Language & Grammar discussion

Humid here at the beach, too. Rare. If it weren't for the fact that our onshore breeze has finally returned, I'd be dying. We have no AC.

September is often our hottest month.

July is usually ours. Well, in Maine it is. Fall gets a toehold in the door come August. Down in the flatlands, though, the Dog Days of August are a match for July.

In my younger years, I made pot roast with root vegetables, and an apple pie on the first cold day. Now I just say, "It's about damned time."

Autumn is my favorite season, and reason to look forward to retirement when it can be fully savored. Like the weather, like the foliage, like the cuisine.

I hate autumn because it leads into the holiday season when I am surrounded by oughtas and shouldas.

Not to mention triteisms.

Thanksgiving is easy (except on the wallet, given the price of food). Christmas? We're in agreement. I've come to loathe it. I shouldn't feel guilty or curmudgeon-like about that, but I do.

I hate xmas, with no guilt at all. Every year I threaten to choose that time to take a trip. But given our ages, and the state of travel at that time of the year, I think it would be best to just lock the doors and TELL everyone we're gone.

In Kevin Costner's film version of "Robin Hood", the Sheriff of Nottingham, played incomparably by Alan Rickman, becomes so frustrated with his inability to control Robin and His Merrie Men that he orders, "And cancel Christmas!"

I have heard that, in recent times, Halloween is running a very close second to Christmas in consumerism. I, personally, cannot help but wonder if, since these were originally religious holidays, the spirit of worship still underlies this behavior, with the dollar replacing whatever spiritual being was originally the life of the party.

Easter Bunnies, anyone?

Drinking holidays are up, too. Everything revolves around beer, wine, and liquor, it seems. They started with St. Patrick's Day (no jokes, please). Then it was El Cinco de Mayonnaise.

Now it's Halloween for adults. They throw a party on the nearest weekend to the 31st, dress like costumed children, then get plastered and behave like children would if children got drunk. Then they e-mail each other afterwards (or post in the inevitable Facebook pages) what a blast it was.

Uh, right.

And let's not forget how drunk some people get on Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and that weekly holiday, "Thirsty Thursday" (weekends don't start early enough, apparently, so it's a necessary jump start).

A friend who is a cop in a rough city says Mother's Day is the worst. Get together to show ma how much you love her, and start fighting.
I can't stand adult Halloween. Idiots.
I think I will skip town at Christmas.
This weather better improve.

Joanne wrote: "A friend who is a cop in a rough city says Mother's Day is the worst. Get together to show ma how much you love her, and start fighting.
I can't stand adult Halloween. Idiots.
I think I will skip ..."

Really? More than Thanksgiving? Hunh. Well, you've taught me something, Joanne. Thanks.

It's tough to read books in fits and starts. With the start of the school year, I've been doing just that, only reading 20/30 mins. each night in bed before beaming up to the Land of Nod.

Anyway, trying to get through Sparta: A Novel. Author Robinson has done a lot of research on Iraq (the protagonist is newly home and suffering post traumatic difficulties). Must admit, it's like being afflicted with the depressing news at times.

Meanwhile, a shipment of new books arrived from the store. Their siren call encourages me to abandon this soldier, but I am tied to the mast, doing my best to stay the course.

1984 by George Orwell. Any thoughts on this book?

Murakami: 1Q84 absolutely fascinating. You can almost see the bricks being laid carefully, methodically to build the edifice of the story.

Alexandra wrote: "1984 by George Orwell. Any thoughts on this book?"

Been too long since I have read it.


I downloadedKing Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror and Heroism in Colonial Africa, to go along with the bookCry, the Beloved Country.

It's fab Alexandra. I think everyone should read it at least once.

I read Xavier Herbert's Poor Fellow My Country in hospital. They had an excellent library. It had the kind of paper that is usually seen in prayer books, so thin! And it was 2 inches thick! I was amazed how quickly I read it.

I have a vague idea I may have read, Cry, the Beloved Country: A Novel of South Africa, in any case I will read it soon!

It is so poetic, if that is possible. The second book is about the genecide perpetrated by King Leopold of Belgium. Over 10 million people were murdered .

Carol wrote: "It is so poetic, if that is possible. The second book is about the genecide perpetrated by King Leopold of Belgium. Over 10 million people were murdered ."

I forgot to reserve it! Thanks Carol.(I love your King of the household, you love him, too. Admit it!)

Yes, I do.

I'm reading The Ophelia Cut byJohn Lescroart. I won the book in a book giveaway last year on this site.

I'm also reading another book that I won written bySue Halpern, titled A Dog Walks Into a Nursing Home: Lessons in the Good Life from an Unlikely Teacher.

Angela wrote: "It's fab Alexandra. I think everyone should read it at least once."

Finished! I liked it very much,it left me with a bitter taste although,you know,for Smith..

I am reading The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale, The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum, and At Home: a Brief History of Private Life by Bill Bryson. I just finished Emma by Jane Austen, and want to read all the other Jane Austen books.

One at a time, Miranda!

I can't bring myself to read Oz because the movie's so good. How can one top the other?

I'm reading Isabel Allende's latest book "Maya's Notebook." Thus far, I'm not enjoying it as much as I enjoyed her earliest books but it's still interesting.

Lisa wrote: "I'm reading Isabel Allende's latest book "Maya's Notebook." Thus far, I'm not enjoying it as much as I enjoyed her earliest books but it's still interesting."

Hmmm, I have thought about reading this , as I do like her. I will follow your review when you finish.

I'm almost finished with "The Thirteenth Tale," a silly time waster.

Joanne wrote: "I'm almost finished with "The Thirteenth Tale," a silly time waster."

People said it was good, but didn't find it to be. In fact I don't think I even finished it.

Carol wrote: "Joanne wrote: "I'm almost finished with "The Thirteenth Tale," a silly time waster."

People said it was good, but didn't find it to be. In fact I don't think I even finished it."
I'm stuck in the house with a stomach bug, and I don't have to use any brain cells to get through this book.

I just finished slogging my way through Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital by Sheri Fink. Needed a machete to cut through the verbiage in the second half.

Kill those verbs, Ruth! Dense diction is the enemy.

Newengland wrote: "Kill those verbs, Ruth! Dense diction is the enemy."

Who cares! Did you like it, Ruth?

I just now finished The Things They Carried. Memoires of the Vietnam War. I could not stop reading it. I gave it 5 stars. Gory , but touching none the less. Things these young men carried with them everyday. Plus the horror , stink and atrocities, they carry for a lifetime.

Alexandra wrote: "Angela wrote: "It's fab Alexandra. I think everyone should read it at least once."

Finished! I liked it very much,it left me with a bitter taste although,you know,for Smith.."

Yes, Orwell does seem to have the effect. Glad you liked it.

Carol wrote: "I just now finished The Things They Carried. Memoires of the Vietnam War. I could not stop reading it. I gave it 5 stars. Gory , but touching none the less. Things these young men ..."

An amazing , unforgettable book.

I loved The Things They Carried, too. Great beginning, and sustained.

I'm reading, among other things, Seriously Funny: Poems about Love, Death, Religion, Art, Politics, Sex, and Everything Else, a book of (sometimes) funny poems about serious matters.

I got about a third into Cry, the Beloved Country, and had to leave it. Too, too, sad and I couldn't go any further. I am a coward, I realise; I will try again, later this year.

I startedThe Adventures and Misadventures of Maqroll, a little like reading Don Quixoti.

S. wrote: "I loved The Things They Carried, too. Great beginning, and sustained.

I'm reading, among other things, [book:Seriously Funny: Poems about Love, Death, Religion, Art, Politics, Sex, ..."

A funny poem is hard to find. Flannery O'Connor, I think.

Carol wrote: "I startedThe Adventures and Misadventures of Maqroll, a little like reading Don Quixoti."

LOVED IT!!!! Everyone in my book club had strange and colorful dreams when we read Maqroll.

I've just started Brideshead Revisited which is my first by Evelyn Waugh. Liking it already :)

Never had the urge to read it or watch it. I think I must get put off by people saying - you must...!

Exactly. You have to visit Brideshead before you can revisit it....

Haha! Well I am revisiting Bridey and thoroughly enjoying it :-) would love to watch the series too... Oooo that Jeremy Irons....

I'm reading "Little Failure" by Gary Shteyngart. I like it more than his novels, but it evokes some tough childhood memories. I was often the only Jewish kid in my elementary classes, with cruel results.

I'm reading San Miguel by TC Boyle. I didn't much like the aura of smartassedness in his earlier books. Now that aspect has been traded for flatfootedness. I doubt I'd finish this if it wasn't a Constant Reader discussion selection.

My sentiments , Ruth. I finished it, but it was a struggle

All right! All right! I'll give Brideshead a go!

I finished The Invention of Wings; I like the way the woman writes. For some reason, I can be interested in everything she says, it must be the way she phrases the words... some other writers seem to want to make it difficult for the reader to continue...? I read The Secret Life of Beesand fell in love with her work. I also read The Mermaid Chair and found it both too silly in parts and and all too real in others, at he same time??
Still, I will wait anxiously for her new work as I do with all my Faves.

Good decision Gabi - I am really enjoying it :)

I also read The Secret Life of Bees but never saw the film. Did you see it?