My pet hate in reading is authors who suddenly throw in a word, expression or gesture that is out of context; usually contemporary placed into an historical setting.
EG yesterday afternoon I started reading a recommended a book, set late 1850's in China. I was reading along very well, when suddenly ' Third sister followed us as best she could. She was a funny ornery little thing...' eek and arrghhh . The author was named 2001 National Woman of the Year by the Organization of Chinese American Woman
Now I am not 100% certain but I feel that ornery may well be somewhat less
than 19th Century Chinese vernacular.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Given that it is being used in a descriptive sense and not as dialogue, it's not something that would really bother me.
it is kind of a contradictory statement - funny and ornery (Mean-spirited, disagreeable, and contrary in disposition; cantankerous) - so wouldn't that be an oxymoron - humm? - not sure why someone would describe someone who is trying to keep up with the other sisters as ornery - but that is just me - anyway - keep up the good work and hopefully your writing is not falling behind (I've found with all the book reviews I have on my nightstand I tend to neglect my writing some, and then feel like I'm not accomplishing anything - and you are reading for research or just for pleasure?
oh well, maybe the author meant something else and it was a typo - good luck with figuring it out - E :)
Post a Comment