a few unrelated things thrown into one entry

[howsmyenglish]

- Sometimes, I'm really bad at answering comments. I read them, think my reply and plan to answer later, but when later comes, it seems too late to answer, especially, when there have been new postings and comments afterwards. So... just wanted to say: you'll be getting some very belated replies from time to time. It's better than none, right?

- There's a "quarantine meme" going around. Don't you think it's designed to make you feel bad? Why not ask "how are you coping?" instead of "are your kids driving you crazy?"? And I really don't get the panic around toilet paper and hand-sanitizer. Somehow I feel, as long as I've got soap and water I'll be fine.

- I'm ashamed to say this, but I'm in introvert heaven. Granted, I'm recovering from surgery, and I still have my work. I really understand that there are many in much worse circumstances. But personally, I'm feeling better than I have for a long time. We're on public holidays right now, so the timing for my surgery could not have been better. I have not looked at my computer for two days straight. I've picked it up now, because I really wanted to, not because I had to or there was nothing else to do. I spent a whole day reading a book. I haven't done that in ages! I only read in the evenings before going to bed, because I consider reading an indulgence. (Which is why I never understood people who "try to read more": I've always tried to read less. It's probably stupid, but I can't change myself there, this is a family heirloom I got from my Mennonite Grandma together with the gallstones. (Btw, that was the surgery. No idea why I wanted to keep it a secret. Does anyone have an idea what I should do with them? They're huge and even quite OK looking, but, I mean... aren't they akin to other stuff that comes out of your body?.. (sorry, were you eating?)))

- The book. The book I spent a day reading. It was by Reginald Hill. I cannot thank the person, who recommended him to me, enough. But I don't remember, who that person was - it was at least a year ago. Someone here on DW mentioned the Dalziel and Pascoe series to me (are you reeeeally reading him "Dee-el"? I have not been able to force myself to do that...) - thank you, someone! I like it a lot! I think, I'll try to read all his books eventually. There is a wonderful quote of his on Wikipedia:
"I still recall with delight as a teen-ager making the earth-shaking discovery that many of the great "serious novelists," classical and modern, were as entertaining and interesting as the crime-writers I already loved. But it took another decade of maturation to reverse the equation and understand that many of the crime writers I had decided to grow out of were still as interesting and entertaining as the "serious novelists" I now revered."
This realization took me some time, too. Another thing, that I needed quite some time to realize, was that "entertaining crime writers" could be really good writers, too. I grew up with the conviction that crime writers were "a lower class" of writers - I've no idea, where exactly this notion came from, but I haven't read one detective novel in my arrogant twenties, and I only returned to crime fiction in my thirties, when I decided that I needed to work on my English, for which I chose to read and listen to "books in simple English". This is where my love for Agatha Christie comes from. I read all her books during that time. But what I wanted to say is that Reginald Hill is a great example of a really good writer, who wrote crime fiction (among other things, as I understand). I'm very glad to have made his acquaintance. It's always a special kind of pleasure for me - to find a new favorite author.

- Lastly, once again about the quarantine. Why not share coping mechanisms? Why not try to help each other instead of spreading panic? Should you need a friendly ear, I'm a very good listener. I'm trying to help a friend to learn to meditate. She really needs it right now. And I do believe meditation is something every person could benefit from. So, should you like a few pointers, I'll be happy to provide them.
I hope you're coping. Take care.

Now read the first point again. :D

Comments

[smallhobbit]

Always happy to hear from you whether on time or late :)

I think we're all dealing with the situation in our own ways, and what works for one isn't necessarily right for another and yes, celebrate we're all here and talking to each other.

[howsmyenglish]

dealing with the situation in our own ways
Of course! This is why I think sharing our methods might be beneficial to others. Someone is bound to have thought of something I haven't, but could really use, and vice versa.

Thank you! I'm always happy to hear from you, too!

[iddewes]

There’s nothing wrong with crime fiction. I think it’s looked down upon because a lot of the authors are female. Same as romance, though I don’t care for romance, but I know some of their authors are good writers, EL James is an exception. And reading is good for learning and growing one’s vocabulary. I used to have a housemate whose mother hated reading so she had never got into the habit of doing it, and I often felt like Stephen Fry compared to her because she often wouldn’t understand words I used.

[howsmyenglish]

I don't think that in my case it had anything to do with crime writers being female. My very first book (I got it as a present when i was seven or so) was a collection of Sherlock Holmes stories, then came Agatha Christie. So, for me, crime writers are gender equal. Also, I don't know how this notion entered my head: whether it was something that just existed around me, whether my mother thought so, or whether I made that up all on my own. At any rate, I'm happy that I came to the aforementioned realization :D

[iddewes]

It’s certainly a general thing though.

[howsmyenglish]

Yes, it probably is. I'm glad I'm grown up now and don't need to feel ashamed about liking Agatha Christie. I actually do remember people looking down at me for liking her. Lol

[thanatos_kalos]

It's lovely to hear from you whenever you comment or post! :) I'm also enjoying introvert heaven, I must admit, but I can sympathise with all the people who aren't. :(

Gallstones are mostly crystals of cholesterol and bilirubin, so they're not really good for much. Maybe you could keep them in a jar in your living room or (eventually) your office as a conversation-starter? :)

[howsmyenglish]

Lol! - those are some pretty stones in that jar.. - thank you! i made them myself!

I'm glad to hear you're in introvert heaven. See, there is something good in your life :D (oops, am I being annoying again?))

Anyhow! I wanted to say, it's lovely to hear from you, too!

[thanatos_kalos]

Lol! - those are some pretty stones in that jar.. - thank you! i made them myself!

;) See? The perfect conversation-starter! :)

I'm glad to hear you're in introvert heaven. See, there is something good in your life :D (oops, am I being annoying again?))

Nah. ;)

Anyhow! I wanted to say, it's lovely to hear from you, too!

:)

[thewayne]

I had gallbladder problems some 30 years ago, fortunately I was able to avoid having mine removed. At the time laproscopic surgery was new and they weren't able to guarantee they could do it that way and I was potentially looking at two months out of work! I couldn't afford that, so I made some dietary changes, took some supplements, and the problem went away and hasn't come back.

[howsmyenglish]

This wouldn't have worked for me: they were too many and too big. I had an ultrasound quite late in the evening and my doc actually called me on my phone when i got back - around 11 at night - to tell me I had to find a surgeon asap.

[thewayne]

I was having serious abdominal pain, but I was in a pre-stone stage.  They call it sludge.  And I still have the sludge, but by diet changes, they've never formed stones! I don't know how big your stones are, but some people get them made in to jewelry.

[howsmyenglish]

They're big enough, the biggest ones have sides of almost 2cm. But jewellery out of something that your body rejected? On the other hand, your might say they're my self-made pearls)))

[thewayne]

"Self-made pearls"!  That's funny!

[corvidology]

For me as a reader the biggest sin an author can commit is to fail to draw me into the story and/or to bore me.

Other than that, despite having an extensive educational background in Literature, I'm an equal opportunity reader.

[howsmyenglish]

Interesting. I'm not sure whether my criteria are that different. For example, I very much dislike reading books, in which characters seem to act illogically or when they're flat and characterless (a characterless character is a nice oxymoron!), but I suppose one might say that with characters like that the author automatically fails to draw me into the story...

[halfshellvenus]

I think I might have been the person who recommended Pascoe and Dalziel to you? I really enjoy that series by Reginald Hill, and his "On Beulah Height" is as much dramatic fiction as it is mystery.

Though I've realized recently that I tend to like the books that are told from Dalziel's perspective more than those from Peter Pascoe's. Partly because Peter's wife is presented SO unattractively.

For other well-written crime novels, I also recommend the Harry Bosch series by Michael Connelly. Modern noire, and captivating.

I'm glad the gallstone surgery is over and went well! That has to be a relief. :)

[howsmyenglish]

Yes! It was you! Thank you so much! I am enjoying these books a lot. I've only read two so far, one was blindly taken out of the middle - it was the one, where Pascoe just got married, so he only joins Dalziel in the end - and the other was the first one - I've decided to read them chronologically from now on. So, I had no idea, there were books written from Pascoe's perspective. Though now I come to think of it... the first one partly is. But it's written from many different perspectives. I really like how his characters have personalities and are so different from one another.

I don't think I've tried Michael Connelly. Not sure what I think about "modern noire", but I'll try it. Thanks! :D