Reading Notes of The Gay Genius

Summary & Reflection

This chapter elaborates how Su Tongpo's  family members influence  with detailed stories and some anecdotes about his father and himself which enriches their personalities.

从苏东坡的祖父到他的父亲，以及他自身，这个家族的几代人中都从来不乏叛逆的性情中人，叛逆仿佛是一种流在血液、刻在记忆的图腾式的召唤。

此外，从苏东坡的成长中，我们不难看出，苏东坡的家人的影响极其关键。母亲给予了道德的启蒙，父亲以纯粹而雅正的体教儿子，弟弟忠言规劝，兄弟二人情感深厚。所以这样德才兼备的天才文学家的成长必定得益于特定的家庭环境。

而我们虽然不能选择自己的家庭环境，但是可以尽量为下一代努力创造更好的家庭环境。

Word & Expression

concur   

v. / kən'kɜː ; kənˋkɝ / formal 【正式】

( past tense and past participle concurred , present participle concurring )

to agree with someone or have the same opinion as them 〔与某人〕意见一致，同意

[+ with ]

The committee largely concurred with these views.

委员会大致上同意这些观点。

un‧der‧ling

n. [C] / 'ʌndəlɪŋ ; ˋʌndɚlɪŋ /

an insulting word for someone who has a low rank – often used humorously 下属，部下；走卒〔侮辱性用词；常为幽默用法〕

hul‧la‧ba‧loo

n. [singular 单数] / ‚hʌləbə'luː, 'hʌləbəluː ; ͵hʌləbəˋlu / informal 【非正式】

1.excited talk, newspaper stories etc, especially when something surprising or shocking is happening 〔尤指对使人惊讶或震惊的事件的〕激烈评论，大量报道

SYN  fuss

There was a huge hullabaloo when the book was first published.

那本书刚出版的时候引起了轰动。

2.a lot of noise, especially made by people shouting 吵闹声，喧嚣声

SYN  commotion

She looked up to see what all the hullabaloo was about.

她抬起头想看看是什么事这么吵闹

Corruption and graft and extortion, and arbitrary arrests, were the order of the day, for the local magistrates were all underlings and proteges of the eunuchs.

贪婪、纳贿、勒索、滥捕无辜都是常有的事，因为地方官都是那些太监豢养的走狗小人。