Pam Webb
a writer's journey as a reader
Archive for the category “Reflections”
Bard Bits: A Man of Means
With all the information not known about Shakespeare, it is known that Shakespeare joined The Lord Chamberlin’s Men in 1594 and for the next ten years the company of players becomes London’s foremost acting troupe. During this time Shakespeare is shown to be fully invested in the company as both an actor and the playwright. There are documents, tax assessments, court records and land titles that indicate Shakespeare wanted to establish himself as a gentleman.
John Shakespeare, William’s father, received a coat-of-arms in 1596 which granted him the symbol of respectability, designating him as a gentleman. In Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford-Upon-Avon there were around 45 “gentlemen between 1570 and 1630. While 28 had been born into the title; the other 17 were tradesmen who, like Shakespeare, had applied and purchased their status. Owning a coat-of-arms meant the Shakespeare family could display it at home, such as above the doorway, or setting it into the windows, or carve it into their furniture.
When John Shakespeare passed away in 1601, William continued to use the coat-of-arms and it is placed above his monument. The motto states ‘Non Sans Droict’ which is old French and translates to ‘Not without right.’
Considering Shakespeare started out as the son of a glovemaker whose reputation became tarnished, he became known as a respected citizen and well-known member of a prominent acting troupe.
Why We Say: X-Y-Z
It’s here. We’ve reached the end of the book, Dictionary of Word Origins: A History of the Words, Expressions, and Clichés We Use by Jordan Almond. Let’s finish this out.
X-Ray: It’s called an “X-Ray” because the scientist, by the name of Roentgen, preferred it. We could be calling it the “Roentgen ray” but he had the better idea. He used “X” because it symbolizes the unknown and Roentgen did not understand how his discovery worked.
Yankee: Can you imagine calling the New York Yankees the New York Cheeses? Who wants to root for a cheesy team? Yankee is a Dutch nickname “Jan Kass,” which means “John Cheese.” Besides tulips, Holland is known for its cheeses so calling someone a “Yankee” makes sense, right? Not yet? Let’s go further. Back in the time of pirates, English sailors called Dutch pirates “Yankees.” It wasn’t a compliment. They were probably called them cheeseheads–definitely insulting. When the Dutch settled in New York, for some reason, began calling the English settlers of Connecticut “Yankee.” It came to be a term referring to dislike, especially to those in colonies further North. What does this do with baseball teams? Not sure, but I’m open to suggestions.
Zany: A type of Italian play, Comedia dell’ arte, consisting of comic performance was referred to as zani. This transfers to clowning around or being “zany.”
Word Nerd Confessions: Random Exploration
Instead of a theme-oriented post I thought I pull out at random what I have collected over the last couple of months. Hope you find a few you can use.
- furphy: a false report; rumor
2. mellifluous: flowing with honey; sweetened with or as if with honey
3. yare: quick; agile; lively
4. desideraturm: something wanted or needed
5. supercilious: haughtily disdainful or contemptuous, as a person or a facial expression
6. mal du pays: homesickness
7. perfervid: very fervent; extremely ardent; impassioned
8. garboil: confusion
9. lagniappe: a small gift given with a purchase to a customer, by way of compliment or for good measure; bonus
10. friable: easily crumbled or reduced to powder; crumbly
Ten words that can zip up the most mundane of conversations. Think of the possibilities.
“He seemed to enjoy the lagniappe he received for spending so much money in the store.”
Reader Round Up: July
July is my official summer vaycay month. June is tying up school and August starts it back up. July is my uninterrupted month of focusing on just relaxing in my hammock and reading. I do other activities besides immersing myself in books, but, yeah, I do read an enormous amount in July. This July I was fortunate enough to find a bevy of five star books.
Shakespeare After All by Marjorie Garber
While it might be easy to say, “Yet another Shakespeare reference?” This is THE reference book (and I have read more than a few) to keep handy. Garber’s book stands out among the crowd of reference books that examine Shakespeare’s plays. Her knowledge and insights are stunning. She is able to reveal plot details with subtlety and aplomb. She easily interjects historical allusions and intertextuality. Oh, to sit in on one of her lectures.
The Promise by Chaim Potok
Sequel to Potok’s stunning debut, The Chosen, the novel centers on Reuven Malter’s struggles with his religion and relationships as he strives towards completing his education. Can he bridge the two worlds he has chosen: philosophy and the study of the Talmud? His experiences and insights will help help him with a troubled young boy who is on the verge of isolating himself from the world.
The Leavenworth Case by Anna Katherine Green
Readers of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot be sure to check this possible inspiration for these famous sleuths. Written nearly a decade before Conan Doyle created his Baker Street detective, Anna Katherine Green penned into existence Detective Grace of the New York Police Department. He featured in many stories and his appeal boosted the author into being acclaimed one of the most popular authors of the 19th century. Many would say she led the way for detective stories as they are now known. I nudged Acorn to get this (and her other books) made into a series.
Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff
Rosemary Sutcliff has stated in an interview that she writes not for children nor for adults—she writes to tell a story.
This story of Roman Centurion Marcus Flavius Aquila is one that combines adventure, history, and the theme of identity.
Well-researched and even better-paced, the story of redeeming family honor and discovering one’s identity inspired a movie. And this is an inspiring story. While most stories about Romans emphasize their brutality, Sutcliff provides a story that emphasizes the perspective that an individual does not have to conform to expectations of community credo, that a person can be trained and be an efficient member of a community, yet still hold individualistic ideals.
Recommended for ages 8 years and beyond, since a well-written story is always appreciated. Some of by favorite stories during this Reading Challenge have come off the juvie shelves. There is a movie with Channing Tatum and Jamie Bell; however, as always, the book is far better.
The Wind off the Small Isles by Mary Stewart
Under 100 pages this barely qualifies as a novella, and serves as a taste for what could have been as engaging as The Moonspinners. Stewart starts out the story with the beginnings of an old-fashioned historical romance which abruptly ends and leads readers into a modern setting of a children’s author and her assistant exploring an exotic setting for the author’s next book.
The short adventure is ripe with all of Stewart’s usual trademarks: expansive setting, lively dialogue, stock characters—including a damsel in distress saved by the likable hero, and a touch of the supernatural.
So fun, yet so short.
An Old Captivity by Nevil Shute
It’s hard to go wrong with a Nevil Shute. He is one of those rare writers that can interject technical details, like what it takes to fly three people on a photo expedition to Greenland, and not be boring. The details are such an integral part of the story they function like an added character. In this story, Shute focuses on a professor, his daughter, and a pilot as they make their way to Iceland and Greenland. Doesn’t sound exciting, does it? Shute provides interest through his exacting detail, setting, and then adds a twist at the end that rings of a Du Maurier with realistic fantasy. A satisfying and surprising read. And the title? Wait for it. The ending made me sit up and get that epiphany of “Oh, I get it now.” |
Hope one of these, or maybe all of these titles, interest you. How about you? Any five star summer reads of note to pass on to the rest of us Book Boosters?
Summer Sun Heats Up the Blues
Summer is when I am usually found living in my hammocks (one for shade and one for sun). However, this year’s extreme heat dome temperatures have created new routines.
I can endure the outside heat up to 90 degrees (with a nearby fan) and then it’s hiding inside the air-conditioned house until evening when the sun goes down and the heat dissipates.
I could take advantage of being inside and completing projects such as decluttering, painting, deep cleaning, getting serious about writing, but here’s the truth: hot weather, extra hot weather, drains my energy and my coping activities range from reading, napping, puzzling to watching movies next to the air conditioner.
I never thought I would spend part of my summer staying inside watching movies. I’m embarrassed.
Reading is always a go to but reading from 1pm to 7pm, the “heat zone” of the day, drifts towards monotony. Did I really say reading can be boring?
Napping is good for a quick 10 minute doze to a serious pass out for two hours. Too much napping means being awake at night.
Puzzling is a passable activity, depending on the puzzle. Staring at 1000 pieces that should become the picture on the box doesn’t always make for a relaxing time.
It’s nearing August. In a typical summer this is our area’s miserable month with triple digit days shifting into one or two weeks, but that has already happened this summer.
As August peeps around the corner I know summer is ready to close down. I usually regret the end of summer, since being outside is my place of choice, yet I’m actually looking forward to fall with its cool mornings, temperate days, and crisp evenings.
We don’t mention the season after fall.
This summer has been extreme in many ways and I never thought I would be distressed at having too much sun.
What are your thoughts about this extreme summer? How have you been coping with the heat?
Bard Bits: Somewhat Leary About that King
Bardinator that I am, I must admit I do not adore all of Shakespeare’s plays. I’m not keen on those featuring unsavory meat pies, tedious histories past of glory, or barely sensical plots with twin trouble (although some of his twin twist plays are delightful).
I tend to stick to the basic, well-known canon of favorites except for the Scottish play and the grumpy king–I am definitely leery of Lear. Shakespeare never intended his plays to be read and studied–they were entertainment. They were also political statements.
However, Shakespeare’s intent and critical analysis shall be saved for a future post. Today’s post is celebrating the creativity of clever adaptation.
The basic plot of King Lear is to take one egotistical, autocratic king who decides to play games with his three daughters and their love for him. He loses the game. In a big way.
Maybe that’s oversimplifying it, but it works, especially in Patrick Stewart’s version.
Yes, that is Patrick Stewart in western garb. He does a passable Texas drawl and he plays the stubborn patriarch with aplomb. He is as approachable as a cactus and as charming as a scorpion. All the parts of Shakespeare’s play are transferred well. The fool is played by a black slave named Rip, who doles out the appropriate sass and wisdom to his boss, John Lear. The daughters are now Susannah, Rebecca, and Claudia. Gloucester is played as a neighboring horse rancher–kudos to Roy Scheider.
It’s all there: the dividing of the Lear’s ranch, the tempest and loss and reinstatement of sanity, the good, bad, and ugly of progeny, and the ever so sad ending when realization comes far too late what love and loyalty really mean.
If you are looking for alternative Shakespeare, yet delivered with the performance of a Shakespearean trained actor, then King of Texas is the version to seek out and view. I’m no longer leery of Lear, and I look forward in watching how Anthony Hopkins approached the part in the newest version that came out recently.
Pam Webb aka Cricket Muse
A writer's journey as a reader
Recent Award
Children’s Insider
Society for Children’s Writers and Illustrators
Pam Webb 