Subj : New Year's Day.
To   : Alexander Koryagin
From : Anton Shepelev
Date : Fri Feb 26 2021 23:19:46

Alexander Koryagin to Anton Shepelev:

AK> Although  the  fact  that  Englishmen talk words quicker
AK> than Russians is obvious when we watch American movies.

Well, I certainly do not get that impression  from  such  TV
shows as "What's my line?" and "You bet your life". But I do
have trouble  understading  English  speech -- for  want  of
practice, no doubt.

AK> For  instance, when I read textbooks I have no pleasure,
AK> but I know they are useful.

I try to pick enjoyable textbooks that  are  a  pleasure  to
read,  such  as  the  grammars  by  Nesfield,  Baskerville &
Sewell, and Goold Brown. Or open that famous book on  calcu-
lus -- Chrystal's  "Algebra" -- to  see why it is a standard
recommendation for all programmers: Crystal  shows,  and  by
example encourages, crystal-clear reasoning.

AK> A great subject is not necessary.

I never said it was. If fact, I agree with Akira Kurosawa in
that it is not the plot, but the execution of the plot. Ray-
mond  Chandler put it simpler: a good plot is one that makes
for good scenes.

AK> For instance, I read now "The Gun Seller" by  Hugh  Lau-
AK> rie.  A  usual not very bright subject, but the language
AK> is super, great, marvellous and original.

Not now, but I will.

[after looking it up in Wikipedia]
Whooops: I see it is very recent, and not a short story  but
a  novel.  Usually  I do not read books by living authors to
avoid any hype and let the cultural aftermath  settle  down.
It  is easier for me to start from a short story, as it does
not require a serious commitment of time. Speaking  of  Hugh
Laurie,  I  am  more  likely to try P.G. Wodehouse's stories
about the immortal Jeeves & Wooster.

AK> Somebody in heaven and under  earth  like  serials  very
AK> much.  All life on Earth is a big serial. Besides, there
AK> are some  serials  in  Russia  which  are  very  pretty,
AK> stylish and certainly are worth to be seen once. For in-
AK> stance, the serial about a cool, stylish Russian fashion
AK> firm  and  quite  ugly, but very clever girl who went to
AK> work there. Speed it up by 1.5 times and you will have a
AK> good hearing training, without boredom.

I  am  sorry, but any modern Russian TV series means boredom
to me: no acting, no sound, no cinematography, no  varation.
They  give  me  neither spiritual nor aesthetical gratifica-
tion. I feel deeply ashamed for the state of the film indus-
try  in  my  country. One need only watch the excellent "The
Lark" (1965) and its  horrible  modern  remake  commercially
named  "T-34"  (2019)  to realise the depth of degeneration.
Only low-budget or no-budget indie movies  sometimes  manage
to come out any good, but they very rare.

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