Lights, Camera, Inaction

I typically read owner's manuals. I find that some of these technical documents can be informative (for example, ABS light + Passenger Airbag Light + Brake Light = complete electronic failure) and quite entertaining (see previous parenthetical). Little nuggets like this formula when coupled with "the car alarm will buzz 90 times before it stops" when one does not don their safety belt can make someone the life of the party. Well, perhaps that is true only in this town where "are you an engineer?" has replaced "do you play guitar?" Regardless, I appreciate a technical writer with a sense of humor almost as much as I do one with a sense of style.

Name that Tune

Yesterday the Man Booker Longlist was announced. This is one of my favorite book lists as it usually includes a wide range of selections. The dozen includes two authors I have previously read: Peter Carey (his comma-less True History of the Kelly Gang) and David Mitchell (Cloud Atlas). The titles of the lucky 13 (not an error) are interesting: C by Tom McCarthy, The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson, and The Stars in the Bright Sky by Alan Warner to name a few. What's in a name? Sometimes more than you think.

Plain Twain and Auto-fill

As it is Monday, I thought I should offer some tidbit of motivation and/or inspiration for the week. I also thought this writing should be witty, so I consulted Mark Twain. My paperback copy of Tales, Speeches, Essays and Sketches was originally purchased for a college English class and the pages are littered with my cursive notes. It is interesting see how my handwriting and note-taking has progressed since that time. Ah, youth! (I think I am at risk of digressing and perhaps dulling you into a desire for another cup of coffee so I should get back on track.)

This collection of Twain's writing includes an essay entitled "Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offences." Twain's opinion is that "Cooper has scored 114 offences against literary art out of a possible 115." He also notes a violation of eighteen of the "nineteen rules governing literary art in the domain of romantic fiction." (Bear with me, as I am finally nearing the point.)

I hereby offer six of these rules (p. 379) to you for your week's reflection as I think they are not restrictive to composing romantic fiction:

13. Use the right word, not its second cousin.

14. Eschew surplusage.

15. Not omit necessary details.

16. Avoid slovenliness of form.

17. Use good grammar.

18. Employ a simple and straightforward style.

Hope you have a great week.

Waste Knot Want Knot

I think some books emerge at the point when we are ready to read them. This week, I was reminded of Knots by Richard Hopkins. I picked it up at or near here and it has been sitting diligently on my shelf awaiting additional inspection. Some knots in the book are easily tied, and with one pull, they are disentangled. Others require much additional skill and patience to tie, but will hold the weight of a variety of items (depending of course, on the nature of your rope). Knots as a metaphor for life? Maybe. The knots have great names: Half Blood Knot, Sliding Figure Eight Bend, Lars Head, and Cat's Paw. Thanks to this book, I also learned there is an International Guild of Knot Tyers, "a worldwide membership for enthusiastic knot tyers."

Double Simple Simon: the knot for slippery synthetic cords. Could this be my favorite? Knot any more.

Home Run

I am fairly certain it was a GBC first: Skype attendance to our monthly meeting. Lessons learned from this experience:

1. I should be out of the office by time GBC commences so that I can have my own glass of reading water
2. See rule #1

It was really fantastic to see all the familiar faces and hear voices of my friends in the round with their pre-dinner cheer (aka reading water). A themed dinner of cracker jacks, hot dogs, and peanuts to accompany the discussion. Who knew the book was about baseball? Er, I suppose those of the group that read the book. Ahem. GBC Milena called the title like an opening announcer: "Taking Lottie Home" and I was home, at least my old home for a little while. Thanks guys.

And the World Laughs With You

My working day yesterday was one of my longest in the office since I have been in this new locale. As I was savoring my after dinner chocolate and (second) glass of reading water, my thoughts lingered on one thread, "I laughed a lot today." These were not the "smile politely until the moment passes" but the deep "I cannot help but laugh even though I know my eyes are probably squinting into 400 wrinkles and wait, are those tears?" kind of laugh. I laughed. I laughed at the witty responses of colleagues, at a friend's comments via text, at my lack of grace when either sliding on the floor or hitting the door frame inadvertently while trying to walk through it, not that I actually did those things, mind you. And so, I thought of our upcoming GBC meet and of previous meetings where laughter was as certain a staple as a 2:1 quota of reading water per person (minimum). Despite a smaller group this month, perhaps you might lend a thought or two to your friends who were not able to make the date. Throw in a dry, clever, extraordinarily witty comment and laugh. Oh, and wear good shoes.

Watson First?

An overcast day lent itself to The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle. The stories are quick, succinct and sprinkled with old English phrasings which sent me consulting my OED. I felt like Watson in some moments, observing the same conditions at Mr. Holmes, but quite behind the conclusion on at least one of the stories. "The Adventure of the Red-Headed League" is thus far a favorite but "The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb" may take the lead (for obvious reasons). I hope your weekend has given an opportunity for mindful observation and at least one conversation with a dedicated friend.

Spicing it Up

I, along with the millions of others this week, am hopping on the Old Spice bandwagon. [I will be honest with you: I had no idea that Old Spice was still available for anyone under eighty.] After spending a bit of time (while procrastinating a small knitting project), I joined the rest of you and saw my first online ad. Tonight, while searching for my new local library, I found this little gem which seems like a perfect Friday evening addition to the blog.

Note: Side effects may include excessive use of parenthesis while writing.

Re-wind

At least one of our members (GBC Paige) is familiar with a local writer and hairstylist extraordinaire: Kristin Russell. I wanted to pass along a link to her blog and in particular to her novel: Recovering Ramona. The book is available online through Chapter 17 and thus far has been a really good read.

This intention has now set me on a path pondering the many meanings of recovering:

* the obvious: cover again
* the hopeful: find again
* the well: better again


and the relationship of this word to the character, Ramona, and then subsequently (as I can occasionally be self-absorbed) to me. Recovery is an opportunity and I like the thought of that.

Makes Me Feel Fine

So you are awake really early on a Monday morning and you are wondering what to do?

You could search your email to find the title of the next book for GBC (or read about it here): Taking Lottie Home by Terry Kay. This is one of those books which has emerged during discussions so repeatedly that I feel like I have already read it. (I have not, however I can certainly imagine GBC Milena saying the title with her California-turned-Tennessee voice.)

With just over a week before the discussion, there is still time to (summer) breeze through those last few pages while humming along with the jasmine in your mind.

Tea for One

The Universe has shifted my writing from odd days to even days. We will see how this goes.

One positive of moving to a new locale and not yet having a new circle of friends to influence behavior is that Saturday morning offers a good time to read. The atmosphere is quiet (if one does not consider the construction noise), and if one has worked a pretty obscene number of hours the previous week, there is no immediate pressure to tackle a new project.

A cup of tea and the last fifty pages of a book? Sign me up.

7-8-(9)-10

By now a couple of you may have noticed that I missed an odd day. The rest of you might now glance up and check the date. Yesterday was indeed an odd day.

Your summer reading tip is brought to you by Moda (not to be confused with my sister). While perusing through the store Monday, I overheard a very excited conversation about a story and then after asking me, "Are you looking for anything in particular?", the follow-up question was, "Have you read Gold Coast?" The next few comments were related to the book with various advice of: "read the series" and "do not read anything online about the books." I give weight to enthusiasm so Nelson DeMille just might make my list.

A Glass in July

I entered my house today with a conflict of perspective. "It is empty," said the part of my brain which has been accustomed to this address as "home" for nearly the last four years. "There is still quite a bit of stuff to deal with," said the part of my brain focused on task and the motions of moving forward.

I use "I have nearly finished the book" when I am enjoying the read or "it is almost done" when I am not. Two sides to describe every story that has one ending.

How will we describe our July read?

Bon Chance

I am living with a little chaos. Last weekend I made a huge dent in the boxes, but still a bit more organization to go. ("Bit" is, of course relative.) This weekend I am taking some time off from work. I am going to read, spend time with friends, laugh a lot, enjoy a bit (again relative) of reading water, and think of all the wonderful, amazing, crazy things which have happened in the last year since I was standing on a 3rd floor balcony under an eave in the pouring rain watching fireworks.

Happy Independence Day!

Stick Figures

While I thought that I might move into more "serious" reading in support of my new career, a book on the shelves caught my eye Monday evening, and I was not able to resist one more item in the "chic lit" genre. My sister had picked up a used a copy of Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell and had passed it along to me. The book has a Leopard print spine - why not?

With my current extended day schedule, I am only reading a few pages each night but with the first 100 pages, the book is quite consistent with the TV series of the same name which this author may have watched courtesy of Hulu. Of course, I should have made that comparison that in reverse, but I have not yet crossed over that caffeine threshold of creative wordings. As you look forward into the weekend, good luck with your book selections and choose something fun!