My favorite book is "The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway. This story is one of the well-known works of the writer. The author depicts the characters of the old man and the boy and their relations very vividly and skillfully. Santiago, the old man, was one of the writer's beloved characters. The old man was a born fisherman, but he was not a butcher and fished only for a living. He was very lonely. He had a devoted friend - the boy, Manolin. The boy loved the old man for his kind heart, his devotion to the sea. Manolin was like a son to Santiago. He took care of the old man's food and his belongings. The old man was glad to pass his experience to the boy. He looked forward to going to the sea together with the boy. All Santiago's life had been in preparation for the battle with big fish. He knew that he had been born for this and it was time to prove it. A strong man at last had met a strong fish. The battle was a difficult one and full of danger. Though the sharks had eaten the fish and nothing had left but the backbone, the old man had morally won the battle. Santiago's words "man can be destroyed but not defeated" are the main idea of this story. "The Old Man and the Sea" is a masterpiece for its imaginative language and the description of nature.
My name is Julia and I'm fourteen years old. Summer is my favourite season as it is full of activities and exciting adventures. It's not a secret that we have the longest holiday season at this time of the year. It starts at the end of May and continues till the beginning of autumn. I associate summer with sea, sun, fresh and warm air, blue sky, outdoor games, meeting with friends, long walks in the park, cycling, and of course spending time with my family. It is also the time when I discover some new and exciting places. Last summer together with my friends we discovered a beautiful spot surrounded with mountains. There was a cool but crystal clear river with small waterfalls coming down in it. Although the water was cold, we swam and dived a lot. It goes without saying that we took pictures of that stunning scenery. I should say natural sights in my region are wonderful, especially in summer. I love the mountains, thick coniferous forests, swift rivers and clear lakes. A piece of Black Sea can be also found in my region, but we should take a minivan to get there and the travel time is about five or six hours. Personally I think that summer is the best season for swimming and doing some water sports. I like surfing and wind surfing, while my best friend is seriously involved in diving. Speaking about previous summer, I would also like to mention the time spent in the countryside at my grandparents' house. They are very friendly and welcoming people. My grandmother has a nice garden where she grows lots of fruit, vegetables and a variety of greenery. She also takes care of several rabbits and chickens. It's good to be away from the city once in a while and to breath fresh air free from cars and other polluters.
