As mentioned a few times here, English is not my first language and since I had been told during my school years that I had no talent for modern languages, I did not waste much time trying to speak or read let alone understand English.
As also mentioned several times here, this all changed dramatically in the summer of 1979 when, at age 21 on the wild Atlantic coast of Connemara, I met R who has been the man in my life ever since. And while he speaks a couple of modern languages, German was not part of his repertoire. And since I can be determined when I want to, my talent for one of the modern languages improved rapidly and the rest is history. (He also speaks German by now.)
I may have also mentioned that I am an avid reader and incorporating English into my life opened the door to a whole new world of literature. At first reading in English was like driving without headlights, I just guessed my way through the narrative, but it did not stop me.
The first novel in English was The Magus by John Fowles. It was quite the rage at the time and had made a huge impression on R and when I asked him to tell me what to read, he got me a copy. To say that I struggled with it would be an understatement but I got the general drift and did read it to the end. I tried reading it again a few years back but just could not get into it.
The second novel in English was The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing. There are many ways to read this massive and amazing book and I have read it three times by now.
The third novel in English was Them by Joyce Carol Oates which blew me away with its sharp honesty, describing a world I could only try to imagine - being 21 and living in the safe cocoon of love and affection and happiness.
I've read a good few of Joyce Carol Oates's books since, did not like all of them but whenever I find one of her titles in a shop or library, I pick it up and have a look. Which is why this little missive by her is such a refreshing, uplifting and to-the-point thing to read:
I'm having a hard time lately, I just burned my arm on the oven. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteThat bit by Joyce Carol Oates just proves that wealth does not bring happiness or any kind of wisdom sadly.
Get well soon:)
I read Them by Joyce Carol Oates many years ago, and found it monumental. I believe she was influenced by "The Dollmaker" by Harriette Simpson Arnow.
ReplyDeleteI would say that at least on the page, your English is better than at least 80% of Americans'.
ReplyDeleteI'd be miserable too with the worst symptoms in the history of head colds. I hope that soon you, too, will be frolicking like a young deer.
O my goodness! The Golden Notebook! Doris Lessing! Reading that was a turning point in my life in my early 30s. The first Doris Lessing book I read. Time to read it again.
ReplyDeleteNothing like a lingering head cold to put a damper on one's life. May it stop lingering.
Codex: Haven't read her but saw the spat. He does read but I don't think he gets them. Which one would you recommend?
ReplyDeleteShall we exchange symptoms? (No appetite and headache from he'll?)
Her observation is dead on. The man has no joy in his life beyond cheating people and vengeance, has no capacity for joy or beauty (look at his godawful taste, cheap gold painted crap). He thinks money and power is what fills that void in his soul and it's not which leads him to want more of both. His entire life is nothing but one grievance after another.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ms Moon, your written English is better than most Americans so I imagine your spoken English is too. And while I'm a reader, have been all my life, I have never read any other the books you mentioned.
@Ellen this was regarding rocket guy who recommended his fave books
DeleteI have tried a couple of books by Joyce Carol Oates and never liked them much, but she is spot-on with that tweet! I'm impressed you got through The Magus even once!
ReplyDeleteCodex: Have you read times arrow by Martin Amis? Very unusual.
ReplyDeleteI did, there was a year in the late 1990s when I read only novels about the Holocaust/WWII. I am a sucker for challenges. Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut also has aspects of the reverse chronology in it although more in a time travel, non linear way.
DeleteThank you for visiting my blog, I followed your comment back here. I haven’t read any of the novels that you mention, and I’m sorry to say that I have never really read anything in a language other than English. I translated some back in school, but I’m pretty much a failure at languages, so once I finished school I never tried again. I have always admired people who can read and speak several languages.
ReplyDeleteThat JCO quote is spot on. Is she referring to Musk? It seems like it could reference Trump, but she mentions money more than power.
She means Musk apparently, but it could any of the billionaire tech guys, read here: https://lithub.com/elon-musk-gets-roasted-on-his-own-platform-by-joyce-carol-oates/
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