September in Review & Georges Simenon novels !

Georges Simenon, 1973

Photograph: Keystone/Getty Images

https://www.theguardian.com/books/

The prolific and incredible Belgian writer, Georges Simenon, was dead 30 years, on the 4 September 1989.

His serious novels that involve elements of crime and melodrama continue to fascinate writers and readers.

He has at last achieved, at the age of 60, what one French critic (Jacqueline Barde) calls "son grand roman, son premier roman." 

And in this first "pure" novel, even the hitherto confused should be able to see why André Gide long ago described this author as "perhaps the greatest and most truly 'novelistic' novelist in French literature today." 

"Gide wholehearted enthusiasm for Simenon and Dashiell Hammett must be a persistent obstacle for those who insist on drawing a sharp line between "entertainment" and "literature."

Georges Simenon, années 50

credits: Mondadori Portfolio

https://www.lemonde.fr/livres/

Born in Liège (Belgium) on 13th February in 1903, began writing in his teens. In a decade or so he wrote two or three hundred books under 17 pseudonyms, of the most hack description - spy stories, westerns, sentimental novels for girls, and other.

In his late twenties, Simenon moved up several notches with the creation of Commissionaire Maigret (1930) and other less known but rewarding fictional detectives. 

Maigret's War of Nerves

Georges Simenon, 1981

https://www.amazon.com/

Contractually bound to a Maigret novel a month plus a short story a week, he began turning out work of extraordinary quality.

Simenon's career is as improbable as any in modern literature. Georges Simenon, the masterly Belgian novelist whose Inspector Maigret mysteries and many other highly regarded works made him one of the most widely published authors of the century.

Maigret tend un piège

(en français facile)

Georges Simenon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/

Simenon wrote 84 Maigret adventures and 136 other novels under his own name, and some 200 novellas under 17 pseudonyms early in his career.

His work consists of 391 titles, and he is best known as the creator of the fictional detective series consisting of 75 books featuring Inspecteur Maigret, translated into more than 50 languages. 

"It is not too much to say that Simenon is one of the great revolutionists of the detective story. Maigret novels operated, like the work of Hammett and his fellow pulpsters in America, to enable the detective story to achieve novelistic stature, while the intellectuals of the period were still praising S. S. Van Dine, who denied the possibility."

Anthony Boucher

Liens utiles/ Links:

Georges Simenon

Sur la piste de Maigret

Écouter sur Georges Simenon

The Myth of Simenon

Literature's Enduring hero: The Inpesctor Maigret's novels

Georges Simenon

illustrator: Loustal

http://frenchculture.org/

“A little knowledge distances us from people, a lot of knowledge brings us closer.”


Inspector Maigret

And now, time to the review of the most popular posts of September


Here are the most popular posts of the last month:

NASA Contest Mars rover : your best name ideas !

Peace Day : #CyberNonViolence #ClimateAction4Peace

Harry Potter fans : Magical Places from films

Music, Photography, Environment & Youth

Oh! La Rentrée 2019-2020? : 7 nouveautés sous le signe de la réussite

Summer holidays, last break !


Hoping you're enjoying to teach! New students are always so good!

G-Souto

06.10.2019

Copyright © 2019G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com®

September in Review & Georges Simenon novels by G-Souto is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Schools : Harry Potter fans : Magical Places from the films !

Harry Potter Magical Places from the Films

Hogwarts, Diagon Alley and Beyond

Jody Revenson, 2015

https://www.amazon.com/

Harry Potter: Magical Places from the Films is actually one of the books from the Harry Potter Page to Screen Collector's Edition.

"A comprehensive and delightful look at Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, The Burrow, Azkaban prison and all of the memorable places, both loved and feared, that brought the Harry Potter movies to life - a keepsake treasury bound in a debossed leatherette case and featuring a removable poster and interactive booklet."

"Grand in its design and package, Harry Potter: Magical Places from the Films: Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, and Beyond offers an unprecedented look at the creative process that transformed the magical locations of the wizarding world from the page to the big screen."

Harry Potter Magical Places from the Films

Hogwarts, Diagon Alley and Beyond

Jody Revenson

https://www.booktopia.com.au/

Book:

The book grants a complete, unprecedented look at the process of adapting those locations for the films. Detailed profiles of each environment pair never-before-seen concept art, behind the scenes photos and film stills with text highlighting filmmaking secrets from the Warner Brothers archives.

The book focuses on the locations and sets. There are environment concept art, stories on how the sets were build, what was filmed there, how the props were created, how the sets relate to the movie and the book, and many other bits of interesting details.

Harry Potter Magical Places from the Films

Hogwarts, Diagon Alley and Beyond

Jody Revenson

https://www.booktopia.com.au/

Inside, readers will discover the many challenges the studio faced to build the fantastical sites depicted in Rowling’s books, from Hogwarts castle and its many classrooms and dormitories, to Diagon Alley and the Ministry of Magic.

This is a large 208-page hardcover film companion. The presentation is beautiful and the same can be said about the layout inside. 

The pages are filled with behind the scenes photography, film stills and lots of commentary. 

Harry Potter Magical Places from the Films

Hogwarts, Diagon Alley and Beyond

Jody Revenson

https://www.amazon.com/

Organized by film appearance, Harry Potter: Magical Places from the Films: Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, and Beyond takes readers on a behind-the-scenes visual journey through all eight of the Harry Potter films. 

Jody Revenson provides detailed profiles of each location and pairs them with never-before-seen concept art, behind-the-scenes photographs, and film stills with supplementary information that reveals film making secrets from the Warner Bros. archives.

Harry Potter Magical Places from the Films

Hogwarts, Diagon Alley and Beyond

Jody Revenson

It also includes real-life scouting locations across the stunning countryside of England, Wales, and Scotland—many of which would later become the settings for Hagrid’s hut, Shell Cottage, the Hogwarts bridge, and other iconic places.

Harry Potter Magical Places from the Films

Hogwarts, Diagon Alley and Beyond

Jody Revenson

via Google Images

There are nine chapters:


1. Dursley's House
2.Diagon Alley
3.King's Cross Station
4. Hogwarts Castle
5. Hogwarts Classrooms and Offices
6. Hogwarts Grounds
7.Hogsmeade
8.Ministry of Magic
9. Wizarding Homes

Harry Potter Magical Places from the Films

Hogwarts, Diagon Alley and Beyond

Jody Revenson

https://www.amazon.com/

Education:

Students/ Potterheads will no doubt find it extremely satisfying to delve into the information and revisit the Harry Potter world again.

Harry Potter fans who read the books and went to the movies will love to rediscover  all the memorable places that brought the Harry Potter movies to life.

Teachers, why not invite the new readers! The youngest potterheads who begin the Harry Potter magical journey! 

Curricula: English (mother language / foreign language)

Highly recommended to all Harry Potter fans. It's the only way to "visit" all the grounds without being growled by Snape.


G-Souto 

28.09.2019

Copyright © 2019G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com®

Schools : Harry Potter fans ! Magical Places from the films by G-Souto is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Schools : Here we go again : Harry Potter game ? Your choice !

Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery

mobile game

http://www.harrypotterhogwartsmystery.com/

Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery is a mobile adventure game which will allow players to become students at the wizarding school. It was launched on 25 April 2018.

I couldn't write about the new Harry Potter game before, because there were important subjects on the last days in April and first days in May. You know it!

Here the announcement on last April 25 on Pottermore:

"It’s time to create a new Hogwarts student, choose your house, and attend classes at the one and only Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the new mobile game, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, which launches today. First of all, here’s the trailer to whet your appetite one last time"

Created by games studio Jam City, Hogwarts Mystery is the first offering from Portkey Games, the new games label launched by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.

Education:

I won’t lie! My potterheads in the 90's hoped every day that they might get a letter from Hogwarts, some of them Nicknamed Potter as a family name. Oh! dear! By that age, the existence of a secret school in the Highlands of Scotland seemed so possible! 

They imagined Hogwarts would be much the same as our school, but for wizards instead of extremely posh children. They wrote letters to Hogwarts school hoping to have an answer. They were aged 9-11. On that age, imagination has no boundaries. Everything is wionder!

Hogwarts Mystery takes players into the acclaimed institution to live and learn as a pupil. But don’t expect to see familiar faces among the student body.

 Michael Gambon as Professor Dumbledore 

in Harry Potter Hogwarts Mystery 

credits: Portkey Games

https://www.theguardian.com/games/2018/

The game revealed on the Pottermore site features six actors reprising their roles from the Harry Potter films including Michael Gambon as Professor Dumbledore, Dame Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall and Warwick Davis as Professor Flitwick.

Also appearing are Sally Mortemore as Madam Irma Pince, Gemma Jones as Madam Pomfrey and Zoë Wanamaker as Madam Hooch.

The first Harry Potter games in more than 6 years, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery seems to attempt to fulfil that childhood fantasy. 

Hogwarts Mystery

Warwick Davis/ Professor Flitwick

credits: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

https://www.facebook.com/HPHogwartsMystery/

Narration: Characters & experiences

It's a soft narrative game that offers an uncomplicated Hogwarts experience, letting students pick their house, from friendships and rivalries and master spells in the famous castle. 

The writing in the early scenes, however, is a little bland. It makes a good attempt at capturing Snape’s sardonic disdai, but there’s not much flair to it. It doesn’t have the fizz and personality of the books. No.

Described as 'a story-driven mobile narrative role-playing game', Hogwarts Mystery will see players/students creating their own student characters, attending classes, learning spells and taking part in Duelling Club. 

It will be possible to build friendships – and rivalries – as the story evolves, with key decisions affecting the character arc, while a new encounter system will provide pivotal moments that will shape each quest.

Hogwarts Mystery

credits: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

https://www.pottermore.com/news/

The story is set prior to The Chosen One’s arrival at Hogwarts. Instead,  players /students have the opportunity to make their own narrative choices and engage with the wizarding world setting to create new and unique experiences. 

Young students can write their own chapters, without being overshadowed by Harry Potter’s fame.

Hogwarts Mystery

credits: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

https://www.pottermore.com/news/

As well as being able to attend Hogwarts classes, go to Flying Class lessons, visit their chosen house’s common room (finally! A proper look inside Hufflepuff’s!), enrage Snape, or simply make new friends.

The game invites kids to twist the narrative in different directions, as well as giving their character a mysterious backstory.

The writing in the early scenes, however, is a little bland; it makes a good attempt at capturing Snape’s sardonic disdain and McGonagall’s pursed restraint, yes. But there’s not much flair to it. It doesn’t have the fizz and personality of the books. For sure. The books were so tempting! Even me, as the teacher reading the books in the classroom, I was really interested on the narrative.

Hogwarts Mystery

credits: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

https://www.pottermore.com/news/

But it’s all about the little details too: in every conversation young new potterheads choice dictates their character. And not just the character. For example, Pottermore "recommended one of it new friends Rowan a cool new hat, and we’re thrilled to say she took our advice in a later scene.

Hogwarts Mystery

credits: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

https://www.pottermore.com/news/

The game is not written by J.K. Rowling herself. The game has been honed to emulate the Hogwarts experience so kids, the student/player, can create their very own Hogwarts story.

Apps: Game Features:

• Magic Spells, Potions & More

- Attend classes to learn and master magical skills like casting spells and brewing potions.

- Unlock new characters, spells, potions and locations as you advance through the years of Hogwarts.

- Customize your student avatar.

• Mystery and Adventure

- Use your magical skills to investigate mysteries at Hogwarts.

- Discover the truth behind the Cursed Vaults and your brother's disappearance in an all new story.

• Friendships that Matter

- Bond with your housemates to win the House Cup.

- Go on quests to help friends and fellow students…or frustrate rivals.

- Earn respect and build relationships by adventuring together.

Game demo/ YouTube

Available:
iPhone
Android
Please note that Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery is free to download and play, however, you can purchase some in-game items with real money. 
If students want to limit this feature, they must disable in-app purchases in their device's settings.

"After drawing in the Potterites with a enchanting start, this game constantly interrupts your play unless you pay up. It’s dull, dismaying and deeply cynical"

Keza MacDonald, Games, The Guardian

screenshot Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mistery

https://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/

Some notes:
Hogwarts Mystery really captures something of the Hogwarts fantasy. It’s set in the 1980´s when Harry was still a baby, so there are no conversations with Draco or Ron, but there are cameos from other well-known characters in their younger days. 
For students who love Harry Potter books, there’s a thrill to trying out your first wand in Olivander’s.
And of course for teachers who want to include games into school curriculum to captivate young and new potterheads. An of course teach narration.
Oh! Perhaps are you a young teacher around 25-30 years, first potterheads generation?
G-Souto
13.05.2018

Copyright © 2018G-Souto'sBlog, gsouto-digitalteacher.blogspot.com®

Schools : Here we go again. Harry Potter game Hogwarts Mystery ? by G-Souto is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

References:

Pottermore/ Hogwarts Mystery