evident in the ending of the book as well. No spoilers, but I can tell you that it’s a bittersweet end: not a Bad End, but not your Happily Ever After ending either. It’s surprising that Dahl’s doesn’t shy of putting this oddly deep ending in the book, considering when the book came out in the 80s. No wonder people see Dahl as a master in the children’s books genre!

所以我說那個網站呢？

說白一點這是同名FB頁面的正式（？）網頁版啦～

大概就是簡潔一點功能多一點方便大家看得容易一點（始終FB不是完整的PO文平台嘛）

FB的內容跟這邊基本上同步所以不用擔心錯過了些什麼喔！