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Recent Book Finds
Aug. 22nd, 2018 07:14 amThese are my recent charity shop finds-
Aug. 22nd, 2018
Broadstairs
Aug. 22nd, 2018 09:42 amOne of my visits yesterday was in sunny Broadstairs, which is roughly halfway between Ramsgate and Margate.
Looking downthe High Street.
..and in the opposite direction.
The sea in the background.
Looking downthe High Street.
..and in the opposite direction.
The sea in the background.
Book 58 - Mark Forsyth "The Horologicon"
Aug. 22nd, 2018 11:43 amMark Forsyth "The Horologicon" (Icon Books)
A thoroughly entertaining and endearing book, The Horologicon is an attempt by author Mark Forsyth to introduce us to many of the fantastic lesser-known words and phrases in the English language. It sorts these peculiar words into chapters organized by the time of day you might need them (waking up, commuting to work, lunch, etc. - 'horologicon' literally means 'book of hours', Forsyth informs us). However, it is not a pedantic reference work; it is told in an engaging, conversational prose with plenty of humour, well-chosen anecdotes and a clear, infectious enthusiasm for the subject matter. Although Forsyth tries to warn us that it is indeed a reference work and that we should on no account attempt to read it cover to cover" (pg. 2), I have to say that I did not heed his advice and still found it to be a witty and amiable read. I don't know how many of the words I will remember, but I will certainly endeavour to use the following whenever possible:
-- borborygmi (the rumbling noise made by an empty stomach, p91).
-- eye-servant (an employee who only works when they're being watched, p120).
-- flesh-company and carnal confederacy (having sex, p213).
-- gunfire (British soldier slang for a strong cup of tea, "on the basis that it had the same enlivening effect upon the senses as coming under attack from the enemy", p129).
-- shemozzle (to get out of the way, p140).
-- shturmovshchina (a Russian word meaning to work frantically just before a deadline, having not done any work for the last month, p136. Known to students everywhere as 'cramming').
-- thrumble (the rumbling noise a kettle makes just before it boils, p70).
-- uthceare (an Old English word meaning to lie awake in bed before dawn and worrying, p7)."
In his preambulation Mark Forsyth states that this book is for those words that are..
“To beautiful to live long, too amusing to be taken seriously, too precise to become common, too vulgar to survive in polite company, or too poetic to thrive in this age of prose.”
He goes on to say that these words languish away in old and arenaceous dictionaries, that these are the lost words and the great secrets of civilisations that can still be of use today.
A delightful book.
A thoroughly entertaining and endearing book, The Horologicon is an attempt by author Mark Forsyth to introduce us to many of the fantastic lesser-known words and phrases in the English language. It sorts these peculiar words into chapters organized by the time of day you might need them (waking up, commuting to work, lunch, etc. - 'horologicon' literally means 'book of hours', Forsyth informs us). However, it is not a pedantic reference work; it is told in an engaging, conversational prose with plenty of humour, well-chosen anecdotes and a clear, infectious enthusiasm for the subject matter. Although Forsyth tries to warn us that it is indeed a reference work and that we should on no account attempt to read it cover to cover" (pg. 2), I have to say that I did not heed his advice and still found it to be a witty and amiable read. I don't know how many of the words I will remember, but I will certainly endeavour to use the following whenever possible:
-- borborygmi (the rumbling noise made by an empty stomach, p91).
-- eye-servant (an employee who only works when they're being watched, p120).
-- flesh-company and carnal confederacy (having sex, p213).
-- gunfire (British soldier slang for a strong cup of tea, "on the basis that it had the same enlivening effect upon the senses as coming under attack from the enemy", p129).
-- shemozzle (to get out of the way, p140).
-- shturmovshchina (a Russian word meaning to work frantically just before a deadline, having not done any work for the last month, p136. Known to students everywhere as 'cramming').
-- thrumble (the rumbling noise a kettle makes just before it boils, p70).
-- uthceare (an Old English word meaning to lie awake in bed before dawn and worrying, p7)."
In his preambulation Mark Forsyth states that this book is for those words that are..
“To beautiful to live long, too amusing to be taken seriously, too precise to become common, too vulgar to survive in polite company, or too poetic to thrive in this age of prose.”
He goes on to say that these words languish away in old and arenaceous dictionaries, that these are the lost words and the great secrets of civilisations that can still be of use today.
A delightful book.
Just Wondering
Aug. 22nd, 2018 10:14 pmYou’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire. They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend. The criticism is distasteful and unjustified. What do you do?
Would you break the law to save a loved one?
Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?
Would you break the law to save a loved one?
Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?
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