" L'esclave n'a qu'un maître: l'ambitieux en a autant qu'il y a de gens utiles à sa fortune."
La Bruyère; Les Caractères, chapitre VIII De la Cour, (paragraphe 70.)
lundi 14 juillet 2008
A LIRE...
Dans la rubrique "je veux voyager, connaître de nouvelles cultures [mais pour moins de dix euros :) ]", vous pourrez peut-être trouver votre bonheur avec Mémoires d'une geisha, d'Inoue Yuki, publié aux excellentes (si si si!) éditions Picquier poche, maison d'édition qui a le mérite de sortir des sentiers battus en proposant uniquement des manuscrits d'auteurs asiatiques ou du moins, des manuscrits dont l'histoire a pour thème principal l'Asie.
Mémoires d'une geisha ( à ne pas confondre avec le film américain réalisé par Rob Marshall en 2005, lui aussi superbe!), c'est finalement la biographie de Kinu Yamaguchi: on y lit les succès mais aussi les souffrances qu'elle a pu éprouver dans son métier de geisha, métier qui contrairement à ce que l'on a souvent en tête en Occident, ne se réduit pas à la prostitution. Kinu l'explique dans ce livre, être une geisha, c'est avant tout être une artiste qui divertit un public par ses talents artistiques: musique (avec le dur apprentissage du shamisen), danse ou chant, autant de disciplines qui demandent des années d'apprentissages aux petites filles destinées à être des geishas.Enfin, les quelques photos de Kinu et de ses "collègues" permettent également de mettre un visage sur ce récit biographique.
Instructif (sans être indigeste !), dépaysant, on passe vraiment un bon moment!
Partie 2: The white or the blue cup ?
He was so thoughtful, Désirée thought. He was going to sacrifice their happiness for her sister... That sister who had always strutted with her innumerable conquests, whereas she, Désirée, was alone. And suddenly, all the hatred she had tried to repress for many years burst out. Aimée had got all she had always wanted. But now, Désirée thought, it was her turn.
She dreamt up a Machiavellian plan to do away with her sister: a violent poison... Her death would be quick... After all she didn't wish to make her suffer long... And it would be the perfect murder: who could suspect her, the little beloved sister who was so discreet, even so frigid? Nobody would know. After a few months, she could get married to Andrew like in fairy tales!
She asked one of her servants for two cups of tea: one must be white, the other must be blue since that was Aimée's favorite colour. Désirée poured some poison into the blue cup and after a few minutes, she called for another servant. "Marta, could you please bring these beverages up to Princess Aimée's room in a little while? I will have tea with her, she hasn't seemed to feel good this morning." Then Désirée rushed to her sister's bedroom and without knocking at the door, entered into the room. But what she saw there made her feel stunnned.
Andrew, pressing himself against Aimée like a leech, was kissing her with eagerness. When they finally noticed Désirée's presence, Aimée had a slight cough whereas Andrew was no longer quite so high and mighty. Then Marta knocked at the door, came in, put the cups of tea on a little table and waited for the princesses' instructions.
" I had thought we could have a cup of tea together. I didn't know you were not alone...", Désirée paused. " No, you're welcome!", Aimée smiled. She was so self-important, so glad to be seen with her fiancé, Désirée thought. Both made her feel sick. " Marta, Aimée said, could you please bring another cup of tea ? You will have a cup of tea too honey, won't you?"
" But... Certainly", Andrew had a weak laugh. " With pleasure." Désirée slowly looked at the two cups: life was contained in one, death was in the other one." Please, don't wait for me. Your tea is getting cold!" She held a cup out to Andrew.
Now the point of this story is this: did she give him the blue cup or the white one? The answer doesn't depend upon myself. Think of it, reader, regardings your aknowlege about human feelings. Would she kill her sister (as planned) to change her life? She wouldn't live in the shadow of Aimée anymore. Or would it not be better for this desperate woman in love to poison her unfaithful lover, who betrayed her using the rivalry which existed between the two sisters? But we can also suppose that she could commit suicide: she would drink the mortal cup of tea and leave the third one to her sister. Like Dido or Cleopatra, the two tormented and sublime heroines that had upset her, she would die and play the main part oh her own tragedy.
So I leave the question of her decision to you. Which cup of tea did she give Andrew? The blue, or the white one?
She dreamt up a Machiavellian plan to do away with her sister: a violent poison... Her death would be quick... After all she didn't wish to make her suffer long... And it would be the perfect murder: who could suspect her, the little beloved sister who was so discreet, even so frigid? Nobody would know. After a few months, she could get married to Andrew like in fairy tales!
She asked one of her servants for two cups of tea: one must be white, the other must be blue since that was Aimée's favorite colour. Désirée poured some poison into the blue cup and after a few minutes, she called for another servant. "Marta, could you please bring these beverages up to Princess Aimée's room in a little while? I will have tea with her, she hasn't seemed to feel good this morning." Then Désirée rushed to her sister's bedroom and without knocking at the door, entered into the room. But what she saw there made her feel stunnned.
Andrew, pressing himself against Aimée like a leech, was kissing her with eagerness. When they finally noticed Désirée's presence, Aimée had a slight cough whereas Andrew was no longer quite so high and mighty. Then Marta knocked at the door, came in, put the cups of tea on a little table and waited for the princesses' instructions.
" I had thought we could have a cup of tea together. I didn't know you were not alone...", Désirée paused. " No, you're welcome!", Aimée smiled. She was so self-important, so glad to be seen with her fiancé, Désirée thought. Both made her feel sick. " Marta, Aimée said, could you please bring another cup of tea ? You will have a cup of tea too honey, won't you?"
" But... Certainly", Andrew had a weak laugh. " With pleasure." Désirée slowly looked at the two cups: life was contained in one, death was in the other one." Please, don't wait for me. Your tea is getting cold!" She held a cup out to Andrew.
Now the point of this story is this: did she give him the blue cup or the white one? The answer doesn't depend upon myself. Think of it, reader, regardings your aknowlege about human feelings. Would she kill her sister (as planned) to change her life? She wouldn't live in the shadow of Aimée anymore. Or would it not be better for this desperate woman in love to poison her unfaithful lover, who betrayed her using the rivalry which existed between the two sisters? But we can also suppose that she could commit suicide: she would drink the mortal cup of tea and leave the third one to her sister. Like Dido or Cleopatra, the two tormented and sublime heroines that had upset her, she would die and play the main part oh her own tragedy.
So I leave the question of her decision to you. Which cup of tea did she give Andrew? The blue, or the white one?
dimanche 13 juillet 2008
fraîche la nouvelle, fraîche!
Pour vous remettre dans le contexte, la nouvelle que je m'apprête à publier sur ce blog a été rédigée dans le cadre d'un exercice d'écriture qui consistait à pasticher des nouvelles anglaises en reprenant un ou plusieurs thèmes de la nouvelle choisie.
J'avais choisi de m'inspirer de la nouvelle The lady or the tiger?, de Frank R.Stockton, (publiée en 1882), qui met en scène un dilemme amoureux. J'ai ainsi repris le même procédé de la fin alternative, le même type de personnages (famille royale) ainsi que le motif de la mort d'un des protagonistes.
Certaines formules à la fin de la nouvelle sont également des répliques calquées sur le modèle original mais là encore, il ne s'agit pas, vous l'aviez compris, d'une vile tentative de pompage intempestif!
Sur ce, bonne lecture !
The white or the blue cup?
Once upon a time, in a kingdom far far away, lived a king and his two beautiful daughters: Aimée and Désirée. The elder, Aimée, was an attractive and cheerful princess, with long brown curly hair. Very warm and sociable, people often sought her compagny. Her sister Désirée was a pale and frail girl, you know this kind of mysterious and impenetrable beauty that speaks so little. Contrary to Aimée, she obviously seemed to be bored to death during balls: she could gaze at the dancers for hours without saying anything nor moving. The king, full of compassion towards his younger daughter, believed that it was a real torture for her to wait for the end of the party. That is why he usually told her to go back to her bedroom on the pretext she seemed too tired. He thought she would be delighted to escape from that society life she seemed to abhor so much. So everything went off like a dream in that perfect world. At least, until that fateful day when Aimée and Prince Andrew's engagement was celebrated.
When Aimée discovered her husband-to-be for the first time, she could not believe it. Radiant, she danced all the night with her handsome and dashing prince. As usual, Désirée stared at the new couple and as usual, the king kindly sent her back to her room. Désirée obeyed him but as usual, her father unfortunately hadn't seen the flames which were burning in her eyes.
Actually, she cursed his naivety and eyed Andrew greedily. She hated this part of the brainy and indifferent girl she had to play since her childhood, just because she could not have competed with her sister in the very narrow world of society life. People just considered her as Aimée's sister, so that she had agreed to play this part that didn't fit her: passion ran though her veins and fired her imagination all the time. And Prince Andrew had perfectly understood that. He decided to seduce Désirée before taking Aimée as his wife. Finally he was so weedling and eloquent that after some sighs and offended denials, Désirée became his mistress.
One night, she confided to him how frustrated she felt: "Andrew, it makes me crazy. I can't stand this situation anymore. I don't want to hide our love story anylonger."
" I know it sweeheart", Andrew said. " I only love you and I don't feel like marrying your sister. But I gave my word! Moreover she's the elder and what a shame, what a dishonour for her if her little sister was married before her and above all with her betrothed! No Désirée, I can't do such a thing."
LA SUITE DANS UN PROCHAIN EPISODE !!
J'avais choisi de m'inspirer de la nouvelle The lady or the tiger?, de Frank R.Stockton, (publiée en 1882), qui met en scène un dilemme amoureux. J'ai ainsi repris le même procédé de la fin alternative, le même type de personnages (famille royale) ainsi que le motif de la mort d'un des protagonistes.
Certaines formules à la fin de la nouvelle sont également des répliques calquées sur le modèle original mais là encore, il ne s'agit pas, vous l'aviez compris, d'une vile tentative de pompage intempestif!
Sur ce, bonne lecture !
The white or the blue cup?
Once upon a time, in a kingdom far far away, lived a king and his two beautiful daughters: Aimée and Désirée. The elder, Aimée, was an attractive and cheerful princess, with long brown curly hair. Very warm and sociable, people often sought her compagny. Her sister Désirée was a pale and frail girl, you know this kind of mysterious and impenetrable beauty that speaks so little. Contrary to Aimée, she obviously seemed to be bored to death during balls: she could gaze at the dancers for hours without saying anything nor moving. The king, full of compassion towards his younger daughter, believed that it was a real torture for her to wait for the end of the party. That is why he usually told her to go back to her bedroom on the pretext she seemed too tired. He thought she would be delighted to escape from that society life she seemed to abhor so much. So everything went off like a dream in that perfect world. At least, until that fateful day when Aimée and Prince Andrew's engagement was celebrated.
When Aimée discovered her husband-to-be for the first time, she could not believe it. Radiant, she danced all the night with her handsome and dashing prince. As usual, Désirée stared at the new couple and as usual, the king kindly sent her back to her room. Désirée obeyed him but as usual, her father unfortunately hadn't seen the flames which were burning in her eyes.
Actually, she cursed his naivety and eyed Andrew greedily. She hated this part of the brainy and indifferent girl she had to play since her childhood, just because she could not have competed with her sister in the very narrow world of society life. People just considered her as Aimée's sister, so that she had agreed to play this part that didn't fit her: passion ran though her veins and fired her imagination all the time. And Prince Andrew had perfectly understood that. He decided to seduce Désirée before taking Aimée as his wife. Finally he was so weedling and eloquent that after some sighs and offended denials, Désirée became his mistress.
One night, she confided to him how frustrated she felt: "Andrew, it makes me crazy. I can't stand this situation anymore. I don't want to hide our love story anylonger."
" I know it sweeheart", Andrew said. " I only love you and I don't feel like marrying your sister. But I gave my word! Moreover she's the elder and what a shame, what a dishonour for her if her little sister was married before her and above all with her betrothed! No Désirée, I can't do such a thing."
LA SUITE DANS UN PROCHAIN EPISODE !!
Citation du jour, bonjour !
"(...)Die when thou hast lived,
Quicken with kissing: had my lips that power,
Thus would I wear them out".
"Vis encore avant de mourir,
A tous mes baisers ranime-toi; si mes lèvres avaient ce pouvoir,
Je voudrais les user ainsi"
Cléopâtre dans Anthony and Cleopatra, William Shakespear.
Quicken with kissing: had my lips that power,
Thus would I wear them out".
"Vis encore avant de mourir,
A tous mes baisers ranime-toi; si mes lèvres avaient ce pouvoir,
Je voudrais les user ainsi"
Cléopâtre dans Anthony and Cleopatra, William Shakespear.
lundi 7 juillet 2008
A LIRE...
En cas de déprime (vous venez de cramer le petit plat que vous aviez concocté avec amoouuur, d'ailleurs c'est bien connu: c'est la faute de ce crétin de four, hein?) , jetez-vous sur le manga H3 school, de Rie Takada (comme les fraises :) .C'est une série courte (seulement 5 volumes), ce qui évite 1) de se ruiner le porte monnaie
2) de ne pas attendre désespérément la sortie du prochain tome pendant plusieurs mois (là encore cause de déprime probable).
Bon, d'accord, c'est vrai que c'est un manga "pour filles" avec la petite histoire d'amour entre les deux personnages principaux, Hanabi et Yasuaki, mais ça n'a cependant rien de "cucul la praline". C'est un manga rempli d'humour qui décrit des situations cocasses dans un lycée japonais devenu mixte. Les personnages sont vraiment attachants, que ce soit Hanabi, la pseudo féministe en puissance qui vit un drame existentiel parce que ses cheveux sont toujours en pétard, Yasu, le beau surfeur (bah oui, faut bien nous faire rêver un peu aussi !) qui ne voit les filles que sous la forme de poussins, ou encore Aido, le numéro 2 qui n'existe que pour battre un jour Yasu dans un sport!
Bref, à lire pour se détendre et rire un bon coup!
Citation du jour, bonjour !
"Ce rare plaisir: entendre sans émotion le cuistre de service nous brailler aux oreilles :
- Mais cômmmment peut-on ne pas aimer Stendhaaaal ?
On peut."
Comme un roman, D.Pennac; éditions Folio
- Mais cômmmment peut-on ne pas aimer Stendhaaaal ?
On peut."
Comme un roman, D.Pennac; éditions Folio
Poussez madame! Poussez !
Alors voilà.... Nous y voici, après une heure de soliloque, d'hésitations,que dis-je, de doutes insoutenables (si si!) , il est né le "divin blog"(tararataaaam!et maintenant, on peut effectivement sortir les trompettes et faire résonner musettes...).
Bref, "y'a plus qu'à"...
CQFD: GREEN GO :)
Bref, "y'a plus qu'à"...
CQFD: GREEN GO :)
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