Our first reader this course

I hope you enjoy it!

The Return Journey

Enjoy the next 3 short stories we'll talk about next week, on Thursday 16th:

- The Women in Hats
- Excitement
- Holiday Weather

Have fun!

The Return Journey, Maeve Binchy

Find below the stories which are compulsory for all of you:

1. The return journey
2. The wrong suitcase
3. Miss Vogel's vacation
4. The home sitter
5. Package tour
6. The apprenticeship
7. The business trip
8. The Crossing
9. The women in hats
10. Excitement
11. Holiday weather
12. Victor and St Valentine
13. Cross lines
14. A holiday with your father

You have to start reading and we'll talk about the first 3 in the class on Dec 13th.
Of course you can read as many as you want!
I hope you enjoy the stories.

Going Solo, by Roald Dahl

As you already know, this is the next book you have to read.  What do you think about finding out something about the author's biography? I'm sure you'll be really surprised.

You have to read the first 4 chapters, that is, 50 pages.
We'll talk about it on Thursday 27th Feb, and Monday 3rd March, depending on your group.

Enjoy the story!

The Reluctant Fundamentalist. Chapters 3 - 6

These are the questions you have to answers while reading these chapters:

QUESTIONS FOR THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST

 CHAPTER 3

1. Why did he feel so comfortable in New York but he is sometimes resentful in USA?
2. What does he describe as "a form of mental judo for business"?
3. How does he describe the Underwood Samson elite?
4. What is the Pakistani concept of food?
5. What is the attitude of the American towards beggars in this chapter? And his own?
6. How does he describe himself while he is doing his training period?

CHAPTER 4

1. Why do you think he explained to the American the origin of his scar?
2. How does he react when Erica's father asks him about the situation in Pakistan mentioning facts which appeared in the newspapers?
3. What do you think about Changez's comments to the American when the lights go off?

CHAPTER 5

1. How did his way of treating people at work change when he went to Manila and why?
2. What did he find out when he was riding a limousine?
3. Jim calls him "a shark" and it is intended to be a compliment. Explain.
4. In which way does he think Jim and himself are similar?
5. What is the most shocking confession Changez makes on page 83? (the paragraph begins: "The following evening was supposed to be our last in Manila")
6. How did the passengers of his flight back look at him and how did he feel?

CHAPTER 6

1. How did he feel when he went back to New York?
2. How did his relationship with Erica change after sleeping in his flat?
3. What seemed to happen to Erica more and more often and how did he react to it?
4. How does he feel when Erica recounts her story with Chris?
5. Why do you think Changez said on page 105 that "it's going to be a night of some importance? (the very last paragraph of the chapter)
 

The Reluctant Fundamentalist, by Mohsin Hamid

Dear new students,

This is the first book we are going to read and analyse this course. Try to get a copy as soon as possible to make sure we can all begin to ready it at the same time. There is a cheap Penguin copy, but any editorial will be ok. I hope you find it without any difficulty.

TEACHER MAN by Frank McCourt

Read actively after class!

This is the next book we are going to read. Try to get your copy this week to begin to read it as soon as possible. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.