I remember that Maconie book. He travelled around the UK stopping off at
every Greggs bakers shop for a chicken and mushroom pasty. I actually went
into my local Gregs and asked for one of the aforementioned pasties, and,
alas, they told me they did not sell them.
What a let down. I think the book was called "Pies and prejudice", and his
previous book was "Cider with roadies".
I think he has a new one out. I wonder if it has a witty title?
David
-----Original Message-----
From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Ian Macrae
Sent: 11 June 2013 21:26
To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: Language In Books
Brilliant! Another book I found littered with errors was one by Stuart
Maconey, which I think was called HOpe And glory and concerned visits to
various notable for one reason or another places in England.
On 11 Jun 2013, at 20:35, Trish Talbot wrote:
Oh yes, Ian, Ellis Peters playing Mrs. Dale. Wasn't she eventually
replaced and the part taken over by Stanley Matthews?
Trish.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Ian Macrae" <ian.macrae1@xxxxxxx>
To: <ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2013 6:43 PM
Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: Language In Books
One instance of this I came across in non fiction Trish was when I read
Simon elmes's history of voices on radio called Hello Again. At one point
he referred to the actor who played Mrs Dale as Ellis Peters. I emailed him
to congratulate him on what is a very interesting and entertaining book but
could not resist the chance to point out his error. She was actually named
Ellis Powell. The sound of him kicking himself was very audible in his
reply when he'd realised that ellis Peters was a crime writer. On the
language front what also get me going is the use of expressions which just
weren't around at the time. Excellent though C J Sansum's dominion is,
there are a few examples of this in there. I think at one point someone
says, "There you go" which I'm sure didn't come into common usage until the
early 70s, not the 50s.
On 11 Jun 2013, at 17:21, Trish Talbot wrote:
I must admit, Ian, that I didn't notice, let alone be annoyed by,
"Knowing the heft of every knife", but I know just how much t5hese things
can irritate. I getfind it frustrating when American words sneak into
supposedly very British books, e.g. "She put the book in her purse". (Must
have been a big purse, her handbag must have been very large to hold itj).
Much as I loved the book, I found it disappointing when, atnear the end of
Michelle Magorian's "GGoodnight, Mr. Tom", she talks about one of the girls
wearing Zak's "Pants" when she means trousers, and about two sentences
later, talks about them spooning "Jelly" onto their bread. I also dislike
it when a dialect word is either used in the wrong sense, or spoken by
someone supposedly from a different county, though this tends to happen more
in TV dramatisations than in books.
The other "Red car in Benn-Hurr" equivalent that jars on me is when a
writer refers to a record or piece of music which wasn't recorded at the
time. Maeve Binchy is guilty of this in "Firefly Summer". It shouldn't
matter really, but it makes the story slightly less believable.
Trish
----- Original Message ----- From: Ian Macrae
To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2013 11:34 AM
Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: Rosamund Lupton.
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
---------------------------------------------------------------------
---------
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 10.0.1432 / Virus Database: 3199/5899 - Release Date:
06/10/13
-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 10.0.1432 / Virus Database: 3199/5902 - Release Date:
06/11/13
-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 10.0.1432 / Virus Database: 3199/5902 - Release Date: 06/11/13
