Boa to Tears

"Your boa has constricted itself." - Sarah

Her comment was directed to our author recapping an obvious issue when his feather boa became tangled into his bike's derailleur. As I moved through the last essay in Yoga for People Who Can't Be Bothered to Do it by Geoff Dyer, I thought the expression an apt description for the book. Perhaps I should taken my own advice and read an essay here or there rather than moving through the second half of the book in one sitting (with copious amounts of coffee).

The experiences became a bit of a blur and I am now hard-pressed to remember which girl went with which city and whether or not there were drugs involved. Perhaps this is the author's intent. The second half of the book beginning near "Decline and Fall" moves through several essays which contain a mousy hotel, a dead body, a breakup, lonely travel, and crying over breakfast. (Not exactly the thing to read during a rain storm if you are looking for a pick me up.)

On a positive note, "Leptis Magna" introduced me this site in Libya, and "The Zone" gave me insights into Burning Man. As I closed the last few pages, I could not help feeling as though I missed the something that I was supposed to take away.

Babble Babel

When I first opened the box to reveal a trio of books, my first thought was, "Oh, I have made a mistake when writing." After discovering the gift note from one of my dear friends and GBC members, I quickly moved to "Presents!" I later learned this NPR review for grammarians was at the heart of inspiration for this package.

A Dictionary of Modern English Usage by H.W. Fowler has four columns devoted to prepositions at the end of a sentence. Even via social media with 140 character constraints, I try to avoid the ending preposition. The tweets where I fail haunt me like the memory of my fourth grade teacher with pencils in her hair. With my morning coffee, I have reviewed onomatopeia and ottava rima.

John McWhorter's Introduction to The Power of Babel compares language to cloud formations. I like clouds so I immediately started skimming to see whether the book included Finnish. (Hyvä.)

The Lexicographer's Dilemma by Jack Lynch is yet untouched save a check of the dedication. He gives nods to three great teachers; I wonder if any had pencils in their hair.

Thanks GBC P@1ge.

In-Titled

The Long List for the Man Booker prize was announced last week. There were a few familiar authors but most of the other thirteen would be new reads for me. The short list will be announced in just over a month, and it is from this list I usually pull a new read. (Last year it was Room.)

Perhaps just as entertaining is the complete list of titles submitted for the "create your own Man Booker prize worthy title" which includes 10 references to "Tiger", "Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead," and "Life of 22/7." On that (constant) note, have a great end of week.

The Third Parallel

I have known those who read multiple books concurrently. I have heard various explanations: scholarly approach, boredom, inability to commit, or the right to brag at parties (which as I type the list, seems to resemble dating).

I tend to stand by my book but last night was forced into a plan C. Like many of you, I enjoy reading just before falling asleep. As I settled in for another chapter or two of Yoga for People Who Can't be Bothered to Do It, I saw this message:

[Don't worry if you can't read the text; just think of it as seeing through my glasses.] I was foiled by technology. Time to initiate a backup plan.

My Faraway One? Remember this book is heavy and I did not want the sensation of burning biceps as I nodded off. So it was that last night I began Turn Right at Machu Picchu by Mark Adams. Chapter One reaffirmed my desire to visit and secured the novel's place as my next read. Judging from the sheer volume of reviews I scrolled through to find Mr. Adams link, I am not the only fan.