BBC文化频道:4月份不容错过的十本好书
文章来源:未知 文章作者:enread 发布时间:2017-04-10 07:06 字体: [ ]  进入论坛
(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Michel Stone, Border Child
 
In Stone's first novel, The Iguana1 Tree, Héctor makes the risky2 border crossing from Mexico into the US and finds a good job in South Carolina. When his wife Lilia follows him, she is separated from their infant daughter Alejandra. Border Child begins several years later, back in their home village in Oaxaca, where both of them mourn their Alejandra, fearing she is dead. Then comes a message that they might be able to find her. As Lilia prepares for the birth of their third child, haunted by the consequences of her actions, Héctor sets off on a search that leads to a possibility neither had considered. Stone makes palpable the vulnerabilities and exploitation of Lilia and Héctor, hard-working parents seeking a better future for their family. (Credit: Doubleday)
 
David George Haskell, The Songs of Trees
 
Haskell makes repeated visits to a dozen trees around the world. "The forest presses its mouth to every living creature and exhales," he writes in the Amazonian rainforest in Ecuador, a place of unrivaled plant diversity. There he climbs to the crown of a giant ceiba tree at least 150 years old and traces its connections to plant, animal, bacterial3 and fungal life. He visits an olive plantation4 in Jerusalem, and tracks seasons of new growth after a green ash falls on the Cumberland plateau in Kentucky. On New York's Upper West Side he wires a Callery pear planted above the subway, describing how the city's sounds affect the tree's growth ("when a plant is shaken, it grows more roots"). Each acutely observed essay is resonant5 as a poem.(Credit: Viking)
 
Nick Joaquin, The Woman Who Had Two Navels and Tales of the Tropical Gothic
 
For the centenary of his birth comes the first US publication of a compilation6 of work from Filipino writer Nick Joaquin, including his best-known stories and the 1966 play A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino. Joaquin's writing is laced with references to his country's colonial history, Catholicism and pre-Christian rituals. The "two navels" in the title story refer to symbolic7 ties to Spanish and American colonial periods. (The once-heroic father in the story, who chooses exile in Hong Kong over American occupation, is overcome with despair when he finds his ancestral house in Dinondo destroyed.) May Day Eve and The Summer Solstice dramatise the lure8 of pagan celebrations (in the latter, Dona Lupe is transformed after joining dancing village women: "her eyes brimmed with moonlight, and her mouth with laughter"). (Credit: Penguin)
 
Lesley NnekaArimah, What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky
 
From the Nigerian-born, Minneapolis-based Arimah comes a story collection full of dazzlers. Light, in which a father taking care of his 11-year-old daughter in Nigeria while her mother is in the US pursuing her MBA discovers he wants to preserve her "streak9 of fire", won the 2015 African Commonwealth10 Prize. In Who Will Greet You at Home, a National Magazine Award finalist after publication in The New Yorker, an assistant hairdresser creates a yearned-for baby out of hair, only to discover its insatiable appetites. In the dystopian title story, a finalist for the 2016 Caine Prize, a woman who specialises in calculating grief faces the question "What would happen if you couldn't forget, if every emotion from every person whose grief you'd eaten came back up?" (Credit: Riverhead Books)
 
Richard Bausch, Living in the Weather of the World
 
These 14 flawless new stories from a master craftsman11 deal with betrayals, distances and unspoken family conflict. In The Same People, as a couple married for decades prepare to end their lives, the wife says, "I wish we'd had children." The young Memphis painter in The Lineaments of Gratified Desire finds his engagement disrupted when he is commissioned by a wealthy 83-year-old to paint a nude12 portrait of his 23-year-old bride-to-be. Two Iraq war veterans drink cognac with a Vietnam vet13 who owns a Memphis bar; Veterans Night ends in tragedy. As the gloomy narrator of Map-Reading a gay man estranged14 from his family who is meeting his half sister on a windy, rainy day, puts it, "this was life in the world: getting yourself drenched15 even with an umbrella." (Credit: Knopf)
 
David Owen, Where the Water Goes
 
The New Yorker staff writer Owen examines the origins, scope and current state of the Colorado river in the American West that supplies water to more than 36 million people, irrigates16 six million acres of farmland, and powers two of the country's largest hydroelectric plants. Over the last century the river's water has been "over-allocated," Owen writes; this imbalance has been exacerbated17 by the drought in the West. He brings us to key spots along the river, from the Grand Canyon18 to Las Vegas, the Imperial Valley, and the Salton Sea. He describes struggles with water shortages, and solutions that may arise in the future, including desalinization, diverting other rivers, and cloud seeding. Where the Water Goes is an eloquent19 argument for addressing the impact of human inhabitants on the natural world. (Credit: Riverhead Books)
 
Martha Cooley, Guesswork
 
Cooley spends a 14-month sabbatical from her life in Brooklyn in the medieval village of Castiglione del Terziere with her Italian husband, Antonio Romani, a fellow writer and translator. There she comes to terms with the deaths of eight dear friends within the past decade. Her mother, nearing 90, is becoming increasingly frail20. Her father suffers from dementia. These accumulated losses, she writes "have upended me." Cooley describes her daily life with Antonio, the feral cats and bats and villagers they encounter. She muses21 on time, mortality and ambition. Midway through her break, she realises she has dwelt more upon endings than on beginnings – a new novel, a new marriage. In these lyrical essays, Cooley brings us along vicariously to feel time loosen its grip, allowing a renewing self to emerge. (Credit: Catapult)
 
Leonora Carrington, The Complete Stories
 
Carrington, the surrealist painter, was also a writer of strangely dark and unearthly short stories, collected here for the first time (and including three previously22 unpublished tales) – those in French are translated by Kathrine Talbot, those in Spanish by Anthony Kerrigan. Born in Lancashire on the day the US declared war on Germany, Carrington ran off to France with Max Ernst at 19. When he was interned23, she became unhinged and ended up in an asylum24, given the pharmaceutical25 equivalent of shock treatment. Witness to cruelties and terrible disruptions of reality, Carrington wrote stories filled with fluid creatures caught somewhere between animal, vegetable, mineral and human. One narrator sends a hyena26 in her place to her debutante27 ball; another visits a nearby house to discover her neighbors are long dead, possibly vampires28. Like her paintings, Carrington's stories are hauntingly original. (Credit: Dorothy)
 
Anne Garreta, Not One Day
 
"There's only one key to unlock the secret of our subjectivity29: desire," writes French author Garreta, a member of the Oulipo school, which sets structural30 constraints31 on literary composition. The narrator of this short novel, translated from the French by Emma Ramadan, in its first English translation, commits to writing five hours a day for a month, recounting memories of lovers past. The goal: "not one day without a woman." More than a year later, she has written a dozen portraits. There's *B, whose attractiveness is "a super acute mental intensity32", pursued with uncertainty33 one night in Rome, and *E, who turns seductive after a boring academic symposium34. These encounters and others unfold as Garreta pursues her playful task of "confession35, or how to scrape the bottoms of mirrors". Not One Day won France's Prix Médicis. (Credit: Deep Vellum)
 
Adam Kirsch, The Global Novel: Writing the World in the 21st Century
 
Award-winning critic Adam Kirsch achieves a fresh take on world literature in this collection of essays about eight global writers who encompass36 six languages and five continents. What unites these eight, Kirsch argues, "is the insistence37 on the global dimension not just of contemporary experience, but of contemporary imagination." The new migrant novel is one of the most significant literary expressions of the 21st Century. In Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Americanah and Mosin Hamid's The Reluctant Fundamentalist, the US is "a stage of life rather than a final destination". Examining these plus Orhan Pamuk's Snow, Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake, Haruki Murakami's IQ84, Roberto Bolano's 2666, Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan novels and Houllebecq's The Possibility of an Island, Kirsch gives hope for "the capacity of fiction to reveal humanity to itself". (Credit: Columbia Global Reports)


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 iguana MbWxT     
n.美洲大蜥蜴,鬣鳞蜥
参考例句:
  • With an iguana,you really don't have to say surprise.惊喜两字已经不足以形容这只鬣鳞蜥了。
  • I'm going to turn on my computer and make a movie starring my pet iguanadj.打开计算机准备制作一部关于我的宠物蜥蜴的电影。
2 risky IXVxe     
adj.有风险的,冒险的
参考例句:
  • It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险,但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
  • He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。
3 bacterial dy5z8q     
a.细菌的
参考例句:
  • Bacterial reproduction is accelerated in weightless space. 在失重的空间,细菌繁殖加快了。
  • Brain lesions can be caused by bacterial infections. 大脑损伤可能由细菌感染引起。
4 plantation oOWxz     
n.种植园,大农场
参考例句:
  • His father-in-law is a plantation manager.他岳父是个种植园经营者。
  • The plantation owner has possessed himself of a vast piece of land.这个种植园主把大片土地占为己有。
5 resonant TBCzC     
adj.(声音)洪亮的,共鸣的
参考例句:
  • She has a resonant voice.她的嗓子真亮。
  • He responded with a resonant laugh.他报以洪亮的笑声。
6 compilation kptzy     
n.编译,编辑
参考例句:
  • One of the first steps taken was the compilation of a report.首先采取的步骤之一是写一份报告。
  • The compilation of such diagrams,is of lasting value for astronomy.绘制这样的图对天文学有永恒的价值。
7 symbolic ErgwS     
adj.象征性的,符号的,象征主义的
参考例句:
  • It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
  • The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。
8 lure l8Gz2     
n.吸引人的东西,诱惑物;vt.引诱,吸引
参考例句:
  • Life in big cities is a lure for many country boys.大城市的生活吸引着许多乡下小伙子。
  • He couldn't resist the lure of money.他不能抵制金钱的诱惑。
9 streak UGgzL     
n.条理,斑纹,倾向,少许,痕迹;v.加条纹,变成条纹,奔驰,快速移动
参考例句:
  • The Indians used to streak their faces with paint.印第安人过去常用颜料在脸上涂条纹。
  • Why did you streak the tree?你为什么在树上刻条纹?
10 commonwealth XXzyp     
n.共和国,联邦,共同体
参考例句:
  • He is the chairman of the commonwealth of artists.他是艺术家协会的主席。
  • Most of the members of the Commonwealth are nonwhite.英联邦的许多成员国不是白人国家。
11 craftsman ozyxB     
n.技工,精于一门工艺的匠人
参考例句:
  • A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。
  • The craftsman is working up the mass of clay into a toy figure.艺人把一团泥捏成玩具形状。
12 nude CHLxF     
adj.裸体的;n.裸体者,裸体艺术品
参考例句:
  • It's a painting of the Duchess of Alba in the nude.这是一幅阿尔巴公爵夫人的裸体肖像画。
  • She doesn't like nude swimming.她不喜欢裸泳。
13 vet 2HfyG     
n.兽医,退役军人;vt.检查
参考例句:
  • I took my dog to the vet.我把狗带到兽医诊所看病。
  • Someone should vet this report before it goes out.这篇报道发表之前应该有人对它进行详查。
14 estranged estranged     
adj.疏远的,分离的
参考例句:
  • He became estranged from his family after the argument.那场争吵后他便与家人疏远了。
  • The argument estranged him from his brother.争吵使他同他的兄弟之间的关系疏远了。
15 drenched cu0zJp     
adj.湿透的;充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 );在某人(某物)上大量使用(某液体)
参考例句:
  • We were caught in the storm and got drenched to the skin. 我们遇上了暴雨,淋得浑身透湿。
  • The rain drenched us. 雨把我们淋得湿透。 来自《简明英汉词典》
16 irrigates afadff4d24f55efe432e5dcf31658c68     
灌溉( irrigate的第三人称单数 ); 冲洗(伤口)
参考例句:
  • The Yangtse River irrigates vast stretches of farmland along its course. 长江灌溉着两岸的大片农田。
  • Water drafted from the well irrigates the field. 从井中抽出来的水用于灌溉田地。
17 exacerbated 93c37be5dc6e60a8bbd0f2eab618d2eb     
v.使恶化,使加重( exacerbate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The symptoms may be exacerbated by certain drugs. 这些症状可能会因为某些药物而加重。
  • The drugs they gave her only exacerbated the pain. 他们给她吃的药只是加重了她的痛楚。 来自《简明英汉词典》
18 canyon 4TYya     
n.峡谷,溪谷
参考例句:
  • The Grand Canyon in the USA is 1900 metres deep.美国的大峡谷1900米深。
  • The canyon is famous for producing echoes.这个峡谷以回声而闻名。
19 eloquent ymLyN     
adj.雄辩的,口才流利的;明白显示出的
参考例句:
  • He was so eloquent that he cut down the finest orator.他能言善辩,胜过最好的演说家。
  • These ruins are an eloquent reminder of the horrors of war.这些废墟形象地提醒人们不要忘记战争的恐怖。
20 frail yz3yD     
adj.身体虚弱的;易损坏的
参考例句:
  • Mrs. Warner is already 96 and too frail to live by herself.华纳太太已经九十六岁了,身体虚弱,不便独居。
  • She lay in bed looking particularly frail.她躺在床上,看上去特别虚弱。
21 muses 306ea415b7f016732e8a8cee3311d579     
v.沉思,冥想( muse的第三人称单数 );沉思自语说(某事)
参考例句:
  • We have listened too long to the courtly muses of Europe. 欧洲那种御用的诗才,我们已经听够了。 来自辞典例句
  • Shiki muses that this is, at least, probably the right atmosphere. 志贵觉得这至少是正确的气氛。 来自互联网
22 previously bkzzzC     
adv.以前,先前(地)
参考例句:
  • The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
  • Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿,解释原先发生了什么。
23 interned 7006cc1f45048a987771967c7a5bdb31     
v.拘留,关押( intern的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He was interned but,as he was in no way implicated in war crimes,was released. 他曾被拘留过,但因未曾涉嫌战争罪行而被释放了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • These soldiers were interned in a neutral country until the war was over. 这些士兵被拘留在一个中立国,直到战争结束。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
24 asylum DobyD     
n.避难所,庇护所,避难
参考例句:
  • The people ask for political asylum.人们请求政治避难。
  • Having sought asylum in the West for many years,they were eventually granted it.他们最终获得了在西方寻求多年的避难权。
25 pharmaceutical f30zR     
adj.药学的,药物的;药用的,药剂师的
参考例句:
  • She has donated money to establish a pharmaceutical laboratory.她捐款成立了一个药剂实验室。
  • We are engaged in a legal tussle with a large pharmaceutical company.我们正同一家大制药公司闹法律纠纷。
26 hyena k47yz     
n.土狼,鬣狗
参考例句:
  • African hyena noted for its distinctive howl.非洲鬣狗,以其特别的嚎叫而闻名。
  • The hyena's public image is not aided by its ridiculous appearance.鬣狗滑稽的外表无助于改善它在公众心中的形象。
27 debutante NnVzK     
n.初入社交界的少女
参考例句:
  • The debutante's photograph was at the head of the society page.那位初进社交界少女的照片登在社会版的最上头。
  • She dazzled London society as the most beautiful debutante of her generation.她首次出现在伦敦社交界便艳惊四座,被视为同龄人里最美丽的年轻女子。
28 vampires 156828660ac146a537e281c7af443361     
n.吸血鬼( vampire的名词复数 );吸血蝠;高利贷者;(舞台上的)活板门
参考例句:
  • The most effective weapon against the vampires is avampire itself. 对付吸血鬼最有效的武器就是吸血鬼自己。 来自电影对白
  • If vampires existed, don`t you think we would`ve found them by now? 如果真有吸血鬼,那我们怎么还没有找到他们呢? 来自电影对白
29 subjectivity NtfwP     
n.主观性(主观主义)
参考例句:
  • In studying a problem,we must shun subjectivity.研究问题,忌带主观性。
  • 'Cause there's a certain amount of subjectivity involved in recreating a face.因为在重建面部的过程中融入了太多的主观因素?
30 structural itXw5     
adj.构造的,组织的,建筑(用)的
参考例句:
  • The storm caused no structural damage.风暴没有造成建筑结构方面的破坏。
  • The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities.北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。
31 constraints d178923285d63e9968956a0a4758267e     
强制( constraint的名词复数 ); 限制; 约束
参考例句:
  • Data and constraints can easily be changed to test theories. 信息库中的数据和限制条件可以轻易地改变以检验假设。 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史
  • What are the constraints that each of these imply for any design? 这每种产品的要求和约束对于设计意味着什么? 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
32 intensity 45Ixd     
n.强烈,剧烈;强度;烈度
参考例句:
  • I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
  • The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。
33 uncertainty NlFwK     
n.易变,靠不住,不确知,不确定的事物
参考例句:
  • Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
  • After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后,压力开始产生影响了。
34 symposium 8r6wZ     
n.讨论会,专题报告会;专题论文集
参考例句:
  • What have you learned from the symposium?你参加了这次科学讨论会有什么体会?
  • The specialists and scholars present at the symposium come from all corners of the country.出席研讨会的专家学者们来自全国各地。
35 confession 8Ygye     
n.自白,供认,承认
参考例句:
  • Her confession was simply tantamount to a casual explanation.她的自白简直等于一篇即席说明。
  • The police used torture to extort a confession from him.警察对他用刑逼供。
36 encompass WZJzO     
vt.围绕,包围;包含,包括;完成
参考例句:
  • The course will encompass physics,chemistry and biology.课程将包括物理、化学和生物学。
  • The project will encompass rural and underdeveloped areas in China.这项工程将覆盖中国的农村和不发达地区。
37 insistence A6qxB     
n.坚持;强调;坚决主张
参考例句:
  • They were united in their insistence that she should go to college.他们一致坚持她应上大学。
  • His insistence upon strict obedience is correct.他坚持绝对服从是对的。
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