FOREST GUMP
by Winston Groom.
Forrest Gump is a 1986 novel by Winston Groom.
This book is about Forrest Gump, a so called "idiot". The narrator is Gump himself. He says, "I've been a idiot since I was born. My IQ is 61, which qualifies me, so they say." However, he is viewing the world simply and truthfully. Even though he has significant mental disabilities and is not as smart as the others, he turn to be successful in many things, which the average people, even those who are cleverer than him, wouldn’t manage. He becomes a football star who played in a high-ranked college team, a mathematical genius, a war hero, a NASA-astronaut, an international chess player, he plays in a band, meets two of the United States presidents, plays ping-pong in China and represents the US. In the end he starts a shrimp business, becomes a millionaire and gives all his money to his son.
Forrest's mother taught him the importance of being honest and do the right thing. Trying to follow her advice Forrest always gets in trouble and often appears in a funny or awkward situation. That's why the society always doubts in him and his ability to succeed. They often put him down calling him stupid. Anyway in the end everything turns out to be OK for him. Forrest loves a girl named Jenny. They have been good friends since chidhood. Forrest and Jenny have always loved each other but it takes Jenny a while to realize it because she periodically leaves Forrest, uses drugs and meets people who have a bad influence on her. While Forrest is always trying to find Jenny and bring her back, she keeps pushing him away because she has a lot of pain and grief built up since her traumatic childhood.
The novel was adapted into a feature-length film by Paramount Pictures in 1994.
Before being made into an Academy Award winning movie, the novel sold an estimated 30,000 copies.
Are You For Or Against TV?
Whether we realise it or not, TV plays a very important part in our life.
It’s the main source of information and a cheap form of entertainment for millions of people.
It’s the window into the world which gives us an opportunity to “travel” all over the world, to “meet” different people and learn about their customs and traditions.
It has the power to educate and broaden our minds.
Besides it helps us to relax after a hard day’s work and escape from reality.
There’s always a great variety of programmes on TV: news and sports programmes, talk shows and TV games, documentary and feature films, reality shows, concerts and etc.
Of course, not all programmes are good. But many are made in good taste and with great professional skills.
Some people argue that television is a terrible waste of time. It makes us lazier. We stay at home instead of going out. We read less. We even talk less.
Violence on TV is another ptoblem that worries people. As George Mikes once said, TV teaches us “how to kill, to rob, to shoot and to poison”. But the same can be said about computer games and many films. And if you don’t like a certain programme, why watch it?