~Words Matter~

Something came up in conversation the other day about C.S. Lewis, the marvelous author of the Narnia books and The Screwtape Letters.  It reminded me of this C. S. Lewis quotation: "You can't get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me."

I admire a well-written short story, but for satisfaction there's nothing like a really good novel.

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An imaginative local teacher has her students collect and bring in examples of typos and misspelled words from newspapers, magazines and web sources. It's to teach them to recognize sloppy writing. The class is assigned a quota every six weeks. We have had fun helping two of the students meet their quotas.

Our daily paper has been enough of a source that you think a budget cut must have eliminated the proofreader's job. One recent article was headed in bold print with 'principal' when it was 'principle' that was meant.

But before I criticize them I should own that my daughter found typos in two of my blogs. Egg on the writer's face. Blush here.

A friend who had been a newspaper proofreader found that reading backwards worked. Some say it helps to read what you've written out loud. Spellcheck can't catch everything. It can't know you mean 'for' when you write 'far' or vice versa.

I'll try to be more careful. And less critical.

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The women in our critique group passed around Katherine Weber's novel The Music Lesson which they all thought a beautifully crafted page turner. They urged it on the only male member, thinking he would at least enjoy the artistic references since his work in progress has an art background. He brought the book back a week later and said he couldn't get into it.

I was reminded of the three times I tried to read the much lauded Confederace of Dunces. With every reason to appreciate a book set in New Orleans, I simply could not stick with that one.

Does this prove there are 'guy books' as well as 'chick lit?' Maybe. Not necessarily. I suspect the difference in taste has more to do with a preference for character-centered fiction vs. plot or action-centered. Happy the writers like John le Carre who manage to combine both.

To each his/her own.

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If you aren't a reader of poetry and haven't read any poets in a while, look up nature lover Mary Gordon or Louisiana's adopted poet Julie Kane. See www.swamplily.com for a great interview with Kane.

I like poetry and occasionally dabble at writing it, but I haven't any training in the forms and restrictions, and I have a conviction that bad poetry is more embarassing than bad prose.

Especially for the writer, poetry offers more than personal pleasure.  It teaches economy of words and the distillation of an idea to its most evocative expression, good things to strive for in any writing.

Next time, instead of beach fiction, pick up a book of poems and enjoy.

N

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Why do you suppose we make such a fuss over birthdays ending with zero? One generation was told to 'never trust anyone over thirty.' Somebody made a lot of money on a book called Life Begins at Forty. And tell me, is 80 really the new 60?

Think  how much emotion we invest in certain dates. Anniversaries carry freight, good or bad, and affect us for their duration. Here in the U.S. we countdown the lowering of the ball in Times Square when it's already been the next year half way around the world.

With us or without us, as the newsreel used to proclaim: Time marches on.

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