Language Freak Summer Challenge: Finish Line!

Hi, sweeties! Summer is over (can you believe it??) and it means it's time to wrap up this year's Language Freak Summer Challenge!

We did it! We've read quite some books in many (9!) different languages, and hopefully have brushed up our language skills and got more motivation to study! I truly admire your effort and thank you for your participation! I'd be happy to have you all as participants next summer!

As a host, I want to apologize for not being active enough myself, but this summer was not the best time in my life, so I slacked a lot. I'm so grateful for the enthusiasm of other participants, which kept the challenge rolling and helped me find motivation!

As usual, I'm giving you a grace period until Sept. 7. to finish your reviews. I'll add them to this review list at the end of next week. So if you've read something and haven't had time to write about it, use the time :)

Below, as usual, are all our reviews sorted by language. Note that August reviews have been marked by NEW!!! Please check that all your reviews are there and I haven't forgotten to include something!

Chinese
Frog is Sad by Max Velthuijs (Carola @ brilliant years)

Czech
Hoši od Bobří řeky (Boys from Beaver River) by Jaroslav Foglar (me) - NEW!!!

Dutch
The Solitude of Prime Numbers - Paolo Giordano (English) (Dutch) (Anja Kasap @ Reading 2011 (and Beyond))  - NEW!!!

French

Nuits de Juin by Victor Hugo (Cleo @ Classical Carousel)

Desiderata by Max Ehrmann (Cleo @ Classical Carousel)

Délicieusement Cru par Judita Wignall (Cleo @ Classical Carousel)

La Parure (The Necklace) par Guy de Maupassant (Cleo @ Classical Carousel) - NEW!!!

La Canne de Jonc - Alfred de Vigny (Anja Kasap @ Reading 2011 (and Beyond)) - NEW!!!
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling (alwaysopinionatedgirl) - NEW!!!

German

Im Wunderschönen Monat Mai by Heinrich Heine (Cleo @ Classical Carousel)

Krabat, by Otfried Preußler (Carola @ brilliant years)

Rotkäppchen (Little Red Riding Hood) by The Brothers Grimm (Cleo @ Classical Carousel)

Japanese

The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami (Carola @ brilliant years)  - NEW!!!

Latin
Ferdinandus Taurus - Munro Leaf (Cleo @ Classical Carousel) - NEW!!!

Russian

Magpie Beloboka (Anja Kasap @ Reading 2011 (and Beyond))

Spanish
Corre, Perro, Corre - P.D. Eastman (Cleo @ Classical Carousel)

Thank you for your participation and see you next summer!

Hoši od Bobří řeky by Jaroslav Foglar (Review)

Title: Hoši od Bobří řeky (Boys from Beaver River)
Author: Jaroslav Foglar
First published: 1958
Add it: Goodreads, Book Depository
Rating: ★★☆☆☆

It's a shame, really, but I've finished only one book for my own Language Freak challenge, and I had been planning on finishing at least four! Well, life happens. This only book is in Czech, and it was far from enjoyable. I finished it only because I had borrowed it from a friend (more than a year ago!) who told me it was his favourite book when he was a boy. I can't see how this book can be somebody's favourite, but at least now I can give it back with clean conscience.

The book is essentially a propaganda of the "soviet pioneer" ideals. For those of you not familiar with the movement, they are somewhat like scouts. So there is this young man who apparently has no job and nothing else to do except to entertain and brainwash boys. He takes them on a short trip to the forest and tells them some weird story about a frontier guy who was very sporty and cool, lived in a forest, was friendly with Indians and then died. And the guys become eager to be more like him, to which end they spend all summer camping in the nature trying to pass this man's tests of their strength, knowledge, good behaviour, courage, etc. The book even has specifications for these tests in the end of each chapter, so that the reader can do them himself.

Brainwashing is very strong in this book, and you know I can't stand it. So I was eye-rolling most of the time. I can't see why the author couldn't be more subtle with introducing his agenda. Moreover, I may be too spoiled by the modern world, but this leader of the group is a weirdo. Why is he doing all this? Who pays him? Where does he get money? How come he settles up a sect, and none of the parents are worried? How can they let their children go off for the whole summer to live with this man? I would soooo not trust him with my child!! Another problem of the book is an utter absence of girls. They are not mentioned ONCE! Not in school, not in the streets, the boys don't even think of them. It's as if no girls exist at all. First, is it even possible or healthy? Second, why can't girls also participate in all the "adventures" and try to become sportier, cleverer, etc.? Discrimination!

In my book:
I know I picked it up only to practice my Czech, but I'd prefer it to me more literature than propaganda.

P.S. I'll probably add a review in Czech here some time soon, but I'll need to first check it with my Czech teacher :)

Language Freak July Update - Holiday Edition

Hellooo sweeties! That's me greeting you from northern Italy, where I was on vacation last week! I hope your summer is being wonderful too!

How are you all doing with the challenge? I'm still plodding through that Czech book which is supposed to encourage boys to do all these boyscout/pioneer activities... They have game descriptions and tasks in the end of each chapter now! Not exciting. At this pace and with an exam to prepare for, it will be a miracle if I finish it by the end of the challenge. I'll do my best though! :)

July was a down time review-wise, but we still have 2 new reviews! Below, as usual, are all our reviews by language. Note that July reviews have been marked by NEW!!!

Chinese
Frog is Sad by Max Velthuijs (Carola @ brilliant years)

French
Nuits de Juin by Victor Hugo (Cleo @ Classical Carousel)
Desiderata by Max Ehrmann (Cleo @ Classical Carousel) - NEW!!!
Délicieusement Cru par Judita Wignall (Cleo @ Classical Carousel) - NEW!!!

German
Im Wunderschönen Monat Mai by Heinrich Heine (Cleo @ Classical Carousel)
Krabat, by Otfried Preußler (Carola @ brilliant years)
Rotkäppchen (Little Red Riding Hood) by The Brothers Grimm (Cleo @ Classical Carousel)

Russian

Magpie Beloboka (Anja Kasap @ Reading 2011 (and Beyond))

Spanish

Corre, Perro, Corre - P.D. Eastman (Cleo @ Classical Carousel)

Don't forget that August is the last month of the challenge! So it's high time to reach your goals! :) I'll post a final recap of the challenge in the beginning of September, so don't forget to write about your reading experience!

Language Freak June Update

Hi everybody! How are you doing? Sorry about being so late with this update, I've had my mom visiting me, so I was never at home, always sightseeing! :) My leg muscles are so sore! Nevertheless, I've read half of my first Czech book! It's sooo boyish... I'm already tired of fights.

Our participants have been doing great this month! Let's see what we have accomplished!

First, let us welcome our new participant, alwaysopinionatedgirl who'll be reading in French!

And now reviews by language! Note that June reviews have been marked by NEW!

Chinese
Frog is Sad by Max Velthuijs (Carola @ brilliant years)

French
Nuits de Juin by Victor Hugo (Cleo @ Classical Carousel) - NEW!!!

German
Im Wunderschönen Monat Mai by Heinrich Heine (Cleo @ Classical Carousel)
Krabat, by Otfried Preußler (Carola @ brilliant years) - NEW!!!
Rotkäppchen (Little Red Riding Hood) by The Brothers Grimm (Cleo @ Classical Carousel) - NEW!!!

Russian

Magpie Beloboka (Anja Kasap @ Reading 2011 (and Beyond))

Spanish

Corre, Perro, Corre - P.D. Eastman (Cleo @ Classical Carousel)

Please, let me know if I've forgotten anything. June has been hectic and sometimes I had to skim through my RSS feed, although I did try to stop by and comment :)

Seems like we are making a nice progress altogether! Good luck next month to everybody!

Language Freak May Update

Hi, darlings, and welcome to the first monthly update post for Language Freak Summer Challenge! (BTW, it's still not late to sign up, if you wish!) How are you all doing! Me? Not so well, but it's hardly my fault :( I'm counting more on July and August to complete my goals. But some of the participants have already read a lot for the challenge! Let's see what was reviewed in May:

Chinese
Frog is Sad by Max Velthuijs (Carola @ brilliant years)

German
Im Wunderschönen Monat Mai by Heinrich Heine (Cleo @ Classical Carousel)

Russian

Magpie Beloboka (Anja Kasap @ Reading 2011 (and Beyond))

Spanish

Corre, Perro, Corre - P.D. Eastman (Cleo @ Classical Carousel)

Wow! 4 books, four languages already! You guys rock! :) Good luck with achieving your goals and don't forget to check out the posts of your fellow readers :) See you in the end of June! 

Language Freak April Update: Ready, Steady, Go!

Hi everybody! It's end of April which means you can already take out your books in foreign languages, arm yourself with dictionaries and start reading TOMORROW! Are you ready? I am! If you have no idea what I'm talking about now, go check out challenge announcement post HERE! Don't forget that it's never late to sign up! :)

And now let's meet our participants and see what languages they will be reading in!

1. Hellen @ Worlds Inside Books (French and German)
2. Cleo @ Classical Carousel (French, Spanish, German and Latin) 
3. Anja Kasap @ Reading 2011 (and Beyond) (French, Russian or Dutch)
4. Ekaterina @ In My Book (Czech, Spanish and German) 
5. Carola @ brilliant years (German, Japanese and Mandarin) 
6. Jean @ Howling Frog Books (Danish)

Go check out your fellow participants' plans for the challenge and start reading! I wish you good luck and I'm looking forward to see what you'll accomplish this summer!

See you in a month! :)

Language Freak Summer Challenge - My Sign-Up

Hi, Hi! I'm still alive, yes :) I suck at blogging lately, but getting ozone in your spine is no easy work, I tell you! Moreover, I wanted to make pictures of the books I want to read, and with my ancient phone that's a challenge in itself!

So obviously, I'm signing up for the highest level of my own challenge! And that is an advanced level, which means I pledge to read at least 3 books in foreign languages this summer. Easy-peasy! I also want to read a book in each language I know to complete the crazy linguist level, but we'll see how it'll go.

Let's go language by language now! For my history with this languages, you are welcome to read my last year's sign-up post, nothing has changed since then! And here I'll only list the books I'm going to read.

Czech

First, I have a book for boys about adventures in a summer camp (the left one) which I took from my friend last summer and haven't read yet. Shame on me! And second, my Czech teacher has lent me Hrabal's I Served the English King, which comes highly recommended not only by her and is supposed to be very funny!

Spanish

Here are the three books I have been trying to read for a couple of years now! Quiroga's even have a bookmark in it! They are all very thin, but have such a large vocabulary that reading them is anything but easy. But this year I want to finish at least one! Platero Y Yo, probably. It's about a donkey, what can be difficult? We'll see. And I'd like to continue my reading of Harry Potter series in Spanish and read The Goblet of Fire. I'm a bit afraid, as the fourth book is much more grown-up and log than the previous three, but I bet it'll still be easier than any of the three you see above :)

German

Nothing planned! I don't have any books in German left, and I'm open to suggestions! Do you know something easy and entertaining for an intermediate learner that hates complicated sentences? Please, recommend me something!

That's it for me! I hope I'll manage it by the end of summer! :)

Language Freak Summer Challenge (Second Edition): Announcement and Sign-ups!

You were waiting for it, right? Well, I hope so! :) I know I was! Summer is already in the air here, so I thought it was time to announce the second Language Freak Summer Challenge! Yay! While another people will relax and read some brain-softening holiday books, we will brush up our language skills, increase our market value, have some fun and become proud of ourselves! Last year the challenge went really well, and I got some positive feedback, so I've decided to leave the rules as they are. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I'm going to!

What is it all about?

In short, I challenge you to read books in foreign languages this summer! Now let's expand on it:

1) What is a foreign language? It's any language that is not your first one! However, let's not count languages that you know really well, shall we? For example, English is not my mother tongue, but about 80% of the books I read, I read in English. So I will not count it. Otherwise, any language you want to improve is allowed!

2) What is a book? Anything! An adapted or a translated edition, a children's book, comics, a short story, an audio book - all are welcome! It depends only on your level and on the amount of free time you have!

3) What is summer? The challenge runs for four months: from May 1st to August 31st. I hope this will give you enough time to reach your goals!

How do I participate?

There are levels! Choose just how much you want to challenge yourself to read, and don't forget to mention it in your sign-up post!

Beginner: read 1 book in any foreign language
Intermediate: read 2 books in any foreign language
Advanced: read 3+ books in any foreign language

The books can be in one or in several different foreign languages. You choose what you want to practice! But for really crazy linguists I have a special offer, which is called accordingly:

Crazy Linguist: read at least 1 book in EACH foreign language you know. Of course, this one is additional to the above listed three levels!

Bonus level is for films:

Subs Fan: watch any number of films in a foreign language (Why is it called so? Because subs are allowed, of course!)

After you read your book (or watch a movie), you are encouraged to post about your experience! It can be a review, or a reflection, or a rant, whatever! If the book's language affected your experience, write about it! Is it easy or difficult? Does it have crazy grammar or so many rare words that you couldn't put down your dictionary? Share!

For the hardcore language freaks I have another optional task! Try to write about the book in the language you read it in! Just a few phrases, to practice your writing! Last year native speakers were known to friendly explain the mistakes in the reviews, so don't be afraid to make them! It's all for your benefit, you know. :)

How do I sign up?

It's easy! Just write an introduction post and link it to the linky below! To help you write it, I've prepared some questions! You may answer them, or write anything else - your choice! The minimum info that I need about you is the languages in which you are going to read and the level you choose. But the more you tell us, the more fun it is! So, the questions:

• What languages do you know? Note: even if you are a beginner, it totally counts! And don't forget to mention what your mother-tongue is!
• What is your history with these languages?
• Do you use them or are you out of practice?
• Have you read some books in these languages? Did you like it?
• What are your plans for the challenge?
• For veteran participants: have you read and/or reviewed some books in foreign languages since the last challenge? Boast about it and link the reviews!

How does it work?

When you sign up, I add you to my RSS feed. Since then, whenever you mention in your post that the review is for the challenge, I note it and put it into each month's recap post. This recap post will list all the participants' reviews since the beginning of the challenge sorted by language. I hope it will be fun for you to see what other participants are reading in the same language you are! I also introduce new participants in these posts. The post will go live in the end of each month, so don't forget to stop by and check it out! Or follow me not to miss it :)

Take out your dictionaries and get ready to have fun! :)

And here's the linky for sign-up posts:

Erzählungen by Heinrich Böll (Review)

Title: Erzählungen
Author: Heinrich Böll
First published: 1973
Add it: Goodreads
Rating: ★★★☆☆

As a challenge host, I'm not setting a good example by writing my review on the last day of the challenge. But the good thing about being a host is that you have PRIVILEGES, so I've decided to give everybody a grace period until September 8. to finish all the writings for the challenge. See the finish line post for details.

As for me, I could have written this review earlier this week, but I had two reasons for lingering. First I was arguing with myself if I want of if I don't want to write something in German, and after some frustration about not being able to formulate a simple sentence, I decided that a review in German is too much stress. Second, this week I was nervous about an upcoming minor operation, and just couldn't concentrate enough to write something reasonable. I've had the operation today, and now, as I am lying at home and "enjoying" the feeling of not being able to handle my lower body well because of the anesthesia, I have some calm time for writing all the reviews I want.

This is an adapted book, only 80 pages long. The back states that its vocabulary is only 2400 words, but either there are more, or all of them are some words I don't know, as I had to look up approximately every 5th word. I wanted to take a photo of the notes I was taking in the book just to show you how much I needed to write there, but of course I've lost the device which I use to transfer photos from the telephone to the computer, and I'd prefer to regain control of my legs before undertaking a search-and-rescue expedition under my bed, so this is not going to happen.

Obviously, I've lost the skill of dealing with German word order fast, because there were sentences that I had to re-read up to 10 times to understand the structure of their numerous subordinate clauses. But sometimes after an hour or so of reading I reached some "German Zen" and was able to read whole paragraphs without opening the dictionary. Unfortunately, this state of mind never lasts long :)

There are 5 short stories in the book, bound with the shared topic of justice. Two of them I really liked: "Der Lacher" and "Mein Onkel Fred". One, "Die Waage der Beleks" is beautifully written in the style of a folk legend, and I generally enjoyed it, but for the moralistic ending. And the last two ones, "Wie in schlechten Romanen" and "Daniel der Gerechte" were not such a good experience, the last one because of a lot of confusing flashbacks, and the first one because I just didn't get the point of the story, even after making sure I fully understand it. The stories can't be called optimistic, but even in the adaptation the superb writing style of the author is visible.

In my book:
It is a good book for refreshing your German skills, because it consists of short stories and because the writing is good in spite of it being an adaptation.


This is my last book for my own Language Freak Summer Challenge. I've completed my goals by reading one book in Spanish (review), one book in German (this one) and two instead of one books in Czech (review 1, review 2). I'm pretty proud of myself, and I think this summer has not passed in vain!

Language Freak Summer Challenge: Finish Line

The summer is coming to an end and so is our summer challenge. Are you sad? I am, a bit. But maybe it's just the rain outside :)

How was your challenge? Have you reached all your goals and read as much stuff in foreign languages as you wished? I'd like to hear about your experience! If you choose to write a wrap-up, that'd be great, and I'll link it here. But if you are lazy, that's not obligatory, of course :) But please at least comment below, because I'm curious, you know :)

Below is the list of all the reviews or non-reviews our wonderful participants have submitted during this event. That's a lot, right? I'm really proud of you all! :) If you are like me and have procrastinated a lot (I've finished my last book for the challenge today. Speak about setting a good example!), I'm giving you a grace week to write whatever you want about your readings, and I'll link it here before 8. September!

After you finish your reading and if you feel like it, please consider giving me some feedback about the challenge in the comments. It's my first challenge and I suspect it was far from perfect, but I'm eager to make it better! So did you like the format? The levels? The updates? The duration? Would you like to participate in it the next year? What would you change? Some constructive criticism is always welcome!

Thank you all for participation! I hope you've enjoyed your readings and feel proud for practicing such a useful language skill as reading in your language(s) of choice! Don't forget to congratulate yourselves and to celebrate properly!

Challenge reviews by language:

Czech:
Radost pro duši by Margaret Silf (me)
Kouzelné zrcadlo literatury I by Jaroslav Blažke (me) - NEW!!!

Danish: 

Det caribiske mysterium by Agatha Christie (Jean @ Howling Frog Books)

French:

Rien ne s’oppose à la nuit by Delphine de Vigan (n@ncy)
Le Peintre d’éventail by Hubert Haddad (n@ncy)
Histoire du Moyen Age by Madeleine Michaux (n@ncy)
Le Rhinocéros d’Or by F.X. Fauvelle-Aymar (n@ncy)
La Fortune des Rougon by Emile Zola (n@ncy)
Son Excellence Eugène Rougon by Emile Zola (n@ncy)
Belgian Comic Book Adventures with Lucky Luke and Tintin (Natalie @ Many Media Musings)
La Curée by Emile Zola (n@ncy)
Le Rêve by Emile Zola (n@ncy) - NEW!!!

L‘Argent by Emile Zola (n@ncy) - NEW!!!

German:

Harry Potter und der Stein der Weisen by J. K. Rowling (Amy @ book musings)

Der Struwwelpeter by Heinrich Hoffman (Jean @ Howling Frog Books)
Tagebuch by Anne Frank (Amy @ book musings) - NEW!!!
Drachenreiter by Cornelia Funke (Priya @ Tabula Rasa) - NEW!!!
Erzählungen by Heinrich Böll (me) - NEW!!!

Russian:

The Nose by Nikolai Gogol and "Kukushka" by Alexander Rogozhkin (Juleschka @ Buchlogbuch)
"Kukushka" by Alexander Rogozhkin (Juleschka @ Buchlogbuch)
“Requiem” by Anna Akhmatova (Juleschka @ Buchlogbuch) - NEW!!!

Spanish:
Harry Potter y la cámara secreta by J. K. Rowling (me)
Harry Potter y la piedra filosofal by J.k. Rowling (Hillary Pat @ ahorseandacarrot) - NEW!!!

Wrap-ups:

Amy @ book musings
me (it is there, the paragraph at the bottom of the post)
Juleschka @ Buchlogbuch

Kouzelné zrcadlo literatury Jaroslava Blažkeho

Title: Kouzelné zrcadlo literatury I
Author: Jaroslav Blažke
First published: 1998
Add it: Goodreads, The Book Depository
Rating: ★★★★☆

První díl učebnice “Kouzelné zrcadlo literatury” Jaroslava Blažkeho obsahuje informace o písemných památkách od začátku písemnictví do konce osvícenství. Chronologicky postupující kniha poskytuje krátkou informaci o významných autorech této doby a o jejich spisech. Hlavní výhodou této učebnice je, že obsahuje také krátké úryvky některých děl, což je perfektní pro seznámení se se stylem autora.

Hlavně jsem v této učebnici hledala informace o českých autorech, o kterých asi nic nevím. Po přečtení jsem si udělala na památku krátký seznam zajímavých titulů.

Středověk

1. Konstantin-Cyril a Metoděj

• Překlad Bible do Staroslověnštiny (9. stol.)
• Proglas - nejstarší slovanská báseň (9. stol.)

2. Kosmas

• Kronika česká (12. stol.) - psána latinou, skládá se ze tří knih

3. Karel IV.

• Majestas Carolina (1353) - návrh zemského zákoníku
• Vita Caroli (1371) - vlastní životopis 

4. Jan Hus

• De ecclesia / O církvi (1413)
• De orthographia Bohemica (1410) - traktát o českém pravopise

Český Humanismus

1. Jan Blahoslav

• Gramatika česká (1571)

2. Václav Hájek z Libočan

• Kronika česká (1541)

3. Oldřich Prefát z Vlkanova

• Cesta z Prahy do Benátek (1563) - cestopis

Evropské Baroko

1. Jan Ámos Komenský

• Didactica to jest Umění umělého vyučování (1657) - pedagogický spis
• Labyrint světa a ráj srdce (1631) - alegorický spis

2. Bedřich Bridel

• Co Bůh? Člověk? (1658) - skladba

3. Bohuslav Balbín

• Rozmanitosti z historie Království českého (1687) - obrovská encyklopedie
• Obrana jazyka slovanského, zvláště českého (1672)
• Nástin humanitních disciplin (1666) - učebnice

Osvícenství

1. Josef Dobrovský

• Dějiny české řeči a literatury (1792)
• Českých přísloví sbírka (1804)

Language Freak Summer Challenge July Update

Hi, guys, how are you doing? It's time for July update for those who participate in Language Freak Summer Challenge and is reading books or watching films in foreign languages this summer! Speaking of participants, please welcome this month's only newbie!

New participants:

1. Priya @ Tabula Rasa - German

Now to our progress! We have 5 new reviews this month, one of which is a film review. And you still have a couple of days to contribute to this month's list. The reviews I added this month are marked as NEW!!!, so that you don't forget to check them out! :)

I have not read anything for the challenge this month, as I had a two-week holiday in the beginning of July, and now I'm suffering from the heat and can't do much in such conditions. But I guess I'll have to brace myself and read a German book finally. It must be less hot in August.

How are you doing? Are you enjoying the challenge? Are you going to complete your goals? Only one month left! :)

Good luck and see you all in a month, when I'll be putting up a wrap-up post!

Challenge reviews by language:

Czech:
Radost pro duši by Margaret Silf (me)

Danish: 

Det caribiske mysterium by Agatha Christie (Jean @ Howling Frog Books)

French:

Rien ne s’oppose à la nuit by Delphine de Vigan (n@ncy)
Le Peintre d’éventail by Hubert Haddad (n@ncy)
Histoire du Moyen Age by Madeleine Michaux (n@ncy)
Le Rhinocéros d’Or by F.X. Fauvelle-Aymar (n@ncy)
La Fortune des Rougon by Emile Zola (n@ncy)
Son Excellence Eugène Rougon by Emile Zola (n@ncy) - NEW!!!
Belgian Comic Book Adventures with Lucky Luke and Tintin (Natalie @ Many Media Musings) - NEW!!!
La Curée by Emile Zola (n@ncy) - NEW!!!

German:

Harry Potter und der Stein der Weisen by J. K. Rowling (Amy @ book musings)

Der Struwwelpeter by Heinrich Hoffman (Jean @ Howling Frog Books) - NEW!!!

Russian:

The Nose by Nikolai Gogol and "Kukushka" by Alexander Rogozhkin (Juleschka @ Buchlogbuch)
"Kukushka" by Alexander Rogozhkin (Juleschka @ Buchlogbuch) - NEW!!!

Spanish:
Harry Potter y la cámara secreta by J. K. Rowling (me)

Language Freak Summer Challenge: June Update

Hi, everybody! It's end of June already, and we're like half-way through the Language Freak Summer Challenge! So the question is...

We haven't had a lot of reviews this month, just two (unless I've missed yours, then please tell me so!). I hope this means you are all having a great time outside! Are you? :)

I've read one book in Czech and have started another one, which is actually not a book, but an anthology for literature classes in Czech schools. I'm especially interested in the sections about Czech literature, because where else do you find that kind of info? :) That leaves me with only one book in German to go to finish the challenge, but I hope to read more than the minimum! There are still 2 months left!

Two new participants have joined us  this month, so say hello to:

1. Natalie @ Many Media Musings - French and maybe Arabic, Irish, or Scottish Gaelic
2. Juleschka @ Buchlogbuch - Russian and maybe Croatian
3. a hot cup of pleasure - Urdu

Don't forget, that you can find the list of all the participants in sign-up post, see the link on the top of the sidebar.

And here is the list of all the reviews we have so far:

Challenge reviews by language:

Czech:
Radost pro duši by Margaret Silf (me) - NEW!!

Danish: 
Det caribiske mysterium by Agatha Christie (Jean @ Howling Frog Books)

French:

Rien ne s’oppose à la nuit by Delphine de Vigan (n@ncy)
Le Peintre d’éventail by Hubert Haddad (n@ncy)
Histoire du Moyen Age by Madeleine Michaux (n@ncy)
Le Rhinocéros d’Or by F.X. Fauvelle-Aymar (n@ncy)
La Fortune des Rougon by Emile Zola (n@ncy) - NEW!!

German:

Harry Potter und der Stein der Weisen by J. K. Rowling (Amy @ book musings)

Russian:
The Nose by Nikolai Gogol and "Kukushka" by Sergej Eisenstein (Juleschka @ Buchlogbuch) - NEW!!

Spanish:
Harry Potter y la cámara secreta by J. K. Rowling (me)

There is still some time until the end of the month, so if you've read something in a foreign language and want to write about your experience, you still have time!

Good luck with your reading and see you in the end of July!

Radost pro duši by Margaret Silf

Title: Radost pro duši
Author: Margaret Silf
First published: 2003

This is my first book in Czech for Language Freak Summer Challenge, and here is a review for it! Also in Czech, of course! :)

"Radost pro duši" je kniha příběhů k zamyšlení nad životem a prostě k potěšení. Je rozdelená na 9 části vzhledem k tématům vyprávění.

První část se jmenuje "Osud", a většína z příběhů v této části je ve stylu národní mytologické tradice: hlavními postavami jsou zvířata, například larva, nebo neživé předměty, jako pramen a papír, které se avšak chovájí jako živé, nebo úplné divné postavy, jako panenka ze soli. Příběhy v této části se zabývají smyslem života, nadáním a poznáním.

Další části tak podrobně popisovat nebudu, protože jsem je četla moc rychle a nedařilo se mi někdy určit, jaky je základ rozdělení knihy na ty časti. Některé z přiběhů byly milé, ale většína se mi moc nelibila, protože jsou příliš filozofické a náboženské, což nemám ráda. A také většina z nich je ve stejném stylu, a to může unavit jakéhokoliv čtenáře.

Z pohledu češtiny je tato knížka úměrně náročna: gramatika je primitivní a lexicum se často opakuje. Je moc vhodná pro studium, protože příběhy jsou kratké a stačí i pár chvil na čtení.

Language Freak Summer Challenge: May Update

It's the end of May and the end of the first full month of Language Freak Summer Challenge! (BTW, the sign-up is still open, see the link at top of the sidebar!) How was you reading this month? How many books in how many languages have you tackled? What are your further plans? Share your experience!

As for me, I have finished only one book in Spanish so far, but I have had exams this month, and right now I'm on a conference in Vancouver, so I hope I will be more productive in the following months!

Now for the challenge business:

Welcome our new participants!

1. Mona @ Toward Infinity - Spanish
2. Emily @ The Library File - Spanish and maybe French
3. Hillary Pat @ ahorseandacarrot - Spanish
4. Mai @ Reading in Process - English

Which sums up to total 10 participants! Wow! (You can see the whole list of participants in the sign-up post, the link is at the top of the sidebar)

Challenge reviews by language:

Danish: 
Det caribiske mysterium by Agatha Christie (Jean @ Howling Frog Books)

French:

Rien ne s’oppose à la nuit by Delphine de Vigan (n@ncy)
Le Peintre d’éventail by Hubert Haddad (n@ncy)
Histoire du Moyen Age by Madeleine Michaux (n@ncy)
Le Rhinocéros d’Or by F.X. Fauvelle-Aymar (n@ncy)

German:

Harry Potter und der Stein der Weisen by J. K. Rowling (Amy @ book musings)

Spanish:
Harry Potter y la cámara secreta by J. K. Rowling (me)

We are pretty cool, aren't we? =) Go check them out, especially if you share the knowledge of the language! I'll read the last ones I caught in my feed after my return from Vancouver, which will happen in the beginning of June. If I find more reviews by the end of the month, I'll update this post, so you still have time to write them! If I've forgotten someone's review, please don't hesitate to drop your link in the comment section below!

Have a nice June with a lot if reading in foreign languages!!

Harry Potter y la cámara secreta en español!

Esto es mi primera reseña de libro en español, por eso pidio disculpas por mis errores :)

He elegido leer Harry Potter en español porque es un libro ligero a bien conocido para mi, y nesesito algo ligero y conocido para practicar español, que he empezado a olvidar.

No puedo decir que Harry Potter y la cámara secreta es mi libro preferido de todos los series. Es un poco triste, porque es el primer libro, en que Harry sintio el cruel opinion publico - todos piensan, que el es un heredero de Slytherin, el patrono de basilisk y el asesino. Tambien existe injusticia a Hagrid: esta trasladado a cárcel por lo que no habia hecho. Pero me gusta el basilisk, la idea de la camara secreta y el diario que puede vivil a si mismo!

He leido este libro en ruso y en ingles, pero en español esa historia tenia mucho mas encanto. Me gusta el traduccion de los encantos y pociones (el pocion "multijugos", por ejemplo), y "el cumpleaños de muerte" es simplemente perfecto!


So... that's it! Took me a lot of time to write, but it was nice to remember something. I bet there are millions of mistakes there, and I'd appreciate it if you point them to me in case your knowledge of Spanish is better than mine :)

This review is a part of my Language Freak Summer Challenge:

Language Freak Summer Challenge: Warm-Up, Participants and First Books

Hi, everybody!

I know I wrote that the first monthly post for Language Freak Summer Challenge (BTW, the sign-up is still open HERE) will be in the end of May, but I got so excited that I already have 5 participants, and some of them have already started reading for the challenge, that I decided to write this post to welcome everybody to the challenge and draw a starting line! So...

Our wonderful participants:

1. Jean @ Howling Frog Books - Danish, Russian and maybe German
2. Monika @ A Lovely Bookshelf on the Wall - Italian
3. amanda @ Simpler Pastimes - Spanish and Italian
4. Amy@ book musings - German
5. n@ncy - French
6. Me - Spanish, Czech and German

Our first review:

1. n@ncy has read and reviewed Rien ne s’oppose à la nuit by Delphine de Vigan in French

Go check it out!


As for me, I am nearly finished with Harry Potter y la cámara secreta in Spanish, which is a great start, I think. I'll also try to write a short review in Spanish for it.

Besides, I've found a Czech school literature program, and I'm now in the process of deciding what to pick up as my Czech reading for the challenge :)

How is your progress? Have you chosen your books? Have you started reading them? Do you enjoy it? Are you proud of yourself? I want to know everything! :)

Language Freak Summer Challenge: My Sign-up

This is a sign-up post for my own challenge. I'm really nervous about how it'll go, but at least I'm going to enjoy it myself :)

So I'm signing up for Crazy Linguist level, of course, which for me means reading at least one book in Spanish, German and Czech. I decided not to count English, as I'm reading in English all the time. And Russian is my mother-tongue, which definitely excludes it too :) I'll also watch some movies in these languages for Subs Fan level, but I haven't planned which ones yet.

Now a little introduction to my language situation.

Czech
I have been living in Czech Republic for nearly two years now and I study and work in Czech, so I'm quite OK with it, although I started learning it only after arriving here. I guess the surroundings help a lot! :) After living here for a year I passed a language test for B2 level, for which I'm very proud. But the problem is that I don't read in Czech and I don't really know a lot of Czech writers, which is a shame considering that I live in the country. So my plan is to make a little research and probably compile a list before starting to read.

Spanish
Spanish is my big love! I didn't need to learn it, I started it just for fun, and after two years I also have a B2 level in it, although I haven't passed any exam. It's a pity that I'm completely out of practice now, and I miss it very much sometimes. So I'll try to read and watch as much as I can to refresh my knowledge of it! I'm thinking some Marques and Almodovar will do for the beginning!

German
I must confess I don't like the language. Maybe it's the grammar, maybe the "classical university education", but I neither like it nor can speak or write in it. But I can read quite successfully when I concentrate and have a dictionary nearby. So this one will be tough, and I pledge to read only one book, and maybe it will even be an adaptation or a fairy tale. We'll see!

So here are my linguistic plans for this summer. And you, dear reader, is cordially invited to join my challenge and practice foreign languages too! It'll be fun!!

Language Freak Summer Challenge: Announcement and Sign-ups!

Do you love learning foreign languages?
Have you ever suspected that something is lost in translation when reading a book?
Do you feel ashamed of not practicing some foreign language enough?
Are you an unbearable snob who tells everybody that they haven't read a book if they have read it in translation?

If your answer is yes to any of these questions, this challenge is just for you! As a seasoned linguist myself, I can answer in the positive to all of them, so I'll be the one to organize a challenge for all of you foreign language lovers!

The idea is simple: read books in a foreign language, enjoy it and be proud of yourself! I will collect whatever you want to post about your experiences from now till the end of August and hopefully we will all have some progress in languages by the beginning of September!

There are levels, of course:

Beginner: read 1 book in a foreign language
Intermediate: read 2 books in a foreign language
Advanced: read 3+ books in a foreign language

The books can be in one language or in several different languages. You choose what you want to practice! But for really crazy linguists I have a special offer, which is called accordingly:

Crazy Linguist: read at least 1 book in EACH foreign language you know

Bonus level is for films:

Subs Fan: watch any number of films in a foreign language (Why is it called so? Because subs are allowed, of course!)

The rules are easy:

• Any types and formats of books are allowed.
• Really, I mean it! If you are just a beginner then a short story, a fairy tale or an adapted book counts as a book! The point is to practice.
• If you are bilingual or nearly so, then this language doesn't count. For example, although English is not my mother-tongue, 80% of my reading is in English, so I will not count it. But you are to decide if some language is challenging for you or not :)

To sign up please link up an introduction post to the linky below. You may tell us:

• What languages do you know? Note: even if you are a beginner, it totally counts! And don't forget to mention what your mother-tongue is!
• What is your history with these languages?
• Do you use them or are you out of practice?
• Have you read some books in these languages? Did you like it?
• What are your plans for the challenge?

Or whatever you want :)

I'll add all of the participants to my RSS feed, and if in some review you mention that you have read a book for this challenge, I'll link it up with other reviews at the end of each month (first one is planned for the end of May). I plan to sort them by language, but we'll see how it'll go :) You must not write a review, of course, you can just describe what your experience with the book/film was. Pointing out some linguistic peculiarities is encouraged! You may also try to write a paragraph or two in the target language, if you want some practice!

Don't forget to spread the word and grab my button!

P.S. It's the first challenge I host so please be patient :) If you see that something is wrong, please tell me and I'll fix it as soon as possible!