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A Book Review—The Snake-Stone by Berlie Doherty
The setting: Urban England (the cities), but also rural England (the countryside) including remote English villages.
The theme: The main theme is a teenage search of self-discovery, in this case the search for a mother from whom the hero was separated at an early age. Its other concerns are love, getting on with others, being persistent and courageous and trying to deal with doubts, troubles and worries. As the book moves to a close, James’ swimming coach says to him: “You are not like a kid obeying instructions any more. You are diving like a young man who knows where he is going.”
The characters: James is the hero of the story. He is a championship diver, and has a comfortable life with his foster parents (养父母). Yet he also has the qualities to take him on a long journey to find his birth mother. The other characters in The Snake-Stone, James’ parents, his diving instructor, best friend, the villagers, people he meets on his journey, are pictured realistically.
The turning point: The turning point in the story comes while James’ foster parents are away in London, and he wonders about the identity of his birth mother. The only clue he has is a fossil, “the snake stone” which she left behind along with a note on which she had written: “Take good care of Sammie.” It was written on a torn envelope with parts of an address still there.
The journey: Instead of going to London, James decides to find his birth mother. With help from his geography teacher, James sets out for the remote country village where his mother might be found. James has painful, challenging, but also humorous and happy travels. The mother he finally meets, Anne, has a minor yet powerful voice in the novel. He comes to understand why she left him at a stranger’s door fifteen years before. Although the meeting is not long, it leaves him with a feeling of completeness. As a journey of self-discovery, The Snake-Stone also provides its readers with a happy ending. Its hero says, on returning to his foster parents, “I was home.”
1. What is the main theme of the novel?
A. Life with foster parents. B. Life in the world of diving.
C. A journey of self-discovery. D. A travel around the country.
2. What do the coach’s words in Paragraph 2 suggest?
A. James is a successful diver. B. James is an independent young man.
C. James is an outgoing young man. D. James is a hopeful swimmer.
3. The snake stone in the novel is .
A. a stone with an address on it B. a fossil left by the foster parents
C. a gift from the swimming coach D. a clue left by the birth mother
【答案】1. C 2. B 3. D
【解析】
本文是应用文书评体。分别从背景，主题，角色以及其主要情节“发现之旅”方面介绍名著The Snake-stone。
【1题详解】
段落大意题。从第二段第一句话The main theme is a teenage search of self-discovery, in this case the search for a mother from whom the hero was separated at an early age.“影片的主题是青少年寻找自我发现的过程，在这个故事中，主人公在很小的时候就与母亲分离了。”以及最后一段最后一句As a journey of self-discovery, The Snake-Stone also provides its readers with a happy ending. Its hero says, on returning to his foster parents, “I was home.” 作为一段自我发现的旅程，《蛇石》也为读者提供了一个美好的结局。它的主人公说，回到养父母身边时，“我在家。”由此可知，该书主题体现在James寻找生身母亲的征途也就是战胜自我获得人生真谛的发现之旅。故选C。
【2题详解】
细节理解题。从第二段最后两行As the book moves to a close, James’ swimming coach says to him: “You are not like a kid obeying instructions any more. You are diving like a young man who knows where he is going.”教练所说“你不能再像小孩一样，就知道循规蹈矩。你应该探索，像找定方向的年轻潜水员。”言外之意要James做一个独立的有个性的年轻人。故选B。
【3题详解】
细节理解题。根据The turning point中The turning point in the story comes while James’ foster parents are away in London, and he wonders about the identity of his birth mother. The only clue he has is a fossil, “the snake stone” which she left behind along with a note on which she had written: “Take good care of Sammie.” 故事的转折点发生在詹姆斯的养父母不在伦敦的时候，他想知道亲生母亲的身份。他唯一的线索是一块化石，“蛇石”，是她留下的，还有一张纸条，上面写着:“好好照顾珊米。”由此可知，the snake stone是James生身母亲离开留下的识别身份见证物（The only clue he has is a fossil, “the snake stone” which she left behind…）。故选D。
