CostasNarrativeXP

CostasNarrativeXP 2026 Valentine's feature"Anne of Green Gables" by Lucy Maud MontgomeryPublished in June, 1908Project Gutenberg Ebook editionAn imaginative orphan is unexpectedly adopted into a quiet rural community, where her vivid inner life and stubborn spirit gradually transform the people around her.Chapter 13-1500:30 13 Anne eagerly anticipates a Sunday school picnic, charms Marilla, and becomes enchanted with Marilla’s amethyst brooch, asking to hold it.11:17 14 Marilla wrongly accuses Anne of losing the brooch. Anne invents a confession, is punished, then forgiven when Marilla finds it, and Anne is allowed to attend the picnic.29:03 15 Anne befriends classmates, clashes with Gilbert Blythe, is humiliated by Mr. Phillips, quits school in fury, refuses to forgive Gilbert, and melodramatically adores Diana, amusing Marilla.CharactersAnne Shirley - A thin, red-haired orphan with an incredibly vivid imagination and a "tongue fastened at one end." Overjoyed to finally have a homeMatthew Cuthbert - A shy, awkward sixty-year-old bachelor who lives at Green Gables. Though he is terrified of women and girls, he finds himself strangely charmed by AnneMarilla Cuthbert - Matthew’s sister. She is tall, thin, with a strict sense of duty. While Matthew is the heart of the duo, Marilla is the logic. She is the one who ultimately has to decide what to do about adopting Anne by mistakeRachel Lynde - The town gossip and "notable" busybody, she represents the judgmental social standards of AvonleaAlexander Spencer - She is the "middleman" whose misunderstanding of the Cuthberts' request led to Anne being brought to Prince Edward Island instead of a boyDiana Barry - Anne’s kind, pretty, and conventional neighbour who becomes her first and dearest “bosom friend"Gilbert Blythe - Handsome, confident, teasing, his thoughtless joke sparks Anne’s lifelong grudge and rivalryCosta's WordbookForlornly adv showing one is alone and unhappy (for Lawn ly)Beatification n a state of radiant happiness and bliss, almost saint-like joy; (in the Roman Catholic Church) declaration by the Pope that a dead person is in a state of bliss, constituting a first step towards canonization and permitting public veneration (be Aat tification)Scrumptious adj (of food) extremely tasty, delicious (Scrum xious)Lissom adj (of a person or their body) slim, supple, and graceful (Lis sum)Spruce n a widespread coniferous tree which has a distinctive conical shape and hanging cones, widely grown for timber, pulp, and Christmas trees (like bruce)Primer n an elementary textbook that serves as an introduction to a subject of study or is used for teaching children to read (Prime mer)Harrow v cause distress to n a heavy frame set with teeth or tines which is dragged over ploughed landComplete FeaturesLittle Prince, Brave New World, Monte Cristo, Songs of Dead Dreamer, Last Unicorn, Brothers Karamazov, Fellowship of the Ring, Winnie the Pooh, Jane Eyre, Angels & Demons, Perfume, Great Gatsby, Jekyll & Hyde, Maigret, 1984, Metamorphosis, Dracula, Don Quixote, Dorian Gray, Anne Frank, Lord of the Flies, Liar's Poker, Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Great ExpectationsMilestone2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI host + illustration, chapter summary, scheduled release2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour contentPatreon: costasaudiobookYouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Castbox, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn, Castro, Player FMPowered by Firstory Hosting

CostasNarrativeXP 2026 Valentine's feature"Anne of Green Gables" by Lucy Maud MontgomeryPublished in June, 1908Project Gutenberg Ebook editionAn imaginative orphan is unexpectedly adopted into a quiet rural community, where her vivid inner life and stubborn spirit gradually transform the people around her.Chapter 9-1200:30 9 After Mrs. Lynde insults Anne’s looks, Anne retaliates with a furious outburst. Marilla demands an apology, but privately empathizes with Anne’s hurt feelings while finding Rachel’s shock secretly hilarious.15:40 10 Anne is punished but persuaded by Matthew to apologize. She delivers a dramatic apology, is forgiven, and finally feels Green Gables is truly her home.31:21 11 Marilla gives Anne plain dresses. At Sunday school Anne feels out of place, unimpressed, and lonely. Her blunt criticism of church shocks Marilla, who secretly agrees.42:36 12 Marilla scolds Anne for standing out, then introduces her to Diana Barry. The girls instantly bond, swear friendship, make plans, and Anne joyfully shares Matthew’s candy.CharactersAnne Shirley - A thin, red-haired orphan with an incredibly vivid imagination and a "tongue fastened at one end." Overjoyed to finally have a home.Matthew Cuthbert - A shy, awkward sixty-year-old bachelor who lives at Green Gables. Though he is terrified of women and girls, he finds himself strangely charmed by AnneMarilla Cuthbert - Matthew’s sister. She is tall, thin, with a strict sense of duty. While Matthew is the heart of the duo, Marilla is the logic. She is the one who ultimately has to decide what to do about adopting Anne by mistakeRachel Lynde - The town gossip and "notable" busybody, she represents the judgmental social standards of AvonleaAlexander Spencer - She is the "middleman" whose misunderstanding of the Cuthberts' request led to Anne being brought to Prince Edward Island instead of a boyDiana Barry - Anne’s kind, pretty, and conventional neighbour who becomes her first and dearest “bosom friend"Costa's WordbookGrippe n arch. Influenza (grip)Parthian shaft (shot) idiom a sharp, telling remark, act, gesture, made in departing; parthian is ancient iranianNarcissi pl n of narcissus, the flower (Narc Ciss sigh)Sateen n a cotton fabric woven like satin with a glossy surface (sat Teen)Furbelow n a gathered strip or pleated border of a skirt or petticoat (Fur billow)Dudgeon n a feeling of offence or deep resentment (Dud geon)Fuchsia n a shrub with pendulous tubular flowers that are typically of two contrasting colours. They are native to America and New Zealand and are commonly grown as ornamentals (Few sia)Caper n an illicit or ridiculous activity or escapadeConsumption n (dated) a wasting disease, especially pulmonary tuberculosisAbet v encourage or assist (someone) to do something wrong, in particular to commit a crimeFore and aft adv all the way; backwards and forwardsDeprecatory adj apologetic or appeasing; expressing disapproval (Dep pre catory)Complete FeaturesLittle Prince, Brave New World, Monte Cristo, Songs of Dead Dreamer, Last Unicorn, Brothers Karamazov, Fellowship of the Ring, Winnie the Pooh, Jane Eyre, Angels & Demons, Perfume, Great Gatsby, Jekyll & Hyde, Maigret, 1984, Metamorphosis, Dracula, Don Quixote, Dorian Gray, Anne Frank, Lord of the Flies, Liar's Poker, Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Great ExpectationsMilestone2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI host + illustration, chapter summary, scheduled release2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour contentPatreon: costasaudiobookYouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Castbox, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn, Castro, Player FMPowered by Firstory Hosting

CostasNarrativeXP 2026 Valentine's feature"Anne of Green Gables" by Lucy Maud MontgomeryPublished in June, 1908Project Gutenberg Ebook editionAn imaginative orphan is unexpectedly adopted into a quiet rural community, where her vivid inner life and stubborn spirit gradually transform the people around her.Chapter 4-800:30 4 Anne wakes up cheerful but resigned to leaving. Despite Matthew’s subtle hints, Marilla remains firm and drives Anne away to return her.14:29 5 Anne recounts her difficult past while traveling. Impressed by her spirit and resilience, Marilla begins rethinking her decision to return the girl.27:00 6 To rescue Anne from the cruel Mrs. Blewett, Marilla decides to keep her at Green Gables as an "experiment," provided Matthew lets her handle the child’s upbringing.38:50 7 Shocked by Anne’s lack of prayer, Marilla allows a quirky first attempt. Labeling her a "heathen," Marilla remains committed to raising Anne at Green Gables.46:26 8 Marilla officially tells Anne she can stay. Anne contemplates a religious painting, dreams of a "bosom friend" in Diana Barry, and chooses her new reality over her romantic imaginings.CharactersAnne Shirley - A thin, red-haired orphan with an incredibly vivid imagination and a "tongue fastened at one end." Overjoyed to finally have a home, unaware that it has been a major mistakeMatthew Cuthbert - A shy, awkward sixty-year-old bachelor who lives at Green Gables. Though he is terrified of women and girls, he finds himself strangely charmed by AnneMarilla Cuthbert - Matthew’s sister. She is tall, thin, with a strict sense of duty. While Matthew is the heart of the duo, Marilla is the logic. She is the one who ultimately has to decide what to do about adopting Anne by mistakeRachel Lynde - The town gossip and "notable" busybody, she represents the judgmental social standards of AvonleaAlexander Spencer - She is the "middleman" whose misunderstanding of the Cuthberts' request led to Anne being brought to Prince Edward Island instead of a boyCosta's WordbookHandle n nicknameVim n energy, enthusiasmIrreverence n a lack of respect for people or things that are generally taken seriouslyManse n a house provided for a minister of certain Christian Churches; a person’s home (Mans)Scald v arch. rinse (a container) with boiling water (scold)Complete FeaturesLittle Prince, Brave New World, Monte Cristo, Songs of Dead Dreamer, Last Unicorn, Brothers Karamazov, Fellowship of the Ring, Winnie the Pooh, Jane Eyre, Angels & Demons, Perfume, Great Gatsby, Jekyll & Hyde, Maigret, 1984, Metamorphosis, Dracula, Don Quixote, Dorian Gray, Anne Frank, Lord of the Flies, Liar's Poker, Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Great ExpectationsMilestone2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI host + illustration, chapter summary, scheduled release2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour contentPatreon: costasaudiobookYouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Castbox, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn, Castro, Player FMPowered by Firstory Hosting

CostasNarrativeXP 2026 Valentine's feature"Anne of Green Gables" by Lucy Maud MontgomeryPublished in June, 1908An imaginative orphan is unexpectedly adopted into a quiet rural community, where her vivid inner life and stubborn spirit gradually transform the people around her.Chapter 1-300:30 1 Rachel Lynde is shocked to discover that the elderly Cuthberts are adopting an orphan to help on their farm, despite her dire warnings about the risks involved.18:50 2 Shocked to find a girl instead of a boy, shy Matthew brings the imaginative, talkative orphan home, dreading the moment of revelation.48:14 3 Matthew brings Anne home. Marilla is cold but amused. Anne begs for diginity. Matthew softens. Marilla resists. Anne cries herself to sleep.CharactersAnne Shirley - A thin, red-haired orphan with an incredibly vivid imagination and a "tongue fastened at one end." Overjoyed to finally have a home, unaware that it has been a major mistakeMatthew Cuthbert - A shy, awkward sixty-year-old bachelor who lives at Green Gables. Though he is terrified of women and girls, he finds himself strangely charmed by AnneMarilla Cuthbert - Matthew’s sister. She is tall, thin, with a strict sense of duty. While Matthew is the heart of the duo, Marilla is the logic. She is the one who ultimately has to decide what to do about adopting Anne by mistakeRachel Lynde - The town gossip and "notable" busybody, she represents the judgmental social standards of AvonleaAlexander Spencer - She is the "middleman" whose misunderstanding of the Cuthberts' request led to Anne being brought to Prince Edward Island instead of a boyCosta's WordbookLady's Eardrops n any of several plants having pendent flowers thought to resemble earrings, as the jewelweed or the fuchsiaThe whys and wherefores phr the reasons for somethingby dint of phr by means ofBuggy n a light horse-drawn vehicle for one or two people, with two or (in North America) four wheelsSorrel n a horse with a light reddish-brown coat (Sor rol)Prim Lombardies - Lombardy Poplars, famous for their unique shape. Unlike most trees that spread out, Lombardies grow straight up like tall, thin pillars or spires (Lom ber dees)The proverbial ‘perk of dirt’ - refer to old saying: "Every man must eat a peck of dirt before he dies." peck is old unit of measurement for dry volume (roughly 2 gallons) (pro Verb bee al)Spry adj (especially of an old person) active, livelyHome boy - “British Home Children”. Almost exclusively white children from the United Kingdom were sent to the colonies to work. Between 1869- late 1940s, over 100,000 children were sent to Canada.Balsamy adj like balsam, often associated with healing, fresh air, and a sense of peaceSundry adj of various kinds, several (Sun dree)Shingle n thin, flat pieces of wood or other material used in rows for roofs or wallsSidle v walk in a furtive, unobtrusive, or timid manner, especially sideways or obliquely (Cy dle)Preparatory n serving as or carrying out preparation for a task or undertaking (pre Pair ret tree)Wincey n a strong, lightweight twilled fabric, typically a mixture of wool with cotton or linen (Win sea)Lacy adj made of, resembling, or trimmed with laceTongue hung in the middle - idiom a very talkative or gossipy personCrocus n a small spring-flowering Eurasian plant of the iris family, which grows from a corm and bears bright yellow, purple, or white flowers (Crow cus)Deprecatingly adv one shows of little value or importance, or disapproval (Dep prec cating ly)Complete FeaturesLittle Prince, Brave New World, Monte Cristo, Songs of Dead Dreamer, Last Unicorn, Brothers Karamazov, Fellowship of the Ring, Winnie the Pooh, Jane Eyre, Angels & Demons, Perfume, Great Gatsby, Jekyll & Hyde, Maigret, 1984, Metamorphosis, Dracula, Don Quixote, Dorian Gray, Anne Frank, Lord of the Flies, Liar's Poker, Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Great ExpectationsMilestone2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI host + illustration, chapter summary, scheduled release2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour contentPatreon: costasaudiobookYouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Castbox, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn, Castro, Player FMPowered by Firstory Hosting

CostasNarrativeXP 2026 New Year feature"The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-ExupéryPublished in April 1943A fable in which a lone traveler meets a mysterious child from another world, gently exploring loneliness, love, and what truly matters, through simple words that speak most clearly to adults.Introduction Chapter 1-2700:29 Author's biography02:37 1 we are introduced to the narrator, a pilot, and his ideas about grown-ups06:13 2 the narrator crashes in the desert and makes the acquaintance of the little prince11:15 3 the narrator learns more about from where the little prince came14:07 4 the narrator speculates as to which asteroid from which the little prince came19:45 5 we are warned as to the dangers of the baobabs25:01 6 the little prince and the narrator talk about sunsets26:39 7 the narrator learns about the secret of the little prince's life32:00 8 the rose arrives at the little prince's planet37:02 9 the little prince leaves his planet40:06 10 the little prince visits the king48:26 11 the little prince visits the conceited man50:33 12 the little prince visits the tippler51:49 13 the little prince visits the businessman57:35 14 the little prince visits the lamplighter1:02:20 15 the little prince visits the geographer1:07:51 16 the narrator discusses the Earth's lamplighters1:09:47 17 the little prince makes the acquaintance of the snake1:13:39 18 the little prince goes looking for men and meets a flower1:14:39 19 the little prince climbs a mountain range1:16:01 20 the little prince discovers a garden of roses1:17:44 21 the little prince befriends the fox1:26:07 22 the little prince encounters a railway switchman1:27:55 23 the little prince encounters a merchant1:28:53 24 the narrator and the little prince, thirsty, hunt for a well in the desert1:33:34 25 finding a well, the narrator and the little prince discuss his return to his planet1:38:33 26 the little prince converses with the snake; the little prince consoles the narrator; the little prince returns to his planet1:48:24 27 the narrator's afterthoughtsCharactersThe Pilot - an aviator stranded in the desert, telling the story in first person. Also the narratorThe Little Prince - a mysterious child who appears in the desert and asks the pilot to drawThe Rose- the Little Prince’s unique flower on his home asteroidCosta's WordbookWeathervane n a revolving pointer to show the direction of the wind, typically mounted on top of a building (Weather vain)Complete FeaturesBrave New World, Count of Monte Cristo, Songs of Dead Dreamer, Last Unicorn, Brothers Karamazov, Fellowship of the Ring, Winnie the Pooh, Jane Eyre, Angels & Demons, Perfume, Great Gatsby, Jekyll & Hyde, Maigret, 1984, Metamorphosis, Dracula, Don Quixote, Dorian Gray, Anne Frank, Lord of the Flies, Liar's Poker, Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, Great ExpectationsMilestone2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI host + illustration, chapter summary, scheduled release2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour contentPatreon: costasaudiobookYouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Castbox, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn, Castro, Player FMPowered by Firstory Hosting