佐賀のがばいばぁちゃん/ Saga no gabai baachan /Amazing Grandma In Saga

[studentyoung]

The book “佐賀のがばいばぁちゃん(Saga no gabai baachan)” in English is “Amazing Grandma In Saga” and in Chinese 《佐贺的超级阿嬷》. I finished it a few months ago. I think the book is quite suitable for parents and children to read and discuss together as part of family reading plan. Today, I saw an article on this book on Guangzhou Daily’s website.

http://gzdaily.dayoo.com/html/2007-06/05/content_28860689.htm

作者小传

岛田洋七，日本喜剧泰斗，作家，本名德永昭广。原子弹爆炸后，岛田洋七的父亲受核辐射死去。因无力抚养，母亲将8岁的昭广寄养在佐贺乡下的外婆家,在那物质匮乏的日子里，外婆却总有神奇的办法让日子过下去，让生活充满发现和欢笑。

the writer’s mini biography

Yoshichi Shimada, Japanese famous comedian and writer. His real name is Akirahiro. After the explosion of the atom bombs, the writer’s father died of nuclear radiation. Because his mother couldn’t afford to take care of two sons and work at the same time, he was sent to his grandma’s house in Saga. Although the grandma was so poor in those days, she always had some wonderful ways to go on living and made life full of discovery and laugh.

阿嬷生活语录

惹人讨厌的事情就是太招摇。

晚上别提伤心事。难过的事留到白天再说,也就不算什么了。

成绩单上只要不是0就好了。1分2分的，加在一起，就有5分啦！

人生就是总和力。

别人跌倒一笑置之，自己跌倒更要一笑置之。因为人都是可笑的。

让人察觉不到的体贴才是真正的体贴、真正的关切。

别抱怨“冷啊”、“热啊”的！夏天时要感谢冬天，冬天要感谢夏天！

时钟反着走，人们会觉得钟坏了而扔掉。人也不要老回顾过去，要一直向前走！

游泳不是靠泳裤，靠的是实力！

穷有两种：穷得消沉和穷得开朗。我们家是穷得开朗。

只有可以捡来的东西，没有应该扔掉的东西。

人到死都要怀抱梦想！没实现也没关系，毕竟只是梦想嘛。

只要能道声：“再会。”就是幸福。

如果能说：“改天见。”就更幸福。

要是能说：“好久不见。”就更加、更加幸福了。

（摘自《佐贺的超级阿嬷》）

Granny’s words on life

The disgusting thing is too much show-off.

Don’t mention sad news at night. Leave them till daytime, and they become nothing at all.

As long as no “goose egg” on report card is good enough. Add up those 1s and 2s on report cards, and then you will get 5.

Life is one’s allround ability.

If someone else falls, laugh it off; if you fall, you do need to laugh it off, because we are all very comic.

The undetectable thoughtfulness is true thoughtfulness and concern.

Don’t just complain “cold” or “hot”! Appreciate winter in summer, and appreciate summer in winter!

If a clock runs anticlockwise, people might think it is broken and then dump it. Don't always look back. Go straight on!

You don’t swim by your swimming suit, but your strength.

There are two different types of poverty, one is poor and depressed, the other is poor but optimistic. My family is poor but optimistic.

You should keep a dream life long. It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t comes true,

Saying “See you” is happy.

Saying “See you later” is even happier.

Saying “Long time no see” is even much happier.

(From “Amazing Grandma In Saga” by島田洋七Yoshichi Shimada )

For more details about the book, please check the link below.

http://www.trannet-japan.com/ep/tjc_rights_dtl.asp?rt=R0000032

There is also a movie named “Gabai Granny” adapted from this book. .

http://www.wofox.com/movie,35803.html

Thanks!