August 24, 2006
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Talk to The Hand by Lynne Truss
Quilts and Rudeness
Now that everyone’s had a chance to comment silently on my bedroom decorating style, I thought I’d post a new entry.
Yes, I do quilt, but not as much or as well as I should. I’m a haphazard, imperfect quilter, and my quilts are full of wrinkles and non-matched points. Still, it’s fun (when I do it). I am hoping to finish a quilt this winter which I began about six years ago. I like the solid Amish colors, and this one is a sawtooth star with flying geese border. I like to do everything by hand (even piecing), so I tend to be pokey about thing. Plus, I will let a project lie for years with no guilt. (Okay, a little guilt.) The quilts in the bedroom are purchases from J.C. Penney’s.
I just finished reading Lynne Truss’s Talk to the Hand. I loved Eats, Shoots and Leaves, but this book wasn’t as good. First of all, for those of you who are unaware of the meaning of the title of the book (as I was up until a month or so ago), it’s a dismissive rudeness. Put your hand out toward a person as if you are saying “Stop.” Then, turn your head slightly away from the person and say, “Talk to the hand, ’cause the face ain’t listenin’!” Of course, a face doesn’t listen anyhow, and the grammar is bad. So, you could say, “Talk to the hand because the ears aren’t listening.” The effect is almost the same. But, back to the book review.
Basically, Truss says, “People are rude. There are six reasons why. Let me go over them again and again and occasionally throw in some quotes from other people’s books.” But, there were a few reasons for reading. Truss, being English, discusses the English, which is quite entertaining and enlightening. Did you know that they actually have a clean-up-litter campaign focused on capitalizing on the teenage immorality problem. It’s called “While you are down there…” I kid you not! Well, at least I believe Truss on this one.
She also notes a large number of celebrity examples of rudeness (all of them British, although we Americans certainly have enough examples of our own). However, there is one bright, shining candle of respect lighting the surreal world of the famous. Who is this paragon of politeness? Babe. Yes, Truss claims that the humble sheep-pig Babe is the only one we can look to in celebrity-dom as an example of how to behave. BAA RAM EWE!
Is this book worth reading? Eh, maybe. It’s short and somewhat amusing.
How many of you are Xanga Premium? Is it worth it?
Comments (10)
Thanks for the prayers — and the book review! I, too, liked Eats, Shoots, & Leaves, although the occasional bad language threw me a bit. I hadn’t really heard much about her second book and was rather curious as to whether or not reading it would be worth it.
On another note, I love the British.
–K.
thanks for the book review. it sounds like a fun book. i grew up in d.c. so i know what that phrase means! i don’t think i ever used it though! (it was too rude haha)
i also love british culture..(big surprise, i know, since i love all those jane austen epics/novels)…..i must say, british humour is extremely enjoyable too!
I would also like to know if xanga premium is worth it…….so hopefully you will get some comments on that!
I have heard some teenagers use that phrase before………I kind of thought it was silly
Sherry
No, it was Kim. We did not know Leanne back then! Yes, I am sad but excited too.
HI!!! Thanks for dropping by my site.
Thanks for the nice compliments….
I read your post about decorating and repainting….I understand your sentiments about”HALLELUJAH ITS DONE” all too well!!! LOL!
-Cass
I love glimpses into the British mind.
For the record, I think your room is adorable. You have very nice taste and I really admire you for doing it yourself.
No premium fior me. I don’t want to spend the $ on it when I’m satisfied with my standard acct.
No clue if premium is worth it or not. I’m happy with what I have. A fellow quilter! Ok, well I haven’t quilted in years, but I still have all my stuff! I loved making mini-quilts because I could enjoy them quickly. Congrats on the painting progress. We’re still in molding-mayhem over here.
You should join my Lynne Truss blogring. I’m probably the only college student ever to make a blogring about grammar.