I had a boss once, an Englishman, who was very polite and gentlemanly. In fact, he was kind of crippled with politeness. Nevertheless, as time went by and we got to know each other he would tentatively venture forth into the world of teasing - in a low-key, inoffensive way, of course.
One day he told me he had received a copy of Tim Winton's Cloudstreet and was going to start reading it that weekend. I was enthusiastic in forecasting what an immense treat this would be for him.
"How's Cloudstreet going?" I asked him on Monday.
"I think it's very well-written. It's probably not my style, for the same reason I think that you like it so much."
"What's that?"
"The humour. It's very.........................scatological."
6 comments:
Not sure I want to go there, but I am very pleased to have gotten my copy of Cloudstreet back from my baby sister on my last visit to 'God's Country'. She borrowed it years ago for high school English (Lit?) - gotta love that parochial West Australian education system.
I may be a rare breed, but I simply cannot stand Tim Winton. It is his misuse (if at all) of the english language and grammer that my mind just can't see past. I once saw him at the little creatures brewery and was close to telling him as much. I was worried though that he may respond and if his speach is anything like his writing, it would jusy frustrate me further.
Spud, I'm with you but we are a minority of two. It's positively UNAUSTRALIAN not be besotted by Mr Winton's tales, musicals and environmental activism.
In recent years I've also developed a profound mistrust of men over a certain age with ponytails.
Spud Mack - grammer? speach?
I think Tim Winton strikes up some pretty extreme reactions in people.
Mary B - I don't think you have to be besotted by everything he does. I'm certainly not. But you have to admit, The Bugalugs Bum Thief is a pretty good little story.
I obsess over grammar and speech. Clearly spelling is not such an issue. But then again, I do not have a paid proof reader.
Spud Mack, "kept" proofreader would be more accurate.
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