Tuesday, November 03, 2009

X and Y

The one-track mind of Ivy Compton-Burnett.
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6 comments:

  1. Levi Stahl11/04/2009 8:38 AM

    I love seeing all those lined up together like that!

    Thinking back on the Compton-Burnett I've read, though, I start to wonder whether her books might suffer from the same problem that bedevils Ross Macdonald's books: the titles don't give you enough information to remember which book is which years later!

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  2. Ed Park11/04/2009 8:38 AM

    She's like Journey or something!

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  3. Richard Nash11/04/2009 9:23 AM

    My high school English teacher, when he cottoned on I was ready for more than the state-mandated English curriculum offered, insisted upon Ivy Compton-Burnett. Manservant and Maidservant was the one. I don't think I've heard her name mentioned between then and now, so many thanks!

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  4. Sarang11/04/2009 11:40 AM

    1. It's really a two-track mind. Track 1 is e.g. "daughters and sons," for which alliteration is optional; Track 2 is e.g. "a house and _its_ head," for which alliteration is almost mandatory.

    2. This makes it pretty easy to spoof ICB.

    A Splash and its Splotch
    Viruses and Vicissitudes
    The Eggman and the Walrus
    A Great-aunt and her Grievances
    A Topography and its Tortoises

    3. I'm really amazed that the editors let some of these titles pass. "A Heritage and its History" is egregiously bad for a "family saga of dark, unbridled passions."

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  5. Becca11/04/2009 5:56 PM

    Exceedingly excellent.

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  6. Anonymous1/24/2010 2:40 PM

    Сборник Мультфильмов - мультфильм Не Хочу в Школу! (1965-1985)
    Электронная почта без регистрации

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