Reading journal –The Gay Genius

20171220  Chapter 12 (Poetry of Protest) & 13 (The Yellow Tower)

1 Outstanding Question

The two chapters mainly talked about SuTungpo’s life in Suchow and Hangchow as the magistrate. In Suchow, Su showed us his administrative talent. And his poems also brought him intimate friends and disciples here. Although some of the poems also brought political eclipse later.

My thoughts

特喜欢13章里的苏轼，除了写诗之外，还展示起了自己的治世之才。书里有一句“There were many small things that could be easily done if a man thought about doing them, but only Su Tungpo cared." 正是由于看重这些细节，包括为犯人们请医生，关注士兵为何逃跑等，都能看出苏东坡的秉性。难怪看到变法导致的民不聊生让他胸中积郁，不吐不快。

Words and expressions

1.put sb up

原文：The brothers turned back and put up at the home of their great good friend Fan Chen.

释义：to let someone stay in your house and give them meals 留某人在家里过夜

造句：I was hoping my friend could put me up for a few days.

2. impending

原文：I do not think it was the Emperor's will ,but with the impending political uncertainty, some officials probably wanted to make sure that he had no chance to see the Emperor.

释义：adj. Something, especially an unpleasant one, is going to happen very soon

搭配：impending danger/doom/death/disaster

造句：Seeing this, I had a sense of impending disaster.

3. bore （熟词生义) 

原文：Again, he was writing joyous songs for the surf riders during the period of the Hangchow bore.

释义：n. a wave of water that moves quickly along a river from the sea at a particular times of the year. 大潮

造句：Many vistors are waiting to watch the bore once a year.

4. draft （熟词生义)

原文：For wars in the northwest across a thousand miles, my sons are drafted.

释义：v. to order someone to join the army, navy etc, especially during a war.

搭配：be drafted into something

造句：On being 18, he was drafted into the army.

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