Read: Heidi

Dear Qwerty,

Presenting, Heidi:

An illustration in the book by June Goldsborough.
Credit: Elwood and Eloise.

I have gone back to my hobby of reading lately, and recently, had just finished reading a full version of Heidi. I know I should have read it long ago, but better late than not at all, right? I bought it from a really old bookshop that sells really old used books. The price? It is very, very underpriced.

Below is an excerpt from the translated novel, just to give you an idea of the sweet atmosphere it brings:

"The valley lay far below, bathed in the sparkling morning sunshine. In front of Heidi a big broad snowfield rose up to the dark blue sky and on the left stood a huge pile of rocks above which a bare rocky peak reached towards the sky, towering majestically above the child. Heidi sat motionless. A great silence was all around and only the delicate blue harebells ad yellow cistus sway softly in the gentle breeze, nodding joyfully on their slender little stems. Peter had fallen asleep and the goats were climbing high up amongst the bushes." (Heidi (1965), p.29)

I love it when people use the word 'delicate' to describe flowers, fruits and sweet smells. :)


And just look at how they make people realize that simple food is something really delicious:

"Then he sat down on a three-legged stool and blew up the fire. It was soon blazing merrily and the little kettle began to boil. Next the old man cut a big piece of cheese and, piercing it with a long, iron fork, he held it over the fire, turning it constantly and to and fro until it was golden all over. Heidi had watched all these operations with the closest attention and apparently some new ideas had entered her head for suddenly she jumped up and went to the cupboard. When the grandfather had decided that the cheese was nicely toasted and took it to the table, there was the round loaf, two plates, and two knife  neatly laid, for Heidi had been quick to see what was wanted and had brought everything from the cupboard." (Heidi (1965), p.19)

Of course, food prepared by grandfathers is always delicious! Heidi always finish it with a bowl of warm, frothy goat milk, fresh from Little Swan (a snow-white female goat). Sometimes, they would have some thick slabs of home-cured meat too.

It's been quite long since I read any writing as heartfelt as this. Honest and story-telling kind of writing.

Another book that I wish to share with you is The Taggerung by Brian Jacques. This is where I first learned about candied chestnuts. How cute and tasty-sounding! However, it was borrowed from the library and therefore I can't share much about it other than saying that it is very sincerely written.

I had loved one passage (in The Taggerung) about icy rain battering on their window. But I can only remember the cold shudders and rain smell it brings to me, as if it was really raining outside. I can't remember the words that good Mr. Jacques had weaved together.

Thank you, Mr. Jacques, for sharing your beautiful imagination with the world.

That's it for today. Cheers! :)


p/s: I have removed several posts that I consider unnecessary. Most of them are about my hurtful experiences. The world is full of problems already, so I guess I'll keep mine private and only share the joyful things with the world. Let's cheer up, everybody! :)