“A donkey, old and tired out,Is of no use, there is no doubt.” The four old and unwanted animals decided to go to Bremen and become musicians there. A timeless Grimms’ fairy tale. This English adaptation of the story bring new light to it. Kestutis Kasparavicius’ illustration is my favourite. A donkey, a dog, a …
“You made it (Grießbrei) yourself?” Barbara asked her husband Walter Schmidt.“What do you think? Helmut?” Barbara’s husband replied. Helmut is their dog.“You made semolina soup (Grießbrei) for me?” Barbara asked again. This conversation in my currently reading made me laugh. I think, for Barbara, either Helmut the dog or Walter Schmidt the husband cooked were …
Von guten Mächten wunderbar geborgen (DE)By loving forces wonderfully sheltered (EN) This is one of the most demanded songs for funeral, wedding and new year worship service. And the song text is written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (4 February 1906 – 9 April 1945), a German anti-Nazi theologian. He was arrested in April 1943 by the …
“Slow, Slow Song” by Li Qing Zhao is one of my all-time favourite “Song Lyrics”. The “Song” that I mentioned in “Song Lyrics” is not the “Song” to sing, but the “Song” Dynasty (960 -1279) in China. And “lyrics” is a special kind of poetry composition that set words to available tune, not the other …
“The days and months hurried on, never delaying;Springs and Autumns sped by in endless alternation:And I thought how the trees and flowers were fading and falling.And feared that my fairest beauty would fade too.” Excerpt from “Li Sao” by Qu Yuan. This afternoon I’m reading a poem written by Qu Yuan (b.c. 335? – 296?). …
It is one of the most beautiful words in the German language, one of the most beautiful traits of the German essence, a term that, for example, the French would envy us fervently…. Es gehört mit zu den schönsten Worten der deutschen Sprache, zu den schönsten Zügen des deutschen Wesens, ein Begriff, um den uns …
“See! The splendour roses in garden!”“Yeah, they are wonderful. Also they are selected to grow on your grave.”“Look! the two black little horses is leaping lively on the meadow!”“Their pace would become slow when they are transporting your corpse. It may be very soon this would happen.” What a rich wisdom is hidden in this …
The big Ravensburger songbook by Cornelia HaasDas große Ravensburger Liederbuch von Cornelia Haas This book belongs to my 10 months old friend, I have a look into the book during a visit. The first page is inviting us to guess a song from the illustration. Dear German friends, do you know which song could it …
My reading habit has changed. More accurately, the long gone reading habit is back. Back to the time when I was preparing for class and writing essay for my degree in Chinese literature and International development. Highlighting, underlining, tabs, and notes. Recently I have started to explore Russian contemporary literature. A friend introduced Ljudmila Ulitzkaja …
Today’s goal accomplished, finished reading this book. “Don’t cry, you’re still alive.” by Kirsten Boie is about the life of 3 teenagers after 2nd world war in war torn Hamburg, Germany. I need some time to let my mind rest before I can write a proper book review for this book. The book’s title says: …