Totto-chan

This book was written by Tetsuko Kuroyanagi. This engaging series of childhood recollections tells about an ideal school in Tokyo during world war II that combine learning with fun, love and freedom. This unusual school had old railway car for classrooms,and it was run by an extraordinary man_ its founder and headmaster, Sosaku Kobayashi_who was a firm believer in freedom of expression and activity. The writer had written the book in order to tell people about her great teacher, Mr Kobayashi. This book is actually the real life story of the writer.

My mother had been asking me to read this book since 2 years ago. However, I remained indifferent. So, since she knew that my English assignment was to read four book, she bought the book and forced me to read it! However, I was greatly amused by Totto-chan's innocence.The part where she opened and closed her desk flap and was expelled for irritating the teacher.

There was also a part when my brows knitted together as I read the part where Totto-chan dropped her purse into the toilet. and as the toilet had no flush, she scooped up the poo from the cesspool and goodness me, the headmaster asked what Totto-chan was doing and left. The headmaster, just asked her to return the poo to its original place. So she did it.I was laughing madly by then.

There was once, she played about the barbed wire. She got mum's favourite dress torn and made up a lie saying some children threw knives at her.However, mum did not scold her for lying but knew she lied as she felt bad. The mum was really compassionate.(85)

Curiosity kills the cat. Totto-chan ran and jumped onto some newspaper. But, unfortunately the newspaper was there to cover the hole of the cesspool and she fell into it.(90-91)

Takahashi was the shortest and hands were very short too. However, every year, in the Sports Day events, Takahashi would be first.(103)

During a field kitchen, Totto-chan chopped the food skillfully and even advised the older children.(139)

These are some interesting parts of the story. The story began with Totto-chan disrupting the class and being expelled. Then, her mother bought her to Tomoe Gakuen, which was this unusual school with old railway cars as classrooms. The pupils there were very few. This special school allows students to start with the subject of their choice and did not have a fixed curriculum. This story shows the different ways Mr Kobayashi helped and treated the children with affection. I admired Mr Kobayashi as he was really compassionate and the contribution for the children. At the end of the story, Tomoe was burnt down. The bombs fell on the railway cars which served to be classroom. I was sad. It was Mr Kobayashi's dream, however, he was still optimistic. On the whole, the story was interesting and I hope my friends would have a chance to enjoy this book. I still can't believe that this book with such a boring book cover and colour-pink,could be so interesting. So, do not judge a book by its cover.

To kill a mockingbird

This book is entitled To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. This story is about the childhood of a girl named Scout. At the beginning, in Maycomb, the neighbours of Scout were introduced. Living with her, she had a father, Atticus, and a brother, Jem.

At the beginning of the story, Scout, Jem and Dill always played together and made fun of Boo Radley. It was said that Boo Radley had once stuck a scissors in his father's leg and soon, that became news in Maycomb. From that day on, Boo Radley was not to be seen and was being locked up in the attic.

Scout was a grade one student and Jem was a grade five student. Scout was introduced to her new teacher Miss Caroline. She had lots of problems with the student and the way to handle them as she was not from the country they were. She did not understand their culture.

One of the days on her way home, Scout passed by the Radley's place and found two oak trees at the side of the lot of the Radleys. She saw a shiny thing sticking out of the tree hole. It was a chewing gum. From that day on, she got a chewing gum from the tree hole.

Once, when Dill was with them, they made a play about the Radley and when they were playing, they put Scout into a tire and rolled her. Loosing control, Scout rolled into the Radleys' front porch to their steps. She heard someone laughing within the house.

At night, they sneaked into the backyard of the Radleys' place. They were almost shot by Mr Nathan Radley as they were thought to be Negroes. While escaping, Jem got his trousers caught in the fence. when he retrieve the pants, he turned white to see that the pants was being folded across the fence. In other words, the Radleys were expecting him to return.

In the hole in the oak tree, they realised that there were two images of Jem and Scout in it. The following days there were more stuff. But when they had decided to write the person a letter, the hole was being filled up.

Mrs Radley died in the winter. Once, Mrs Maudie's house was on fire and that Scout and Jem were to stay outside the Radleys' front porch and watch the adults put out The weather became colder, Scout was totally oblivious that Boo Radley had actually covered her with a jacket.

Scout was to grow up some day and their aunt, Alexandra was going to stay with them for a short period of time. Soon, Scout discovers the talents of her father.

Mrs Dubose was introduced and she was real nasty. Once, Jem had cut down all her plants in anger and as a sign to show apology, he had to read to her for a month.

I still clearly remembered. Scout stepped on something cold on her bedroom floor and felt something cold. She asked Jem over to see if it was a snake. However, to every one's surprise, that includes me, it was Dill. He explained how his horrible stepfather treated him and how he had escape from his home town to Maycomb.

Many other events followed nut were all not of significance. These events led to a court case of Tom Robinson. The children sneaked into the place without the acknowledgement of their father. They witnesses how their father had debated in the court case and that they had a high chance of winning the case. However, they lost due to a case of black and white. This case was about a nigger, Tom Robinson, raping Mr Bob Ewell's daughter. Actually, she was just trying to get rid of someone she could not so lied that Tom had raped her. But because the juries were all white, they chose to make Tom Robinson guilty. After the whole thing, Mr Bob Ewell spat in Atticus' face and said that he would get him.

One of the nights, Tom Robinson was killed by 17 gunshots. It was said that Tom decided to do the job himself, although he could have won the case. Mr Link Deas employed Helen, Tom's wife after his death and had finally managed to cease the Ewells from assaulting her.

Then, after the year, the country had decided to organise a pageant in the high school auditorium. That night after the whole event, Scout had forgotten to bring her shoes and thus when back. As the source of light was very little, they could hardly see a thing. Then, someone grabbed them and Jem got his arm broken and Scout felt that someone was trying to strangle her. Suddenly, the man fell and then there was silence for some time. Someone thought to be Atticus by scout had brought them home. Then, Jem was examined and Scout recounted the whole incident to them. It was actually Boo Radley who had saved them. After that night when Scout had sent Boo Radley home, he was not to be seen again. He had passed away. Then, they continued their lives in Maycomb happily ever after.

On the whole, I have enjoyed the story and at some parts of the story, it was quite amusing. Some parts like Jem saying that they could write a note to Boo Radley and say very politely ask him to go out so that they could see him. In return, they would treat him to ice cream. It is of a child's ignorance and innocence. I felt quite sad for Boo Radley. He was thought to be bad and some sort of a monster like a zombie. Actually, he was someone who had a kind heart and is an introvert. At some parts in the story, it was quite interesting. I believe my classmates would enjoy reading the book.

The Advantures of Sherlock Holmes, A case of Identity

Miss Mary Sutherland, a typewriter came to visit Sherlock Holmes in desperateness. She started mentioning Mr Hosmer Angel. Then, she carried on saying the character of her father, how much she earns in a month.... Then she said that she had met Mr Hosmer twice and they began to have a relationship. However, her father would not allow her to have a relationship with him and thus, they could only write letter to each other. They could only meet each other only when her father was not around.

When Mary's father was in France, Mr Hosmer visited Mary and wanted to arrange for a marriage before her father returns. He even made her swear that whatever would happen, she would only love him and be true to him. Mary was supported by her mother and she wrote to her father saying that she was going to be married with Mr Hosmer. However, the letter missed him and it came back to Mary.

Then on the day of the marriage, Mr Hosmer sent Mary and her mother into the a four-wheeler and got into another. Mary and her mother arrived at the church first and when the four-wheeler of Mr Hosmer arrived, no one stepped out and the cab man said that he had seen with his own eyes that Mr Hosmer had gotten into the carriage and was also confused. Then from that day on, Mr Hosmer was no where to be seen. Mary said that she believed that Mr Hosmer foresaw some danger and so wanted Mary to swear before anything happened to him.

The following day, Sherlock Holmes asked Mr James Windibank, the stepfather of Miss Mary Sutherland. Mr windibank did not believe that Sherlock Holmes would be able to find Mr Hosmer and looked down on him. However, Holmes said that in the typewriting of Mr Hosmer, there was slight slurring over the "e" and slight defect in the tail of the "r". He continued saying that with the help of the magnifying lens, he could see fourteen other characteristics. Then, Mr Windibank grew sarcastic and said that he would not carry on wasting time listening to the characteristics of the hand writing of Mr Hosmer. He only told Holmes to tell him when he had found and caught Mr Hosmer, which was thought to be impossible. However, Holmes answered, saying that he would tell him that he had already caught Mr Hosmer. Mr Windibank turned white.

Mr Windibank admitted that he was non other than Mr Hosmer. Sherlock Holmes explained that he said that the man married a woman much older than him and that he enjoyed the use of her money. Now, her marriage would mean and so as a clever stepfather, he took the obvious of keeping her at home and that forbid her to have company of her own age. So, he disguised himself as Mr Hosmer and covered the keen eyes with tinted spectacles, masked his face with a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sank the clear voice into an insinuating whisper, and appeared as Mr Hosmer and kept the other lovers as he makes love himself.

Mr Windibank tried to get away by saying that it was only a joke at the beginning.

Then Sherlock Holmes continued saying that on the day of marriage, Mr Windibank got into the the carriage and got out from the other side. Before, Holmes could do anything, Mr Windibank rushed off.

The Advantures of Sherlock Holmes, The Beryl Coronet

A man by the name of Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street, needed Sherlock Holmes help urgently and seemed to be in complete desperateness. When he got into Sherlock Holmes' house, he banged his head against the wall madly. When to man calmed down, Holmes started top interview Mr Holder.
Mr Holder recollected that the day before, a name card of the highest, noblest most exalted names of England was sent to him. The man immediately asked for fifty thousand pounds which he needed urgently on the following Monday. Not only so, this man left the beryl coronet with Mr Holder. The beryl coronet was a magnificent piece of jewellery with thirty-nine enormous beryls. Feeling unsafe about leaving the precious jewellery in the office, Mr Holder bought it home and locked it in the bureau of his dressing room.

That night after dinner, Mr Holder told his son Arthur, and his niece Mary about his experience about the coronet. That night, he being a light sleeper, was so than usual. About two in the moring, Mr Holder was being woken up by some sound in the house. The sound had stopped but it left an impression that a window had been gently closed somewhere. Then, suddenly, there was sound of footsteps moving in the next room. Mr Holder thus peeped into his dressing room and screamed in anger as he saw Arthur holding the coronet in his hand, one of the gold corners, with three beryls was missing. And so, Arthur was said to have stolen the beryls and thus Mr Holder dialed for the police. Hearing the commotion, Mary came out from her room and advanced to Arthur and Mr Holder. When she saw the coronet in Arthur's hand, she screamed in horror and fainted. Now, Mr Holder had gotten Arthur behind bars.

When being asked about the characters of the Arthur and Mary, Sherlock Holmes felt something amiss about the character of Mary, saying that girls of her age should be going out recently and staying at home all the time. Mr Holder also claimed that the beryl coronet was twisted.

Thus, Sherlock Holmes decided to inspect the crime scene, Mr Holder's house. And the first place he inspected was the stable lane outside of the house. Then,he proceeded and went upstairs to examine the dressing room. He requested Mr Holder to open the bureau in order for him to examine the beryl coronet. Seeing that there was a corner it lost, Holmes tried to bent the coronet, but to no avail. Thus, he concluded that no ordinary man could have broke off part of the coronet.

After spending some time at Mr Holder's house, Sherlock Holmes went back to Baker Street and then rushed off again, this time, without the company of Dr Waston. He returned when Dr Waston had just finished his tea, and before long, Holmes was out to the West End. He did not return till late into the midnight.

The next morning, their client, Mr Holder arrived at nine and announced a bad news to them. That was, Mary had abandoned him. She had written a note saying that she had brought upon him and that she would leave him forever, hoping he would not try and find her. This helped Holmes and proved his point. Holmes announced to Mr Holder saying that he had solved the whole mystery and that he had retrieved the three lost beryls.

Slowly, Holmes explained the whole process of him solving the mystery. He started saying that Sir George Burnwell and Marry had fled together, suggesting them to be the culprit. He said that the night of the crime, Mary slipped through into the dressing room and spoke to her lover which led to the stable lane. His footmarks showed him walking from the lane and stood there as talked. She told him of the coronet and his greed bent her to his will. As Arthur could not sleep, he heard a tread pass his door. So he rose, looking out was surprised to see his cousin walking very stealthily along the passage way, until she disappeared into the dressing room. He waited to see what had came to this strange affair. Then, Arthur saw her carrying the precious coronet in her hands. She passed down the stairs and passed the coronet to someone through the window in the gloom. Arthur ran into the snow and caught Sir George Burnwell and they both tugged at one side of the coronet. In the scuffle, Arthur cut him over the eye. Then, something snapped. Finding that he had got the coronet in his hand, he rushed back into the dressing room. He found the coronet bent and was intending to straightened it when Mr Holder came. When accused, Arthur took the more chivalrous view and preserved Mary's secret. So, when Mary saw the coronet, she shrieked and fainted. Then, when she regained her consciousness, she asked for five minutes to leave the house, in order to check if the missing piece was at the scene.

Holmes said that by judging the footprints, he could tell that a woman had stood talking to a man. Then near the stable lane, he saw many footmarks in a mass. He concluded that a struggled had happened and blood stains could be found near the struggle. Now the only problem was, who the thief was. It could not be the maids as there was not a need to cover the maids actions. However, if it would be Mary, and as Arthur loved her, there could be a reason why he wanted to cover his deed. Then, who would have the ability to make her betray her uncle, it was obviously a lover. Then, when Sherlock Holmes confronted the villain, however he denied everything. Then Holmes pointed a pistol at the head of him and so he became more true. Then Sherlock Holmes said that he would give him a thousand pounds a piece and the villain grew so angry saying that he sold them for six hundred a piece. So he manged to get the address of the receiver and thus bought them at a thousand pounds each. And as for Mary and Sir George Burnwell, they would soon receive their punishment.

The Advantures of Sherlock Holmes, A Scandal in Bohemia

One night, on 20th March, 1888, a European king came to visit Sherlock Holmes. The king was about to get married to a wife whose family's principles were very strict. Any shadow of a doubt to his conduct would bring the matter to an end. However, the king's mistress, Irene Adler, blackmailed him by saying that she would sent the king's future wife's family, a photo of the king and the mistress herself. So, Sherlock Holmes would have to get the photograph back.

The following day, Holmes went to Briony Lodge, in search of Irene Adler. He also got information about her from the people and found out that she had a good deal with a guy by the name of Mr Godfrey Norton, a dark, handsome and dashing man whose occupation was a lawyer. On this same day, Holmes caught sight of a man who fitted the description rushing out of the house of Irene and flagging a taxi. He was going to the church of St Monica. Then Irene Adler did the same. Thus Holmes followed them and headed to the church. When he reached the church, Mr Godfrey Norton grapped him and asked him to be the witness of his wedding with Irene Adler. However, after the wedding, both the bride and the groom separated but would meet at the park at five that day.

Holmes wanted Dr Waston to help him in the case. Holmes had instructed Dr not to interfere with what ever was happening and that to station himself close to the open window of the sitting room of the house of Irene Adler. He was asked to throw a smoke rocket when the window was opened.

Then on that night, seven o'clock, Sherlock Holmes and Dr Waston arrived at the street near the house of Irene Adler. At the scene, there was a group of men smoking, scissors-grinder with his wheel, two guardsmen flirting with a nurse girl and several well-dressed young men. Then after a while, Irene Adler came in a carriage. A man went forward and with hope of earning a copper wanted to open the door. However, was elbowed by another man with the same intention. Soon a fight broke out and more men joined in. Out of the blue, Sherlock Holmes ran into the fight to save Irene Adler who was caught in the fight but was being hit and blood flowed freely down his face. Then the fight stopped. The onlookers said that Holmes was brave and kind and should be help into Irene's house for a rest. When Holmes was carried in, he showed a sign of breathless, and the people rushed to the windows to open them. Seeing the window being opened, Dr Waston, threw the smoke rocket into the sitting room. After a while, Holmes assured them that it was only a false alarm and quickly slipped out from the crowd to be together with Dr Waston.

Then Holmes explained that all the people at then were just accomplices and that when he asked Dr to throw the rocket, he saw Irene rushing to somewhere in between the sitting room and her bedroom to retrieve the photograph of the king and her. Holmes explained that in times of emergency, women tend to grab the thing which was most valuable to them, so for Irene Adler, the thing that was most valuable to her was the photograph.

The next day, together with the king, Dr Waston and Sherlock Holmes went to Irene's house to retrieve the photograph. However, when they reached the destination, the maid told them that Irene Adler had already left the country. In other words, they would not be able to get the photograph. Shocked, they push their way in tore open a sliding shutter and to reveal the photograph. However, the photograph was of Irene herself in a evening dress and it was superscribed to Sherlock Holmes. inside was a letter.

In the letter. it was said that Irene soon suspected Sherlock Holmes and was being warned sometime ago of Sherlock Holmes. So Irene and Mr Norton had decided that flight before pursue was the best option. She also said she would not use the photograph to threaten the king anymore as she was being loved and loved a man better than the king. She would only use the photograph as to only safeguard herself from the king.

So this is just a rough summary of the story. I really enjoy reading Sherlock Holmes.

The Advantures of Sherlock Holmes, The Speckled Band

In early April in the 83', one early morning, Mrs Hudson, name Helen Stoner, came to visit Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson, begging them to solve the mystery of her sister's death. She was living with her stepfather, name Dr Roylott,who married Helen Stoner's mother in India. Helen had a twin sister by the name of Julia. Their mother died in a railway accident in England some eight years ago. After the death of their beloved mother, Dr Roylott changed and soon became a unreasonable man who quarrels with anyone who gets in his path. He even got himself in the police court, for he was a man with immense strength and uncontrollable anger.Their stepfather kept a cheetah and baboon.

Time went by and when both Julia and Helen at the age of thirty, their hair had already began to whiten. Julia led to a mysterious end of her life. Before she died, she got engaged, however, Dr Roylott had no objections against the marriage. Unfortunately, a terrible event happened within a fortnight before the day fixed for the wedding. During when, they lived at THE manor house, a very very old, and now, only one wing is inhabited. The bedrooms where Julia, Helen and their father slept were along a same corridor.

That fatal night, Dr Roylott had got int o his room early, Julia was troubled by the smell of Indian Cigars, therefore went to Helen's room where she sat for some time chatting. At eleven o'clock when Julia was about to return to her own room, she turned back and shot Helen with a question,"Have you ever heard any one whistle in the dead of the night?" Upon hearing that she sister did do so she carried on saying that in the past few nights, she heard a low whistle. After that she returned to her own room. That night, Helen sensed that some misfortune was about to hit Julia when a wild scream of a terrified woman burst out. Then, Helen rushed over to her sister's room just to hear a low whistle and a clanging sound of metal.

As Helen approached her sister's room, she saw the door unlocked, and revolved around its hinges. Julia face was blanched with terror and was swaying through and fro like a drunkard.

When Helen bent over to Julia, Julia shrieked in a voice Helen would never forger,"OH MY GOD! HELEN! IT WAS THE BAND! THE SPECKLED BAND!" Then she pointed to the doctor's room.

Now it was Helen's turn to be married. She had to sleep on the bed which her sister mysteriously died. Same thing happened, the father did not object and the last night, she heard the low whistle. The following day, she came to Sherlock Holmes and reported. So, Holmes went over and inspected the manor house and found out strange things. Firstly, the bed was fastened to the

floor. Secondly, above the bed, there was a bell with a very long rope which was for ringing the bell, was a dummy. Thirdly above the bell, their was a ventilation when the room was already exposed to the atmospheric air outside. Then when Holmes went over to Dr's room, he found at the side of the bed very long slashes made by the claws of a cat.

Then on that night, Holmes asked Helen to give a signal by lighting the lamp. Then Holmes and Dr Watson got into Helen's room and waited until close midnight. Then something happened. The smoke could smelled and then not long later, the low whistle could be heard. Without hesitation, Holmes got up and stuck a long cane into the ventilation and poke and shook the cane violently, after a while he finally settled down. Then, together with Dr Waston and Helen, Holmes went over to Dr Roylott's room to find him dead, with a speckled band on his wrist, a long snake wrapping round him. Using the cane, Holmes got the snake away from Dr Roylott and shoved it into a iron box and dialed for the cops.

How Holmes solved the case was very simpled. When Holmes saw that the bed was peculiarly, fastened to the floor and that the rope and ventilation had a story to be told to, he smelt a rat. Then with evidence from Helen, he learnt that Dr Roylott had interest in Indian animals and thus came out with a conclusion that the Dr could have tried to put a trained serpent into the ventilation connected with the room Helen was sleeping in. Then the rope from the bell would allow it to glide down towards Helen and make her a victim. Thus, in order to chase the serpent away, Holmes poked and shook the cane wildly in the ventilation to force the snake to return. Snake's instinct is to bite its closest victim and thus bit Dr. Then the rest was up to the police. Actually we can say that Sherlock Holmes had indirectly killed Dr Roylott!

This story is really one of the most interesting mystery story I have ever read.