Alex is very much into non-fiction these days. Danielle Steel, to be more precise, whose novels I never read although I did see the film version of “The Promise” when I was very young. As it turns out, based at least on the questions that Alex asks, some of Steel’s novels are set in interesting periods of American history. And when Alex comes across an unfamiliar word or event, she asks me to explain. The other night, it was McCarthyism and the assassination of the Kennedy brothers.
I answer and explain when I can — when I know the answers. Sometimes, I don’t. We were having lunch earlier and she asked me what “misanthropy” meant. I said I didn’t know. She was aghast. Wasn’t I the walking dictionary at home? No, I’m not. She just likes to think so because asking me is more convenient than hunting for her dictionary. So, I told her I didn’t know.
Speedy, on the other side of the table asked, “What was that?”
Me to Alex: “Ask Daddy. He might know.”
Alex looked at her father and repeated: “Misanthropy.”
Speedy (looking surprised that Alex didn’t know): “She’s a teacher. You know… Miss Anthropy…”
Alex’s face fell but Speedy went on explaining who Miss Anthropy was.
Alex rolled her eyes and twitched her lips.
Speedy guffawed, apparently very much amused at his own joke.
I raised an eyebrow and shook my head.
We have such interesting conversations during meal times.
Then, I went upstairs and checked my iMac’s dictionary.
Now, I know.
He he, galing ni Sir Speedy. Kaya pala natutuwa sa joke nya
Have you read The days of the week according to Speedy? Classic Speedy hahahaha
Ang galing naman magpatawa ni sir speedy! Ayos ah, so teacher pala si Miss Anthropy! Tanong ko lang kay sir speedy, anong subject? hehe!
Anthropology daw HAHAHAHA
Great, thanks for that. I didn’t know what that word means either. Good to know.
I personally am a big fan of historical fiction genre, particularly the 16th century period, Italian and British Renaissance, and early 20th century. I love when the subjects are strong women characters of their day.
Just recently bought The Importance of Being Kennedy – supposed to be a fictionalized nanny’s account of the Kennedy household with lots of historical detail. Should be an interesting read.
Tried James Clavell’s Asian novels? And Michener’s? I love Michener’s Sayonara. A different look at the second world war.
Yup, my father ‘made’ me read Tai Pan and Noble House when I was in high school. Loved them! Ooh, I will have to take note of Michener… World War I & II always fascinate me. Thanks!
Let me know if you guys get around to The Importance of Being Kennedy. It’s the next book on my list. Currently reading A Moveable Feast by Hemingway. Fitting coz I’m going to Paris on Friday for work.
I’ll let you know when I get around to Michener.
Another one to check out if Italian Renaissance sparks your interest – Jeanne Kalogridis (Borgia Bride, & I, Mona Lisa). I’m hooked!
I would never connect Danielle Steel to non-fiction since most of the books I have read of hers were all fiction. When I clicked on the link you added above I see she has written a few non-fiction pieces, and learned a lot more about her personal life (wow, serial marriages, short of E. Taylor’s run of 8). I do find her books formulaic, sort of the precursor to chick of the last ten years, with a dose of Sidney Sheldon thrown in.
If I can make a book recom, Ms. Connie, pick up a copy of White Tiger by Aravind Adiga. A thriller set in India, dark humour interlaced with insights on India and the social structures running the country.
Ah, now that is a bad typo that I should correct. It’s McCarthyism that’s non-fiction.
And I think that Steel is okay for a 15-year-old. She gets enough mind-blowing reading with her school assignments so I think she deserves the light reading that relaxes.
And while you’re on a book written by an Indian, something I would really recommend is Arundhati Roy’s “The God of Small Things.” It is superbly written — that, the moment you finish reading its last page, you can have that yearning to go through every page again…it also deals with the social structures so characteristic of Indian society, and a lot more. The copies at National Bookstore are a lot cheaper now…by almost P300.00!
this is one great thing when I started learning greek language
there was a show once on tv how a word evolves and the meaning
misos is hate
anthropos is human person
ah this would make my greek teacher happy she helped me a lot passed my greek language exams.
I am a fan of danielle steel but I eventually got tired of her work. An dami ko natutunan because of her work, ang ayaw ko lang sa kanya may pagka redundant sya and after a while boring na kasi kung mag describe sya maski ng handkerchief lang it almost takes 1 page.
Annoying and melodramatic she is I still like her.
My mother is a fan of the Kennedy’s. In most probability, she must have cried when Sen Ted Kennedy died recently. But I could hardly relate to that when Ted Kennedy escaped liability for not reporting for more than 10 hrs the death of Jean Kirkipatrick in his car he drove to river. The same all-American guy who in May 1983 provided information to the Soviet Party chief Yuri Andropov help to get rid of their common enemy – Ronald Reagan from presidency. That would have been political death if he was not a Kennedy.
Such information may just as well fed the Soviet fear of US nuclear attack under Reagan. On September 1, 1983, the Soviet shot down the Korean Airlines flight 007 from New York to Seoul killing 269 people aboard. US invaded Grenada in October 25, 1983 to remove the Cuban trained military who staged a bloody coup. NATO executed NATO military exercise codename “Able Archer 83″ on November 2, 1983 which the Soviet took as prelude to nuclear war. Due to burst of communications around the world, KGB later confirmed it as actual nuclear attack. On November 7, 1983 was the Soviet national holiday “October Revolution” marking the birth of Communism would have been the end of the world as we know it. The Soviet military were ready to push the 1st strike nuclear button. Ironically, the iron fisted exKGB chairman and party chief Yuri Andropov clinging to his favorite scottish whisky refused to let go of his missiles until there was visual confirmation of incoming US warheads. That was the closest end of the world by nuclear holocaust – 11/7/83. He never recovered from such near tragic experience, he died in February 1984 from multiple organ failure.
That would have been truly a misanthropy, is it?