Crazy is as Crazy Does

The Professor and the Madman
Simon Winchester
Harper Perennial

You've probably all figured out by now that the D-E-S is a bit of a word nerd. It could be because my given name rhymes with Librarian, or maybe it's because my parents encouraged me to read from a very early age -- I'm not sure. What I do know is that I unapologetically love language and I get genuinely excited when I add something new to my vocabulary.

It was with utter delight and a great deal of excitement that I started The Professor and the Madman -- a non-fiction work that tells the story of the creation of the OED -- the Oxford English Dictionary. I know, you're thinking "there she goes again -- spinning that EMBS propeller," but honestly, this book was fascinating. Started in 1857, the first full edition of the OED took over 70 years to write. In this account, we are introduced to two of the main contributors to this ambitious project -- Professor James Murray, one of the principle editors of the first edition, and Dr. Charles Minor, a prolific contributor, Civil War veteran, and resident in a facility for the criminally insane.

Murray and Minor corresponded for over twenty years before they actually met face-to-face. Minor, who killed a man in a fit of paranoia was to be incarcerated "until Her Majesty's Pleasure be known." He entered an asylum when he was 37 and died, in custody at the ripe old age of 85. During that time, he contributed thousands of words and quotations to the OED and managed to carry out his meticulous research while suffering from what would now be diagnosed as severe schizophrenia. James Murray, while a little less colourful, was no less interesting. He came from family so poor that he had to leave school at the age of 14. His thirst for knowledge, however, was unquenchable and by the time he was a young man, he had a seat on the Royal Philological Society. It was a short hop, skip and jump from there to full-fledged lexicographer and editor of the most exciting, ambitious dictionary project the world had ever seen.

Even if you're not a word nerd, The Professor and the Madman is still a very interesting read. So much so, in fact, that I think I'm going to break with tradition and put it on the list for the D-E-S book of the year. I liked it that much. 4 printing plates out of 5.

Teenage Fangst

Twilight
Stephanie Meyer
MT Books - Little Brown

While I don't normally give into peer pressure, I picked up this book because it has suddenly appeared on the reading lists of many of my friends. The publisher's blurb describes it as a kind of modern day Romeo and Juliet set in the Pacific Northwest. And yes, while it is directed at a young adult audience, it is another book about vampires. I'm sorry -- serious-minded folk should stop reading right now. My next post will have something with substance (and reflection). I promise.

If I'm being generous, I'd say that author takes a conventional, over-used narrative and at least tries to do something interesting. The main characters are Bella and Edward. She's an ethereal beauty who has just moved from the land of sun and energy to a small town in Washington State. He's a 100-year old conscience-plagued vampire, enrolled as a junior in high school since he was only 17 when he was transformed. Of course, they are partners in Biology class and the chemistry is electric. Wait, I mean biology ... oh ... you get the idea. I never really was that interested in science.

Regardless, as much as I would like to share my friends' enthusiasm, the best that I can say is that the book had some genuinely sweet moments. The author is able to channel the roller coaster of emotions of a teen in love and for that, I have to give her at least a little credit. Twilight gets two murky stars out of five.

Needle and the Damage Done

The Journal of Dora Damage
Belinda Starling
Bloomsbury UK

The D-E-S has received a few emails in the past couple of weeks wondering about my temporary disappearance from the blogosphere. I'm sorry gang,
I just haven't been in the mood to read. One of my closest friends, a gentle spirit, and a frequent commenter on this site passed away quite unexpectedly a few weeks ago. It's been tough. I know I haven't been reading because I've been avoiding the blog. I haven't wanted to write. I know that VL would want me to keep at it, so here I am. I'll apologize now for the crap entry. Every time I start it, I begin to cry.

While I didn't know it at the time of selection, The Journal of Dora Damage proved to be an apt choice for this week's entry. Set in Victorian England during the 1860s, the novel tells the story of Dora -- a fearless woman who, when faced with the loss of the family business due to her husband's ailing health, takes over the bindery and opens a new line of business. That's right, kids, she binds porn novels for London's finest citizens. Helping her in her illicit endeavours are Din -- her soon-to-be lover and escaped slave from America, Jack -- a drunken young dandy who gets thrown in jail for his homosexuality, and Pansy, a victim of sexual abuse who needs to support her dozen or so brothers and sisters.

For a first novel, this was a pretty good effort. At times, however, it seems that Starling was trying to "out Dickens" Dickens and I will admit to wanting to skim over large sections of text. We'll never get to know if Starling's sophomore effort would have been much improved. Like my friend VL, she passed away at too young an age with much of her life unlived.

And finally, a few words for that "curmudgeonly old troglodyte". We miss you, VL. A lot. When I'm ready, I'll read (and review) Anna Karenina. It was the last book you bought for me before you gave up going to the bookstore. It figures that you stuck me with a gigantic Russian tome -- I know you're laughing wherever you are. Love you always.