My day
Well, today was another happy day at Queens
We ended up in the library again, where a number of strange things happened; We were going up to floor 6 in the lift and when the door opened it announced 'six' and then it dropped a little and said again 'six'- Matt and I were waiting for it to make a final 'six' and us to walk out into a warped hell library dimension- but it never repeated again luckily.
While searching out books I saw some interesting things, which made me reflect upon the intertextuality (thank you first year English) of life. I find much of my experiences with books to be strangely linked by fate, as though trying to send messages to me.
For instance- I bought a book on writing Young Adult fiction by one ms Sherry Garland. I instantly regretted the use of my money while flicking through the quick tips on the actual writing part of a novel: I quote-
"Simple is best- Some authors claim that when given a choice between an Anglo-Saxon word and a Latin-based word, they choose the first. Anglo-Saxon words are a combination of Old English and Germanic languages and are often shorter and harsher sounding. Latin-derived words are often combinations of several words and softer sounding. For example, the word cow comes from Old ENglish; bovine comes from Latin. In action scenes. shorter Anglo-Saxon words are often more emotionally charged than long latin-derived words."
WHAT??? As I read simple is best, I would have been quite content with a warning not to use the right click thesaurus reflex while writing your novel in word- because your gonna come off sounding like a total ponce who just swallowed a dictionary and spewed it up. I was not expecting the word BOVINE to come into this. Or a short diluted history of the English language. Seriously, I feel well educated now that I have read this section- in my next uber action packed scene involving a cow, I will be sure to avoid the temptation within some writers to upset the emotionally charged balance and insert instead the word BOVINE!
"Moo," the bovine cow said, halting his charge towards the greener grass at the end of the field. He skidded in the mud, his four legs going out from beneath him before he could realise what was happening.
Uber-bovine, bully of the herd, appeared behind him, his dark bovine eyes glaring down at the fallen bovine, his lips chomping arrogantly at the cud. "Moo-hoo-hoo," He laughed cruelly.
Well today at Uni I strangely had occasion to think on this when I saw a very interesting titled book called 'The Snarling Muse' in the library. I read it out to matt and he thought I had said 'The snarling Moos'. I think this is rather good news for me, for I feel I can now count Matt among my bovine-obsessed target audience.
For his sins, I then made use of him as all males should be used in a University setting, women being the weaker vessel and all, you know?
Also I feel I ought to admit that during my session looking for these books in the library I had to do a double take upon reading the title of one particular book wrongly. Its not hard to guess how I read it, and my shock upon doing so---
Shocking, utterly shocking.
And so my friends, I bid thee farewell until next time.
Liadan xxx