Should Work Like a Charm

#newyorktimes #wordnerd #Halloween

When I read the last edition of the New York Times book review, it made me think I need something apotropaic for this Halloween evening. Armed and ready. Garlic works.

How Do I Really Love Thee?

What a paean to love this is, for better or for worse, from the inimitable Elizabeth Gilbert in “Committed.”* So tender--and so funny...

I love this man. I love him for countless ridiculous reasons. I love his square, sturdy, Hobbit-like feet. I love the way he always sings “La Vie en Rose” when he’s cooking dinner. (Needless to say, I love that he cooks dinner.) I love how he speaks almost perfect English but still, even after all these years with the language, sometimes manages to invent marvelous words. (“Smoothfully” is a personal favorite of mine, though I’m also fond of “lulu-bell,” which is Felipe’s own lovely translation for the word “lullaby.”)

I love that he’s never quite mastered the exact wording or pacing of certain English-language idioms either. (“Don’t count your eggs while they’re still up inside the chicken’s ass,” is a terrific example, though I’m also a big fan of “Nobody sings till the fat lady sings.”) I love that Felipe can never—not for the life him—keep straight the names of American celebrities. (“George Cruise” and “Tom Pitt” are two prime examples.)

*P. 121

#exposition #author

If exposition is on the menu,

you had better serve it right and make it tasty.

-C.Wendig

Black and White

#brasileiríssimo

Categorizing people as simply black or white is nonsensical to my sensibilities. No one is white; no one is black. When people see the color green, there is no discussion as to whether to label it yellow or blue. Mix the two and they make green. Green is green. How about describing the physical appearances we see: rich cream, luscious marzipan, perfect cafe-au-lait, rich chocolate. And for anyone interested in significant differences between people, culture is a far more important determiner of how and why they differ.

Whether writing fiction or non-fiction, I think it is more effective to describe the appearance of a person/character with visually observant and descriptive terms. When writing, I can save black and white to depict a person/character who has a narrow-minded, metaphorical black-and-white perception of the world or to demonstrate that said person/character has a categorical attitude toward race. 

The following books are helpful in understanding the very significant impact of cultural differences between people:

On Race and Culture by Thomas Sowell

Intercultural Communication by Tracy Novinger

A Conundrum

#fiction #characters

Finishing the Nth book in a thriller series (yes, I confess, that is how I escape), I was bemused. I still liked the hero despite all of his flaws apparent in the unfolding of the plot, but I found I felt annoyed with the author for some plot details that I found overly sordid. What? Feeling pro the fictitious protagonist and annoyed with the author? How ironic. What does that mean? It clearly means a tour de force by the author in creating his character. Kudos.

Making Sense

We like fiction because it often gives us the illusion that our world makes sense.

One of the most prominent characteristics of our left brain is its ability to weave stories. This story-teller portion of our left mind is specifically designed to make sense of the world outside of us, based on minimal amounts of information. It takes whatever details it has to work with, and weaves them together in the form of a story. Most impressively, our left brain is brilliant in its ability to make stuff up, and fill in the blanks when there are gaps in its factual data.

I like the above observation, paraphrased from neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor. Her book "My Stroke of Insight," memoir of a stroke she suffered, allows the reader to share in the experience as seen from the inside out by a person who is better qualified than most to examine the workings of her own brain.

Faces...

#tuesdays #faces #stories

 I look into faces, seeking their stories.

What stories do these  FACES  tell you?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZwPB5cm3bs