A Modest Construct

¶ In the Land of Invented Languages

In the Land of Invented Languages by Arika Okrent: Publisher: Spiegel & Grau; Year: 2009; Pages: 352

Though I’d never call myself a proper linguist, I have had (ever since reading Bill Bryson’s Made In America, though the inclination probably predated that) an abiding interest in languages, grammars, and orthography.

I, like many children, invented “languages” when I was young, which was an exercise in substitution tables rather than the creation of a new grammar. Hell, I did it as recently as high school. The impulse to create new words and “languages” is universal, I think, though it may arise from different reasons.

§4522 · September 30, 2009 · 6 comments · Tags: Book Reviews, books, linguistics, nonfiction, science

¶ The Enchanted Forest Chronicles

The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede: Publisher: Guild America; Year: 1993; Pages: 617

I seem determined lately to cover books I discovered in the sixth grade. The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, while better as a single volume, was originally marketed—still is—as a series of four books for young adults. I chose the fourth and final book in the series, Talking to Dragons, as the subject of a book report. It was entertaining, I suppose, but surprisingly typical—even formulaic: young man quests with sort, meets beautiful girl, and saves kingdom. One got the distinct impression, however, that a deep, satirical vein ran throughout, though I was perhaps unable to fully appreciate it at the time.

§4510 · September 28, 2009 · (No comments) · Tags: Book Reviews, books, fantasy, fiction, reviews

¶ The Road Home

The Road Home by Ellen Emerson White: Publisher: Scholastic; Year: 1995; Pages: 496

See the previous book in this series, Stand Down.

Before I was as internet-savvy as I am now, I had a rather difficult time knowing when books I really liked were part of an even larger series. Back in 1996, I read Knee-Deep in the Dead several times before I found it, with some resultant apoplexy, that there were three more books. I discovered Lord Conrad’s Lady several years after lamenting the relative shortness of the preceding four-book series.

Topically, it was once again after at least two times reading the Echo Company that I realized there was even more to the series than I thought. In my defense, I had no idea at the time that Zack Emerson was a pen-name; nor would I have supposed that Ellen Emerson White would write the final book in that series (a) under her real name and (b) so long after the preceding books.

§4440 · September 26, 2009 · (No comments) · Tags: Book Reviews, books, fiction, reviews

¶ I’m a Stranger Here Myself

I'm a Stranger Here Myself by Bill Bryson: Publisher: Broadway; Year: 2000; Pages: 304

I’m perfectly well aware that Bill Bryson can be funny. The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid had me laugh out loud; A Walk in the Woods, too, was hilarious.

But most of Bryson’s writing—and humor—is in long form. That is, Bryson writes books. There was a time, however, when he wrote a sort-of weekly column for a British newspaper (The Mail on Sunday Night and Day during the years he lived with his family in New Hampshire (he’s since moved back to England). I’m a Stranger Here Myself is about Americana, but not in the same way as The Lost Continent, nor is it about America in the same way that Notes from a Small Island was about England.

§4497 · September 25, 2009 · (No comments) · Tags: Bill Bryson, Book Reviews, books, nonfiction, reviews

¶ I Drink for a Reason

I Drink for a Reason by David Cross: Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; Year: 2009; Pages: 256

David Cross is perhaps best known for his TV work, which includes Tobias Fünke on Arrested Development and involvement with Mr. Show. Though I’ve seen at least the first season of the former, I’m not particularly familiar with Cross’ TV work, and know him mostly from his comedy albums Shut Up You Fucking Baby! and It’s Not Funny.

Actually, my first exposure to cross was his comedy special on HBO, The Pride is Back, and I hated it, thinking cross an affected and unfunny comedian. Several years later, a friend of mine recommended him, saying that he had a particular style that you really have to learn to appreciate, but when you did, you laughed your ass off. He was right.

§4473 · September 22, 2009 · (No comments) · Tags: Book Reviews, books, nonfiction, reviews