So far 2012 has proved to be exciting and we’re only three days into the New Year.
I have a confession to make. Since New Year’s Eve, I have been distracted, spending gleeful hours being amazed, amused and abstracted. You might guess it’s about a man. A talented smooth-talking-very-tall-man—talking very tall, that is. I’m tickled that I’ve had him all to myself for the past three days (but who’s counting). True, I’ve ignored everything else around me but it’s not often I find such entertaining company. This is one pleasure that I’ve given myself as a first gift of 2012.
You can find me curled up on the couch. Gas fireplace on. Soft background music and a glass of wine. Alas I didn’t go for the lights turned down low bit. I like to see what I’m doing. I guess that started when I was approaching fifty or so. Even in restaurants I like to at least be able to read the menu. Then when the food comes, it might be all pretty and smell delicious but I want to be sure I’m getting exactly what I ordered not somebody’s else’s dinner. Guess it’s obvious I’m not twenty anymore.
In the course of our new relationship this weekend, I’ve learned a new word: obdurate. It has come up more than a half-dozen times already, maybe more, but I like learning new words; new things. I had to look it up, though, because I had no idea what it meant. It means pig-headed or stubborn. No, of course it has nothing to do with ME. It appears my friend likes this word to pieces, however.
I like a man who uses language well, who has the talent for that turn of phrase, a certain beguiling way of getting my attention with his words. If you haven’t guessed yet of whom I speak, his name is Stephen King. Yes, that’s the one–the famed author of horror and deliciously stimulating mind games. A friend got King’s latest book (11/22/63) for Christmas and lent it to me just in time for a scrumptious weekend of reading. I find the idea behind the story intriguing.
Mr. King is responsible for my naughty mood. It’s just been such a good time reading his latest book. Some parts I found laugh-out-loud-funny. With approximately 250 pages to go I’m not sure I want it to end. I am intrigued how he will pull all the pieces together, however, before I crash to earth again.
Here’s a review of the book:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/112263-by-stephen-king/article2233600/
January 4, 2012 at 1:27 am
I’ve been wondering whether to buy this now or wait for the paperback! His old books are amongst my favourites, but I have mixed feelings about the last 20 years worth. I’m hoping this is one of the better ones.
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January 4, 2012 at 3:35 pm
I’ve enjoyed every moment of it so far, EXCEPT for the constant overuse of the word obdurate. It’s not bone chilling scary and the idea of trying to change history (the shooting of JFK in 1963) by removing Oswald is a very interesting concept. I lived during that time so I remember and that’s probably what makes it so interesting to me. Maybe, if there isn’t a long list waitlist at the library, you might be able to borrow hardcopy of e-book. Let me know how you make out.
By the way, nice to hear from you.
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January 4, 2012 at 11:02 pm
I don’t want to suggest you BUY it. This is not HORROR at all but it is FOOD FOR THOUGHT and quite imaginative I must say. However, my pet peeve with this book is the CONSTANT repetition of the word OBDURATE (selfish or pickheaded) and ‘harmony / harmonious’. I KNOW King was trying to make a point but still….it bugged me after I’d read it a dozen time or more.
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January 4, 2012 at 5:34 pm
I think it would be fun to write a movie about a young woman who has one job: Time travel to the 3rd reich and kill hitler, but little did she know she would fall in love with him.. I give you: EVA BRAUN TIME TRAVELER.
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January 4, 2012 at 5:45 pm
Hey, that would be mighty interesting so long as you don’t use the word ‘OBDURATE’ more than twice in about 900 pages. It gets kind of old after a while. That’s the only nitpicking I have about King’s latest tome.
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January 5, 2012 at 1:20 am
Well, sorry to interrupt your reading… but I wanted to award you with the Versatile Blogger Award! I hope you accept. You can read about it here: http://pamelazimmer.wordpress.com/2012/01/04/life-without-pause-getting-caught-up-with-a-new-award/#comment-189
Obdurate – a new word for me too. Quite appropriate too I might add 🙂
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January 5, 2012 at 8:29 pm
Thanks so much. I’m trying to get everything on my blog set up for this award. I’m slow because life keeps getting in the way but should be fine by the weekend. You are very kind and I appreciate your choosing me.
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January 9, 2012 at 11:34 pm
I believe I sent thanks for the award but if I haven’t it’s because I’ve been bogged down. Thanks so much. By the way, might you have the URL for the image? Please and thanks.
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January 5, 2012 at 11:47 am
The minute you said ‘obdurate’ I knew we were seeing the same man these days. I’m not quite finished with it but I’m really enjoying. Nice post.
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January 5, 2012 at 9:19 pm
Thanks. I’m not surprised you knew exactly the same man. Didn’t it tick you off to read obdurate so many times?
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January 6, 2012 at 12:19 pm
Yes, it drove me insane but I’m giving him extra credit because he also gave me another new word in this read. I had never heard the word ‘cannula’ and I really like it. Like ‘quisling’, a word I blogged about once, it’ll be a little hard to use in most of my conversations but I’ll find a way.
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January 6, 2012 at 9:12 pm
I had planned to use my favourite (ugh) word abdurate in a sentence in my last e-mail but fell short. Now I must look up these two new ones. They hadn’t jumped out at me like abdurate and harmonized / harmonizing did.
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February 8, 2012 at 6:48 pm
There’s that word again! I wonder if it will grow in popularity or disgust. . .
I appreciate your responding
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