Over to you

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 551.

Sara Ferguson married Prince Andrew 1988, who later separated for her insulting behaviour

GLOSSARY

quiet backwaters – тихая заводь

to be a stepping stone for something – быть промежуточным этапом

inextricably – запутанность, сложность

neophyte – неофит, новообращённый, новичок

to kick-start – послужить толчком

a raging torrent – бушующий поток

advance orders – предварительные заказы

Gaelic – галльский язык

to pen a tale – написать сказку

to pay tribute – отдать должное

celebs, celebrities – знаменитости

proceeds – выручка, доход

reckless – безрассудный, опрометчивый

to hot up - процветать

buoyant - оживлённый

break down the barriers – сломать 0 барьеры

specially jacketed copies – экземпляры книг в специальном переплёте

mandatory - обязательный

be lured more by – отдавать предпочтение.

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1. What do you think made “the ambitious editors” consider the children's department “a stepping stone to success elsewhere in the industry”? Do you share their opinion?

2. What kind of books do you think is more difficult to write: adult or children's ones? Have you ever tried your hand at writing a children's book / a fairy tale? Would you like to try? What in your opinion are the easiest / the most difficult genres for writers: fantasy / novels / short stories / poems / detective stories / historical novels / adventure stories / fairy tales? Do you think it is right to compare the genres of literature this way?

3. What is your opinion about the reasons why so many celebrities start writing children's books? Which of the following statements would you support answering this question:

“These books just raise the profile of the celebrity and look like a PR exercise”.

“Celebrities try writing books, because they need some additional ways of applying their creativity. A talented person is talented in everything”.

Give your reasons.

4. Consider Philip Pullman's remark about the books written by celebrities: “If a book is any good, it will survive. If not, there's no harm done.” Give some arguments for and against this idea.

5. Do you agree that “children's literature is alive and kicking, and growing up all the time”? Is the situation in this countr the same as abroad? What do you think should be done to make children prefer books to computer games? How would you explain the sudden success of Harry Potter in today's world of computers?