Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days
這本書的標題:Dog days (the dog days of summer)指的是the hottest, most sultry days of summer(夏季酷暑的日子/三伏天)。而dog days另外引伸的含義為a period of stagnation(停滯期)。這一本書所敘述的正是Greg極可笑的暑假生活，而標題的提示可以想見Greg的假期笑點多，但卻不總如他所願。巧合的是這一本書中Greg家增加了一個很酷的成員: Sweetie (Greg父親的愛狗)，而Sweetie在家中的地位顯然高過Greg:
And you know how Dad is always getting on my case about lying around all day?
Well, Sweetie is twice as bad as me, but Dad's CRAZY about that dog. (p.126)
因此這本書的標題或多或少也提示書中的Sweetie的任性與倍受寵愛。
書中的精彩又有趣的情節:
The way I like to spend my summer holiday is in front of the TV, playing video games with the curtains closed and the lights turned off.
Unfortunately, Mom's idea of the perfect summer holiday is different from mine.
(pp.1-2)
這兩段的描述搭配本書特有的簡單線條插畫，"笑果"極佳。
在書中第25-31頁描述了Greg因為偷看了哥哥的恐怖電影HELLO,YOU'RE DEAD,而和膽小的朋友Rowley兩人開燈躲在樓上的浴室中不敢入睡的窘境，透過插畫的誇大描述 (尤其是第30-31頁)，真是夠好玩。
書中有趣的情節還真不少。
另外作者也在這本書中寫出文字的趣味:
1. Greg和爸爸去釣魚，爸爸拿著望眼鏡站在小舟上，Greg提醒爸爸，"DUCK!
DUCK!"爸爸直說:"WHERE? WHERE?"結果落水。
(duck: 鴨子;彎下身子) (p.83)
2. Greg小時候和爺爺去the Slipslide Water Park玩，結果Greg因為誤會標誌上的
意思而枯等三個小時沒進入戲水區。
UNDER 48" MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT |
(Greg以為48''代表48歲!)
(p.107)
3. Greg一家人為狗命名，最後依媽媽的意見取為Sweetie (寶貝)，但是他家中拼
字最差的哥哥Rodrick為狗買碗時，請店家在碗上印了SWEATY (滿身是汗的)!
(p.120)在這一書中作者仍舊用了不少的Idioms:
1. Mom was acting extra-cheery this morning, and I could tell she had something up her sleeve.
(have something up her sleeve= have a secret plan)
2. I've heard Dad tell this same story about Nutty and the butterfly farm a million times, but I didn't wanna be rude and cut him off.
(cut him off=interrupt him)
有趣的一本書，
快樂週末，好心情。
延伸閱讀
1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid (遜迦日記: 葛瑞的中學求生記)
2. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Rodrick Rules (遜咖日記: 葛瑞不能說的祕密)
3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid The Last Straw (遜咖日記：改造葛瑞大作戰)
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