Book Report
Class & Number:1518 Name:Hyeon Ji-Lee
Title
The secret diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 3/4
Author
Sue Townsend
Publisher & Year
도솔, 1994. 2. 12.
Vocabularies
felt rotten : 기분이 몹시 불쾌하다. play-school : 유아원
get done : 혼나다. let himself go : 자제력을 잃다.
lazy about : 빈둥대다. a paper round : 신문배달
malingerer : 꾀병쟁이 parentcraft : 부모의 역할
don't see the point : 무의미 하다 get through : 끝내다 ralied a bit : 다소 기운을 되찾다. indecent : 음란한
the cloakroom : 화장실 delirious : 헛소리하는
reflection
This book contains a diary that Adrian Mole has written for 2 years since he was 13 and a quarter years old. He is an adolescence so he has a lot of struggles. And the struggles are showed in this diary honestly. Main stories that have been written here can be divided into five.
First of all, there is a story about his skin trouble. Adrian Mole had a spot on his face and he thought it was very terrible just like ordinary teenagers. He gave various efforts to get rid of the spot, but failed. He thought he needed to go to a private hospital.
Secondly, there is a story of sexual curiosity. Like above story, this story also makes teenagers feel sympathy. Adrian started to get interested in sex and other sex from the moment he looked through an adult magazine. He did bizarre actions such as measuring his thing and being excited in Pandora's chest. However, the timid boy tried to hide this nature sexual desire.
Thirdly, there is a story of Pandora who is his girlfriend. Adrian liked Pandora but Pandora fell in love with Nigel and Craig. However, after the red socks row at school which students required
the freedom of socks, they fell in love each other.
Fourth, there is a story about Bert. Bert is an old person who lives alone. Adrian Mole entered a volunteer club of his school and takes care of Bert with his best effort. At first, he was a very violent man but he changed gradually. That was the result of Adrian and Pandora's efforts. And finally, he got married with Queenie.
Lastly, there is a story of Adrian's family. His parents have some problems. His mother falls in love with Mr. Lucas and even his father goes out of work. Finally, his mother comes back home, however, it wasn't that pleasing for Adrian.
There are a lot of another episodes just like Adrian's efforts to be a poet and a vet, and Kent who menaced Adrian to get money.
I read this book compulsorily. However, it was a valuable book. I could feel sympathy for Adrian's struggles because I am a teenager. But in sexual curiosity and family trouble part, I couldn't feel sympathy because I'm not a single parents boy whose sexual hormone is secreted much. So, I felt a little disgusted about his eccentric actions.
Adrian Mole is a very nice boy who makes a living instead of his parents by a paper round and he does lots of houseworks whether his mother exist or not. But you can find his timid personality in many situations. If he stepped out for love and family, his problems could have become smaller. What a pity!
In my opinion, I think this book could become a bestseller because it contained not only a variety of feelings about teenager's agonies but also social problems such as unemployment and a single parent child. Maybe the author wanted to show the dark side of England during 1980's. I was surprised at the dark side of England because I had thought of England as one of the most peaceful countries. What a big shock!
Lastly, I recommend this book to parents who have children. I hope they come to know about their children's feelings and social problems by reading this book. Then, they will become good parents and great members of this world.