Language & Grammar discussion
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The L&G Kitchen Party
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Introductions and Welcomes
LOL! What can I say I am shallow. hee hee. I will need to compare our books which I have not done. I hated Moby Dick ,I didn't even finish it . It is on my maybe someday I will finish it list.
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Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet: and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping in to the street and methodically knocking people's hats off -- then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can. This is my substitute for pistol and ball.
Writing like that makes starting the book over every few years for another attempt all the more worthwhile.
I like Melville a lot. If Moby Dick seems too formidable because of the length, Carol, you might try (although maybe you already have) the short story "Bartelby the Scrivener," which is a favorite of mine because of the eccentric main character and the old New York setting. "Billy Budd," the novella, is also a good and quick read, although less rich as a story, I think, than Moby D.
I will check it out I have not read either one. Stupid me tried Moby first.
Newengland wrote: "I've tried it a few times, liking it more each time, getting as far as the Queequeg-as-bed-mate scene. I'm thinking Melville's prose is an acquired taste and that I am slowly acquiring it more and..."
I often think of Melville and Hugo together. Both have very meaningful, symbolic, and thematic stories that reflect their own biases and passions; both deviate for considerable periods of time for thematically inconsequential exposition: but, while I love Hugo, he's not the gorgeous stylist that Melville is.
I often think of Melville and Hugo together. Both have very meaningful, symbolic, and thematic stories that reflect their own biases and passions; both deviate for considerable periods of time for thematically inconsequential exposition: but, while I love Hugo, he's not the gorgeous stylist that Melville is.
See I love Hugo what does that say about me.
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I once was put through Pierre for a college course. I still haven't forgiven the professor.
"... thematically-inconsequential exposition..." Love that, Logan. And it really shows something positive about Melville that you love him stuff despite the deviations!
Jonathan, what was it that ole Bartleby kept saying? I prefer not to, sir, or something like that? When I was in high school (long, long ago) the English Dept. switched required novels from Moby Dick to Billy Budd. Maybe if that time-saving move never happened, MD would be on my resume.
Newengland wrote: "Jonathan, what was it that ole Bartleby kept saying? I prefer not to, sir, or something like that?"Yes. "I would prefer not to." That was pretty much his all-purpose answer. And there are times when I feel that way myself.
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"After careful consideration: no."
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I tried to read it again maybe 4 or 5 years ago when it was a Constant Reader selection. I didn't last very long.
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On Monday, I'm hitting the dry, scorching September of MY soul in a school without air conditioning (ideal learning conditions, apparently).
I preferred Two Years Before the mast also Ruth. Maybe because of the history around here and Dana.
Yeah bake those lessons into them. Make a scorching imprint upon the little tikes. ha!
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Weeeeeellllllllllllll yeah. (Giggling) I climbed trees till I was 14 years old, and I built rock cities with roads, houses, swimming pools the whole nine yards. I was queen of the town and everyone had to do as I said. Do you think that is why my family calls me the general? hahahaha
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Read a HH as a kid. Didn't like it. Never read anoterh. Tried a Patrick O'Brian last year on the recommendation of someone whose judgment I trusted up until then. Didn't last 50 pages.
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Hello everyone,I'm a busy Mom-of-three boys from Massachusetts. Lawyer by trade; book lover for fun. I garden, scrapbook, cook, complain and dabble in politics for fun. Great to be here! I love goodreads and really enjoy the L&G group (Political Science major making up for her lack of education in English . . .)
Hi Kate--Welcome, and good to meet you.NE, my dad was a big fan of the Hornblower books, and I remember trying to read them when I was a kid. Unfortunately, I was a little to young to understand the history and a lot of the period references were lost on me. Flipping through channels, I recently caught a few minutes of the movie adaptation with Gregory Peck and Virginia Mayo--a fun costume drama, but said more about the 1950s than about the turn of the 19th century, I think.
Hi Kate--good to see you here.See I am learning. LOL
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Well I am a year late; but better late than never, right? I joined you guys sometime last year and then I proceeded to forget. Well I got busy and then I forgot. But I'm here now and looking forward to getting my Grammar on. Oh, by the way I am an English Major currently pursuing my bachelors degree at Berkeley City College. So, of course I will have lots of questions.
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I was going to wait and try to be the 1000th, but I saw a thread I wanted to contribute to...describe a book in six words, so I walked past 100 or so people and here I am. I'm interested in books, poetry, film, words and their origins and the history of the English language.My life in six words: so many books, so little time. I've written a few verses to celebrate joining this group:
I broke my arm
And while it set
Discovered the joys
Of the internet.
Three months ago I broke my arm while rollerblading. Since then I found Goodreads, started reading novels again(I'd been stuck in biography and nonfiction for a long time)and started writing poetry again after a break of thirty years. Just found this group today and it looks like a lot of fun. But I wrote a little warning for other newcomers:
Be wary of the kitchen
Where they're cooking up a roast
If you're not very careful
They'll have you on toast!
And I've even written one for the moderator:
His name is Newengland
Not Bill or Brian or Adam
You can call him New or NE
But please don't call him Madam!
.There once was a woman named Jan,
Who said, “Just as fast as I can,
I’ll join Language and Grammar
(our group!), and I’ll cram her
full of verse and good cheer à la Jan.”
A warm welcome, Jan. No point waiting till number 1000. Too much fun to be had in the meantime.
No sooner had she begunThan Jonathon joined in the fun,
But wouldn't you know it,
Our new little poet,
Wouldn't let him stay long in the sun!
It's the last day of winter here in Australia, so how about something a little "Frosty"?Two roads diverged in a wood
And I,
Joined Language and Grammar as I went by
And that has made all the difference.
So glad you joined the funand skipped above all the others
With your sparkling wit and humor
Welcome from the heart
You have made a good start
Welcome Jan!...our newest fan.
May you take much glee
in this merry menagerie!
We hail from all over the earth,
and find "Kiwis" full of mirth!
Suz the Muse
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Debbie, I'll try to come up with something better as I get to know you...but here's my first attempt:A place where their lack of vowels
Can leave you in a fix...
Our Debbie's from New Z..l.nd
Where you can't tell sex from six!
For what it's worth,I'm from Perth
Best place on earth.
Take a look at: HQ.Australia Day Perth Finale 2009
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Addendum for Jan....I lived in Sudney for suvun years so I know that of whuch oi spuk!
Debbie, I raise my hat,Yes, the earth is very flat
Here, but I'm basking in the sun,
Are you having so much fun?
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Extoll the worth of a teacher no higher praise for them
Of course you ask the kiddies
and they will say ahem
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Language & Grammar
Books mentioned in this topic
Roughing It (other topics)The Fault in Our Stars (other topics)
The Way We Live Now (other topics)
Farnsworth's Classical English Rhetoric (other topics)
Farnsworth's Classical English Rhetoric (other topics)
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In the two posts I have left here, how comprehensive an evaluation were you able to make of me (apparently, such a one that was reëvaluated with a simple checking of my profile)?