Culture Vultures

UNIT 5

· Reading Tendencies

· Impenetrable and Transparent Art

· Icon Painting

1. Discussion:

1. Do you often read? Which kinds of books are your all-time favourites?

2. Do you read printed editions or you read from the screen? Why?

3. What is your attitude to literature? What is your attitude to modern literature? Why?

2. Read two opinions given below and fill in the gaps with the words from the box. Whose opinion is closer to you? Remember what kind of reader you were when you were a schoolchild.

I. I must confess that it wasn’t me but my parents who (1)_____________________ me to read. I still remember those ‘read-to-me’ times, for they built a wonderful bit of (2)______________________. I also remember those magic times my parents spent with me trying to show me the beauty of each book we read. My parents gifted me with an (3)_________________________, which helped me through my whole life.

Reading wasn’t just fun or (4)____________________________ for me. I used to read curled up in my chair and stay up all night. Most of the books were kinds of treasures for me, which I thoroughly (5)________________________. I wasn’t a type of a teenager who reads quickly but accurately. I needed time to explore the passages, which I simply adored. I explored and X-rayed them slowly and (6)______________________. My friends used to laugh at me saying that I was a bookworm or a (7)________________________. But I still stayed glued to my faithful friends for hours and they never (8)_____________________ me.

II. I wasn’t a ‘read-a-lot’ type of a teenager. I was a kind of ‘have-to-read-for-my-classes’ guy. My parents used to compare me with my friends who used to chew their favourites till they got exhausted. I must admit that I couldn’t stand (9)________________________. What kind of people were they, X-raying and examining every sentence, which seemed so regular and (10)______________________ to me. How could their parents put up with that?! I still doubt if those ‘puzzles’ needed to be solved. Fancy me put in their shoes! I wouldn’t be able to (11)_________________________ that! Why did they need to (12)_______________ those far from (13)_______________________, but even obvious things. To me everything we read at literature classes seemed not to need any (14)_________________________ at all, for everything was so (15)______________________. I still can’t get into those matter-of-fact stories and novels. And I’m pretty sure I’ll never figure out why people get involved into such ‘not-surprising-me’ stuff.

Bookworming amusement tedious banal togetherness encouraged ridiculed handle nerd inspiration digest investigated laboriously exploration mysterious

3. Study Unit 27 in the book ‘English Vocabulary in Use – Advanced’ and write a blurb of a book you were impressed by. The following vocabulary can also help you:

- relentless pace of events

- real experiences leaping full-bodied from the author’s imagination

- a stingingly irreverent story

- to be tormented by a (maddeningly) sane vision of society

- wild, brilliant, etched-in-acid portrayal

- a novel that stands head, heart and funny bone above all others on the scene today

- an irresistible humour with a superb cutting edge

- a storytelling talent that makes reading a pleasure as well as a mind–jolting experience

- a masterful mix of satire, fantasy and all-too-real realism

- a far-out imagination which always winds up right on target

- to come away from the book unaffected and unchanged

- readers twelve and up

- to inevitably compel smb. into the book’s reality; replenish and renourish

- a story to be quickly and robustly told and pleasurably consumed

- a blood-chilling tour de force

- the author weaves a rich tapestry of violence, romance, power plays and international intrigue

- an excellent novel, plotted tightly

- frighteningly readable

4. Read the text and do the follow-up activities.

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