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Windows of the Mind
[Cambridge English Readers Level 5]
Five stories about the senses: Arlo hates noise and has a plan to bring the world silence. Gopal uses smell to protect the memory of his sister. Journalist Kathy uses her blindness to get a clear picture of human characters. Daniel has a tongue that earns him a living but could also be his downfall. And Jamie learns to balance the benefits of t'ai chi in his search for health and happiness.
Five stories about the senses: Arlo hates noise and has a plan to bring the world silence. Gopal uses smell to protect the memory of his sister. Journalist Kathy uses her blindness to get a clear picture of human characters. Daniel has a tongue that earns him a living but could also be his downfall. And Jamie learns to balance the benefits of t'ai chi in his search for health and happiness.
96 pages, Paperback
First published October 18, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
March 9, 2015
A Fine Wine
Daniel Appleby, expert supermarket wine-taster,
visits Monsieur Colbert, a Bordeaux family vineyard proprietor. Appleby was impressed with the quality of Colbert’s wine so he offered him a deal involving the supermarket taking control of production. Colbert was desperate for money so he agrees without a second thought and he did not realize that Daniel Appleby was tricking him and he stole everything he had. On the way home, Appleby is involved in an accident. At the beginning he thought that everything was right and he did not suffer any serious injury but after he tried to eat he realized that the accident has affect his sense of smell, restricting his sense of taste and he could only taste three flavors: salt, sweet and bitter. He decided to hide his handicap to his boss, Justin, and arranges to postpone a televised wine tasting so Colbert himself can attend. Appleby admits his disability to Colbert and enlists his help. Colbert is to taste his wine first, and then Appleby will taste and pronounce on the wine at a signal from Colbert. At the tasting, Appleby lavishly praises the wine. The wine is offered to the guests who spit it out in disgust due to the fact that it was red wine vinegar. Colbert has taken revenge by exposing Appleby and ruining his reputation.
I really liked the way the author tells the story due to the way he shows the characters, at the beginning he shows Colbert as an inoffensive guy who is also Appleby's victim, but at the end Appleby is Colbert's victim. It shows us how drastically life can change.
Which this story is trying to teach us, is that we should never trick people or even try, because we will always pay for the bad actions we make. It also shows us that no one is inoffensive and we should never try to take advantage of anyone.
I really like this story. I think it has an important moral lesson and it really show us how life can make us pay for our bad actions, even if the story is not something that we could easily go through, it show us that life has different ways to teach us lessons and make us be better human beings.
Daniel Appleby, expert supermarket wine-taster,
visits Monsieur Colbert, a Bordeaux family vineyard proprietor. Appleby was impressed with the quality of Colbert’s wine so he offered him a deal involving the supermarket taking control of production. Colbert was desperate for money so he agrees without a second thought and he did not realize that Daniel Appleby was tricking him and he stole everything he had. On the way home, Appleby is involved in an accident. At the beginning he thought that everything was right and he did not suffer any serious injury but after he tried to eat he realized that the accident has affect his sense of smell, restricting his sense of taste and he could only taste three flavors: salt, sweet and bitter. He decided to hide his handicap to his boss, Justin, and arranges to postpone a televised wine tasting so Colbert himself can attend. Appleby admits his disability to Colbert and enlists his help. Colbert is to taste his wine first, and then Appleby will taste and pronounce on the wine at a signal from Colbert. At the tasting, Appleby lavishly praises the wine. The wine is offered to the guests who spit it out in disgust due to the fact that it was red wine vinegar. Colbert has taken revenge by exposing Appleby and ruining his reputation.
I really liked the way the author tells the story due to the way he shows the characters, at the beginning he shows Colbert as an inoffensive guy who is also Appleby's victim, but at the end Appleby is Colbert's victim. It shows us how drastically life can change.
Which this story is trying to teach us, is that we should never trick people or even try, because we will always pay for the bad actions we make. It also shows us that no one is inoffensive and we should never try to take advantage of anyone.
I really like this story. I think it has an important moral lesson and it really show us how life can make us pay for our bad actions, even if the story is not something that we could easily go through, it show us that life has different ways to teach us lessons and make us be better human beings.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2015
Hey, I just read “Windows of the Mind" and I liked the book and all of the stories in it. One of my favorite stories was, “A Fine Wine" this story is about a man called Daniel Appleby an expert supermarket wine-taste and Monsieur Colbert a Bordeaux family vineyard owner. Appleby, captivated with the quality of Colbert`s wine, offers him a pathetic deal involving the supermarket control of production. Colbert worried about the money agrees. On the way home, Appleby has an accident; a blow to the head robs him of this sense of smell, restricting his sense of taste the basic flavors. Hi didn’t tell his boss, Justin about his handicap and arranges to postpone a televised wine tasting so Colbert can attend. Appleby tells Colbert about his disability and enlist his help. Fist Colbert taste his wine, then Appleby will taste and pronounce on the wine at a signal from Colbert. The wine is offered to the guests who spit it out in disgust – it is red wine vinegar! Colbert has taken revenge by exposing Appleby and ruining his reputation.
I liked about the story how Colbert waited so long for his vineyard and how he take care about something that was really important for him and to his family. I like also Colberts character, he wanted the opinion of Daniel so his dream come true.
I think the moral lesson f this story is to persuade your dreams no matter how long does it takes because one day you will realize that everything you been through was worth it and always believe in yourself like Monsieur Colbert.
March 9, 2015
Arlo's War
This story is about a man who went to war and feels overwhelmed by every sound for this reason. His wife helps him get over it with the help of some pills but eventually she passes away. This man's life is basically his work at a toy factory which gave him the chance to work at a silent house away from the factory but everything changes when the boss' daughter took the leadership of the toy business and the silent house is selled to improve the factory.
I thought it was very interesting the focus of this story in particular. Arlo felt like he was in war with the whole world all by himself, and eventhough he knows there is no chance of gaining victory he stills fights for what he wants and thinks is the right thing to do. He is a good man, he didn't asked to be in war but he was still paying the price by its own. This story describes life as it is, it doesn't tag people as evil or saint, they are just people who push too far and people who make wrong decisions.
Sometimes the right thing to do is not what you think is the best but the one who answers for the common interests. Arlo was very affected by sounds but that didn't gave him the right to destroy the things so many people had fight for. But he had the right to be very upset because he had been afected by war, a thing he didn't asked for and that was for the interest of everyone, and when they had promised peace, when all he asked for was silence thay ripped that away from him.
This story is about a man who went to war and feels overwhelmed by every sound for this reason. His wife helps him get over it with the help of some pills but eventually she passes away. This man's life is basically his work at a toy factory which gave him the chance to work at a silent house away from the factory but everything changes when the boss' daughter took the leadership of the toy business and the silent house is selled to improve the factory.
I thought it was very interesting the focus of this story in particular. Arlo felt like he was in war with the whole world all by himself, and eventhough he knows there is no chance of gaining victory he stills fights for what he wants and thinks is the right thing to do. He is a good man, he didn't asked to be in war but he was still paying the price by its own. This story describes life as it is, it doesn't tag people as evil or saint, they are just people who push too far and people who make wrong decisions.
Sometimes the right thing to do is not what you think is the best but the one who answers for the common interests. Arlo was very affected by sounds but that didn't gave him the right to destroy the things so many people had fight for. But he had the right to be very upset because he had been afected by war, a thing he didn't asked for and that was for the interest of everyone, and when they had promised peace, when all he asked for was silence thay ripped that away from him.
March 9, 2015
My favorite story was "Open Doors", Katy Page was born blind; she was a leading journalist in British Radio. She loved music and art. Being blind help her to identify who is lying, she develops her sense of hearing to capture small details. TV shows such as, Mick Dean wanted her to present his show because she is good fighter, looks great and people respect her, but she didn’t accept the proposal. Kathy's radio show was one of the most popular; she interviewed famous politicians, businessman, artists, writers and scientists. The last guest was Dr. Woodrow Percival, an American eye doctor. Who could make the blind see by replacing microchips into eye nerves. During his interview, she didn't identify any doubt, for her he was telling the truth. At the end of the program, Kathy asked him if he would be able to make her see and he said yes. She felt confused, because for many times before she had said, "if I had the change to see, I would say no". Mick said, if she accepted to work for his TV show, he would pay the surgery but she hated publicity and rejected Mick's invitation. She accepted the surgery after a private appointment. The operation took place at California, Dr. Woodrow thought everything went well but they need to wait several weeks until the computer parts joined Kathy’s nerves. She felt afraid but happy. The surgery was a success. She accepted to work at the TV show; but she had a problem, her brain said something and her heart another thing. She decided to return to radio and soon her old show was back. This story besides being my favorite had taught me many things, the fact of her being blind did not limited her in following her dreams and goals. We as woman, are always complaining about our looks, we are never truly satisfied with ourselves, this is a call for realizing how much more valuable are the things inside our brain and heart, not the superficial aspects that often affects us and limit our potentials. Another thing to recall, having a disability is not an impediment for achieve your goals, what you need to do, is understand your abilities and take advantage of them in a 200%.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2015
A Nose for a Story
The story follows Desiree Malpen, a senior journalist for the National Diary, that's trying to find personal information about an Indian writer named Nyree Singh, who died in a car crash. Desiree only wanted to find out about all the scandalous things involving Nyree's death. She talks to Raj Patel an Indian director who is about to make a film for Nyree's latest book, and tries to get information from him about the so-called affair that Nyree had. Raj tells her about a diary which contained all her secrets. This is over heard by Professor Cyril Whitelaw who was writing a book about Nyree secretive life.
Desiree and Professor Whitelaw ended up going on the same day to Nyree's house were her brother lived - he supposedly had her diary. But it turns out Gopal Singh was friends with Raj and they had planned to trick Desiree into thinking there was a diary. When Gopal was talking to his two guests he mentioned a box which contained all her secrets. Gopal throws the box in the cesspit and says that whoever takes it will have the key.
Desiree ends up digging the box out of the sewage and gets the key only to find cricket reports in it.
The story was alright for me, the ending wasn't quite good but the story was funny. I like the fact that we can see two different kind of people in the story, Desiree, who is full of ambition and would do anything to get what she wants. And then Cyril who know that it was too much and understood that he wasn't going to look good in front of Gopal.
I didn't like the fact that the stories are so short, I feel empty like I need more to be happy.
The moral lesson of the story, I think is that we have to know the limit when it comes to getting what you want, because something is not that important or valuable. Ambition can't take over you, you must know how to control it.
The story follows Desiree Malpen, a senior journalist for the National Diary, that's trying to find personal information about an Indian writer named Nyree Singh, who died in a car crash. Desiree only wanted to find out about all the scandalous things involving Nyree's death. She talks to Raj Patel an Indian director who is about to make a film for Nyree's latest book, and tries to get information from him about the so-called affair that Nyree had. Raj tells her about a diary which contained all her secrets. This is over heard by Professor Cyril Whitelaw who was writing a book about Nyree secretive life.
Desiree and Professor Whitelaw ended up going on the same day to Nyree's house were her brother lived - he supposedly had her diary. But it turns out Gopal Singh was friends with Raj and they had planned to trick Desiree into thinking there was a diary. When Gopal was talking to his two guests he mentioned a box which contained all her secrets. Gopal throws the box in the cesspit and says that whoever takes it will have the key.
Desiree ends up digging the box out of the sewage and gets the key only to find cricket reports in it.
The story was alright for me, the ending wasn't quite good but the story was funny. I like the fact that we can see two different kind of people in the story, Desiree, who is full of ambition and would do anything to get what she wants. And then Cyril who know that it was too much and understood that he wasn't going to look good in front of Gopal.
I didn't like the fact that the stories are so short, I feel empty like I need more to be happy.
The moral lesson of the story, I think is that we have to know the limit when it comes to getting what you want, because something is not that important or valuable. Ambition can't take over you, you must know how to control it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2015
OPEN DOORS
This story was about Kathy Page, a blind leading journalist in British radio. She was well known for her intelligent interviews. Everyone admired her, not only because she was a smart and pretty woman, but also because her tough questions. She could always discover if someone was lying. Many television producers offered her a better job, presenting a chat show on television, but she didn't accept any of the offers.
One day, she had an interview with an American scientist, Dr. Woodrow Percival, who was an expert in eye surgery. He talked about a new technology, which could make her see. After thinking about her possible new life, she decided to have the surgery to see, even if it was risky. It went very well.
She began working with her own television program. But now that she could see, it was difficult to her to show the truth about the people she interviewed. She wanted to say if the person sounded uncomfortable, but she couldn't as she saw their smiles.
Finally, she left the television and continued with the radio. She began to interview people with a scarf covering her eyes. She bacame successful again.
Good points:
- It really looks as a real story. It has a lot of details that help us visualize how everything happened. The author included some of the interviews and questions. I liked how he describes Kathy. He describes a strong and powerful woman, even if she was blind. The author also showed that everything is possible with a realistic story.
Moral lesson:
I think that the main moral lesson of this story is that in many occasions, our weaknesses can be our greatest strenght if we take advantage of it.
This story was about Kathy Page, a blind leading journalist in British radio. She was well known for her intelligent interviews. Everyone admired her, not only because she was a smart and pretty woman, but also because her tough questions. She could always discover if someone was lying. Many television producers offered her a better job, presenting a chat show on television, but she didn't accept any of the offers.
One day, she had an interview with an American scientist, Dr. Woodrow Percival, who was an expert in eye surgery. He talked about a new technology, which could make her see. After thinking about her possible new life, she decided to have the surgery to see, even if it was risky. It went very well.
She began working with her own television program. But now that she could see, it was difficult to her to show the truth about the people she interviewed. She wanted to say if the person sounded uncomfortable, but she couldn't as she saw their smiles.
Finally, she left the television and continued with the radio. She began to interview people with a scarf covering her eyes. She bacame successful again.
Good points:
- It really looks as a real story. It has a lot of details that help us visualize how everything happened. The author included some of the interviews and questions. I liked how he describes Kathy. He describes a strong and powerful woman, even if she was blind. The author also showed that everything is possible with a realistic story.
Moral lesson:
I think that the main moral lesson of this story is that in many occasions, our weaknesses can be our greatest strenght if we take advantage of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2015
A Nose for a Story (chapter 2)
The story is about a woman called Desiree who is an important journalist from a recognized newspaper. She is in charge of doing a report of Nyree Singh (recently dead writer) in India. She is told that Nyree left a diary in her house revealing all her secrets, so she is determined to find it. She calls Nyree's brother who now has her belongings and asks him if she can go to his house, he agrees. When she arrives she founds that she's not the only person interested is the diary, there's also a literature professor who wants it. Gopal (Nyree's brother) shows them a box in which there are all of her sister's secrets and then throws it to the cesspit. He tells them that if they want it they have to get it and that he'll be waiting in the hotel to give the key to the one who gets it. One hour later the professor arrives to the hotel and tells Gopla that he wasn't able to do it, and that it wasn't worth it, but then everybody smell something horrible! It's Desiree with the box. She asks for the key but when she opens the box there is no secret.
I think this story was really good, I loved the contrast that there is between cultures. The plot was really interesting and it captures the audience's attention in every moment. Even though this story was a little bit grossat the end, I think that it was perfect, it shows that you can not get everything you want and that if you are capable of doing bad things to achieve something then those bad things will come back to you, karma!
The story is about a woman called Desiree who is an important journalist from a recognized newspaper. She is in charge of doing a report of Nyree Singh (recently dead writer) in India. She is told that Nyree left a diary in her house revealing all her secrets, so she is determined to find it. She calls Nyree's brother who now has her belongings and asks him if she can go to his house, he agrees. When she arrives she founds that she's not the only person interested is the diary, there's also a literature professor who wants it. Gopal (Nyree's brother) shows them a box in which there are all of her sister's secrets and then throws it to the cesspit. He tells them that if they want it they have to get it and that he'll be waiting in the hotel to give the key to the one who gets it. One hour later the professor arrives to the hotel and tells Gopla that he wasn't able to do it, and that it wasn't worth it, but then everybody smell something horrible! It's Desiree with the box. She asks for the key but when she opens the box there is no secret.
I think this story was really good, I loved the contrast that there is between cultures. The plot was really interesting and it captures the audience's attention in every moment. Even though this story was a little bit grossat the end, I think that it was perfect, it shows that you can not get everything you want and that if you are capable of doing bad things to achieve something then those bad things will come back to you, karma!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2015
The story that I most liked was Arlo's War. On this story, Arlo is a person that doesn’t enjoy noise. He admire snakes because of their patterned skins and also their abilities for getting food even thought they were deaf. Arlo had one snake, Susie, in a glass box. When Arlo was younger, the went to the war but he didn’t like remembering it, the only good thing he was happy for was meeting his wife, Maria. When his wife died, he became more obsess with silence. Now he worked as a designer of new toys for kids at Teckno-Toys . He was a good worker. One day the company needs to sell the place where Arlo worked, but Arlo doesn’t like the idea of working in a place full of noise. He decided to act. He uses his small models of toys and attacked the sources of all the noises he heard. In one of his attacks, the crystal box was broken and Susie could move freely and bites Arlo. He died without any noise and in peace.
Because Arlo hated noise, he didn’t want to hear it, and that’s why he acted that way. He also was a very intelligent person, but crazy at the same time because he had a Snake living with him.
I think the moral lesson is to try to understand other people to know what they don’t like and try to please them; it is also important not to get stick to things especially if there are dangerous.
Because Arlo hated noise, he didn’t want to hear it, and that’s why he acted that way. He also was a very intelligent person, but crazy at the same time because he had a Snake living with him.
I think the moral lesson is to try to understand other people to know what they don’t like and try to please them; it is also important not to get stick to things especially if there are dangerous.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2015
A Fine Wine
Review.
Daniel Appleby is a wine tasted. His work means everything to him. Consists in visiting wine yards and taste the product (wine) to sell it in the biggest supermarkets around. He's considerate one of the best judges of wine ever for his incredible abilities in taste and smell. One day, he visit and old Monsieur Colbert, owner of the best wine yard in Bordeaux, and obviously of the best wine ever made in France. Daniel convinced the old man to sell him the yard to get rid of him, and Monsieur Colbert without knowing this, accept because he needs the money. Then that they, Appleby suffers an accident that will put his job in danger, and he has to keep this secret from their colleagues or he will be fired. He's last hope is that old man he cheated.
Good points.
The story was pretty good and exciting. Was interesting and also funny and makes you read it with enjoy 'till the end.
The Moral Lesson.
The moral lesson behind this incredible story is the fact that you have to be humble and not think about your own benefits, because if you try to get everything without caring about the others, then life will reward you the same way, and you will regret it.
Review.
Daniel Appleby is a wine tasted. His work means everything to him. Consists in visiting wine yards and taste the product (wine) to sell it in the biggest supermarkets around. He's considerate one of the best judges of wine ever for his incredible abilities in taste and smell. One day, he visit and old Monsieur Colbert, owner of the best wine yard in Bordeaux, and obviously of the best wine ever made in France. Daniel convinced the old man to sell him the yard to get rid of him, and Monsieur Colbert without knowing this, accept because he needs the money. Then that they, Appleby suffers an accident that will put his job in danger, and he has to keep this secret from their colleagues or he will be fired. He's last hope is that old man he cheated.
Good points.
The story was pretty good and exciting. Was interesting and also funny and makes you read it with enjoy 'till the end.
The Moral Lesson.
The moral lesson behind this incredible story is the fact that you have to be humble and not think about your own benefits, because if you try to get everything without caring about the others, then life will reward you the same way, and you will regret it.
March 9, 2015
A Nose for a Story
This short story was about Desiree Malphen, a senior journalist for the National Diary. She was that kind of woman that thinks that beautty can achieve evrything. The magazine was always in search of scandals at any cost. Desiree was in Bombay, India, trying to find out any information about Nyree Singh, a famous writer. At the end she gets nothing even though she search's the information, the supposed secret diary, inside the sewage pipes.
It had a very interesting plot. It's moral lesson was not to be greedy and ambitious and it invites us to act thinking about the damage that we could cause others.
The stoy was well written and ful of little details that make easier to the reader to get into the plot. In addition i think that the fact that the story sounds real, it hepls us to be more concious about the moral lesson.
This short story was about Desiree Malphen, a senior journalist for the National Diary. She was that kind of woman that thinks that beautty can achieve evrything. The magazine was always in search of scandals at any cost. Desiree was in Bombay, India, trying to find out any information about Nyree Singh, a famous writer. At the end she gets nothing even though she search's the information, the supposed secret diary, inside the sewage pipes.
It had a very interesting plot. It's moral lesson was not to be greedy and ambitious and it invites us to act thinking about the damage that we could cause others.
The stoy was well written and ful of little details that make easier to the reader to get into the plot. In addition i think that the fact that the story sounds real, it hepls us to be more concious about the moral lesson.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2025
This book has five stories. The five stories have something in common. They are about five senses and desire, sometimes greed. Desire probably cause the good power for our lives, but greed probably cause the bad affect for our lives. After reading, I thought once again that I should cherish my present life, for example, my health and the environment which I am able to learn English every day because I sometimes forget the treasures.
January 24, 2024
I started reading this for the ielts, not knowing that it’d be this fun!
The stories are great, the writing style was really amazing and there’s just something so unique about this book.
Not everyone knows how to write good short stories, but Frank Brennan surely did.
The stories are great, the writing style was really amazing and there’s just something so unique about this book.
Not everyone knows how to write good short stories, but Frank Brennan surely did.
December 1, 2018
Easy simple nice
January 10, 2021
Good book for learn English and for learn a life lesson. Absolutely approved!
May 26, 2023
Me ha resultado un poco aburrido.
November 21, 2025
Se trata de un libro con distintas novelas cortas, con el objetivo de que me acostumbre a leer en inglés. Las historias están bien. 2/5
January 11, 2026
Wth?! I loved it…but whyyyy??
January 25, 2023
🏫Es un libro que pertenece a una colección de Cambridge del nivel B2 de inglés.
✍🏼El libro está dividido en 5 historias independientes, pero cada una está relacionada con alguno de los 5 sentidos:
•A fine wine
•A nose for a story
•Arlo’s War
•Open doors
•A gentle touch
A mí la segunda y la cuarta son las que me han parecido entretenidas. Cada historia son alrededor de 15 páginas.
📝Respecto al vocabulario, no son historias con un vocabulario difícil. Pero al ser historias independientes, sí que ha habido momentos en los que desconocía más el vocabulario según el tema a tratar.
🔦En este caso, podemos aprender bastantes idioms , obtener más vocabulario y ser conscientes de diferentes reglas gramaticales, ya que usa mucho reported speech, voz pasiva..
👉🏽Podéis encontrar más reseñas en mi perfil de instagram @_sarateacher
✍🏼El libro está dividido en 5 historias independientes, pero cada una está relacionada con alguno de los 5 sentidos:
•A fine wine
•A nose for a story
•Arlo’s War
•Open doors
•A gentle touch
A mí la segunda y la cuarta son las que me han parecido entretenidas. Cada historia son alrededor de 15 páginas.
📝Respecto al vocabulario, no son historias con un vocabulario difícil. Pero al ser historias independientes, sí que ha habido momentos en los que desconocía más el vocabulario según el tema a tratar.
🔦En este caso, podemos aprender bastantes idioms , obtener más vocabulario y ser conscientes de diferentes reglas gramaticales, ya que usa mucho reported speech, voz pasiva..
👉🏽Podéis encontrar más reseñas en mi perfil de instagram @_sarateacher
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July 31, 2010Windows of the Mind
Frank Brennan
~17
2. Does this story or its characters remind you of another story you have read? Does it remind you of a movie? How are they alike? And how are they different?
I remind one Korean drama. In the drama, one woman was really good taster of rice wine (Korean traditional alcohol). So, she was important in a family business which making rice wine. But one day she couldn’t taste anything because of shock. What both of them can not taste anymore reminded me the drama. But the reason why they can not taste suddenly is different. Daniel Appleby can not taste exactly because of an accident. I think he will be okay even though he will be in some trouble.
11. When you wish to learn when you read again tomorrow; what do you hope will happen in the story or to the characters? Why do you wish for that to happen?
I hope that Daniel Appleby will make a mistake on the TV show, or Old Colbert will know about Daniel’s problem. At the beginning of this story, he was bad to Old Colbert. I think he’s really arrogant and very proud of himself. I want to see that he will realize that everything don’t move as his plan. Now he seems that he know only money and his success. But there are many things in the world besides money. I think he will know about that because of Old Colbert.
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Windows of the Mind
Frank Brennan
~96
12. Are you puzzled or confused about anything in the story? What is it that confuses you, and why do you find it confusing?
It was confusing that there are 5 different stories. At first I thought that soon the story will connect each other, but it was different until the ending. The stories are very short, so after reading I felt a sense of emptiness. I want more stories. But anyway there are lessons in the stories, so I felt many things.
14. Why do you think the author wrote this story? Where did he or she get the idea or the characters? What message do you think that the author is trying to share?
I think the author wanted to give many lessons through five different stories. The author got the characters by various job. In the story ‘A nose for a story’, the author might want to teach us that we shouldn’t be greedy. In the story, one woman who was a journalist wanted to get scandal by Glopal Singh about Nyree Singh. That’s why she approached to Glopal Singh and tried to get the diary which wrote Nyree Singh. In order to get the diary, she even went into sewage, but there was not diary, there was a piece of newspaper. Like this, if we are greedy, it would cause bad result.
Frank Brennan
~17
2. Does this story or its characters remind you of another story you have read? Does it remind you of a movie? How are they alike? And how are they different?
I remind one Korean drama. In the drama, one woman was really good taster of rice wine (Korean traditional alcohol). So, she was important in a family business which making rice wine. But one day she couldn’t taste anything because of shock. What both of them can not taste anymore reminded me the drama. But the reason why they can not taste suddenly is different. Daniel Appleby can not taste exactly because of an accident. I think he will be okay even though he will be in some trouble.
11. When you wish to learn when you read again tomorrow; what do you hope will happen in the story or to the characters? Why do you wish for that to happen?
I hope that Daniel Appleby will make a mistake on the TV show, or Old Colbert will know about Daniel’s problem. At the beginning of this story, he was bad to Old Colbert. I think he’s really arrogant and very proud of himself. I want to see that he will realize that everything don’t move as his plan. Now he seems that he know only money and his success. But there are many things in the world besides money. I think he will know about that because of Old Colbert.
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Windows of the Mind
Frank Brennan
~96
12. Are you puzzled or confused about anything in the story? What is it that confuses you, and why do you find it confusing?
It was confusing that there are 5 different stories. At first I thought that soon the story will connect each other, but it was different until the ending. The stories are very short, so after reading I felt a sense of emptiness. I want more stories. But anyway there are lessons in the stories, so I felt many things.
14. Why do you think the author wrote this story? Where did he or she get the idea or the characters? What message do you think that the author is trying to share?
I think the author wanted to give many lessons through five different stories. The author got the characters by various job. In the story ‘A nose for a story’, the author might want to teach us that we shouldn’t be greedy. In the story, one woman who was a journalist wanted to get scandal by Glopal Singh about Nyree Singh. That’s why she approached to Glopal Singh and tried to get the diary which wrote Nyree Singh. In order to get the diary, she even went into sewage, but there was not diary, there was a piece of newspaper. Like this, if we are greedy, it would cause bad result.
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July 17, 201011. When you wish to learn when you read again tomorrow; what do you hope will happen in the story or to characters? Why do you wish for that to happen?
Windows of the mind is a very educational book. Through it, I see many characters, but I specially interest in two characters a famous wine-taster, Daniel, who has an accident that led him lost his ability to taste and a magazine journalist, Desiree, who smells scandal and will do anything for a good story. For two characters, I hope that they did not pay more attention in profits. They are all gentle person; they would be beloved by others, if they care about what others think or put them in others situations. I wish there were not any lessons like they had had. I wish they would draw the moral from those lessons.
4. If you could change the life or lives of a story character, to make their lives more like the lives of the characters I the book or story you are reading, whose lives would you change? How would you change their lives? Why did you pick these people or that person?
If I could change the life of a story character, I would change the life of Arlo. Arlo used to serve in army and he had a hard life when he had fought in a war. He hated noise; his mind had been damaged by the noise of loud and terrible explosions. How poor he was! He only felt happy and comfortable while being with his wife, Marie, and in a quiet place. But he did not have what he wanted. His wife was gone by a cancer. He must give up his job because of noise. I really sympathize with him. He had had a hard life in war and now he continued a hard life in peaceful life. If I could change his life, I would have left his wife still alive. Although he cannot stand the noise, he could feel better when living with his wife, who loved and understood him so much. I think he could lose his job or even live in the noise place, but lose his wife was the most heart-breaking for him.
Windows of the mind is a very educational book. Through it, I see many characters, but I specially interest in two characters a famous wine-taster, Daniel, who has an accident that led him lost his ability to taste and a magazine journalist, Desiree, who smells scandal and will do anything for a good story. For two characters, I hope that they did not pay more attention in profits. They are all gentle person; they would be beloved by others, if they care about what others think or put them in others situations. I wish there were not any lessons like they had had. I wish they would draw the moral from those lessons.
4. If you could change the life or lives of a story character, to make their lives more like the lives of the characters I the book or story you are reading, whose lives would you change? How would you change their lives? Why did you pick these people or that person?
If I could change the life of a story character, I would change the life of Arlo. Arlo used to serve in army and he had a hard life when he had fought in a war. He hated noise; his mind had been damaged by the noise of loud and terrible explosions. How poor he was! He only felt happy and comfortable while being with his wife, Marie, and in a quiet place. But he did not have what he wanted. His wife was gone by a cancer. He must give up his job because of noise. I really sympathize with him. He had had a hard life in war and now he continued a hard life in peaceful life. If I could change his life, I would have left his wife still alive. Although he cannot stand the noise, he could feel better when living with his wife, who loved and understood him so much. I think he could lose his job or even live in the noise place, but lose his wife was the most heart-breaking for him.
March 9, 2015
Windows of the Mind, by Frank Brennan.
On the last week I read this book and it is divided on five little stories ( one for each sense) the first one, is about the taste sense.
This one is about a man called Daniel Appleby. He was the Chief Wine Taster for Happimart Supermarkets; if liked the wine, then everybody bought it.
One day, he went to Monsieur Colbert vineyard to taste one of his wines who had make his family since the time of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Daaniel tsted this wine and told Colbert that it was a fine wine with a strong bouquet and a rich fruity flavour with suggestions of blackurrant.
When Appleby was returning on a taxi, his taxi crashed and the accident caused some bleeding in Daniel's brain. It had damaged the part of his brain that controlled his sense of smell. The sense of taste depends on smell and now he had three basic tastes: sweet, bitter and salt.
Now, everything tasted bad for him and his job had gone to ruine.
Justin, his immadiate boss and one of Happimart`s chief managers, wanted to taste the fine wine and Daniel`s future depended on Colbert wine, he decided to risk it so Colbert took some of his wine for everyone to taste it. Daniel pretend that he still had his famous nose for wine and said it was delicious but then everyone else tasted and it wasn`t an expected thing what happened next...
I think this story has a great ending because is very unexpected and surprising. I don`t like the way the car accident is described because it has no sense that the car has not been damaged ans Daniel has a badly bleeding on his brain.
I think the moral lesson could be not to judge something before you really know the way it really taste not only for it apparience but also for the way that ir really is.
On the last week I read this book and it is divided on five little stories ( one for each sense) the first one, is about the taste sense.
This one is about a man called Daniel Appleby. He was the Chief Wine Taster for Happimart Supermarkets; if liked the wine, then everybody bought it.
One day, he went to Monsieur Colbert vineyard to taste one of his wines who had make his family since the time of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Daaniel tsted this wine and told Colbert that it was a fine wine with a strong bouquet and a rich fruity flavour with suggestions of blackurrant.
When Appleby was returning on a taxi, his taxi crashed and the accident caused some bleeding in Daniel's brain. It had damaged the part of his brain that controlled his sense of smell. The sense of taste depends on smell and now he had three basic tastes: sweet, bitter and salt.
Now, everything tasted bad for him and his job had gone to ruine.
Justin, his immadiate boss and one of Happimart`s chief managers, wanted to taste the fine wine and Daniel`s future depended on Colbert wine, he decided to risk it so Colbert took some of his wine for everyone to taste it. Daniel pretend that he still had his famous nose for wine and said it was delicious but then everyone else tasted and it wasn`t an expected thing what happened next...
I think this story has a great ending because is very unexpected and surprising. I don`t like the way the car accident is described because it has no sense that the car has not been damaged ans Daniel has a badly bleeding on his brain.
I think the moral lesson could be not to judge something before you really know the way it really taste not only for it apparience but also for the way that ir really is.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2015
I recently read Windows of the Mind by Frank Brennan.
I enjoyed the book in general but the one story that I liked the most was the first called: A Fine Wine.
This little story is about a guy named Daniel Appleby, he worked as a wine taster until someday he went through a car accident and even-though he didn't hurt himself badly, the part of his brain that controlled the smell damaged therefore he also lost the ability to taste, so everything he ate tasted either salty, bitter or sweeter. He insisted that he was fine so he stayed a few more days at the hospital and then he went home. He was supposed to assist to a huge event to taste a very old wine, so his boss called him but he kept on deferring his appointment at the vineyard because of his taste issue, until he finally had to assist. When he arrived the place was full of people and reporters, Daniel was panicking. When the person in charge of the wine testing passed him the glass he had no other choice than to drink it so he pressed the glass on his lips and swallowed the wine, but he was unable to taste it, so he lied and said it was delicious but when everybody else tried it they all spill it claiming it was awful.
Personally I think the book would have been better if the writer would have omitted some minor details that weren't that relevant in the story, apart from that I think the book was both punctual and morally well thought because not only A Fine Wine lefts a message but all of the other little stories had a moral lesson about life and the way we manage our issue and complications.
I enjoyed the book in general but the one story that I liked the most was the first called: A Fine Wine.
This little story is about a guy named Daniel Appleby, he worked as a wine taster until someday he went through a car accident and even-though he didn't hurt himself badly, the part of his brain that controlled the smell damaged therefore he also lost the ability to taste, so everything he ate tasted either salty, bitter or sweeter. He insisted that he was fine so he stayed a few more days at the hospital and then he went home. He was supposed to assist to a huge event to taste a very old wine, so his boss called him but he kept on deferring his appointment at the vineyard because of his taste issue, until he finally had to assist. When he arrived the place was full of people and reporters, Daniel was panicking. When the person in charge of the wine testing passed him the glass he had no other choice than to drink it so he pressed the glass on his lips and swallowed the wine, but he was unable to taste it, so he lied and said it was delicious but when everybody else tried it they all spill it claiming it was awful.
Personally I think the book would have been better if the writer would have omitted some minor details that weren't that relevant in the story, apart from that I think the book was both punctual and morally well thought because not only A Fine Wine lefts a message but all of the other little stories had a moral lesson about life and the way we manage our issue and complications.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2015
A Gentle touch
This story is about Jaime, a university teacher, who discovered the powers of acupuncture when he moved to Singapore. First he used acupuncture to help him quit smoking but he then realized that it could do wonderful thing for him so he decided to learn this form of art. His doctor accepted to teach him. At first he was pleased with his student but Jamie wanted to be extremely powerful so his doctor told him that he should not cross the limit. Jamie refused and turned to Tai Chi. He became very strong. One day some drunk men teased him so he reacted in a violent way and sent most of them to the hospital but one of them hit Jaime in the back with a chair leaving him paralized for two months. Jaime was really worried becuase if he couldn't move he would not be able to use acupressure to heal himself. He then discovered that his old doctor had hired the drunk men to attack him so he would balance his chi.
I liked that this story has a moral lesson that the readers can apply to their lives. But I dind't liked the ending that much I mean just becuase his chi was inbalanced he ended in the hospital for two months and his doctor that cared about him wanted to hurt him? I don't think violence was needed. Yeah Jamie was obsessed with power but there must have been another way to make him react.Also I think all of his students hated him, Jamie was just thinking about himself and dind't think that the students might have a life outside university.
This story is about Jaime, a university teacher, who discovered the powers of acupuncture when he moved to Singapore. First he used acupuncture to help him quit smoking but he then realized that it could do wonderful thing for him so he decided to learn this form of art. His doctor accepted to teach him. At first he was pleased with his student but Jamie wanted to be extremely powerful so his doctor told him that he should not cross the limit. Jamie refused and turned to Tai Chi. He became very strong. One day some drunk men teased him so he reacted in a violent way and sent most of them to the hospital but one of them hit Jaime in the back with a chair leaving him paralized for two months. Jaime was really worried becuase if he couldn't move he would not be able to use acupressure to heal himself. He then discovered that his old doctor had hired the drunk men to attack him so he would balance his chi.
I liked that this story has a moral lesson that the readers can apply to their lives. But I dind't liked the ending that much I mean just becuase his chi was inbalanced he ended in the hospital for two months and his doctor that cared about him wanted to hurt him? I don't think violence was needed. Yeah Jamie was obsessed with power but there must have been another way to make him react.Also I think all of his students hated him, Jamie was just thinking about himself and dind't think that the students might have a life outside university.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2015
Recently I read the book "Windows of the mind." I like some of the stories and I will talk about one specifically, the one I like the most that was "Open Doors". This story is about a woman, Kathy Page, she was blinded at birth. She is a radio journalist, many people think that been a journalist and blinded can´t go together because she cannot see the expressions of the people, but this doesn’t mean she can discover the truth. The people admire her, so she was offered to work in a TV show, but she preferred the radio. Kathy Page made an interview with Dr Percival, which was an eye surgeon, he tell her that he could return her sight, so she decided to take the opportunity that he was giving to her . The surgery was a success, but it cause that she cannot judge peoples easily as she made it before, so now she interviews people wearing a blindfold.
The story was interesting and I like that it shows how someone can succeed having an impediment, it give us courage to follow our dreams no matter the bad things we can live.
I think the moral lesson is that having an impediment in something can´t make stop doing what you want or like, because as everyone you have a lot of capabilities that can provide many things to other people.
The story was interesting and I like that it shows how someone can succeed having an impediment, it give us courage to follow our dreams no matter the bad things we can live.
I think the moral lesson is that having an impediment in something can´t make stop doing what you want or like, because as everyone you have a lot of capabilities that can provide many things to other people.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2010
p1-33
Q6
I feel sympathy for Daniel in the first story because he lost his talent which he is expert at and his job relay on. In another hand, I think he shouldn't tried to take advantage on Monsieur, and the result seems like his retribution.
Q11
I am curious that what is in Gopal. I hope there would be some amazing fact that could be worthy to hide for many years.
P34-59
Q1
I remember there is a street which has many stores selling snakes. In the story, Arlo has a snake and his friends said he could eat snake as a meal and it surprised me because I never think about in western, there would be someone eat snake. I also can know Arlo's feeling that noise is very annoying when i had ears problems two weeks ago. I am glad that I recovered and it is sad that Arlo should suffer this problem till he died.
Q3
I will change the making bomb part. I think Arlo could try to built his own quiet and silent place. Since he was a designer, he would have ability and talent to create a satisfied area for himself rather do some violent things and heart some innocent people. If he try another way to deal with his problem, he could live and may have different life.
Q6
I feel sympathy for Daniel in the first story because he lost his talent which he is expert at and his job relay on. In another hand, I think he shouldn't tried to take advantage on Monsieur, and the result seems like his retribution.
Q11
I am curious that what is in Gopal. I hope there would be some amazing fact that could be worthy to hide for many years.
P34-59
Q1
I remember there is a street which has many stores selling snakes. In the story, Arlo has a snake and his friends said he could eat snake as a meal and it surprised me because I never think about in western, there would be someone eat snake. I also can know Arlo's feeling that noise is very annoying when i had ears problems two weeks ago. I am glad that I recovered and it is sad that Arlo should suffer this problem till he died.
Q3
I will change the making bomb part. I think Arlo could try to built his own quiet and silent place. Since he was a designer, he would have ability and talent to create a satisfied area for himself rather do some violent things and heart some innocent people. If he try another way to deal with his problem, he could live and may have different life.
September 28, 2009
1. if I could change the life of character, I would change the life of Daniel Appleby. I would change his life by after few years, his taste will become like before that he had had. I pick this character because I think he like most people in the world and like me. When we good at something, we will be haughty and we don't care everyone around us. However, if you get some trouble and you see that, you're not the one at your major, and you can feel the feeling of loser.
9. If i could ask any character. i would ask Arlo.I would ask him that why don't you find some place or go some where to take peaceful in your mind? I feel so sorry for him because i think he is a nice person and nice with everyone. However, his weaken is noisy, and it became his revenge. It's too bad.
9. If i could ask any character. i would ask Arlo.I would ask him that why don't you find some place or go some where to take peaceful in your mind? I feel so sorry for him because i think he is a nice person and nice with everyone. However, his weaken is noisy, and it became his revenge. It's too bad.
March 28, 2013
This book has a good "balance." Some of them is funny, some of them is rather sad, or some of them has a twist. It includes:
A Fine Wine
A Nose for a Story
Arlo's Story
Open Doors
A Gentle Touch
The first two stories made me laugh. The third one made me sad. The fourth one made me feel like "Way to go!" The last one made me feel happy because I also practice the Tai Chi, which is meant to be in balance in body and mind.
A Fine Wine
A Nose for a Story
Arlo's Story
Open Doors
A Gentle Touch
The first two stories made me laugh. The third one made me sad. The fourth one made me feel like "Way to go!" The last one made me feel happy because I also practice the Tai Chi, which is meant to be in balance in body and mind.
June 23, 2014
A book with no sensibility and not well rounded. The stories are just connected by the "five senses" and nothing more. The author could have used the theme as a big motto for other stories that would be better and filled of twists and turns.
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