GR8FUL

Happy Thanksgiving!

WIshing you a wonderful weekend full of pie and happy laughter!    Blog at ya next month.   – Care

I’m thankful for books, book-blogs, book-blog-buds, impressive book-to-movie adaptions, receiving books in the mail, a reliable US post, the ability to read, the ability to type, my eyes that I can see, a sense of humor, freedom, clean air, clean water, trees, flowers, gardens, art, my camera, Southwest Airlines, my family, my dog, the wonderful place that takes care of my dog when we travel, the freedom to travel, neighbors who watch my house/get my mail/put rubbish to the curb, friends in fun places, nieces and nephews, my in-laws, my mother-in-laws incredible assortment of goodies that await us, health, that it’s not blizzarding, sunshine, …  lots more stuff but I got to go!

Vocabulary Lesson / Christine Falls

Review   Christine Falls by Benjamin Black (also known as John Banville)

Year published 2006, 340 pages.

Quick Synopsis:

A dead woman’s file in the morgue is tampered with – then the body disappears!   The pathologist can’t let go of the mystery until it has totally upended his life  as well as the lives of everyone he seems to know.    Set in Dublin and Boston in the 1950’s, this novel explores family relationships, identities, and saving souls.

Reasonably well-written, believable dialog, flawed characters you like anyway and some to really really dislike; overall impression – just OK.

Also try  DEWEY’s Review.   Her post has a link as to why Mr. Banville uses a pen name for his mystery thrillers.   (I won this book from Dewey; THANKS DEWEY!  She’s got a few more book giveaways going this holiday season, check it out.)

DId I learn any new words? YES!

p.52 – elevenses  -   “Mulligan the registry clerk was taking his elevenses.” a break?   Nope!  a snack!   A British term: “a snack that is similar to afternoon tea, but eaten in the morning.”

p.155 – palaver – “chatter: speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly”

p.161 – gaff – “This your gaff?”  Mr. Punch asked him. his home?  Another Brit term:  one’s private residence.

p.168 – phthisic – “A wasting disease of the lungs, the term was also applied more generally to various lung or throat infections.”

p.177 – lascar – “An East Indian sailor, army servant, or artillery trooper, or seaman.”

Any of these words new to you, too?