Check me out! {snort} I'm Celebrating Reading...

Our dearest moonrat is hosting a Celebrate Reading month on her blog with lots of wonderful guest bloggers sharing books that have been important to them. It's a great series, and my Amazon wish list has expanded exponentially because of it.

I'm honored to say that today was my turn to wax philosophical about a book important to me. Thank you, moonrat, for the lovely opportunity!

Go check out mine!

Roasting Books

Check this out!

It's a brand-spanking-new book promotion blog, the newest brainchild of some blog friends. Each week will feature different authors and promises to include appearances by said authors, excerpts from their work and...{drool}...prizes!

So hot it's coooool!


It's the Book Roast!

Language, Culture and Context

So, after not being "in the mood" to write for a while now, I decided to share some non-fiction stuff I've been rolling around in my head. I mentioned a few months ago that I've begun writing down some of the anecdotes my mother has shared with me about her life. Here's one such incident...when I was a child, this story embarassed me...I felt embarassed FOR my mother...but also I felt reminded yet again of how my family was "different" from our immediate community. Now as an adult, I'm much more fascinated by what the incident says about clashing cultures and cultural aesthetics.

A little background: In the Philippines, English has been the language of instruction in schools for generations. So, on one hand, Filipinos are raised to be as fluent in English as they are in Tagalog (and perhaps other Philippine dialects based on their home region).

As anyone who's learned to speak a second or subsequent language fluently knows, being formally taught a language is very different from speaking that language natively and using/recognizing colloquial speech.

Here's the story:

When my mother arrived in the US, she knew English and she was well-educated. With a college degree in Chemistry, she went to work in a hospital laboratory.

One day, in one of the hospital elevators, she happened to see a doctor wearing a bright, eye-catching tie that she thought looked very nice.

So she said to him, "Oh, that tie is so tacky!"

If he responded to this, I don't know. I don't remember that part of the story. What I do remember is that coworkers who'd been with her at the time pulled her aside after they exited the elevator. They quietly took her to task. "You don't say things like that! It's not polite. You offended him!"

She tried to explain, "But why? I meant it as a compliment! I thought the tie was very colorful. It looks very nice." The exchange embarassed her...so much so that it stuck with her long after. Every once in a while, she still mentions it in casual "you wouldn't believe" conversations.

Learning vocabulary from context is a tricky thing.

If you look at traditional women's fashion in the Philippines, the colors are bright. Formal gowns were elaborate with lots of sequins and beading and large, molded sleeves. Perhaps like the brightly colored architecture of Miami or vivid designs of Hawaiian shirts, the aesthetics of some Filipinos are shaped by the sunny, tropical zone in which they live.

So it would be no wonder that, whenever my mother heard the word "tacky" used in conversation, it referred to an item or apparel that she admired. So she was attempting not only to broaden her vocabulary...she was trying to reach out to a stranger with a friendly verbal gesture.

I'm not sure where I'm going with this. But it's been on my mind. And it's the longest thing I've written in more than a month.

What Book Are You?

First--Thanks very much for all the well wishes!

Second--I found this via Carol Spradling's blog.

What book are you? I was...surprised...by mine. I've never read it. But the description does seem fitting.

Go on. Find which book you are. You know you want to.

You're Ulysses!

by James Joyce

Most people are convinced that you don't make any sense, but compared to what else you could say, what you're saying now makes tons of sense. What people do understand about you is your vulgarity, which has convinced people that you are at once brilliant and repugnant. Meanwhile you are content to wander around aimlessly, taking in the sights and sounds of the city. What you see is vast, almost limitless, and brings you additional fame. When no one is looking, you dream of being a Greek folk hero.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Sick Leave...

How is it possible that I haven't posted since May?

June has been a busy month. And my health has apparently suffered for it. My high blood pressure, which has been controlled by medication for the past 3 yrs, is suddenly out of control. Like headaches and nausea and fatigue. (Note to self--Stop Googling symptoms!) So...I'm re-tuning my diet, and I have a doc appt later today for monitoring.

I think June is going to be a slow month for me...in many ways.

And really truly the Winner of May Book Contest #3 is...

...First, many many many many apologies. I won't bother with excuses. But I'm very sorry. Sigh.

And now...with many thanks to moonrat, merry, and jane v for their excellent entries, I'm pleased to announce the winner of May Book Contest #3. The Sorting Hat has selected:

moonrat

moonrat--Please e-mail me your choice of one of the following:
Stephen King's ON WRITING
Sara Gruen's WATER FOR ELEPHANTS
Don Voorhees's THE BOOK OF TOTALLY USELESS INFORMATION

merry and jane--Since I flaked so badly on the timely management of this contest, you both shall receive consolation prizes: a $5 Amazon gift certificate. Please e-mail me for arrangements.


Since today is May 29, I'm afraid there's no time for May Book Contest #4 after all. I hope everyone enjoyed these May contests as much as I did. All the entrants of all the contests deserve huge rounds of applause!

And the (belated) Winner of May Book Contest #3 is...

...SORRY! I'm a little swamped these days.

I promise I'll announce a winner this week. And thanks very much to the most excellent (and widely varied) entries! You all rock!

And tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow...

First, I promise I will announce the winner of May Book Contest #3 later today. Must go find my Sorting Hat.

Second, I'll post the final contest in the series, May Book Contest #4 later today as well.

And now...

Mark your calendar. Tomorrow, Wednesday, May 28, Ello will host author Dr. M. Gigi Durham for a discussion of Durham's new book The Lolita Effect. It's a wonderful book that coalesces many of the jumbled observations I've had about how the media depicts women, how media's sexualization of women ultimately and inevitably trickles down to younger and younger audiences.

I'll be at Ello's blog tomorrow for what I suspect will be a great Q & A session, and I hope you stop by too!