Yes, I do too. I very much subscribe to what has been called 'slow journalism'. We have a publication over here (UK) called Delayed Gratification that covers the news stories of the previous three months, so they go into depth. I don't buy it often because it's quite expensive and not many places stock it anyway: https://www.slow-journalism.com/ I have another newsletter, not on Substack, and I did half think about having the tagline 'Always last with the news'! But someone who reads it said it should be 'Always best with the news', which was kind of him, but basically he said it because I always like to think about stuff rather than giving an instant reaction just to have a trending Twitter thread or something!
Wow, thank you so much for such a great analysis of so many books, Terry - it's a treasure trove! I'm a fangirl of David Crystal - it's his fault that I chose to read linguistics at university.
Thanks Rebecca. I always worry that these long posts reviewing several books on a particular theme are off-putting because of their length, so your feedback it's much appreciated.
I bet your course was interesting. Was there a particular book of his that made you decide on that course?
Well, I'd noticed that Substack's estimated read time was 20 minutes, I think, so it was one of the posts I came back to when I knew I could give it the time. I have to admit that my preferred length for posts is a good deal shorter than that, but I do read all your stuff, Terry.
Actually I'd already decided on German and Linguistics after seeking out a German degree course that wasn't half language, half literature, and one course really stood out - I started doing some homework on linguistics after I'd had my interest piqued at 17 by an incredibly enthusiastic professor from the University of York at a schools' event in London. I read the Language & Linguistics Department's section of the prospectus on the train on the way home. 'Wow, this is ME!' I thought, and immediately bought David Crystal's 'Linguistics' to learn more before I applied. It's very dated now, but was an excellent general introduction to the subject.
"I do read all your stuff". You are clearly a woman of intelligence, sophistication, and discernment, Rebecca. Seriously though, thank you! I read all of yours too. In fact, I feel lost if I don't...
Nov 20, 2022·edited Nov 20, 2022Liked by Terry Freedman
🤣 and thank you and 🤣 again, Terry! Smooooooooth talker.......
D'you know what, though, I'm writing rather less often about getting lost, with other stuff creeping in. Getting lost is still a BIG THING in my life, and always will be, don't get me wrong, and I've still got plenty of stories in the archives of my brain to dig out and share, but as I'm gaining confidence in my writing I'm finding I'm enjoying about writing about other stuff too. I think when I started on Substack I was looking to have a theme, or a - dare I say it? - NICHE - but heck, I'm enjoying just writing where my heart takes me, lost or not lost.
Two thoughts, Rebecca, should you be interested in my musings: 1. You write so beautifully, and illustrated so nicely (amazing what you can achieve with a Box Brownie (that's going to be the first line of my review of your hubby's book, if it ever arrives)) that you could write about paper clips and make it interesting. 2. There's always the idea of getting lost in a figurative sense, or a digital sense. Try phoning my bank, where the phone menu options go on for hours).
*grabs notebook to muse heavily on the pros and cons of brass paperclips versus stainless steel*
I have enough issues with my own bank, thanks....! Try bellowing 'HUMAN!' repeatedly next time you try to ring yours - that has the potential to skip many a menu option, in my experience.
Terry, your description of Dreyer’s English is how I would describe Bryan Garner’s A Dictionary of Modern American Usage, published in the ‘90s. I can’t speak for his later editions, which are titled differently, but I have a copy of the above title, and it is one of my favorite books. Garner slyly inserts humor and also discusses BrE. The only problem is every time I open it, I realize how much I still need to learn.
D. Foster Wallace wrote an essay about Garner’s book, a review of sorts, which was also published in one of his collections, I forget which. Wallace’s essay was what pointed me towards Garner.
Yes, I have it! It's in the David Foster Wallace Reader. I also referred to his article in my article. I'll have to read it again now, as I can't remember what he said about Garner's book. Thanks for that, Corey!
I think the article you referred to is a different one, but I am often wrong. Wait, I just looked it up. You’re right. It is the same essay. I read it in Consider The Lobster.
Lol. Your comment reminded me of a letter I once read that someone had sent to a company. It read, in part: "One of the screws is missing. How am I supposed to put this thing together? Oh wait, I just found it."!
That's interesting, Joel. We Brits only use the 'Thereby hangs a tale' one, not the others! I love leafing through those books too, because of the serendipity aspect: you never know what you might come across!
I'm bookmarking this one, Terry--thanks! Very helpful write-up!
Thanks, Holly. I'm glad it's useful. I was a bit worried that it's too long!
It’s definitely a large read, but I like those! The save feature is great for revisiting and gleaning something new. Slow reads make you think.
Yes, I do too. I very much subscribe to what has been called 'slow journalism'. We have a publication over here (UK) called Delayed Gratification that covers the news stories of the previous three months, so they go into depth. I don't buy it often because it's quite expensive and not many places stock it anyway: https://www.slow-journalism.com/ I have another newsletter, not on Substack, and I did half think about having the tagline 'Always last with the news'! But someone who reads it said it should be 'Always best with the news', which was kind of him, but basically he said it because I always like to think about stuff rather than giving an instant reaction just to have a trending Twitter thread or something!
Wow, thank you so much for such a great analysis of so many books, Terry - it's a treasure trove! I'm a fangirl of David Crystal - it's his fault that I chose to read linguistics at university.
Thanks Rebecca. I always worry that these long posts reviewing several books on a particular theme are off-putting because of their length, so your feedback it's much appreciated.
I bet your course was interesting. Was there a particular book of his that made you decide on that course?
Well, I'd noticed that Substack's estimated read time was 20 minutes, I think, so it was one of the posts I came back to when I knew I could give it the time. I have to admit that my preferred length for posts is a good deal shorter than that, but I do read all your stuff, Terry.
Actually I'd already decided on German and Linguistics after seeking out a German degree course that wasn't half language, half literature, and one course really stood out - I started doing some homework on linguistics after I'd had my interest piqued at 17 by an incredibly enthusiastic professor from the University of York at a schools' event in London. I read the Language & Linguistics Department's section of the prospectus on the train on the way home. 'Wow, this is ME!' I thought, and immediately bought David Crystal's 'Linguistics' to learn more before I applied. It's very dated now, but was an excellent general introduction to the subject.
"I do read all your stuff". You are clearly a woman of intelligence, sophistication, and discernment, Rebecca. Seriously though, thank you! I read all of yours too. In fact, I feel lost if I don't...
🤣 and thank you and 🤣 again, Terry! Smooooooooth talker.......
D'you know what, though, I'm writing rather less often about getting lost, with other stuff creeping in. Getting lost is still a BIG THING in my life, and always will be, don't get me wrong, and I've still got plenty of stories in the archives of my brain to dig out and share, but as I'm gaining confidence in my writing I'm finding I'm enjoying about writing about other stuff too. I think when I started on Substack I was looking to have a theme, or a - dare I say it? - NICHE - but heck, I'm enjoying just writing where my heart takes me, lost or not lost.
Two thoughts, Rebecca, should you be interested in my musings: 1. You write so beautifully, and illustrated so nicely (amazing what you can achieve with a Box Brownie (that's going to be the first line of my review of your hubby's book, if it ever arrives)) that you could write about paper clips and make it interesting. 2. There's always the idea of getting lost in a figurative sense, or a digital sense. Try phoning my bank, where the phone menu options go on for hours).
Thanks, Terry!
*grabs notebook to muse heavily on the pros and cons of brass paperclips versus stainless steel*
I have enough issues with my own bank, thanks....! Try bellowing 'HUMAN!' repeatedly next time you try to ring yours - that has the potential to skip many a menu option, in my experience.
I’ve always found Keith Waterhouse’s non fiction extremely enjoyable and useful. His ‘The Theory and Practice of Lunch’ is essential reading imo.
Thanks, Thomas. The book description Is very interest ing. I've ordered a copy from the library!
Terry, your description of Dreyer’s English is how I would describe Bryan Garner’s A Dictionary of Modern American Usage, published in the ‘90s. I can’t speak for his later editions, which are titled differently, but I have a copy of the above title, and it is one of my favorite books. Garner slyly inserts humor and also discusses BrE. The only problem is every time I open it, I realize how much I still need to learn.
OK Corey, I have to look that book up, it sounds great! Thanks
D. Foster Wallace wrote an essay about Garner’s book, a review of sorts, which was also published in one of his collections, I forget which. Wallace’s essay was what pointed me towards Garner.
Yes, I have it! It's in the David Foster Wallace Reader. I also referred to his article in my article. I'll have to read it again now, as I can't remember what he said about Garner's book. Thanks for that, Corey!
I think the article you referred to is a different one, but I am often wrong. Wait, I just looked it up. You’re right. It is the same essay. I read it in Consider The Lobster.
Lol. Your comment reminded me of a letter I once read that someone had sent to a company. It read, in part: "One of the screws is missing. How am I supposed to put this thing together? Oh wait, I just found it."!
This is a great roundup. Thanks! The idiom guide looks like fun. Charles Funk published a series of books on the origins of curious words and phrases:
A Hog on Ice
Thereby Hangs a Tale
Horsefeathers
Heavens to Betsy
My dad taught—still teaches—high school English and always had books like this around. I love thumbing through them and finding gems.
That's interesting, Joel. We Brits only use the 'Thereby hangs a tale' one, not the others! I love leafing through those books too, because of the serendipity aspect: you never know what you might come across!
Oh, an idiom guide, I must check this out!
It's great, Mark!