Eca de Queiroz: Contos 20191115-0401

Useful in learning language

This review is from: Contos (Portuguese Edition) (Kindle Edition)
rev:201310040955

In every respect this book deserves all five stars: the stories and the technical layout and manageability. The only thing missing is the automatic time markings of all entries into the orientation file of bookmarks, notes and highlights.

My main idea in reading this book has been learning the Portuguese language. In this aim Kindle helps in three superb ways. First, there is the possibility of marking interesting passages of text as highlights to which you can easily return. Secondly, you have an instantaneous access to dictionary getting the dictionary entry in front of your eyes, before you could even grab a heavy paper dictionary, even if it lied at a reach of hand. Third, you have the possibility of commenting what you read, thus helping to memorize words and idioms.

In this case the stories themselves also help directly to the learning of language. The text is rich, but completely straightforward. No meaningless passages, where the readers mind could start going astray. Many contos are familiar from readers earlier experience. Thus for instance the last two: one a fascinating imagination of Odysseus's life as a divine prisoner. The last story is a fine summary of the main teachings of the New Testament.

When reading I have made markings of headings and subheadings aiming to make a table of contents with page numbers and location numbers to be placed as a note at the beginning of the book. Two purposes: getting the numbers for search access to the table of contents items and to a general orientation of the structure of the book. I find, as I think that everybody finds, important to know how far I have proceeded in my reading, how far is the next suitably stop in reading and how far I am from the end of the book. This is possible only if I can see the page numbers or the location numbers. I think that the page numbers, real or virtual, are in this respect more important, because we are accustomed to the pages in paper books. Even if the book would never have been printed on paper, it could be helpful to use virtual page numbers of about 2000 character long pages, as they are in average paper books.