tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post650955601708954000..comments2023-10-03T11:41:21.191+01:00Comments on The Truth About Lies: Frog City UpdikeJim Murdochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-29800347041991414232013-02-13T11:44:04.235+00:002013-02-13T11:44:04.235+00:00As you may have noted, Dave, I’ve been reading a l...As you may have noted, <b>Dave</b>, I’ve been reading a lot of short stories of late. I didn’t particularly plan to do so and we’re back onto novels come next review but I’ve nothing against the short story format even though I’m only rarely drawn to it. The bulk of my stories were written twelve years ago and I’ve only written a handful of flash pieces since. My problem is that I’m not really a storyteller. I’ve just finished my final run through on my own collection though and once Carrie’s caught up on my blogs she’ll get stuck into that. I’m aiming for the start of May but we’ll see.<br /><br />As far as ‘nice’ goes I think all of us have these words that we gravitate to. My dad had two—a word and a question actually—the first was ‘love’ and he called everyone love (even men on occasion). With me it’s ‘pet’ which I caught from my last wife and’ve never been able to shake it; only one woman has ever objected and, to the best of my knowledge, I’ve only ever called one bloke pet. The second thing my dad was guilty of was interjecting the question ‘Do you see what I’m driving at?’ into sentences. With most people they simply add a ‘Right?’ or an ‘Okay?’ at the end of a sentence but not my dad. He finally weaned himself off both pretty much once he realised no thought or meaning was attached to the words and they were just—what shall we call them?—verbal ticks will probably do, one step up from the ‘word whiskers’ we all use: eh, ah, uh-huh, mmm and so on.<br /><br>Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-14061369871336619122013-02-13T11:22:31.300+00:002013-02-13T11:22:31.300+00:00The Short Story is much under-rated, I think, thou...The Short Story is much under-rated, I think, though coming into its own according to some. This would seem a good one for starters for those who have not indulged before.<br /><br />Speaking of the word "nice", I do recall an English lesson in which it was offered to us as a meaningless word. The teacher gave as example Nice day, nice dinner, nice hat and then challenged us to define a "nice dress". One boy offered "One that's long enough to cover the point and short enough to be interesting." The teacher opened his blackboard compasses to form a bayonet and leaped over his desk in a mock attack - which is perhaps why I remember it so vividly.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-20504430163591762052013-02-11T17:50:21.312+00:002013-02-11T17:50:21.312+00:00Well, I’m sure he’ll be pleased to learn that, Kas...Well, I’m sure he’ll be pleased to learn that, <b>Kass</b>, but if they don’t have it it’s still available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Frog-City-Updike-Other-Writings/dp/145153468X/" rel="nofollow">Amazon.com</a>. I’m just jealous you’ve got a bookshop that close. I heard a while back that there isn’t a single bookshop in the whole of West Dunbartonshire and that’s just sad. The only place you can buy books locally are in the charity shops which I’m not averse to but there’s something about a shop wholly devoted to books, isn’t there? There’re plenty of bookshops in the west end of Glasgow but that’s an hour’s travel just to get there so I stick with the Internet for all its faults. But I do miss browsing.<br /><br>Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-44915573305412388072013-02-11T17:24:43.640+00:002013-02-11T17:24:43.640+00:00I am happy he lives in Salt Lake City. We need mor...I am happy he lives in Salt Lake City. We need more folk like him. I'm trotting off two blocks to the last independent book store in SLC (The King's English)to see if they have his book. I'll let you know.Kasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05233330248952156754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-13318742314290351502013-02-11T03:43:33.209+00:002013-02-11T03:43:33.209+00:00Ah, Kikka, if only every book could have a frog on...Ah, <b>Kikka</b>, if only every book could have a frog on its cover.<br /><br>Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-29910820078227659182013-02-10T20:13:08.376+00:002013-02-10T20:13:08.376+00:00The cover of the book is very "impressive&quo...The cover of the book is very "impressive" ! ;)<br />Hugs<br />KikkaKikka Nhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08621445896011247290noreply@blogger.com