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!
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!
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."
I love seeing all those lined up together like that!
ReplyDeleteThinking 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!
She's like Journey or something!
ReplyDeleteMy 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!
ReplyDelete1. 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.
ReplyDelete2. 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."
Exceedingly excellent.
ReplyDeleteСборник Мультфильмов - мультфильм Не Хочу в Школу! (1965-1985)
ReplyDeleteЭлектронная почта без регистрации