AT LAST, HOLIDAYS...

Now a break to wind down a bit, without any watch or mobile, just relax and enjoy the days. I'll be back soon. I promise, with more books to read and more lovely idioms. Next year will be hard, so we must do our best. Now, relax.....

THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE

I HAVE BECOME A THOMAS HARDY'S FAN.
FIRST, TWO CHRISTMAS AGO, OUR FORMER ENGLISH TEACHER, LEND ME THE BOOK: "FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD"  AND I LIKED IT.
THEN I HAD THE CHOICE TO READ "TESS OF THE D'URDERVILLES" AND I BOUGHT EVEN THE FILM AND THE BBC TV SERIE.
"THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE" IS THE LAST HARDY'S BOOK I HAVE READ AND I HAVE ANOTHER ONE WAITING FOR BEING READ: "THE WOODLANDERS" .
BUT I HAVE TO GO CAREFULLY, IF NOT, BOOKSHOP WILL HAVE A FIELD DAY WITH ME...
I THINK SO.

THOMAS HARDY RULES!

THE WOMAN IN WHITE

MURDER, MENTAL ASYLUM, LIES,... NICE BOOK.
Vocabulary:

• FORGERY: a copy of something that is made to look like the original but is false.
• HUMBLE: as we saw in the book of  David Copperfield, humilde.
• SCAR: the mark in the skin after a cut.
• BRUISE: dark mark in the skin after being hurt.

OFFICIALLY DEAD

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT BOOK SHOWS THAT THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE WAITING TO TRICK YOU.

Vocabulary:

• LYING ON THE BED, WISHING THAT HE WAS SOMEWHERE ELSE.
• THE TWO MEN WERE UNBELIEVABLY ALIKE.
• FLIRT: flitear, coquetear.
• TALKATIVE: hablador, conversador.
• ALIBI: coartada.
• THE TREES THAT LINED THE STREETS OF BATH WERE BARE DEAD LEAVES LAY ON THE PAVEMENT.
• BOOT: maletero, portamaletas.
• REAR SEAT: asientos traseros.
• REAR LIGHT: luz trasera.
• HEADLIGHTS FULL ON: faros
• FIRE CREW: BOMBEROS.
• BREAKDOWN TRUCK: GRÚA.
• WRECKAGE. ruinas, escombros
• STEEL SHUTTER: PERSIANA.
• CAR JACK: GATO DE COCHE.
• HOLDALL: bolsa de viaje, de deportes.

MIDNIGHT

A VERY NICE BOOK ABOUT FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS.
 Vocabulary:

• FORLORN: triste.
• GARMENT: prenda de ropa.
• MEEK: dócil, sumiso, manso.
• CUSTARD: natillas
• STROLL: rollo, pergamino.
• SOAK: dejar en remojo, empapar.
• TREACLE: melaza
• HOSEPIPE
• :TO RUN AMOK: VOLVERSE LOCO.
• CORKSCREW: SACACORCHO

STARRING TRACY BEAKER

THE SECOND BOOK ABOUT TRACY AND HER FRIENDS.

VOCABULARY:

• HAY FEVER: alergia al heno, al polén.
• TO MOP UP: secar, limpiar.
• CRUTCH: muleta
• DOLLOP: porción.
• I GAVE HER A SHOVE: dar empujón.
• TO BE SKINT: ESTAR PELADO.

THE STORY OF TRACY BEAKER

A GIRL LOOKING FOR A FOSTER FAMILY...

Vocabulary:

• GUTSY: con agallas.
• STROPPY: insolente, borde.
• SOGGY: si son vegetales es que están pasados.
• CRABBY: refunfuñón.
• TO WAGGLE: moverse, menearse.
• WHAT DO YOU TAKE ME FOR?
• TO RILE: irritar.
• WRIGGLED: retorcido.
• TO MUMBLED: mascullar, farfullar
• STERNLY: severamente.
• CRUMMY: malo, horrible.
• PRIMLY: remilgadamente.
• TO DETER: disuadir.
• TO YELL: gritar, chillar.
• TO CHUCKLE: reirse.
• TO FLICK: mover rapidamente.
• TO GIGGLE: reisrsetontamente.
• FROCK: vestido, hábito.
• TODDLER: NIÑO PEQUEÑO DE 1 A 2 AÑOS Y MEDIO.
• PRAT: imbécil.
• NUDGED: golpeado con el codo.
• CLUTCHED: firmemente agarrado. CLUTCHES: garras.
• SHRIEK: chillido, alarido.

SECRETS

TWO FUTURE FRIENDS WITH DIFFICULT SITUATIONS WILL MEET TO CHANGE ALL THEIR LIVES.

Vocabulary:

• TO GO BERSERK: ponerse como una fiera, como un loco.
• DAFT: tonto, bobo, ridículo.
• SULKILY: malhumoradamente.
• TO RUFFLE: arrugar ropa.
• SCORNFULLY: con desdén.
• NOSY: entrometido, impertinente.
• A TAP DRPPED, A CLOCK TICKED, THE RADIATORS GURGLED...
• DRUNK: HIS EYES WERE BLEANY AND BLOODSHOT.
• STONE-FACED.
• TO CLING: pegarse, aferrarse.
• BLOKE: su chico, (noviete)
• HIVE OF BEES: colmena de abejas
• TO CALL NAMES AFTER SOMEONE: INSULTAR.
• BUCKLE: hebilla.
• TO BE PRICKLY: ser quisquilloso

VICKY ANGEL

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOUR BEST FRIEND DIES SUDDENLY?
Vocabulary:

• TO GIVE THE KISS OF LIFE: boca a boca.
• THE LOCAL FLORIST MUST BE HAVING A FIELD DAY: hacer su agosto.
• CHAPLAIN: Capellán.
• THE EGG WAS TOO RUNNY: El huevo no estaba hecho del todo.
• OBLIVIOUS: ajeno, haciendo caso omiso.
• SPIT: saliva.
• STRAIT JACKET: camisa de fuerza.
• DALMATIAN PUPPIES.
• SLEEPY DUST: legañas.
• EARNESTLY: de todo corazón.

CLEAN BREAK

WONDERFUL 297 PAGES BOOK ABOUT A DIVORCE.
Vocabulary:

• APPALLINGLY: terriblemente (Comportamiento)
• WISTFUL: nostálgico.
• BREASTSTROKE: nadar estilo braza.
• SANDPITS: cajón de arena para niños.
• STOP TRYING TO PAIR ME UP WITH SOMEONE.
• TO SNOG: besuquearse, darse el lote.
• IN FOR A PENNY, IN FOR A POUND: It means 'if you're going to commit to something then commit to it wholeheartedly. "De perdidos al mar" Ya que la vas a liar, liala gorda.
• TO DYE MY HAIR: teñir, tintar.
• WOOZY: atontado, grogui.
• PLAIT: trenza.
• EVERYTHING WAS BLURRED FOR A MOMENT.
• A LITTLE WALK TO STRETCH HIS LEGS.
• LARKING ABOUT: haciendo el tonto.
• HER FINGERS BWERE LIKE LITTLE ICICLES.
• TO OOZE: rezumar, rebosar. 
• HE RAN AMOK: volverse loco.
• CRANE MACHINES.
• LET'S GO FOR A CLEAN BREAK: cortar radicalmente
• LAUGHING LIKE A HYENA.
• CRIMSON: carmesí.
• GORMLESS: estúpido, corto.
• TO CHOMP: masticar.
• AMETHYST.
• SATSUMA: satsuma, tipo de mandarina.
• TO WALLOW: deleitarse.
• FLANNELS: pantalón de franela.
• DEMURELY: recatadamente, con recato.

DAVID COPPERFIELD

ANOTHER AMAZING BOOK BY CHARLES DICKENS.

Vocabulary:

• STERNLY: severamente.
• YOU CAN'T GET BLOOD OUT OF A STONE.
• I LIVED ON BREAD: vivir con un mendrugo de pan.
• BANGING THE DOOR BEHIND HER.
• OUR PATH IN LIFE IS STEEP AND ROCKY.
• SISTERLY, MOTHERLY WAY.

A TALE OF TWO CITY

A VERY UNDERSTANDABLE BOOK WHICH STORY FLIES THROUGH THE FRENCH HISTORY. GUILLOTINE, MURDERS...

EAST OF EDEN

WONDERFUL AMERICAN BOOK.
Vocabulary:

• HE HAD THE GIFT FOR TELLING STORIES: tener el don de contar historias.
• PEOPLE TRUSTED HIM, HONEST, HUMBLE MAN: La gente le creía, confiaba en él, en el hombre honesto y humilde.
• TO HAVE AN STROKE: derrame cerebral.

REBECCA

“Rebecca” is a well-written novel by Daphne du Maurier. She is the author of other famous novels as “My cousin Rachel” and “Jamaica Inn”.

The story begins when Maxim de Winter, Rebecca’s widow, marries again with a younger girl who meets in Monte Carlo. But she, the second Mrs de Winters, has many problems in Manderley, her new accommodation. One of them is Mrs Danvers, the housekeeper and Rebecca’s fan.  But, at the end, the plot has an unexpected twist.

“Rebecca” was adapted into film by the famous director Alfred Hitchcock and the cast included Laurence Oliver as Mr de Winter and Joan Fontaine as Mrs De Winter.

The book is well worth reading and the reader will understand quickly why Hitchcock chose it to adapt into film.

THE MOONSTONE

Vocabulary:

• You're worth your weight in gold: Vales tu peso en oro.
• The day was cloudy at dawn: dawn: amanecer
• Like a cloud of angry bees.
• Lights passing to and fro.
• Dark cloudes were gathering in the distance: se juntaban, arremolinaba, avecinaba, nubes negras
• He might as well have expected the Rock of Gibraltar to move.
• Confussion clouded her face.
• I found myself face to face with...
• THE SWEETNESS OF THE AIR MADE THE SIMPLE ACT OF LIVING AND BREATHING A LUXURY.
• The tune brought back a wave of memories.
• Your false face of innocence.
• I can't tear you out of my heart: No te puedo arrancar de mi corazón.
• Dimly: debilmente.

THE PRISONER OF ZENDA

CURIOUS AND INTERESTING BOOK.
I LIKED TWO SENTENCES:

• WHILE YOU ARE STILL ALIVE, THE DEVIL HAS NO MASTER.
• IT WAS 3 O'CLOCK AND THE DAY WAS BREAKING.

FACTFILES: DISASTER!

A VERY GOOD,  INTERESTING AND UNDERSTANDING BOOK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF DISASTERS WE CAN SUFFER.

FACTFILES: THE EVEREST STORY

VOCABULARY:

• TO COLLAPSE: to fall suddenly.
• CORNICE: cornisa
• TO CRAWL: gatear.
• FROSTBITE: congelación
• HOBNAIL: tachuela

BULLRING

THAT IS A BULLRING. A RING WHERE BULL ARE FOUGHT.

THE GREAT CAT CONSPIRACY

THE LAST OF THE TREE BOOKS OF THE TRILOGY.

Vocabulary:

• STAKEOUT: vigilancia.
• A SKIP: salto, brinco. También contenedor.
• A TAP WITH NO KNOBS: un grifo sin manilla.
• HINGE: bisagra
• HIS ARM IN A SLING: llevar el brazo en un cabestrillo.

THE GREAT RABBIT RESCUE

AS YOU CAN GUESSM THIS IS THE SECOND BOOK OF THE TRILOGY.

Vocabulary:

• TO BE WINDED: enfurecido
• SQUISHY: fangoso
• TO HAVE GOT THE GREEN: tener via verde
• HITCHES:pegas, problemas.
• STOPWATCH: cronómetro.
• KERB: freno, bordillo de la banqueta.
• LIGHTING DOESN'T STRIKE TWICE: after having a bad situation, this idiom means that a bad thing will not happen to the same person twice
• CONKER TREE: castaño de indias. It is not chestnut tree.
• TO PURLOIN: hurtar, sustraer.

THE GREAT HAMSTER MASSACRE

FUNNY FIRST BOOK OF A TRILOGY.

Vocabulary:

• KNEELING ON THE CUSHIONS: arrodillado.
• PEACE BE WITH YOU.
• SAWDUST: serrín.
• MAGGOTS: gusano.
• DANDELION: flor diente de león.
• CAT FLAP: gatera.

HOW TO BE AN ALIEN

A STRANGE BOOK ABOUT ENGLISH PEOPLE AND THE DIFERENCE BETWEEN EUROPEANS AND ENGLISH PEOPLE.
FUNNY.

NUTS AND SEEDS

A TRIPLE TREAT OF HORRID HENRY

3 BOOKS IN 1:

1. HORRID HENRY'S REVENGE.
2. HORRID HENRY AND THE MUMMY'S CURSE.
3. HORRID HENRY AND THE BOGEY BABYSITTER.

Vocabulary:

• TRAY: bandeja.
• FISH BAIT: cebo, carnada.
• SACRED OATH: juramento sagrado.
• AS SMART AS A WHIP: a whip is the thing you use to hit the horse to make him run quicklier. A nd if you are as smart as a whip means that you are having or marked by unusual and impressive intelligence.Or having the capacity for thought and reason especially to a high degree.
• TO GE CAUGHT RED-HANDED:coger con las manos en la masa.
• SPROUTS: brotes.
• A FISTFUL OF SWEETS.
• WALNUT: nuez
• MOTTO: lema
• CHRISTENING: bautizar.
• GROUNDED FOR A MONTH: castigado sin salir.

A HELPING OF HORRID HENRY

3 BOOKS IN 1:

1. HORRID HENRY GETS RICH QUICK.
2. HORRID HENRY'S HAUNTED HOUSE.
3. HORRID HENRY'S NITS.

VOCABULARY:

• TO EAT THE SOUP WITHOUT SLURPING.
• STIFLING A YAWN TO STIFLE: conteniendo, reprimiendo un bostezo.
• FOOL ME ONCE, SHAME ON YOU; FOOL ME TWICE, SHAME ON ME.
• LONGINGLY: con nostalgia, con ansia.
• RAFFLE: rifa sorteo, rifar, sortear.
• AT NINE A.M. SHARP: en punto.
• TO WIPED HIS NOSE ON HIS SLEEVE: se limpió la nari en la manga.
• NITS: LIENDRES
• PIOJO: LOUSE, PIOJOS: LICE.
• A PENNY SAVED IS A PENNY EARNED.
• FALSE TEETH: dentadura postiza.
• THE EARLY BIRDS WERE CHIRPING: piando
• EGG CARTON: huevera.
• NO IFS OR BUTS.
• COMFY:comodo
• JEERED: to jeer: abuchear, mofarse.

DON'T PUT OFF TILL TOMORROW WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY!

• DON'T PUT OFF TILL TOMORROW WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY.
• DON'T PUT OFF TILL TOMORROW WHAT CAN BE DONE TODAY.
• CARPE DIEM.
• NOW, NOT LATER.

Different sentences to express the same. Act. Don't wait. Stop dreaming or moaning and get up.

A GIANT SLICE OF HORRID HENRY

3 BOOKS IN 1:

1. Horrid Henry meets The Queen.
2. Horrid Henry's underpants.
3. Horrid Henry's stinkbomb.

Vocabulary:

• Why put off till tomorrow what you can do today?
• COPYCAT: copión.
• TO BE LOATH TO: resistirse.
• A CRUST OF BREAD: EXPRESION: UN MENDRUGO DE PAN.
• RUBBED HIS HANDS: frotar las manos.
• CARDBOARD LOO ROLLS.
• TO BE GREEN WITH ENVY: morirse de envidia.
• FOLDED ARMS: brazos cruzados.
• GRUDGINGLY: de mala gana, a regañadientes.
• CURTSEY: hacer reverencia, reverencia.
• MOOING LIKE A COW.
• TIDAL WAVE: maremoto, tsunami.
• DUCKED:hundir, sumergir, evitar, escabullirse.
• DASHED INTO: entrar a la carrera, inrrumpir.

A HANDFUL OF HORRID HENRY

3 BOOKS IN 1:

1. Horrid Henry and the secret club.
2. Horrid Henry.
3. Horrid Henry tricks the Tooth Fairy.

Vocabulary:

• TO USE A HANKIE: pañuelo
• LAY THE TABLE
• PEELER:
• TO WHINE: aullar, gemir.
• RADISH: rábano.
• YOU'RE TRYING MY PATIENCE TO THE LIMIT.
• STIR:remover.
• BERET: boina
• TO FEEL QUEASY: mareado
• TANTRUM: rabieta, pataleta.
• DRIZZLE: llovizna.
• DOWNPOUR: chaparrón.
• TO SHIVER AND QUIVER: temblar y agitar.
• TO SHAKE AND QUAKE: agitar y temblar.
• MORSEL: trozo, bocado.
• STRAIGHTEN THE DUVET.
• PLUMP HIS PILLOWS: mullir las almohadas.
• STUCK OUT HIS TONGUE: sacar lengua. /STICK YOUR CHEST OUT: sacar pecho.
• WATCH YOUR STEP.
• PANSIES: Pensamientos (FLOR) o "mariquita".
• PUSHED, TWEAKED AND TUGGED: empujado, pellizcado y jalado (empujar)
• HE WAS A VOLCANO POURING HOT MOLTEN LAVA.
• LURKING: acehcante, al acecho.
• TO CALL PEOPLE NAMES: insultar.

A HAT TRICK OF HORRID HENRY

3 books in 1:

1. Horrid Henry and the Mega-Mean Time Machine.
2. Horrid Henry and the football fiend.
3. Horrid Henry's Christmas cracker.

Vocabulary:

• CARD-BORAD BOX.
• Fiend: demanio, desalmado.
• TINSEL: espumillón.
• GOLD AND SILVER BAUBLES: bolas dle pino de navidad.
• IT WAS THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTED.
• CANVAS: lona.
• NITS: piojos.
• STUMPY TREES: achaparrados, cortos.
• IN DISGUISE: disfrazado.
• SMELL OF MANURE: abono , estiércol.
• PREENING: acicalarse, si es un pájaro ponerse bien las plumas con el pico.
• BEETROOT: remolacha.
• SQUID: calamar, chipirón.
• OUTRAGED: indignado.
• SPROUTS: brotar, germinar.
• SHOVING: empujar.
• MEEKLY:sumisamente
• MEEK: sumiso.
• SNIVELLED: lloriquear, gimotear.
• DAYDREAMING.
• AISLES: paillos supemercado.
• DRIBBLE: babear.
• FREE KICK: tiro libre.
• RUMMAGING IN HER BAG: revolviendo, hurgando
• GONE GAGA: chochear.
• APRON: delantal.