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Serafina and the Black Cloak
(Serafina #1)
Robert Beatty (Goodreads Author)
3.86 · Rating details · 29,678 ratings · 3,848 reviews
"Never go into the deep parts of the forest, for there are many dangers there, and they will ensnare your soul."
Serafina has never had a reason to disobey her pa and venture beyond the grounds of the Biltmore estate. There's plenty to explore in her grand home, although she must take care to never be seen. None of the rich folk upstairs know that Serafina exists; she and h "Never go into the deep parts of the forest, for there are many dangers there, and they will ensnare your soul."
Serafina has never had a reason to disobey her pa and venture beyond the grounds of the Biltmore estate. There's plenty to explore in her grand home, although she must take care to never be seen. None of the rich folk upstairs know that Serafina exists; she and her pa, the estate's maintenance man, have secretly lived in the basement for as long as Serafina can remember.
But when children at the estate start disappearing, only Serafina knows who the culprit is: a terrifying man in a black cloak who stalks Biltmore's corridors at night. Following her own harrowing escape, Serafina risks everything by joining forces with Braeden Vanderbilt, the young nephew of the Biltmore's owners. Braeden and Serafina must uncover the Man in the Black Cloak's true identity... before all of the children vanish one by one.
Serafina's hunt leads her into the very forest that she has been taught to fear. There she discovers a forgotten legacy of magic, one that is bound to her own identity. In order to save the children of Biltmore, Serafina must seek the answers that will unlock the puzzle of her past. ...more
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Published July 14th 2015 by Disney•Hyperion
Serafina #1
Serafina, Braeden Vanderbilt, George Vanderbilt, Edith Vanderbilt
Biltmore Estate (United States)
Asheville, North Carolina (United States)
Blue Ridge Mountains (United States)
Mythopoeic Fantasy Award Nominee for Children's Literature (2016), Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Debut Goodreads Author, and for Middle Grade & Children's (2015), Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award Nominee (2020)
Other Editions (42)
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Why did you decide to set this book at the Biltmore?
Robert Beatty I have explored and studied Biltmore's rooms and corridors extensively. I've just always loved Biltmore Estate. Whenever I'm there, I imagine stories …moreI have explored and studied Biltmore's rooms and corridors extensively. I've just always loved Biltmore Estate. Whenever I'm there, I imagine stories about the people who might have lived there. When I wrote "Serafina and the Black Cloak" I wanted to give my daughters a story about a very unusual, but very heroic girl who lives at Biltmore Estate.(less)
What authors have inspired you?
8 likes · like
Robert Beatty I have loved so many books, it's hard to name just a few, but when I was young, I especially loved The Hobbit (J.R.R. Tolkien), The Once and Future Ki…moreI have loved so many books, it's hard to name just a few, but when I was young, I especially loved The Hobbit (J.R.R. Tolkien), The Once and Future King (T.H. White), Men of Iron (Howard Pyle), and dark fantasy books by Gene Wolfe. As I got older, I fell in love with Jane Austen, Hemingway, and Dickens. One of my favorite stories/writers of all time is The Man Who Planted Trees by French writer Jean Giono. It's a simple, beautiful story. More recently, I loved The Witch at Blackbird Pond (Elizabeth George Speare).(less)
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Start your review of Serafina and the Black Cloak (Serafina, #1)
May 20, 2019 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it really liked it
Shelves: childrens, audio, hardback, own
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾 ...more
Dec 01, 2015 Neil (or bleed) rated it really liked it
Shelves: middle-grade, reviewed
I can say I am lucky in terms of middle grade novel these days since I liked every middle grade novel I've read lately. Or maybe, just maybe, these books tug the child in me so a part of me liked the books eventually. Serafina and the Black Cloak is not an exemption.
This precious little book is a middle grade novel about Serafina (obviously) and her adventure together with her friend Braeden in unraveling the true identity of the Black Cloak Man. And also, her peculiarity and finding her sel 3.5
This precious little book is a middle grade novel about Serafina (obviously) and her adventure together with her friend Braeden in unraveling the true identity of the Black Cloak Man. And also, her peculiarity and finding her self, her true self, literally.
It displayed a true sense of friendship, family love and the appreciation of individuality. It has an enough amount of action, drama, humor and dread. Even the middle part is quite boring, I really enjoyed it as a whole. Actually, I was flying through the pages after that 'slow part', since the book had gone edgy, exciting and thrilling. I was so compelled to find out what will happen next even part of me knows what I will get. The anticipation is real, I swear. And in no time, I finished this book, feeling contented with the ending. It's a bit cliché but it warms my heart, nonetheless.
I liked this book. And I will read its sequel. ...more
Feb 15, 2020 Rachel Reads Ravenously rated it liked it
Shelves: 3-stars-aint-the-devil, fantasy, hardcover, historical-fiction, library-checkout, middle-grade-or-childrens, new-to-me-author-in-2020
A very odd little book, but very compelling. I can definitely see myself recommending it to kids at the library in the future.
Jun 03, 2015 Claudia {SparrowHawk} rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Shelves: middle-grade, historical-fiction, highly-recommended, ominous, cheeky-characters, mystery-thriller, top-2015, adventure, epic-protagonist, childrens
Serafina and the Black Cloak was a one-of-a-kind mystery thriller, peppered with an old fashioned ambiance and ominous tone. I was entranced from the very beginning - it's the kind of story that grants you an escape from reality and an entirety of reading enjoyment.
Thus, if you are looking for a story that captivities through a blend of character-driven story surrounded by an unsettling, chilling, beautiful and haunting setting, then be sure to pick up this one up! It is unquestionab
Thus, if you are looking for a story that captivities through a blend of character-driven story surrounded by an unsettling, chilling, beautiful and haunting setting, then be sure to pick up this one up! It is unquestionably, a middle-grade lover's delight, and I cannot recommend it enough.
+ I was thoroughly impressed by the captivating simplicity of the plot in Serafina and the Black Cloak; including, the haunting atmosphere that loomed over everything from beginning to end ― it was ominous, enchanting, mysterious, spellbinding, eerie and hair-raising all together! I have to say however, that the main aspect that anchored this story, was the dark presence of the sinister Man in the Black Cloak ― and to be frank, this was such an original concept and the driving force of the mystery that steered the slow and uncomfortable ride of the main conflict
+ The very last sequence of events were unforeseen and utterly fantastic! More so, because all the obscure and ambiguous points were clarified ― which ultimately, made the story all the more meaningful
+ Truly, Robert Beatty has established himself as an accomplished author – his writing is a masterpiece! To so greatly capture all the elements that make for a superb mystery-thriller and to hold my attention, is proof that Beatty is easily one of the most brilliant and entertaining storytellers presently out there
+ Each character in Serafina and the Black Cloak is uniformly sensational. Be that as it may, Serafina was by far my favorite. Her captivating charm of curiosity and conversation succeeded in entertaining me. By some means, her internal solitude and the many burning questions she posed within the narrative is what genuinely helped convey the deep issues surrounding her plights and further made the story moving, eerie, and beautiful:
Did evil creatures think of themselves as evil? Or did they think they were doing what was right? Was evil something that was in your heart or was it how people viewed you?
+ Serafina takes us through the hallways, guest rooms, every nook and cranny of the Biltmore Estate – plus, the woods among other things, and each setting came to life through picturesque woodlands, abandoned cemeteries and old-fashioned corridors ― all these elements and features were gathered and perfectly blended to create a delightfully suspenseful and atmospheric setting; it's a world to feast on to say the least
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKED:
– The only quibble I had with Serafina and the Black Cloak was with how overly reckless and impulsive Serafina was of her own safety! More often than not, I found myself more frightened and dismayed for her protection and well-being than rooting for her ha! But in the end, I came to resolve that this is simply her given nature for one glaring reason that will kept me guessing the whole way through
AFTERTHOUGHTS:
In light of my recent letdown with the middle grade genre, Serafina and the Black Cloak has revived my overly enthusiastic craze for middle-grade literature and I am so incredibly grateful that it did!
Full review @ My Soul Called Life | Sparrow's Reading Corner ...more
Sep 14, 2015 Erica rated it liked it
Recommends it for: 8-12 year old kids who like spooky(ish) adventures
Shelves: daddies-and-daughters, dead-friends-and-family, evil-creatures, famous-figures, horror, inside-vs-outside, judging-the-book-by-its-cover, meh, mystery, jf
I saw the book trailer for this and thought, "Hmmm. Fascinating. I want to read this."
Turns out, that trailer is pretty much the abridged version of the entire story.
I'd 2.5 this puppy. It's not bad but I've come to expect better from Disney-Hyperion. I had some problems as a grown-up reader.
The first thing that bothered me: speech patterns are all over the place, especially for Serafina who hops between uneducated vernacular (she calls horses "hoof-stompers" as if she had to make up her own wor I saw the book trailer for this and thought, "Hmmm. Fascinating. I want to read this."
The first thing that bothered me: speech patterns are all over the place, especially for Serafina who hops between uneducated vernacular (she calls horses "hoof-stompers" as if she had to make up her own word for them because she didn't know what they were despite the fact she's well-read and she apparently spies on people all the time, including the people around the stables) to contemporary sarcasm ("Oh great. If I can't see, I'm gonna get lost for sure…" p. 133) to new-age envisioning ("The wolf doesn't know I'm here. I'm one with the forest. I'm camouflaged and silent") Other characters display some of this, as well, but not to the same extent as Serafina.
And then there was the problem of stereotyping female behavior.
p. 166-171 = huge problem:
"I'm going to ask you a question," she said.
"All right," he said softly, sitting up in his bed.
"When you look at me, what do you see?"
Braeden went quiet and did not answer. The question seemed to scare him. "What do you mean?"
"When you look at me, do you see...do you see...a normal girl?"
"Clara Brahms is different than Anastasia Tostonova, and you are different than both of them," he said. "We're all different in our own way."
"I understand what you're saying, but am I…" She faltered. She didn't know how to ask it. "Am I strange looking? Do I act strange? Am I some sort of weird creature or something?"
It stunned her when he did not reply right away, when he did not immediately deny it. He didn't say anything at all. He hesitated. For a long time. Every second that went by was like a dagger in her heart because she knew it was true.
Serafina looked at Braeden, and she spoke very softly, not sure she wanted to know the answer to the question she was about to ask. "Was it like that when you met me?"
"I don't...I…"
"Would you just as soon I go?" she said quietly, trying to understand.
"No, it's...it's hard to explain…"
"Try," she said, praying that he wasn't just abut to tell her that he felt nothing for her and just wanted to be alone.
"When I met you, it wasdifferent," he said. "I wanted to know who you were. When you ran down the stairs and disappeared, I was frantic to find you again. I searched all over, every floor. I checked every closet and looked under every bed. Everyone else was looking for Clara Brahms, may God be with her, but I was looking for you, Serafina. When my aunt and uncle decided to send me away to the Vances', I pitched a fit of temper like they'd never seen before. You should've seen the look on their faces. They had no idea what had gotten into me."
Serafina smiled, "You really didn't want to leave Biltmore that bad?" Still smiling, she took a few steps forward and sat on the edge of the bed beside him.
"You have no idea how my heart leapt when I saw stupid old Crankshod shaking the daylights out of you in the porte cochere," he said. "I thought: There she is! There she is! I can save her!"
"Yes, you are different, Serafina...very different...maybe even strange, like you say...I don't know...but…" His words faded, and he did not continue.
"But maybe that's all right with you," she said tentatively, thinking she understood him.
"Yes, I think it's what I like about you," he said, and there was a long pause between them.
"So, we're friends," she said finally, her heart beating as she waited for his answer.
Now, the overly-dramatic writing irked me but that's because I'm old and bitter. Writing aside, here's what I question after moments like the one above: Serafina is a partially feral, basement-dwelling child who is well-read but stays hidden during the day and catches rats in the Biltmore Estate at night. We know there's something different about her, we just don't know what. She's only been exposed to culture via books and has gleaned whatever social knowledge she has from spying on people around the estate. Given all that, why is she acting like a coquette around Braeden, fishing for compliments on her looks and wanting to be reassured that she's not weird? Why does she differentiate between male and female roles? Does this all come from the books she's read? She's learned nothing but patriarchy and emotional manipulation? Why did it have to go this way?
At the end = reinforcing the problem
"I can't say I understand everything that happened, but I do know a hero when I see one."
"You mean heroine," Mrs. Vanderbilt said.
Because only men can be heroes, you see. Females have their own term and it's meant to convey less amounts of heroism because we all know that when you add -ine to feminize a word, you've just cut its potency in half.
Now remember, these reactions are coming from a place of being sick of girls getting short-shrifted for doing what would be considered awesome if a boy did it. This is not the reaction pre- and early-teens are going to have when reading this story.
As a book for kids, it is fun, suspenseful, a little scary, a little romantic, and fully adventurous. I've been recommending this to the 8-15 crowd all summer long, my cousins, especially, after they visited the Biltmore Estate.
It's not a bad book, even though I didn't like the writing. It's appropriate for its audience and I think it will be well-received. It's just that...maybe expect to have a talk about equality afterward?
Mar 05, 2015 Jeff Raymond rated it it was ok · review of another edition
Shelves: arcs-manuscripts, books-i-own-on-kindle, read-middle-grade
Closer to a 1.5. I *really* didn't like this book.
I'm a firm believer that kids need creepy. There's a reason Goosebumps and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark have persevered over time, and Serafina and the Black Cloak tries pretty hard to be in that same vein, but ends up wildly missing the mark.
Serafina is a girl who was found in the woods, battered and broken. Taken in by a man and kept secret for the first decade or so of her life, she is witness to a strange disappearance that she feels uni Closer to a 1.5. I *really* didn't like this book.
Serafina is a girl who was found in the woods, battered and broken. Taken in by a man and kept secret for the first decade or so of her life, she is witness to a strange disappearance that she feels uniquely qualified to get to the bottom of, and so begins our tale of Serafina exploring and uncovering a dark, weird secret.
The first bit of the book, the parts that establish who Serafina is and what she's really up to? Pretty great. The moment we get to the meat of the plot, however, the story screeches almost to a halt, with a few interesting scenes scattered amongst a tale that plods toward a conclusion - a conclusion, by the way, that is a very pat, firm, almost Disney-style ending that nearly betrays the entire tale. It's a frustrating read because all the parts are there for a truly great read with some really interesting elements, but basically only a third of the story is really truly worth the time or effort, leading to a supremely disappointing story.
Of course, as is typical, I appear to be in the stark minority on this. People seem to overwhelmingly love this book, from the setting to the characters to the tale itself. As for me, while Serafina is an engaging enough heroine, she deserves a much better story than this, and middle grade readers who are looking for a creepy story to keep them up at nights deserve something that's much more substantial. I don't know if I missed something significant here or what, but this didn't do it for me at all. ...more
Dec 04, 2015 Sarah rated it liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: z2015, ebook, childrens
This was kind of disappointing. I don't know what I was expecting but this book was very slow. While I was learning about Seraphina and her life at the start it was interesting but then the story almost completely halted. It was just description after description and I was getting bored. The characters were one-dimensional and didn't seem very authentic. The story was quite predictable but it wasn't a horrible story. I might read the next one as I'm willing to give it a chance but I'll see. This was kind of disappointing. I don't know what I was expecting but this book was very slow. While I was learning about Seraphina and her life at the start it was interesting but then the story almost completely halted. It was just description after description and I was getting bored. The characters were one-dimensional and didn't seem very authentic. The story was quite predictable but it wasn't a horrible story. I might read the next one as I'm willing to give it a chance but I'll see. ...more
Feb 17, 2019 Jenny (Reading Envy) rated it really liked it
Shelves: read2019, ebooks, prime-reading, children-middle-reader, sci-fi-fantasy, around-the-usa, location-usa-nc, 2019-sword
Set at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC (about an hour north of me), this middle-grade novel has everything! An independent female protagonist with unique abilities, a mystery, some fantastical elements, historical setting, and gorgeous rooms and clothing.
And since Disney is the publisher, they were able to get the actual location to film their book trailer. Set at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC (about an hour north of me), this middle-grade novel has everything! An independent female protagonist with unique abilities, a mystery, some fantastical elements, historical setting, and gorgeous rooms and clothing.
And since Disney is the publisher, they were able to get the actual location to film their book trailer. ...more
Sep 05, 2015 Jessica rated it really liked it
Shelves: mysteries, fantasy, historical-fiction
A strange and gothic tale set at the very real Biltmore Mansion. Serafina is an uncanny child, with many secrets, but she's not the only one. I was a little freaked out by some of the secrets, to be honest, but it was definitely an exciting and very unusual book! A strange and gothic tale set at the very real Biltmore Mansion. Serafina is an uncanny child, with many secrets, but she's not the only one. I was a little freaked out by some of the secrets, to be honest, but it was definitely an exciting and very unusual book! ...more
Feb 15, 2020 Georgia rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: 2020, children, reviewcopy, shelf
Δείτε επίσης και στο Chill and read
Η Σεραφίνα είναι ένα κορίτσι που κατοικεί κρυφά στο υπόγειο της έπαυλης Μπίλτμορ, μαζί με τον πατέρα της. Εκείνος επιδιορθώνει τις μηχανές κι εκείνη φροντίζει να μένει κρυμμένη και να περνάει απαρατήρητη, καθώς κανείς δεν γνωρίζει την ύπαρξή της. Τα βράδια, όταν η έπαυλη κοιμάται, η Σεραφίνα κυνηγά αρουραίους, αφού αυτή είναι η δουλειά της. Ο τίτλος που της έχει δώσει ο μπαμπάς της είναι Α.Κ.Α, δηλαδή Αρχηγός Κυνηγός Αρουραίων. Αν και δεν είναι σίγουρη ότι υπάρ Δείτε επίσης και στο Chill and read
Η Σεραφίνα είναι ένα κορίτσι που κατοικεί κρυφά στο υπόγειο της έπαυλης Μπίλτμορ, μαζί με τον πατέρα της. Εκείνος επιδιορθώνει τις μηχανές κι εκείνη φροντίζει να μένει κρυμμένη και να περνάει απαρατήρητη, καθώς κανείς δεν γνωρίζει την ύπαρξή της. Τα βράδια, όταν η έπαυλη κοιμάται, η Σεραφίνα κυνηγά αρουραίους, αφού αυτή είναι η δουλειά της. Ο τίτλος που της έχει δώσει ο μπαμπάς της είναι Α.Κ.Α, δηλαδή Αρχηγός Κυνηγός Αρουραίων. Αν και δεν είναι σίγουρη ότι υπάρχει αυτός ο τίτλος. Είναι όμως απολύτως σίγουρη ότι είναι διαφορετική από τα υπόλοιπα παιδιά της ηλικίας της. Κάποια χαρακτηριστικά της την κάνουν να ξεχωρίζει, ή έτσι πιστεύει η ίδια, όπως για παράδειγμα το γεγονός ότι έχει τέσσερα δάχτυλα σε κάθε πόδι αντί για πέντε, ή ότι βλέπει στο σκοτάδι όπως κανένας άλλος.
Παρόλο που κυνηγάει τους αρουραίους στο υπόγειο, αποφεύγει να απομακρύνεται πολύ και να κατεβαίνει στα πιο βαθιά του επίπεδα. Ένα βράδυ όμως αναγκάζεται να το κάνει καθώς βλέπει τον Άνδρα με τον Μαύρο Μανδύα να κυνηγά ένα κοριτσάκι με κίτρινο φόρεμα ακριβώς εκεί. Η Σεραφίνα πρέπει να το βοηθήσει, όμως δεν μπορεί καν να διανοηθεί το κακό που κρύβεται πίσω από τον Άνδρα με τον Μαύρο Μανδύα.
Το βιβλίο ξεκινάει δυναμικά με τη Σεραφίνα να κυνηγάει αρουραίους και έτσι μαθαίνουμε για τον επίσημο τίτλο της αλλά και για τον μπαμπά της. Και σύντομα έχουμε την πρώτη της συνάντηση με τον Άνδρα με τον Μαύρο Μανδύα. Μέχρι εκείνη τη συνάντηση έχουμε ήδη μάθει αρκετά για τη μικρή ηρωίδα και καταλαβαίνουμε πόσο σκοτεινή είναι αυτή η συνάντηση. Γρήγορα βλέπουμε τον προβληματισμό της για τη διαφορετικότητα που νιώθει ότι την κάνει να ξεχωρίζει αλλά και τη μοναξιά στην οποία την έχει οδηγήσει τόσο η διαφορετικότητα όσο και η κρυφή ζωή στο υπόγειο της έπαυλης Μπίλτμορ. Σίγουρα πολύ μικροί αναγνώστες που νιώθουν διαφορετικοί, ή που νιώθουν ότι δεν ταιριάζουν στο περιβάλλον τους, θα ταυτιστούν μαζί της. Όπως η Σεραφίνα, έτσι και τα παιδιά αυτά δεν έχουν φίλους ή έστω δεν έχουν πραγματικούς φίλους και αναγνωρίζουν το ένα το άλλο. Αργότερα θα μάθουν πως μπορούν να ταιριάξουν με άλλα παιδιά που αισθάνονται το ίδιο διαφορετικά με εκείνα. Αν ενώσουν τις μοναξιές τους όπως έκανε η Σεραφίνα με τον Μπρέινταν, θα αποκτήσουν και τα ίδια ένα καλό φίλο.
Το άλλο στοιχείο που δίνει ζωή στην αφήγηση και κρατάει το ενδιαφέρον του αναγνώστη είναι το μυστήριο που καλούνται να λύσουν τα παιδιά. Αυτό του Άνδρα με τον Μαύρο Μανδύα. Στην αρχή όλοι είναι ύποπτοι για τη Σεραφίνα. Τουλάχιστον όλοι όσοι έχουν παπούτσια που κάνουν τον ίδιο ήχο με αυτόν που είχε ακούσει το κορίτσι στο υπόγειο. Έπειτα, σιγά σιγά συλλέγοντας στοιχεία θα αρχίσει να αποκλείει κάποιους και να υποπτεύεται κάποιους άλλους και μαζί της το ίδιο θα κάνει και ο αναγνώστης. Η τόλμη της και η αψηφισιά που δείχνει για τον κίνδυνο, θα κάνει τον αναγνώστη να τη θαυμάσει. Όμως θα πρέπει να προσέξει γιατί η Σεραφίνα παίρνει πολύ μεγάλα ρίσκα, όμως έχει και ικανότητες που τα συνηθισμένα παιδιά δεν έχουν. ...more
Jun 27, 2018 Tiffany PSquared rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: 2018-reading-challenge, sci-fi-or-fantasy, my-library, horror, middle-grades
"There are many mysteries in the world, both dark and bright."
Serafina lives in the basement of the magnificent Biltmore mansion, the home of the wealthy and influential Vanderbilt family. She's lived there all of her life with her Pa taking care of her, but the Vanderbilts have no idea that she's even alive.
And they probably never would have, that is until one of the Vanderbilt's young guests mysteriously disappears and Serafina, herself, witnesses what happens to her: something dark and unexpl "There are many mysteries in the world, both dark and bright."
And they probably never would have, that is until one of the Vanderbilt's young guests mysteriously disappears and Serafina, herself, witnesses what happens to her: something dark and unexplainable. She knows it's up to her to get to the bottom of that and other recent disappearances around the mansion in order to get the little girl back where she belongs.
Serafina and the Black Cloak is the first in a series about the adventures of a headstrong, independent girl, who is so much more than she seems on the surface. The writing is well-paced and nicely descriptive. I lived in Asheville for a while and have many fond memories of the Biltmore estate and the gorgeous mansion on its grounds. The house is huge and beautiful during the day, but I can easily imagine how it could appear dark and gloomy at night - the perfect setting for this spooky story!
The book is listed as a late elementary to middle-grade paranormal mystery, but I found it to be a very dark thriller (maybe even horror) in places. My 10-year old can still be frightened by dark themes, so I believe that I will wait a while before letting her read this series (I removed it from my read-along shelf). I'm not even exaggerating, the Black Cloak is very scary and violent - even for some adults.
But it had great themes about self-discovery and finding inner strength. Serafina, as a 12-year-old girl, challenges the sheltered life she's known, asks hard questions, and takes daring chances to find the answers. It's a touching story about connections and the power of acceptance. Four strong stars with a serious caution for younger readers. ...more
Jun 17, 2015 Kayla Edwards rated it it was amazing
Shelves: middle-grade-novels, favorites, netgalley
A fantastical thriller that takes place in the early days of the gorgeous Biltmore Estate? Count me in! When I found out about the existence of this book, I was elated. Biltmore has always been one of my favorite places to visit; it fascinates me. The way real details of the house and estate have been woven into this remarkable story about Serafina and her pursuit of the Black Cloak is inspired. Having been there myself, it was easy to imagine our heroine prowling through the halls at night. And A fantastical thriller that takes place in the early days of the gorgeous Biltmore Estate? Count me in! When I found out about the existence of this book, I was elated. Biltmore has always been one of my favorite places to visit; it fascinates me. The way real details of the house and estate have been woven into this remarkable story about Serafina and her pursuit of the Black Cloak is inspired. Having been there myself, it was easy to imagine our heroine prowling through the halls at night. And let's not forget the spunky Serafina! She is so easy to love - I found myself wanting to jump into the story and be her best friend. Her road to self-discovery is not an easy one, but I very much enjoyed the privilege of riding it with her. I love that this book can appeal to so many audiences - fans of historical fiction, thrillers, mysteries, ghost stories, fantasy, the supernatural, friendship stories, tales of growing up, and even those who are just interested in Biltmore. I personally will be buying this for my school's library the second my funds for the new year come in!
I enjoyed this title courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more
Sep 11, 2015 Lonna | FLYLēF rated it really liked it
Shelves: 2015-challenge
Original Post: Serafina and the Black Cloak at FLYLēF (www.flylef.com)
Step into the wonderfully whimsical world of Serafina and the Black Cloak, by Robert Beatty, and chances are, you'll be completely enchanted by its magical setting, valiant young heroes, and dark mysteries.
Mr. Beatty deftly builds a unique world full of beautiful details that effortlessly drew me in. Nestled in
Mr. Beatty deftly builds a unique world full of beautiful details that effortlessly drew me in. Nestled in a forested valley by the French Broad River in Asheville, North Carolina, is Biltmore Estate (there really is such a place). Within the basement of this vast mansion, Serafina, the Chief Rat Catcher (C.R.C.), and her father, the estate's maintenance man, have secretly lived down there for as long as she can remember.
With the entire estate to roam, she must take care never to be seen by the rich folks upstairs, and never to leave the estate grounds to venture into the forbidden forest nearby. But, when the children of the estate begin to vanish, only Serafina knows the truth. Her life is thrown into turmoil on the night that she witnessed the Man in the Black Cloak vaporized a child into thin air. And now, he wants her. With the help of Braeden Vanderbilt, the young master of Biltmore Estate, they must stop him before he strikes again. Serafina's hunt leads her into the very forest she is taught to fear. There, she discovers a forgotten magic that is tied to her mysterious identity.
Brave and young characters have always held a special place in my heart. Personally, I believe children should nap and eat cookies, not fight the evils of the world. So, I absolutely love Serafina and Braeden. Serafina is unique—eccentric even. But more than that, she possesses a sweet and kind nature with an adorable spunky and fiery personality to match. In contrast, Braeden, is quiet and highly revered. Even born into privilege, he is the pillar of compassion and understanding. I admire how Mr. Beatty explores the uniqueness of individuals like Serafina and Braeden, reminds us to embrace such differences, and that sometimes what makes us different is also what makes us special.
Despite being a middle grade book, there was an aura of death and darkness that was unexpected, yet alluring. I was thrown off tangent many times as to the identity of the Man in the Black Cloak. Oh you are good Mr. Beatty! I underestimated its complexity. The innuendos were just perfect where no one was obviously bad or good. Unlike Serafina, C.R.C., I could not smell the "rat." The story moves forward with new and unexpected revelations that kept me guessing and wanting more.
I also got a kick out of the fun vocabulary. It was so amusing to come across these words: skullduggery, caterwauled, chickadees, skedaddle, and many more. The diction was quite entertaining.
I'm so glad I read this book. I've also purchased a copy for my Goddaughter. As a mom scouring the vast collection of books, Serafina and the Black Cloak will be a permanent collection in our library. I enjoyed it very much. ...more
Jan 03, 2015 Patty rated it it was amazing
Shelves: favorites, middle-grade-novels-2015, classroom-novel, fantasy, historical-fiction, middle-grade, mystery, spooky, young-adult, thriller
A School Librarian's take on this book:
Who and what defines good and bad? Twelve year old Serafina tackles this question and many more in Serafina and the Black Cloak. Uniquely set in the historical, Vanderbilt Biltmore Estate and surrounding forests of North Carolina, the author has captivated the essential coming-of-age struggles we all must reconcile: What is normal? Who is a true friend and why is it so difficult to find them? Why am I different?
Although this story is set in 1899 and is hi A School Librarian's take on this book:
Although this story is set in 1899 and is historical fiction, its timeless themes are the true nature of a classic novel and will speak to middle school and high school readers (not to mention adults) . The paranormal events surrounding Serafina's birth—and the basis of this thrilling mystery—address the ageless battle of good versus evil and whether outside forces can (and should) shape who we are.
With its engaging mix of historical setting and magical elements, this thought provoking novel is a perfect vehicle to pique young readers' interest in historical fiction. Middle school and high school teachers and librarians will find the well-developed characters, the Gilded Age mansion, the chilling cemetery scenes, and the mystical black cloak the perfect combination to motivate discussions and fulfill many Common Core curriculum elements of Language Arts and/or history requirements.
Sep 28, 2016 Patry Fernandez rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: año-2016
«No son las batallas que ganamos o perdemos las que nos definen, sino aquellas que estamos dispuestos a librar.»
Reseña completa -> http://thewordsofbooks.blogspot.com.e... «No son las batallas que ganamos o perdemos las que nos definen, sino aquellas que estamos dispuestos a librar.»
Reseña completa -> http://thewordsofbooks.blogspot.com.e... ...more
Dec 28, 2017 Kristina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Мрачна, мистериозна и напълно невероятна история за едно малко момиче, търсещо мястото си в света.
Създанената атмосфера в книгата беше уникална и определено влезнах в тъмния сюжет! Чудесна книга както за деца, така и за възрастни!
May 14, 2015 Bonnie rated it liked it
Shelves: arcs-netgalley, historical-fiction, mystery, middle-grade
"…our world is filled with many mysteries, things we don't understand. Never go into the deep parts of the forest, for there are many dangers there, both dark and bright, and they will ensnare your soul."
Biltmore Estate is large enough to have kept a secret for over a decade: deep within its basement lives a man and his daughter, named Serafina. Serafina's father is in charge of the buildings maintenance but he would be tossed out in a heartbeat if it were discovered he also resided there. A "…our world is filled with many mysteries, things we don't understand. Never go into the deep parts of the forest, for there are many dangers there, both dark and bright, and they will ensnare your soul."
Biltmore Estate is large enough to have kept a secret for over a decade: deep within its basement lives a man and his daughter, named Serafina. Serafina's father is in charge of the buildings maintenance but he would be tossed out in a heartbeat if it were discovered he also resided there. And Serafina is a whole different matter. Curious about the world around her and of her own past, she's no longer able to keep herself confined to the basement, especially when she witnesses the murder of a young girl. Her body was never discovered and by the following morning another child was missing. Serafina is determined to help these people find their lost children, even if it means disclosing her secret.
Beatty created a most mysterious girl with Serafina, who is described as having golden eyes and strangely enough, four toes instead of the normal five. Those differences only add to the air of mystery surrounding her and keep you wondering what it is that makes her so special. She's a girl with a good heart and a kind soul that you can't help but admire. Befriending the owner's of Biltmore's nephew, Braeden, makes this story even more charming. The two quickly hit it off, despite their obvious differences in social class, and they both team up convinced that they're going to be able to find these children. Through her friendship, Serafina starts seeing the world through a new set of eyes, only seen before through the pages of books. She sees the good in the world but because of the man in the black cloak, she's also uncovering the bad as well.
'She was beginning to see how difficult it was to determine who was good and who was bad, who she could trust and who she had to watch out for. Every person was a hero in his own mind, fighting for what he thought was right, or just fighting to survive another day, but no one thought they were evil.'
Serafina possesses a definite horror, but isn't quite as terrifying as it is charming. The unique heroine is definitely the spotlight of this tale with her most uncommon story of her life and how she came to reside in the Biltmore Estate basement. While some parts of the book did seem to creep along very slowly and some aspects weren't left sufficiently explained, it was still ultimately a satisfying supernatural tale of mystery that will no doubt delight children and adults alike.
I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ...more
Jul 17, 2016 Melanie (TBR and Beyond) rated it liked it
Shelves: middle-grade, read-in-2016, mg-fantasy
I had very high hopes from this book, I'm not even sure why. I just thought it was going to be one of those gems you stumble onto, sadly it didn't live up to the hype I had set-up in my head.
For the most part, this book was fairly good. The writing was solid, again for the most part and the lead character was i
For the most part, this book was fairly good. The writing was solid, again for the most part and the lead character was interesting enough. The plot was probably the strongest part of the book - it was intrigued and frightening and had a nice mystery to it. I actually have no idea why every time I picked up this book I couldn't really get into it. It came close to putting me into a slump. I normally blow through middle-grade novels.
I think my problem with this book is that the narrative was kind of repetitive. I get tired fast when I'm constantly being reminded of certain things throughout the story. Also, the side characters weren't that interesting and most of the time the side characters really make or break the book for me. There were times I was really invested in the story but then it would slow down again and it would lose my attention. Last thing that really bothered me was that the author didn't keep the protagonist very consistent. Her way of talking changed several times. It was like he couldn't decided if she was educated or not and it showed. It made for some really awkward exchanges.
I would strongly say this book is for older middle-grade readers or children who do not scare easy. There is some intense violence and graphic details. The cloaked figure has bloodied hands, steals children in the night and whispers scary things while he stalks them. That might be too intense for an eight year old. When I was little I ate up scary books so this probably would've been a good fit when I was much younger. I still love a dark middle-grade novel because I feel like the higher the stakes for the characters, the more likely you will be drawn into the story and root for the heroes.
I think this book is worth looking into if the plot interests you. It's far from a horrible book, I just couldn't fall in love with this tale. I did buy the second book at the same time I bought the first book (that is how much faith I had in this one) so I will likely give the second book a go. I'm hoping there will be less repeating and more focusing on the actual tale.
May 13, 2015 Angela added it · review of another edition
Shelves: net-galley, ya, fantasy, middle-grade, kindle, emily, 2016-read, dnf
DNF at 11%
There's nothing in particular wrong with this book. The writing is fine - poetical at times - the characters are interesting. There is stuff going on...but it's happening at about a snail's pace. There's so much explaining of everything that I'm bored in between, waiting for stuff to happen.
I'm not entirely sure this is the book's fault - I think it's probably me... DNF at 11%
I'm not entirely sure this is the book's fault - I think it's probably me... ...more
Jun 09, 2017 Milena Tasheva rated it liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: softpress, 2017
Снощи най-после успях да я дочета. Много е гадно да знаеш края, обаче не и как героите стигат до него.
Хубава детска книга с необходимата доза мрак, за да учи на разни неща и да е искрена.
Jan 22, 2018 Melina Souza rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Resenha em breve :)
Jan 27, 2015 Scott Bischke rated it it was amazing
I had the pleasure last week of reading an advance copy of Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty. Serafina, to be published by Disney, is a page-turner that is sure to be a hit with the younger set (as well as many adults, like me!).
Serafina and the Black Cloak is an adventure/mystery that takes place at the Vanderbilt Biltmore Estate deep in rural North Carolina. Dark, foreboding woods surround the estate. Our heroine, Serafina, has a mysterious past somehow tied to that frightening fo I had the pleasure last week of reading an advance copy of Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty. Serafina, to be published by Disney, is a page-turner that is sure to be a hit with the younger set (as well as many adults, like me!).
Serafina and the Black Cloak is an adventure/mystery that takes place at the Vanderbilt Biltmore Estate deep in rural North Carolina. Dark, foreboding woods surround the estate. Our heroine, Serafina, has a mysterious past somehow tied to that frightening forest, but try as she might she cannot unravel her own shadowed beginnings. Instead she lives with her Pa in the bowels of the Biltmore Estate, unknown to the Vanderbilts. Her Pa works at the estate; Serafina catches rats at night with uncanny acumen. He tells her she must remain hidden, so in twelve years Serafina has never had a friend.
As Serafina struggles to understand her origin, children begin to disappear from the estate. No one knows who has taken them, nor where they have been taken. Only Serafina has secretly witnessed one of the small girls being spirited away by a man in a black cloak, but her Pa won't let her step out of the shadows to tell anyone. Risking everything, Serafina approaches 12-year old Braeden Vanderbilt and shares her secret. Together Sera and Braeden begin to tackle the mystery, each realizing it is the first time they have ever had a friend.
More and more children disappear, and finally, the tension and her own need for self-identity reaching a crescendo, Serafina strikes out into the foreboding woods, where she is determined to solve both the mystery of the missing children, and of her own origin. To do so has major consequences: not only must she face her fears of what she might find in the forest, but she also risks losing her friendship with Braeden.
It's all very spooky and intriguing, with the kind of twists and turns that will keep a reader on the edge of his or her seat. Serafina and the Black Cloak is an excellent read that should make a big splash. And with Disney in the publishing mix, don't be surprised to see a cinematic version of Serafina coming to the big screen someday soon. ...more
Nov 22, 2015 Yvonne (It's All About Books) rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: 2015-releases, bout-of-books-15, fantasy, children, middle-grade, mystery, historical-fiction, fiction, horror, 1st-of-series
Finished reading: January 6th 2016
"Our character isn't defined by the battles we win or lose, but by the battles we dare to fight."
(view spoiler)[
The first thing that convinced me to pick up a copy of Serafina And The Black Cloak was the gorgeous cover. In fact, I didn't realize until later that this was actually a middle grade story... Although I personally like reading a middle grade book every once in a while. This story written by Robert Beatty has both an interesting setting and t
The first thing that convinced me to pick up a copy of Serafina And The Black Cloak was the gorgeous cover. In fact, I didn't realize until later that this was actually a middle grade story... Although I personally like reading a middle grade book every once in a while. This story written by Robert Beatty has both an interesting setting and the perfect mix of fantasy and scary elements. It's what you call a 'light' horror read that will entertain both a ten-year-old and an adult alike. The prose is really accessible and I loved the descriptions of both the mansion, forest and magical elements in the story. The main character Serafina wins over your heart in a blink of the eye and I loved the mystery around her character. The mysterious man in the black cloak is scary enough, but not too much to give the younger ones nightmares... And I really liked the ending. In short, Serafina And The Black Cloak was a more than satisfying read that I can recommend if you are looking for a middle grade fantasy book.
Serafina never knew her mother and has been growing up living in the basement of the Biltmore estate with her father. He works as a maintenance man during the day and hides away at night; nobody knows he sleeps in the basement and they don't know that Serafina even exists. Her pa asks her only two things: she must take care to never been seen and she never has to venture too far into the forest. Serafina is not a normal child and has quite a few special skills. As silent as the night, her dad gave her the job of Chief Rat Catcher; she is able to catch rats with her bare hands... One day, children start disappearing at the estate. Nobody knows who is behind it except Serafina. Roaming around unseen that night, she saw a man in a black cloak stalking the corridors at night and taking away a young girl. She is determined to stop the man, but will she be able to even when nobody seems to believe her or can really see her in the first place?
Serafina And The Black Cloak is a very entertaining middle grade read that has the perfect mix of fantasy and creepy elements. The story is both accessible and well written, and just scary enough to not completely creep out the younger readers. The characters are very likeable and I loved the prose and descriptions. Definitely recommended! (hide spoiler)]
P.S. Find more of my reviews here. ...more
Dec 17, 2016 Espe rated it liked it · review of another edition
En realidad un 3,5.
Serafina y la capa negra es un middle-grade muy diferente, me ha sorprendido que fuera tan tenebroso y misterioso teniendo en cuenta el público al que está enfocado. Tenemos una niña distinta al resto, misteriosas desapariciones relacionadas con un hombre que lleva una capa negra, secretos, misterio y algo de fantasía, todo ello perfectamente hilado hasta culminar en un desenlace muy emocionante. Me gusta que el autor vaya dejando pistas por aquí y por allá del hombre de la ca En realidad un 3,5.
Serafina y la capa negra es un middle-grade muy diferente, me ha sorprendido que fuera tan tenebroso y misterioso teniendo en cuenta el público al que está enfocado. Tenemos una niña distinta al resto, misteriosas desapariciones relacionadas con un hombre que lleva una capa negra, secretos, misterio y algo de fantasía, todo ello perfectamente hilado hasta culminar en un desenlace muy emocionante. Me gusta que el autor vaya dejando pistas por aquí y por allá del hombre de la capa negra para que hasta que no llegues casi al final no lo averigües; a su vez también es genial que no solo se centre en las extrañas desapariciones sino que nos va picando con el pasado y origen de Serafina, con cómo ve ella el mundo y que la familia y la amistad estén tan presentes y sean tan importantes. Todo esto le da mucho más valor a la novela y aunque no me agrado que en algunos momentos no pasara gran cosa y tuviera un ritmo un poco lento, por lo demás me ha resultado muy innovador.
Otra cosa que vais a encontrar es que el libro tiene una prosa muy elegante, con unas pinceladas de fantasía originales y una destreza con las palabras maravillosa, no cuenta con muchos diálogos sino que se centra en describir lo que ve y siente Serafina.
Reseña completa: https://letraslibrosymas.blogspot.com... ...more
Feb 21, 2018 Jefi Sevilay rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Harry Potter serisi kurgu, karakterler, ortam ve hissiyat açısından 10 üzerinden 8 ve Percy Jackson aynı değerlendirmede 3 alırsa (2-5 yaş arası alfabe kitaplarını 1-2 olarak yazıyorum) bu kitap da olsa olsa 10 üzerinden 5 olur. Hani kime önerirsin derseniz 8-12 yaş arası korkumsu gerilimsi mistik hikayeler okumak isteyen çocuklara öneririm. Ceylan cesetleri, parçalanan bedenler, mezarlık hikayeleri gibi çocukların kaçınması gereken öğeler var ama yazım yaşı bundan daha öte değil.
Percy Jackson'd Harry Potter serisi kurgu, karakterler, ortam ve hissiyat açısından 10 üzerinden 8 ve Percy Jackson aynı değerlendirmede 3 alırsa (2-5 yaş arası alfabe kitaplarını 1-2 olarak yazıyorum) bu kitap da olsa olsa 10 üzerinden 5 olur. Hani kime önerirsin derseniz 8-12 yaş arası korkumsu gerilimsi mistik hikayeler okumak isteyen çocuklara öneririm. Ceylan cesetleri, parçalanan bedenler, mezarlık hikayeleri gibi çocukların kaçınması gereken öğeler var ama yazım yaşı bundan daha öte değil.
Percy Jackson'da gerçekten zeka yaşım düşmüştü. Bunda öyle hissetmedim. Serafina kesinlikle sevilesi ve bağ kurulası bir karakterdi. Yalnızca kurgu çok basit, mistik olay çok net, kötü adam çok belli. Hatta asıl heyecanla beklenen nokta Siyah Pelerin'in sahibinden çok Serafina'nın "ne" olduğuydu.
Percy Jackson'ın ikinci kitabıyla devam etme konusunda çekincedeyim ama bunu mutlaka alırım gibi duruyor.
Herkese keyifli okumalar! ...more
Jul 26, 2017 Ан Рангелова rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Любимата ми (не) детска книга
"Серафина и черния плащ" попадна съвсем неочаквано в библиотеката ми. Отдавна спрях да чета детски книги, затова и първоначално пропуснах да я включа в списъка си за четене...
цялото ревю може да прочетете в блога ми - https://the-book-tigers-diary-reviews... Любимата ми (не) детска книга
цялото ревю може да прочетете в блога ми - https://the-book-tigers-diary-reviews... ...more
Mar 12, 2015 Laura Harrison rated it it was amazing
How I loved Serafina! Absolutely marvelous, creepy, fun, atmospheric read. I read it all in one sitting. I think many young people will do so as well. Great title.
Feb 16, 2020 Ana Vizentim rated it it was amazing
What a beautiful book!!!! I loved it!!!🥰🥰🥰
It got me from the beginning till the end...
Jun 18, 2017 Sue Alieva rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Изумена съм. Напоследък чета повече middle grade книги и осъзнавам колко съм изгубила с изключването на тези книги от списъците ми за четене. Толкова са леки и увлекателни и всъщност точно такива са тези така отпускащи почивки от ежедневието. Ако още не сте я прочели ви я препоръчвам сърдечно. <3
Jan 02, 2019 ☯~☽~•Patricia Mainard•~☾~☯ rated it really liked it
I really enjoyed this book.
What's the Name o...: SOLVED. Middle Grade/YA? Fantasy/Horror series. Daughter Sabrina and (adoptive) dad live in basement of a manor. Dad does some sort of mechanical work. Daughter befriends son of manor owner. Lion is a MC. Read 2016-2020. [s] 3 17 Dec 08, 2020 12:03PM
Play Book Tag: (Poll Ballot Tally) Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty - 4 stars 1 7 Sep 21, 2020 01:10AM
Braeden x Serafina 2 3 Aug 23, 2020 11:01PM
East Polk SRP 202...: BOOK #3: Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty 1 2 May 29, 2020 07:43AM
Great Middle Grad...: BOTM for December is Serafina and the Black Cloak! 6 32 Dec 31, 2019 02:19PM
Lit Chicks Podcast: Serafina and the Black Cloak 1 3 May 28, 2018 01:22PM
Videos About This Book
Childrens > Middle Grade
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About Robert Beatty
Robert Beatty
Robert Beatty is the author of the #1 New York Times best-selling Serafina series published by Disney Hyperion, a spooky mystery-thriller about a brave and unusual girl who lives secretly in the basement of the grand Biltmore Estate.
Serafina and the Black Cloak was a #1 New York Times best seller, has been on the list for more than 60 weeks, and won the prestigious 2016 Pat Conroy Southern Book Pr Robert Beatty is the author of the #1 New York Times best-selling Serafina series published by Disney Hyperion, a spooky mystery-thriller about a brave and unusual girl who lives secretly in the basement of the grand Biltmore Estate.
Serafina and the Black Cloak was a #1 New York Times best seller, has been on the list for more than 60 weeks, and won the prestigious 2016 Pat Conroy Southern Book Prize. The second book in the series, Serafina and the Twisted Staff, became a #1 New York Times best seller in the first week of its launch and earned a "Starred Review" from Kirkus Reviews, which said, "Even better than its predecessor, a sequel that delivers nonstop thrills from beginning to end." Enjoyed by both young readers and adults, the books are being taught in over a thousand classrooms nationwide. The third book in the series, Serafina and the Splintered Heart, launched in July 2017 to much acclaim. The hotly-anticipated fourth book, Serafina and the Seven Stars, is currently available for pre-order and will be released in July 2019.
Robert Beatty lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina with his wife and three daughters, who help create and refine his stories. He loves to explore Biltmore Estate and the darkened forest trails where his novels take place. He writes full-time now, but in his past lives, Robert was one of the early pioneers of cloud computing, the founder/CEO of Plex Systems, the co-founder of Beatty Robotics, and the chairman/CTO of Narrative Magazine. In 2007, he was named an Entrepreneur of the Year. When asked about the inspiration for his books, Robert said, "The Serafina and Willa novels grew out of my desire to write stories about unusual and heroic young girls for my three daughters." ...more
Serafina (4 books)
Books by Robert Beatty
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Quotes from Serafina and the ...
"Our character isn't defined by the battles we win or lose, but by the battles we dare to fight." — 123 likes
"Never go into the deep parts of the forest, for there are many dangers there, both dark and bright, and they will ensnare your soul." — 36 likes


text:
Diplomatic Spouse's Association Charity Gala Concert
The Diplomatic Spouse's Association (DSA) has always prided itself for supporting Czech charities year in and year out. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic they have not been able to hold their successful Christmas bazaar for the past two years. This year, however, the DSA with their commitment to support local charities organized a Winter Charity Gala Concert featuring prominent Czech musicians.
The intimate concert was held at the stunning Troja Chateau in Prague at December 4th. The musicians included the gifted pianist, Lukas Klansky; accomplished violinist Katerina Klimankova, talented flutist Martin Klimanek, the incredible baritone of Roman Janal and the enchanting Soprano of Veronika Rovna Hodbova. The magnificent Grand Emperor's Hall at the Chateau decorated with walls and ceiling frescos, wood carvings, museum tapestries and great acoustics was the ideal backdrop for the rich music that the guests were mesmerised by. The music pieces included classical pieces from Verdi, Ibert, Bizet and Monet. The dulcet tones of Roman and Veronika echoed in the hall and overtook the audience especially during the stirring duet Violetta a Germont by Verdi. Veronika channelled Violetta's heartbreak beautifully and Roman's baritone was powerful as he convinced her to give up her love.
During the evening, the DSA also awarded three Czech Charities grants for their proposed projects. The charities included:
Children's Centre Chocerady, The Centre takes care of children with severe combined disabilities from birth to 18 years.
Anima Terapie : The organization provides support to children and families threatened by addiction and social exclusion
Charitas Novy Hrozenkov: This charity helps seniors, people with disabilities, people after injuries, terminally ill, and caring families through a wide range of services.
The Charity concerts and awards underline DSA's commitment to the Czech community and people. In the past couple of years, because of the current situation these charities have experienced a greater need of funds and support and the DSA is honoured to be partnering with them.
Recently, art and music has suffered greatly as a result of concerts and shows being cancelled, and audiences thinning out. The DSA Charity Gala concert was a great opportunity to experience classical music with deep roots and wonderful performances at a breath-taking venue and all for a good cause in these uncertain times.
Text written by: Mrs. Mariam Bilal
Photos by: Jitka Tomečková
Ambassador of Japan H.E. Hideo Suzuki, Ambassador of Slovenia H.E. Tanja Strnisa and Ambassador of Argentina H.E. Roberto Alejandro Salafia
H.E. Mrs. Tanja STRNIŠA (Ambassador of Slovenia), H.E. Mrs. Yosra SOUIDEN (Ambassador of Tunisia)
Ambassador of Moldova H.E. Alexandru Codreanu, Svetlana Codreanu, DSA Vice-president and Mr. Meshulam Zisso, Owner of Czech and Slovak Leaders Magazine
Ms. Mariam ORJONIKIDZE, (First Secretary – Georgian Embassy) H.E. Mrs. Mariam RAKVIASHVILI (Ambassador of Georgia), H.E. Mr. Nicholas Stewart ARCHER (Ambassador of the UK, H.E. Mr. Hideo SUZUKI (Ambassador of Japan)
Ms. Mariam ORJONIKIDZE, (First Secretary – Georgian Embassy) H.E. Mrs. Mariam RAKVIASHVILI (Ambassador of Georgia), Mr. Meshulam Zisso, Owner of Czech and Slovak Leaders Magazine
Ambassador of South Korea H.E. Taejin Kim and spouse
H.E. Mr. Mauro MARSILI (Ambassador of Italy) and spouse
DSA president Mrs. Atsuko Suzuki
Ambassador of Belgium H.E. Gregoire Nicolas A. Cuvelier and former DSA president Mrs. Zahra Ahmed
H.E. Mr. Adish MAMMADOV (Ambassador of Azerbaijan) and spouse
Mrs. Seema KOTALWAR (spouse of Ambassador of India), Mrs. Anahit HOVAKIMIAN (spouse of Ambassador of Armenia), H.E. Mrs. Mariam RAKVIASHVILI (Ambassador of Georgia)
H.E. Mr. Miklós Boros (Ambassador of Hungary), Mr. Zoltán Szűcs (First Counsellor of Hungarian Embassy)
Ambassador of Italy H.E. Mr. Mauro Marsili and Ambassador of Chile H.E. Patricio Utereras
Ms. Mariam ORJONIKIDZE, (First Secretary – Georgian Embassy) H.E. Mrs. Mariam RAKVIASHVILI (Ambassador of Georgia), Dr. Ashot Hovakimian – ambasador of the Republic of Armenia
Mr. Meshulam Zisso, Owner of Czech and Slovak Leaders Magazine and Mr. Vaclav Pavlas – Prague Zoo
H.E. Mr. Luís DE ALMEIDA SAMPAIO (Ambassador of Portugal) and spouse
Ms. Indhira BANARES, (Minister of Embassy of Philippines), Mr. Zisso, Owner of Czech and Slovak Leaders Magazine
Mrs. Bernadette Marie H. VAN QUAETHOVEN (spouse of the Belgian Ambassador), Mrs. Erica Margaret ARCHER (spouse of the UK Ambassador)
Mrs. Gabriella Vizi (spouse of the First Counsellor of Hungarian Embassay) Mr. Zoltán Szűcs (First Counsellor of Hungarian Embassy)
Mrs. Zahra AHMED (former president of the DSA), Mrs Mariam Bilal (Commettee member of te DSA) (Pakistan)
Left to right Mr.Jamal Karra, Mrs. Rim Karra, H.E. Mr. Gregoire A.Cuvelier, Mrs. Bernadette Cuvelier, H.E. Mr. Mauro Marsili, Mrs. Carla Marsili, H.E. Mr. Hideo Suzuki, Mrs. Atsuko Suzuki, Soprano Ms. Veronika Rovna Holbova, Mr. Anoton Strnisa, Mr. Samo Strnisa, H.E. Mrs. Tanja Strnisa, Mrs. Svetlana Codreanu, H.E. Mr. Alexandru Codreanu, Mrs. Su Yeon Kim, H.E. Mr. Taejin Kim.
Mr. Anton STRNIŠA (spouse of the Slovenian Ambassador) , Mrs. Bernadette Marie H. VAN QUAETHOVEN (spouse of the Belgian Ambassador), H.E. Mrs. Tanja STRNIŠA (Ambassador of Slovenia), H.E. Mr. Grégoire Nicolas A. CUVELIER (Ambassador of Belgium)
H.E. Mr. Hideo SUZUKI (Ambassador of Japan) Mrs. Atsuko Suzuki (DSA President)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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text:
Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance: A review
I have resisted reading this book. It wasn't really hard. I don't usually read memoirs or biographies, so I wasn't particularly tempted. Plus, I wrote my own (metaphorical) hillbilly elegy long ago and wasn't really interested in reading somebody else's.
Yes, I grew up as a hillbilly, too. But my "hills" were several hundred miles south of the ones in Kentucky/Ohio that J.D. Vance called home. My heritage, though, is much the same Scots-Irish ancestry and culture as his.
Moreover, the rural community where I grew up was poor as Vance says his was. However, based on his descriptions of his family's holdings and income, they would likely have been considered middle-class where I lived. But perhaps poverty, at least to some extent, is in the eye of the beholder or in the perception of the one who experiences it.
At any rate, Vance's memoir of himself and his family and the poverty they experienced and how they pulled themselves up by their own bootstraps stayed on the best-seller list month after month after month, taunting me it seemed. And finally, after recently reading and enjoying Tara Westover's memoir, Educated, I felt that perhaps I was ready for another. So, somewhat reluctantly, I picked up Hillbilly Elegy.
What I found was a mesmerizing story of what appeared on the outside to be a dysfunctional family that still managed to function and care for its members on some level. The memoir part of Vance's tale was compelling, particularly his portraits of the grandparents who were the center of the family and who were his anchor and salvation as his mother descended into drug addiction and went through a long series of thoroughly hapless men, only one or two of whom actually took an interest in and tried to relate to her two children. His father had long since been absent.
His family, including his grandparents, were violent; their main claim to fame and a source of pride was their connection to the famous Hatfields of the Hatfield and McCoy Feud. Both the grandparents carried guns and Vance repeatedly refers to his grandmother, the chief influence in his life, as a pistol-packing lunatic who promised to kill anyone who dared harm him. He believed her and loved her for it.
This portrait of a family and its rise out of poverty is paired with a good bit of right-wing political polemic which I found less mesmerizing. He writes about the country's descent into what he sees as a nanny state, with generous government benefits that suck all of the initiative from their recipients. While his family is hard-working and always striving to better themselves, he sees his neighbors as lazy and shiftless. He complains about "welfare queens" and food stamp recipients shopping at the grocery store, walking through the check-out line while talking on their expensive cell phones and paying for their T-bone steaks with food stamps. Alternatively, he complains of food stamp recipients buying nothing but sugary drinks and snacks with their benefits. He is very condescending toward these people who somehow missed the boat when the Scots-Irish stubborn pride was being distributed. He never considers that their challenges might even be greater than his and that they, too, are trying to better themselves and the lives of their children. Empathy seems a concept foreign to him.
Having worked as a social worker and supervisor of social work for more than thirty years, I have quite another view of the poor. Sure, there are those that are lazy and lack initiative, but most are struggling for a better life. Many work two and even three jobs to try to support their families. If they receive government benefits, they are a supplement to their own efforts.
In describing his hard work to achieve his middle-class status, Vance elides over the part that government benefits played in his own rise; namely, his four years as a Marine gave him discipline and leadership skills and his service subsequently helped to pay for his education.
In addition, he got lucky with his friends and his contacts who helped him along the way. Not everyone manages to have such luck.
This book came out in the middle of the presidential election year of 2016 and it fed into the stereotypes propounded by one of those campaigns - the undeserving poor who constantly make bad choices and are to blame for their own poverty. It's wasteful and useless to spend taxpayer money on them. Conservatives ate it up.
In an afterword written later, Vance wants us to know that although he admired some things about the Republican presidential candidate such as his "outsider" status and his scorn for the "elites" (This from a graduate of Yale Law School!), he did not vote for him. No, he kept his honor and voted for the third party candidate.
books J.D. Vance reading reviews
Judy Krueger February 28, 2019 at 12:20 PM
Excellent review! At least this book gives us lots to ponder and you found points I missed, maybe because I grew up privileged but with liberal parents. Our Bookie Babes discussion a couple months ago brought up even more pondering. And just think, you have certainly made your memoir quota for the year!
Yep, I think I'm done now.
I've seen both sides of poverty: the one that he describes of food stamps beneficiaries spending on big ticket items while wearing Nikes and expensive attire, and the ones you describe, trying to scrape by while working several jobs without making actual progress, so I see the merits of both arguments. I don't think he is less empathetic towards the poor because he sees it differently. It's true that opportunity plays a larger than life role in bettering the poor. I know because I was one of them. I came to this country as an immigrant with nothing except the few clothes I carried. I was lucky to attend schools, first a community college then Ivy League, because education is viewed as an asset in my family and where I come from. I was lucky to have my parents' support along the way but there were very hard times and we didn't always have state aid along the way. From my experience I can say that luck and effort count big time. I've seen the poor in this country shun education whether because they don't know there are plenty of resources available to students who perform well and come from disadvantaged backgrounds, or because they don't consider education a means to invest in the future. I think the government/state agencies employ more resources in trying to aid the poor through a system that doesn't guarantee that they will leave it, instead of emphasizing the importance of education and facilitating information that guarantee the poor make better decisions for their future and that of their children. He may have graduated from Yale Law but doesn't mean that "the poor" (a.k.a. the experiences that shaped him) has been taken out of him. I think both his point and yours are equally valid.
I really have no problem with the memoir part of his story, i.e., his family's background and story. I do have a problem with his judgmental attitude toward others who haven't been able to make that same transition. And, of course, I agree with you that the experiences which shape our lives are never taken out of us.
I identified well the part you didn't like but just consider that maybe he is the exception in the community where he comes from, which actually means his judgements are valid. It doesn't mean he changed doctrine because he is better off but because of what he's been through. Through your work you got to see the other side of the coin, but sure you recognize that the welfare system is severely flawed; some who need help are not able to get it because they don't make the cut, while those who qualify for aid are so poor that likely remain at the bottom of the socio-economic strata for the rest of their lives because there's no incentive towards bettering their lives.
Why would your think that those "at the bottom of the socio-economic strata" have "no incentive towards bettering their lives"?
Because the system is designed to help only as you remain extremely poor. If you want to keep getting aid you must remain at the bottom.
And why would you think that some people prefer to keep getting aid?
Alana March 2, 2019 at 2:14 PM
I don't read memoirs that much (I've run across a couple so poorly written I gave up on them despite lives that would have been worth reading about) but I've had these two (Educated and Hillbilly Elegy) on my "to read" list. I grew up in a New York City housing project but luck (and I think luck has a lot to do with it) put me in an era when education in NYC public schools was excellent, and New York City colleges (CUNY system) tuition for in-city residents was next to nothing. The people who came after me certainly didn't have these ways to break out.Thought provoking review.
My objection to memoirs is that, so often, they are self-serving and hardly objective. I found Vance's memoir of his family interesting, but I think some of the lessons that he took from his experiences are extremely judgmental of other people who had different experiences. Westover's memoir was engrossing, although I got very annoyed and impatient with her at times when she kept making the same mistakes over and over again. But then humans do, don't they?
Another very good memoir of the working poor is Heartland by Sarah Smarsh. I do not believe it got enough press. I can relate to it much more than I could to Educated.
Thanks for the recommendation, Charlotte. I was not familiar with that book but I will certainly check it out.
The Lost Man by Jane Harper: A review
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Throwback Thursday: What rock did these guys crawl...
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Fatal Remedies by Donna Leon: A review
Will you count?
Tombland by C. J. Sansom: A review
Poetry Sunday: Winter Syntax by Billy Collins
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Wordless Wednesday: Spring?
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Below you will find a list of all of our available flats, apartments and homes for sale in Slough. Located in East Berkshire, less than 25 miles west of Central London, Slough is one of the most popular destinations for both first-time buyers and Buy-to-Let investors, offering attractive property prices for newbie homeowners and the prospect of property price growth, with ambitious regeneration projects such as Crossrail set to amplify its status as a desirable commuter town. In fact, Slough is found to have experienced the highest rise in property values – soaring 60% in six years – making this a fantastic choice for anyone looking outside of the capital for their next home or investment opportunity.
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The snom DECT repeater can be deployed when there is a desire to extend the range of the snom m3 telephone, or the need arises to increase limited coverage or improve reception in remote areas.
Not all repeaters are created equal. In order to maximize improvements to the DECT telephone's operational ability (whether increased range, improved reception, or both), until now it was important to select the according repeaters. The snom DECT repeaters comply with all this requirements.
The snom DECT Repeater is designed in accordance with the DECT standard. It is intended for a use in residential, business and public DECT applications based on the GAP profile. So they built an ideal addition to your snom m3. The snom DECT Repeater has two internal antennas and can be used to double the effective range of a DECT Base Station. And the snom DECT Repeater can ensure the seamless intercell handover from the base station area to the repeater area and vice versa.
It is possible to register up to six repeaters to a single base station. Furthermore the snom DECT Repeater uses a new, automatic registration method. With this new method, the repeater automatically seeks and acquires the DECT/GAP base station that emits the most powerful signal. For the end user this means that the repeater installation has been simplified to Plug-and-Play.


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Our weekly mowing services should be called "weekly mowing and monitoring services." At Trimmers Landscaping, our maintenance foremen are trained to keep an eye out for potential problems or issues that our clients would want to know about. If concerns are noted – even if it is unrelated to landscaping – photos are taken and a site inspection report is filled out. We have addressed issues such as broken guardrail, abandoned cars, garage doors, and vandalism.
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Have You Considered Architectural Concrete?
If you've done business with us, we'd appreciate your feedback.


A modern comfortable hotel in a marvellous seafront location with views of the sea and the mountains, the Epidaurus boasts many facilities and is located on a private pebble beach. The hotel is 1km from the charming town of Cavtat and is linked by a tree lined waterfront road. A regular bus service operates between Cavtat and Dubrovnik.
312 well-appointed twin and double rooms with air-conditioning (high season), bathroom, shower, hairdryer, Wi-Fi, satellite TV, safety deposit box and mini bar. Economy rooms (maximum 2 people), Standard, Superior Seaside Balcony and Superior Seaview Balcony rooms (maximum 3 people, 3rd person sofa bed) available.


text:
Bentstick Pipefish, Trachyrhamphus bicoa
Bentstick Pipefish, Trachyrhamphus bicoarctatus (Bleeker, 1857)
Scientific name: Trachyrhamphus bicoarctatus
Alternative name/s:
Bend Stick Pipefish, Chocolate Pipefish, Double-ended Pipefish, Ringed Pipefish, Short-tailed Pipefish, Stick Pipefish
A Benttick Pipefish at a depth of 18 m, Redang Island, off the east coast of peninsular Malaysia, April 2001. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
bicoarctatus
Trachyrhamphus
Syngnathidae
The species grows to 40cm in length.
The Bentstick Pipefish occurs in marine waters throughout much of the Indo-West Pacific. In Australia it lives in bays and estuaries on sand or mud, from the shallows to at least 40 m depth.
The Bentstick Pipefish has a long snout and a head that projects at a slight angle to the body. Its colouration is variable from yellow to brown, red or black.
In Australia it lives in bays and estuaries on sand or mud, from the shallows to at least 40 m depth.
The Bentstick Pipefish occurs in marine waters throughout much of the Indo-West Pacific. In Australia, it is known from the central coast of Western Australia, around the tropical north, and south to central New South Wales.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
Feeding and diet
The species feeds on zooplankton.
Other behaviours and adaptations
The species is sometimes observed with the anterior part of the fish raised above the substrate and the head facing into the current. The posterior part of the body and thickened ventral ray of the caudal fin are used to anchor the fish in place.
Dawson, C.E. 1985. Indo-Pacific Pipefishes (Red Sea to the Americas). The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory. Pp. 230.
Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Seahorses, Pipefishes and their Relatives. A Comprehensive Guide to Syngnathiformes. TMC Publishing Pp. 240.
Paxton, J.R., D.F. Hoese, G.R. Allen & J.E. Hanley. 1989. Zoological Catalogue of Australia Vol.7 Pisces Petromyzontidae to Carangidae. Canberra: Australian Biological Resources Survey. Pp. i-xii, 1-665.
Syngnathidae fishes of sydney harbour fish
Pyramid Butterflyfish, Hemitaurichthys polylepis (Bleeker, 1857)
Mirror Basslet, Pseudanthias pleurotaenia (Bleeker, 1857)
Blackspot Angelfish, Genicanthus melanospilos (Bleeker, 1857)
Robust Ghostpipefish, Solenostomus cyanopterus Bleeker,1855
Spotted Pipefish, Stigmatopora argus (Richardson, 1840)
Blacktail Wrasse, Anampses melanurus (Bleeker, 1857)
Piano Fangblenny, Plagiotremus tapeinosoma (Bleeker, 1857)
Variegated Wrasse, Coris batuensis (Bleeker, 1857)
Short-tail Pipefish, Microphis brachyurus (Bleeker, 1853)
Girdled Pipefish, Festucalex cinctus (Ramsay, 1882)
Messmate Pipefish, Corythoichthys intestinalis (Ramsay, 1881)
Smenispa irregularis (Bleeker, 1857) (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cymothoidae), a buccal-attaching fish parasite from Australia


text:
"Heights" swoops us to HBO Max … or to a theater
If you still need a reason to get HBO Max, it's "In the Heights."
Better yet, if you need a reason to go back to a theater – big screen, booming speakers, abundant popcorn – that's also "In the Heights."
The movie (shown here) landed on both sites Friday (June 11), helping us bust loose from our 15-month doldrums.
It's all the things we expected – a festive treat, filled with spectacular sights and sounds. But the surprise is that it also packs deep emotion … and that this musical – which began try-outs 16 years ago – seems to perfectly fit right now, as Americans emerge from an anti-immigrant phase. Read more…
By Mike Hughes / June 14, 2021
It's all the things we expected – a festive treat, filled with spectacular sights and sounds. But the surprise is that it also packs deep emotion … and that this musical – which began try-outs 16 years ago – seems to perfectly fit right now, as Americans emerge from an anti-immigrant phase.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, with Puerto Rican roots, celebrated the impact of immigrants. His musical is a love letter to the Washington Heights neighborhood and the people – Latinx, mostly – who live there.
One brilliant number features the neighborhood matriarch (Olga Merediz, a Tony-nominee in the Broadway production),recalling the agony of immigrating with her mother in the 1940s. Mostly, though, "Heights" is about the people a couple generations later.
Our guide – both as narrator and central character – is Usnavi – pushing 30, running the store his parents started, but dreaming of returning to the Dominican Republic. Miranda did the role on Broadway, but now it's filled perfectly by Anthony Ramos, who starred in a revival.
A few familiar faces are scattered around the edges. That includes Miranda (as a biking peddler), Jimmy Smits and Marc Anthony. But mostly, this is a young-folks story.
The cast is both gifted and gorgeous – especially the female leads, who are semi-known. Melissa Barrera (shown here with Ramos) plays Vanessa; she starred in the cable series "Vida." Leslie Grace plays Nina; she's a singer/songwriter.
They are encased in great visuals. "Heights" is directed by John Chu, who did the beautiful "Crazy Rich Asians"; it's choreographed by Christopher Scott, who did two "Step Up" films.
Scott has great scenes with nods to the past. A swimming-pool number feels like Busby Berkeley meets Esther Williams; another – dancing up and down an apartment building – is sheer Gene Kelly.
But those gimmicks are just a bonus. The other numbers – on the streets, in a ballroom – feel vibrant and unforced. This is choreography that doesn't feel choreographed.
For all of its fun, "Heights" has the ability to be deeply moving. There is one moment when all the noise suddenly stops; we feel the silence and the emotion.
There are storylines we care about. Miranda updated this slightly, with nods to DACA, the "dreamers" program for undocumented youths. That adds relevancy – but "Heights" already had plenty of it. Elsewhere, we might see rage toward immigrants. Here, they are people we root for and cheer with.
Here's the opposite of the dim/hairy news
Back from sunny (?!?) Hollywood
Apple's less-is-more approach brings quality
FX and AMC push forward, against a streamer surge
Getting "Physical" in the '80s got complicated
Best-bets for March 16: Games begin, "Blacklist" continues


text:
Q: Make Jasmine wait for Async function to complete I am trying to write tests for functions that call Async functions from a service and I can not for the life of me figure out how to make Jasmine wait for my Async operations to finish before executing the expect function.
  describe('vm.submitLogin', function () {
    var $scope;
    var $q;
    var deferred;
    var $controller;

    beforeEach(module('myModule'));

    beforeEach(inject(function (_$controller_, _$rootScope_, _$q_, LoginService, $httpBackend) {
      $q = _$q_;
      $scope = _$rootScope_.$new();
      $controller = _$controller_;
      deferred = _$q_.defer();

      spyOn(LoginService, 'login').and.callFake(function () {
        return $.Deferred().resolve({success: true, twoFactorRequired: false});
      });

      $httpBackend.expectGET("/data/I/need/to/mock").respond({"uri": "http://localhost:8081/data/I/need/to/mock.json"});

      var vm = $controller('LoginCtrl', { $scope: $scope});

      vm.submitLogin();

      $scope.$apply();
    }));

    it('should work, please work...', inject (function ($httpBackend, LoginService) {

      expect(something);

    }));
  });

I have tried to use Jasmine's "done" function, but I cannot figure out how to go about implementing it.
In this example, as soon as
$scope.$apply();

is called, It right away jumps to the expect and fails because the async operations has yet to finish.

A: Try using $httpBackend.flush() before $scope.$apply() as referred in angular documentation:

The $httpBackend used in production always responds to requests
  asynchronously. If we preserved this behavior in unit testing, we'd
  have to create async unit tests, which are hard to write, to follow
  and to maintain. But neither can the testing mock respond
  synchronously; that would change the execution of the code under test.
  For this reason, the mock $httpBackend has a flush() method, which
  allows the test to explicitly flush pending requests. This preserves
  the async api of the backend, while allowing the test to execute
  synchronously.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Come in costume and celebrate Purim with the reading of the Megillah, delicious barbecue wings and meatball dinner (salads and sides too), awesome super hero 🦸♂ decor, and more!
Ocjewish.com for online reservations makes our planning that easy!
Celebrate the holiday with your Chabad family!


text:
Prof. Dr. Francesco Sangiorgi
Associate Professor of Finance
Francesco Sangiorgi is Associate Professor of Finance at Frankfurt School of Finance & Management. He was previously Associate Professor of Finance (with tenure) at the Stockholm School of Economics.
He received his Ph.D. in Economics from Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona and an undergraduate degree in Economics from LUISS University in Rome.
Francesco Sangiorgi works primarily on the economics of information as applied to financial markets. His research questions span topics in asset pricing, market microstructure, information intermediation, and the interplay between financial markets and corporate decision making. His publications have appeared in leading journals in Economics, Finance, and Management including the Review of Economic Studies, Review of Financial Studies, and Management Science.
He has taught courses in financial economics, asset pricing and investment management in Master of Science, Ph.D., and executive programs at the Stockholm School of Economics and London School of Economics. He has held visiting positions at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, the London School of Economics, and the Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance.
during the semester:
Caroline Hauck Department Assistant Faculty
Francesco Sangiorgi Associate Professor of Finance Faculty
0049 69 154008-731
0049 69 154008-4731
Papers at SSRN
Scholarly journal articles
Contributions to edited volumes
Title Programme Semester
Finance Master Winter
Asset Pricing Theory PhD Winter


text:
Difference between revisions of "hresume-feedback"
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*Question: has any consideration for hr-xml (http://www.hr-xml.org) been given in the production of hResume Microformat? I tried looking around the site but couldn't find anything specific. As someone working in the recruitment marketing industry I can see distinct benefits for the two formats converging. [[User:Strawbleu|Strawbleu]] 12:09, 15 Dec 2006 (GMT)
[[User:Lylo|Lylo]] 11:04, 16 Feb 2007 (GMT)
* Suggestion: I used hResume on a recent website for a client. The resume in question has an '''Awards''' section, with a list of industry awards and their corresponding dates. There is currently no specific way of representing this information in the hResume specification. Do the authors have any recommendations for the mark-up to use in this situation? Perhaps an '''award''' field could be considered by the authors?
1 hresume-feedback
1.1.1 General Questions
1.1.2 General Comments
hresume-feedback
This document is for keeping track of feedback about hResume, one of several microformats.
See the hresume FAQ.
Upon implementing hResume at http://davecardwell.co.uk/cv/, I had the following observations:
I used hCalendar 1.0's optional "description" element to include a short paragraph of text about each section of education/employment. The examples on the hResume page could be updated to mention this ability.
A richer way of marking up qualifications would have been nice. If you view the source of my resume you'll see I marked up each subject as a "skill". This, however, doesn't convey any information about the level or grade achieved. The minimal set for the main educational qualifications in England seems to be qualification(level, subject(s), grade(s)). A section from my resume would then be:

A Level

Further investigation might show the need for optional information about awarding bodies and such. Not sure if a qualification element would satisfy the 80/20 condition.
Dave Cardwell 06:53, 19 Feb 2006 (GMT)
I and others on the #microformats IRC channel have expressed a concern about the way skills are represented. Introducing unnecessary links into a resume is undesirable, especially when you have to link to a page like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perl to conform to the rel-tag standard while http://www.perl.org might be more intuitive. Non-visual user agents like screen readers will have a great deal of meaningless links to trawl through, and search engines may infer relationships that do not exist.
Our thoughts:
We would love to be able to mark-up the following data:
Contact Info = hCard
Experience (our issue is with current employment)*
[company name]
[position/title]
[dates]
[location]
[school]
[major]
[degree]
[type] (PD, CPA, JD and so on)
how do you represent current positions that have no end date? Maybe lack of date means present?
Here is our hResume plugin for WordPress (in development): <img src=" "
Alexander Muse 08:54, 11 May 2006 (GMT)
Suggestion: Reference information - should there be a field of "References", where hCard information would be held for references? Also, perhaps a distinction between three types (e.g. personal (a friend), professional (e.g. previous boss), educational (e.g. university lecturer)) in a similar method to hCard's telephone type distinctions? If this is already accounted for, what method would you suggest for implementing this?
When working on my resume I tried to mark it up as hResume but I hit a couple of show-stoppers for me. If I had the choice of marking it up to look and behave like I wanted or be a valid hResume I'd chose for former and that's what I ended up having to do. My issues were:
It's recommended to put the contact hCard in an <address> but address is inline and I wanted to put block elements in there. I could have worked around that with CSS display: but I wanted to be able to render to text with links or w3m which don't support enough CSS for that.
Actually, <address> is a block-level element. And the spec says that is should be used, but not that it must be used.
hResume builds on rel-tag for describing skills, but I didn't want my skills section filled with links (no matter how they're rendered - I don't want them clickable).
Skills are optional, as are linking them.
Ianloic 15:58, 10 Dec 2006 (PST)
Question: has any consideration for hr-xml (http://www.hr-xml.org) been given in the production of hResume Microformat? I tried looking around the site but couldn't find anything specific. As someone working in the recruitment marketing industry I can see distinct benefits for the two formats converging. Strawbleu 12:09, 15 Dec 2006 (GMT)
Lylo 11:04, 16 Feb 2007 (GMT)
Suggestion: I used hResume on a recent website for a client. The resume in question has an Awards section, with a list of industry awards and their corresponding dates. There is currently no specific way of representing this information in the hResume specification. Do the authors have any recommendations for the mark-up to use in this situation? Perhaps an award field could be considered by the authors?
Retrieved from "http://microformats.org/wiki/index.php?title=hresume-feedback&oldid=13558"


text:
Q: C++ Can't Run Code With External Library (SNMP++) I have downloaded SNMP++ 3.4.9 library and copied it to my project's directory (where my project name is SNMP)
So my directory looks like this:
>snmp++-3.4.9    [Folder]
    >Include            [Sub-Folder]
    >Examples           [Sub-Folder]
    libsnmp.h
CMakeLists.txt
main.cpp

Inside main.cpp I have pasted a code example that uses the library like this (first few lines):
#include <libsnmp.h>
#include "snmp_pp/snmp_pp.h"
...

When I try to run the code it won't work, I get:
[1/2] Building CXX object CMakeFiles/SNMP.dir/main.cpp.o
FAILED: CMakeFiles/SNMP.dir/main.cpp.o
.../XcodeDefault.xctoolchain/usr/bin/c++  -I/snmp++-3.4.9 -g -isysroot /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/MacOSX.platform/Developer/SDKs/MacOSX12.1.sdk -std=gnu++14 -MD -MT CMakeFiles/SNMP.dir/main.cpp.o -MF CMakeFiles/SNMP.dir/main.cpp.o.d -o CMakeFiles/SNMP.dir/main.cpp.o -c /Users/john/CLionProjects/SNMP/main.cpp
/Users/john/CLionProjects/SNMP/main.cpp:28:10: fatal error: 'libsnmp.h' file not found
#include <libsnmp.h>
         ^~~~~~~~~~~
1 error generated.
ninja: build stopped: subcommand failed.

Someone suggested changing my CMakeLists.txt file to something like this:
cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.21)
project(SNMP)

set(CMAKE_CXX_STANDARD 11)
include_directories("/snmp++-3.4.9")

add_executable(SNMP main.cpp)

But still same problem, how can I fix this?
Please Note: From a previous understanding I had with C++ I don't get it why they wrote:
#include <libsnmp.h>

and not:
#include "libsnmp.h"

As It's not a standard library, and changing every instance from <> to "" will take a very long time (and doesn't sound the right thing to do)
I'm using CLion and working on macOS.


I was recently invited by Riva Audio to experience a demo of their two multi-room speakers: the Riva Arena, and Riva Festival.
Let me tell you right off the bat, that both of these speakers sound incredible and I left the demo very impressed — the sound was so crisp and detailed — but more about that when I post my full review.
For now, I wanted to share this short interview with the Riva team. While you can read more about Rikki Farr's rich musical background on the Riva website (spoiler: he's worked with some of the biggest names in the business!), I wanted to dive deeper in person and really learn more about Riva Audio's heritage and what makes their products special.
I hope you enjoy the video and don't forget to subscribe to the Let's Talk Tech YouTube channel for more tech videos.


text:
1 Canon's Road, Bristol, BS1 5TX
An exploration and celebration of classic cinema, Cinema Rediscovered 2017 will no doubt get a warm welcome from the city's film fans after making its Bristol debut last year.
The festival was officially launched when the BBC's film critic Mark Kermode gave the Philip French Memorial Lecture on July 18th.
From July 27th-30th there will be the chance to see some classics unearthed and screened thanks to digital restorations and the revival of print rarities.
A joint project between the Watershed, South West Silents, 20th Century Flicks and Clevedon's Curzon Cinema & Arts, the event is perfect for cinephiles or those who just want to discover something new.
Some of the vintage films being screened are Howard's End, The Network, To Die For, Dekalog, The Gentle Sex and Millions Like Us. There will also be workshops and talks throughout the festival.
Keep an eye on the Cinema Redisovered programme page for more details.
" A glorious testament to the ingenuity of the city's creative culture"
Bristol 24-7