[ebooktalk] Re: Rosamund Lupton.
- From: Ian Macrae <ian.macrae1@xxxxxxx>
- To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 11:34:59 +0100
Hi elaine, for me it doesn't matter whether the language reflects the reality
of such a person. This, as you suggest, is fiction after all. I'm sure the
Saxons and Danes in Bernard cornwell's series set at the time of Alfred didn't
speak in the way, meaning I suppose the idiom that his characters do. for me
it's about whether they are true to the story and to the overall intention of
the author. That phrase from the Bradford family's cook about knowing the heft
of every knife just jarred with me. It's like the fact that people have
spotted that there's a red car in one of the backgrounds of the great chariot
race from the movie of Ben Her.
On 10 Jun 2013, at 23:56, Elaine Harris (Rivendell) wrote:
> Ah, yes, I see what you mean.
>
> I don’t recall her bring particularly articulate but you could well be right.
> In fact, you have raised a most interesting question there. It has often
> occurred to me in the past that some characters express themselves more
> clearly and/or in better language than might their real life counterparts; it
> used to annoy me but no longer does. Not sure why. Perhaps an acceptance of
> artistic licence and a fear of inverted snobbier: as in, who am I to judge
> how well or badly someone may express themselves. It has occurred to me
> often, though, throughout my many years of reading.
> Thank you for prompting me to think about it again.
>
> Elaine
>
> From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> On Behalf Of Ian Macrae
> Sent: Tuesday, 11 June 2013 6:21 AM
> To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: Rosamund Lupton.
>
> Hi elanie, I'm sure I'll go back to the book, but the cook in question was
> the one who was fired when the big cheese family fled the village.
> On 10 Jun 2013, at 19:38, Elaine Harris (Rivendell) wrote:
>
>
> Ian, I can understand your doubts with Geraldine brooks’ Anna but since the
> narrator – by the end of the book and the perspective from which she is
> telling the story – is no mere seventeenth-century cook. Her education grows
> along with the book.
>
> For the record, Geraldine Brooks is Australian, started out as a reporter and
> her first book was non-fiction on Moslem women, married to Anthony (Tony)
> Horrowitz; not sure if he is English but is well-known for his children’s
> fiction (which I have not read) and they live in America though I think spend
> a fair amount of time in the UK.
>
> I loved the language; to me that was part of the thrill of the book; many of
> the words I think you would find only in a mediaeval dictionary.
>
> However, only you can know if a book is for you.
>
> Take care,
>
> Elaine
>
>
>
>
>
> From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> On Behalf Of Ian Macrae
> Sent: Tuesday, 11 June 2013 3:25 AM
> To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: Rosamund Lupton.
>
> Anyone care to outline what kind of fiction she writes? I must confess to be
> still struggling rather with Geraldine Brooks. Part of it is language. I
> don't believe any cook in the 17th century would ever have said, :I now the
> heft of every knife in this kitchen". It's a bit like those female American
> writers of historical fiction who think they create the language of the 15th
> century by inserting the word "Do" before every active verb.
> On 10 Jun 2013, at 17:54, Shell wrote:
>
>
>
> I think you might enjoy Sister David, though you do have to be on top of
> things at the end as Steve says. I think it's much more up your street
> though.
> Shell.
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "David Russell" <david.russell8@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Monday, June 10, 2013 3:58 PM
> To: <ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: Rosamund Lupton.
>
> > I read "Afterwards" and really struggled with it for many reasons. It would
> > take a good deal of persuasion for me to try reading Lupton again.
> >
> >
> > David
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> > On Behalf Of Clare Gailans
> > Sent: 10 June 2013 12:03
> > To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: Rosamund Lupton.
> >
> > Trish, I have Sister and will try it now as you say it is so much better. I
> > thought all the out-of-body business in Afterwrds spoilt what was otherwise
> > a good book. Clare
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
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