http://blog.booklistonline.com/2006/09/14/the-blog-entry-that-was-his-final-word-on-the-subject/ Behind the Book Reviews--The Official Blog of Booklist Online Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:03:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 http://blog.booklistonline.com/2006/09/14/the-blog-entry-that-was-his-final-word-on-the-subject/#comment-279 Mary Frances Wed, 20 Sep 2006 22:09:33 +0000 http://blog.booklistonline.com/2006/09/14/the-blog-entry-that-was-his-final-word-on-the-subject/#comment-279 Although I don't fashion myself a Writer, I do think I have a pretty good command of the language and consider myself a grammar nerd--not quite Nazi, but not a hack, either. (My family calls me Cathy Correction; you get the idea.) When I read this entry, I thought, "Geez, this 'the BLAH that was BLAH' construction sounds awfully familiar." With a sinking feeling, I turned to my trusty Booklist Online advanced search page and used "Keyword in Review" to look for either "that was" or "that is" and me as reviewer. Of the 23 results, most were egitimate--albeit, uninspired--uses of this phrase, as in "...it's Sam's rediscovery of himself in middle age that is the real focus in this accomplished debut novel." (<a href="http://www.booklistonline.com/default.aspx?page=show_product&pid=1180909" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow">The Last Refuge</a>) But--ack!--I commit Keir's grammar sin more times that I care to admit. The most recent is a review of a Rita Rudner novel that I call "a lighthearted romp through the sleaze that is Las Vegas." (<a href="http://www.booklistonline.com/default.aspx?page=show_product&pid=1717413" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow">Turning the Tables</a>) Did I say that? Or how about this line from an audiobook I starred: "As Quincy attempts to wade through the quagmire that is a multi-jurisdictional investigation..." (<a href="http://www.booklistonline.com/default.aspx?page=show_product&pid=1637379" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow">Gone</a>) Egads. Excuse me while I go read <em>On Writing Well</em>, the grammar bible that is Zissner's tome. Although I don’t fashion myself a Writer, I do think I have a pretty good command of the language and consider myself a grammar nerd–not quite Nazi, but not a hack, either. (My family calls me Cathy Correction; you get the idea.) When I read this entry, I thought, “Geez, this ‘the BLAH that was BLAH’ construction sounds awfully familiar.” With a sinking feeling, I turned to my trusty Booklist Online advanced search page and used “Keyword in Review” to look for either “that was” or “that is” and me as reviewer. Of the 23 results, most were egitimate–albeit, uninspired–uses of this phrase, as in “…it’s Sam’s rediscovery of himself in middle age that is the real focus in this accomplished debut novel.” (The Last Refuge) But–ack!–I commit Keir’s grammar sin more times that I care to admit. The most recent is a review of a Rita Rudner novel that I call “a lighthearted romp through the sleaze that is Las Vegas.” (Turning the Tables) Did I say that? Or how about this line from an audiobook I starred: “As Quincy attempts to wade through the quagmire that is a multi-jurisdictional investigation…” (Gone) Egads. Excuse me while I go read On Writing Well, the grammar bible that is Zissner’s tome.

]]> http://blog.booklistonline.com/2006/09/14/the-blog-entry-that-was-his-final-word-on-the-subject/#comment-274 Bill Ott Sat, 16 Sep 2006 18:13:04 +0000 http://blog.booklistonline.com/2006/09/14/the-blog-entry-that-was-his-final-word-on-the-subject/#comment-274 Keir: I heartily agree with your feeling on "the carnage that was the Western Front." Grandiosity is never a good thing, especially in a sentence. My own least favorite construction almost sunk a book I just starred about Bobby Thomson's legendary home run in 1951 (Joshua Prager's The Echoing Green). Here's the example I quoted in the review: "the sportswriter had mined for gold dust the tedium of spring training." Sticking that prepositional phrase in the middle is pure clutter--designed only to manufacture emotion. Unfortunately, Prager loves the construction: there are dozens of examples throughout the book. Why not "mined the tedium of spring training in search of gold dust," or some such (or, even better, dump the whole metaphor). The book told a terrific story, though, so I decided to be big-hearted about it and still give the star. Keir: I heartily agree with your feeling on “the carnage that was the Western Front.” Grandiosity is never a good thing, especially in a sentence. My own least favorite construction almost sunk a book I just starred about Bobby Thomson’s legendary home run in 1951 (Joshua Prager’s The Echoing Green). Here’s the example I quoted in the review: “the sportswriter had mined for gold dust the tedium of spring training.” Sticking that prepositional phrase in the middle is pure clutter–designed only to manufacture emotion. Unfortunately, Prager loves the construction: there are dozens of examples throughout the book. Why not “mined the tedium of spring training in search of gold dust,” or some such (or, even better, dump the whole metaphor). The book told a terrific story, though, so I decided to be big-hearted about it and still give the star.

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