#51 2012-12-06 19:14:52
WilberCuntLicker wrote:
Emmeran wrote:
WilberCuntLicker wrote:
You write well, and sometimes intelligently, but your style is a little bit ghey.
So now we're evaluating writing styles?
Cabin fever already? It's only mid-December.Analyzing writing styles is something I've always done, Em, professionally and for fun. I used to challenge people to present me with paragraphs written by anonymous authors, and I would guess the writer's gender. I wasn't right 100% of the time, but pretty close. Men and women express themselves with different diction and syntax, in much the same way that we, on average, dress, move and think in ways that tend to betray our gender. Computers have verified these linguistic differences to a surprising degree of accuracy. Your writing could never be mistaken for a woman's. Paul's could. It doesn't mean he's a sock puppet, or actually gay, but it's nonetheless interesting, and sometimes useful for purposes of identification.
Interesting point, and I vaguely remember you bringing this up before. I suspect my own style is probably rather feminine as many of the writers I admire most are women, and the writers who I believe have influenced me most are women (Marilynne Robinson, Stevie Smith, Elizabeth David) although I certainly count a large number of male writers among those whose work I enjoy reading: Graham Greene, Nevil Shute, Timothy Findley (although that would really only consist of Not Wanted on the Voyage - I have a dificult time getting into some of his other work), and - god help me - Patrick Dennis, an influence of my mother.
Still, my reading tends toward non-fiction (I'm reading a history of vanilla at present) and, curiously, most of those seem to be by male authors.
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#52 2012-12-06 19:25:15
Taint wrote:
Interesting point, and I vaguely remember you bringing this up before. I suspect my own style is probably rather feminine as many of the writers I admire most are women, and the writers who I believe have influenced me most are women (Marilynne Robinson, Stevie Smith, Elizabeth David) although I certainly count a large number of male writers among those whose work I enjoy reading: Graham Greene, Nevil Shute, Timothy Findley (although that would really only consist of Not Wanted on the Voyage - I have a dificult time getting into some of his other work), and - god help me - Patrick Dennis, an influence of my mother.
Still, my reading tends toward non-fiction (I'm reading a history of vanilla at present) and, curiously, most of those seem to be by male authors.
Wow - the diamonds this place occasionally surfaces.
I'm much the Vonnegut/Murakami/Poe/King guy, although one of my favorite books is the History of Salt.
Title of this history of Vanilla book? I'm quite intrigued.
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#53 2012-12-06 19:30:28
Emmeran wrote:
I'm much the Vonnegut/Murakami/Poe/King guy, although one of my favorite books is the History of Salt.
Title of this history of Vanilla book? I'm quite intrigued.
I encountered a lot of Murukami in Spain where he appears to be quite popular, as well. I thoroughly enjoyed The History of Salt and have read some of his other work although titles escape me at present.
The book you asked about is titled simply Vanilla and was written by Tim Ecott. I haven't read enough to really say much but I am enjoying it.
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#54 2012-12-06 19:35:14
"Style is not something applied. It is something that permeates. It is of the nature of that in which it is found, whether the poem, the manner of a god, the bearing of a man. It is not a dress."
(Wallace Stevens)
Bad news Polly---It is not a dress.
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#55 2012-12-06 19:44:53
Taint wrote:
Emmeran wrote:
I'm much the Vonnegut/Murakami/Poe/King guy, although one of my favorite books is the History of Salt.
Title of this history of Vanilla book? I'm quite intrigued.I encountered a lot of Murukami in Spain where he appears to be quite popular, as well. I thoroughly enjoyed The History of Salt and have read some of his other work although titles escape me at present.
The book you asked about is titled simply Vanilla and was written by Tim Ecott. I haven't read enough to really say much but I am enjoying it.
Murakami appears to be hugely famous outside of the states although much depends on the translator. The History of Salt guy also did the history of Cod, which as you know was another major game changer, I cannot recall his name either.
My current mission in life is to collect the hardback versions of all of these as they are elevating rapidly in price and disappearing from the market place.
One recommendation for fun: Tony Hawks' "Around Ireland with a Fridge" and a recommendation for prose "The Yellow Birds" by Kevin Powers - this one is best read out loud.
Oh and I also enjoyed "The Butchers Guide to Well-Raised Meat" - it has lots of pictures...
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#56 2012-12-06 20:27:18
Taint wrote:
WilberCuntLicker wrote:
Emmeran wrote:
So now we're evaluating writing styles?
Cabin fever already? It's only mid-December.Analyzing writing styles is something I've always done, Em, professionally and for fun. I used to challenge people to present me with paragraphs written by anonymous authors, and I would guess the writer's gender. I wasn't right 100% of the time, but pretty close. Men and women express themselves with different diction and syntax, in much the same way that we, on average, dress, move and think in ways that tend to betray our gender. Computers have verified these linguistic differences to a surprising degree of accuracy. Your writing could never be mistaken for a woman's. Paul's could. It doesn't mean he's a sock puppet, or actually gay, but it's nonetheless interesting, and sometimes useful for purposes of identification.
Interesting point, and I vaguely remember you bringing this up before. I suspect my own style is probably rather feminine as many of the writers I admire most are women, and the writers who I believe have influenced me most are women (Marilynne Robinson, Stevie Smith, Elizabeth David) although I certainly count a large number of male writers among those whose work I enjoy reading: Graham Greene, Nevil Shute, Timothy Findley (although that would really only consist of Not Wanted on the Voyage - I have a dificult time getting into some of his other work), and - god help me - Patrick Dennis, an influence of my mother.
Still, my reading tends toward non-fiction (I'm reading a history of vanilla at present) and, curiously, most of those seem to be by male authors.
Your voice is actually quite neutral, Taint. I think you've developed a degree of professional polish that would make you harder to pinpoint than some. Occasionally you effuse with a hint of lavender prose, but you generally maintain a balance between the informational and the engaging, and a tone that doesn't by itself automatically betray your gender or your...interests. I have a hard time with some well-loved female authors. Set me down with anything by Alice Munro (or Timothea Findlay) and I'll be asleep in 10 minutes. Interesting that you should point to non-fiction as the domain of male authors. I know there are many females who write non-fic, but the only one I can think of at the moment is the wonderful Barbara Tuchman. There's a reason for my ignorance and prejudice, but it's not to do with style. It's the content.
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#57 2012-12-06 21:25:12
WilberCuntLicker wrote:
I have a hard time with some well-loved female authors.
I'm quite impressed Wilbur, your annoyance might be your redeeming quality.
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#58 2012-12-07 01:47:41
WilberCuntLicker wrote:
It's over....
Great! I certainly have no reason to doubt your word.
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#59 2012-12-07 02:07:18
Tall Paul wrote:
WilberCuntLicker wrote:
It's over....
Great! I certainly have no reason to doubt your word.
A Friendly Warning: if you flog your dolphin
as hard as you're flogging this dead horse
it will turn blue and drop off.
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