I feel exactly the same. In high school there was a point at which I somehow switched from more of an English/ history person to a science and math person. Then as my education progressed my focus became more and more narrow. Not only has my vocabulary suffered, but I feel like the whole way by brain is wired to think has changed. (That doesn't sound very scientific does it?) Let's both try to battle back.
Hermes Cafe Bon Temps~Good Times Cafe
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I feel exactly the same. In high school there was a point at which I somehow switched from more of an English/ history person to a science and math person. Then as my education progressed my focus became more and more narrow. Not only has my vocabulary suffered, but I feel like the whole way by brain is wired to think has changed. (That doesn't sound very scientific does it?) Let's both try to battle back.
On Runway, she seemed "in your face" with the outspoken way she dressed. It was like she was daring people to diss her. I guess I expected a future arbiter of fashion to dress in a way that's tasteful (altho the definition of that is up to the beholder, I guess). I know fashion is supposed to be provocative and I accept that, that's what makes it fun and engaging and sometimes a "what were they thinking?" moment. However, I personally didn't find anything admirable or interesting about the purple hair and flouncy dress. We've seen that before . Wouldn't it be nice if she dressed differently but in a way that gave a fashionable edge to a plus size? Invent another dress, do something!!!
Sorry for rant.
I love Edith Wharton, especially, The House of Mirth. Loved the movie, too. Obviously Lily Bart lived in an era where nobody ever accused another person of sharing too much information. It's like social interaction was really scripted: some things are ok to say and others, not. I vaguely remember that Tamara Janowitz's Slaves of New York had a similar theme but it's been 15 years since I read it.
Funny you both should say that ... I was an English major and had to read so much literature for school that my reading dropped off after graduating. I read a lot of not-so-high-brow stuff (does the genre called "chick lit" still exist?) and then some non-fiction and lately, lots of news articles which are, frankly, depressing. It may be time to escape into a good novel again.
No apology necessary, I felt the same way. It seems Tim Gunn may have as well! I wouldn't have minded her personality (reality TV lives for "difficult" personalities, doesn't it?), but I just found her designs to be unflattering -- not just for plus-size women, but for anyone.
Dear Pocketbook Pup: Do not despair- your transition to math/science person did not affect your precise and beautiful writing style. I have been following this thread for a bit and your posts are always written with such clear, concise wording and always with perfect punctuation. It is very distinctive, I own a business and I was reviewing some application forms for new employees and I am so disappointed at the lack of ability for young people to write well. They can text but when it comes to composing a simple letter it just falls apart.
I don't think that this is the only answer. There has been such a dumbing down in society that most things that you are exposed to use fairly simple language/vocabulary. Everything is visual. People use a limited number of words to describe things and emoticons. Sad.
*see what I mean* 
I watched Project Runway and saw Ashley Nell Tipton and her clothing. Some of it wasn't bad, but many of the things that she and others made were pretty tacky. The show had an agenda and she was able to stick it out long enough so they could give her the win. BTW, the one thing that gets me going is the unceasing adoration of Heidi and her fashion sense. When she is off the show and at an event she usually looks terrible and tacky.
DH and I just read Girl on the Train and neither of us could believe that this was considered a good book. I will take Jane Austen or Edith Wharton any day!
That's very kind of you. Thank you. I do feel that I am very sloppy at times. My old eyes don't help.
Hope the news wasn't too disconcerting.
Thank you dear. Time will tell. Hugs.
Speaking of reading, last week's NY Times book review mentioned briefly Kazuo Ishiguro's book, An Artist of the Floating World. He wrote The Remains of the Day, which I have not read but seen and saw the movie many times. I usually don't read fiction. Plus, I can't put down fiction books, which I find annoying. Nonfiction, especially history and biographies, are easier to put down and pick up again. So, I stayed up all night (literally, insomnia), reading that short paperback. Then I looked up on the web what it meant. It's about an artist who worked as a propagandist during Imperial Japan.
I should be reading about climate change economics. Now that's material that's easy to put down. In the 1st two years of college I took English lit, and history but then got into a math/stat treadmill to up my skills for econ. My fav stuff is biographies and early 20th century history thru WW1 and WWII. I just finished reading The Devil's Disciples about Hitler's inner circle. That was a great book. Last year I read the first part of a 2 part Stalin bio (2nd part not yet issued) by Stephen Kotkin -- excellent -- and another Stalin bio. For the last couple of years I've been reading a lot about WW1. Love royal dynasties that screw up.
I should be reading about climate change economics. Now that's material that's easy to put down. In the 1st two years of college I took English lit, and history but then got into a math/stat treadmill to up my skills for econ. My fav stuff is biographies and early 20th century history thru WW1 and WWII. I just finished reading The Devil's Disciples about Hitler's inner circle. That was a great book. Last year I read the first part of a 2 part Stalin bio (2nd part not yet issued) by Stephen Kotkin -- excellent -- and another Stalin bio. For the last couple of years I've been reading a lot about WW1. Love royal dynasties that screw up.
I'm still part way through the book Belgravia, and I'm thinking, due to all that's unspoken, it isn't going to end well! And if it does, it will be very messy until then! It's set in Victorian England, and the rules of the social structure could certainly be suffocating to any independent thinkers. And so much was left unsaid due to possible social implications.
I'm in the middle of Belgravia now also....
Just saw The Light Between the Oceans....liked the book, the movie is beautiful and well acted but over long we thought.
Just saw The Light Between the Oceans....liked the book, the movie is beautiful and well acted but over long we thought.
Is the book Belgravia any good? I think I need to destress and find a good book... I kinda miss being a nerd. When I was in 5th grade I started reading Anne Rice (way before Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt made it into a movie) and I had to have a dictionary by my side because the words were so difficult! I miss that... and I miss being a bookworm 