Ready to learn a new word with me? Visit Kathy at Bermudaonion.net for links to find more interesting words via the Wondrous Words Wednesday meme.
This weekend I drove my son to a soccer tournament in Cary, N.C., a suburb of Raleigh. On the way we passed through several cities: Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Durham. I noticed that along I-40, one city blurred into the next; there weren’t many wide green spaces to distinguish the metro areas.
Imagine my pleasure when Merriam-Webster sent a most appropriate word of the day to my inbox to describe this phenomenon: conurbation.
conurbation \kah-ner-‘bay-shun\ noun; from the Latin con together + urbs city; an aggregation or continuous network of urban communities
This word was coined by the Scottish biologist/sociologist Sir Patrick Geddes for his book on urban planning called Cities in Evolution.
Word Nerd Workout
I also have seen conurbation in northern Virginia; the suburbs of D.C. now spread all the way to Fredericksburg, a town one hour south of the Nation’s Capital. Where do you see conurbation, and do you have a synonym for this word?
My example: suburban sprawl.
For the truly nerdy, my use of “the Nation’s Capital” above is an example of what literary device? (hint: review from a few weeks ago!)
First love overwhelms you. Park Sheridan learns that the hard way.
In the YA novel Eleanor and Park, by Rainbow Rowell, two misfits bond over comic books and alternative music.
The story opens with Park’s point of view in August 1986. Park survives the treacherous landscape of high school without too much difficulty, mostly because he dated the popular “Tina” in sixth grade and his dad is “from the neighborhood.” That gives him enough “social currency” that the jocks in the back of the bus ignore him.
Until Eleanor gets on the bus.
Here’s what Park thinks of Eleanor when he first sees her:
Not just new- but big and awkward. With crazy hair, bright red on top of curly. And she was dressed like… like she wanted people to look at her… half a dozen weird necklaces hanging around her neck and scarves wrapped around her wrists. She reminded Park of a scarecrow or one of the trouble dolls that his mom kept on her dresser. Like something that wouldn’t survive in the wild.
But soon Park will learn how strong Eleanor is. When nobody else on the bus gives Eleanor a seat, Park scoots over. And then…
Park turned toward the Plexiglas window and waited for a world of suck to hit the fan.
What I liked about Eleanor and Park
Rowell tells the storyvia the alternating and distinct viewpoints of Eleanor and Park. Eleanor’s jaded sarcasm contrasts nicely with Park’s subdued awkwardness. I liked seeing how their thoughts differ from what they actually say. The dynamic works well.
Eleanor and Parkare thoughtful, compelling characters. Park patiently negotiates Eleanor’s prickly barriers until he reaches her vibrant core.
Eleanor doesn’t get adequate food, clothing, or, most importantly, love, from her home. Her stepfather drinks too much, and his mood swings poison the atmosphere in the tiny house. Rowell’s description of the family dysfunction felt real and chilling.
E & P captures the intensity and awkwardness of many “firsts”- first touch, first hand holding, first kiss. I was in the skin of each character, stressing along with them.
Rowell says a lot in few words. She has mastered the art of “show, don’t tell.”
A few caveats
Eleanor and Park, like first love, is intense, but sometimes the book was too melodramatic, even for YA fiction. For example, the first hand holding episode goes on for three pages.
Seriously. Three.
It’s strictly a love story. The characters are original and interesting, and Eleanor courageously deals with a horrid home life, but there aren’t many BIG IDEAS. Except that first love can break your heart. And that being different is OK.
My recommendation
If you enjoy contemporary YA with quirky characters and sarcastic humor, you’ll like Eleanor and Park. Another bonus: all the pop culture references from the 1980’s, my teenage years. I’m hoping that modern YA readers appreciate the significance of Magnum P.I. and The Smiths.
I actually listened to this book instead of reading it, and the audio version is awesome. Two readers capture the unique voices of Eleanor and Park well.
Have you read Eleanor and Park or other books by Rainbow Rowell? What did you think? Can you recommend another book about first love?
Welcome to Wondrous Words Wednesday, an awesome meme in which bloggers share new words they’ve learned. Check out Kathy’s blog at Bermudaonion.net for links to interesting words.
My word today comes from my son’s geometry class.
Tessellation \te-sə-‘lā-shən\ noun from Latin tessellare to pave; a covering of an infinite geometric plane without gaps or overlaps by congruent plane figures of one type or a few types
Brick walls and tiled floors are everyday examples of tessellations. Of course, they can be much more interesting. To see some cool tessellations, visit the website of artist M.C. Escher.
To learn more about tessellations and tips for how to create your own, check out tessellations.org. It’s a(kid friendly) website where you can find project ideas for the winter break; tessellations are the perfect blend of math and art!
Word Nerd Workout
Wouldn’t it be cool if you could easily create a tessellation and share it with me in the comments? I guess that’s more “arty” than “wordy”. Don’t worry, I don’t expect any of you to take the time to do that. Visit the tessellation site instead.
Have you ever heard of tessellations? Have you ever made one yourself?
Isn’t it awesome how books can create childhood memories?
I loved Madeline when I was a child. The year I was five, we lived near my grandmother, aka “Oma,” while my father served in the Army in Korea. I distinctly remember Oma taking me to the public library and reading Madeline books with me. The story with the appendicitis surgery really sticks out in my memory.
It’s great how the words of a book can pull me back in time. If I concentrate, I can still hear Oma’s voice reading the rhyming lines; I can still see her short fingers turning the slick pages. My kids know Madeline too- I have carried on the tradition, always with Oma in the back of my mind. Honestly, I didn’t realize that a new author had taken over the series, but he seems to do a fine job.
Next year, Madeline will be 75 (yikes! this makes me feel old), but she’s still got new books coming out. In October 2013, John Bemelmans Marciano, Ludwig Bemelmans’ grandson, released a new Madeline story called Madeline and the Old House in Paris. He has written three other Madeline books before this one. He talked to NPR about why Madeline is such an enduring character.
Bemelmans attributes Madeline’s longevity to several factors:
Her spunk. Only a brave girl could say “Pooh, pooh” to a lion at the zoo!
She and her schoolmates live in a world where parents don’t exist. Madeline has freedom and takes care of herself, something kids crave.
The rhymes.
In the NPR interview, Bemelmans shares some funny insights into his grandfather’s work, which was complicated by the fact that he spoke several different languages and lived all over Europe. Check out the story.
Many thanks to the Bemelmans men for creating and developing a character (especially a GIRL!) who ventures out in the world without fear. (We could even call her dauntless.)
And thanks to all the authors who have given us childhood moments to treasure.
What is one of your favorite books from childhood? Do you have a fond memory about reading as a child? Can you share a few favorite lines?
Another favorite line of mine:
… he sailed in and out of days, and almost over a week, to the place where…”
Welcome to Wondrous Words Wednesday, a chance to meet other word nerds and improve your vocabulary at the same time! Awesome! Stop by bermudaonion.net to find more cool words.
My contribution this week comes from the dystopian YA novel Divergent, by Veronica Roth. I just started reading it; I know, I’m so behind. The third book in the series, Allegent, just came out, and my husband has already started it on his Kindle.
In the world of Divergent, everyone is divided into five factions. When you reach adulthood, you choose your faction and commit to it forever. Veronica Roth chose interesting names for her factions, and although I could glean basic definitions for each group, I decided some word nerd sleuthing was in order. I’m glad I took the time: some of the meanings and etymology were interesting, and not what I expected.
The Five Factions and Their Definitions
Abnegation \ab-ni-‘gā-shən\ noun from Latin abnegare to refute, ab + negare to deny; self-denial
Amity \’am-ət-ē\ noun, from Latin amicus, friend; friendship, especially friendly relations between nations. Think amiable, or, for those of you who know Spanish, amiga! Before I looked it up, I missed the “friend” meaning and just thought “nice.”
Candor \’kan-dər\ noun from Latin candidus bright, white and candēre, to shine or glow; 1) whiteness, brilliance, or unstained purity; 2) fairness, 3) unreserved, honest 4) (archaic) kindliness. The “brilliance” bit surprised me, as did “kindliness”, but that is an archaic use. Many of the “Candor” in Divergent seem blunt more than “brilliant”.
Dauntless \’dont-ləs\ adj from Latin domitare to tame; daunt = to cow or subdue; dauntless means fearless, undaunted. I liked the “unable to subdue” meaning here.
Erudite \’er-(y)ə-dīt\ adj from Latin eruditus, instruct; fr e + rudis, rude; possessing or displaying extensive knowledge acquired chiefly from books. The “rude” etymology implies a haughty tone.
By the way, divergent means differing from a standard, or deviant.
Word Nerd Workout
Choose your faction! Fortunately, I won’t ask you to slice your palm open with a knife or leave your family forever, but I would like you explain your choice. I think it would be cool to learn more about you.
My choice? Although erudite is tempting, I pick amity. I really like it when everyone gets along. I would NEVER choose dauntless- I’m afraid of heights, hate violence, and cannot throw a punch.
A few weeks ago, my friend Nan sent me an awesome article from The Chronicle of Higher Education called “The Ideal English Major.” Of course, this word nerd, a girl who earned her English degree from the University of Virginia, loved the piece by Mark Edmundson, a professor of English at UVA. 😉
But something else struck me.
Nan didn’t send me a link in an email. She MAILED me the article. Printed it up, highlighted the sections that resonated with her, jotted down a note, and put a stamp on it. Just for me.
Wow. Nan’s gesture meant a lot; I replied with a hand written thank you note.
Fear for the future of letters
How often do you get something in your mailbox besides catalogs and advertisements? When you do get a hand written card, do you rip through that envelope first, because inside you’ll find something that someone wrote especially for you? Doesn’t it make your day?
When was the last time you sent a letter?
We live in a digital frenzy. We don’t even talk to each other any more- we just text. Last week my friend Jean laughed and said, “My iPhone is good for everything but phone calls.”
I know that everyone is busy, that sending a quick email or text is better than sending nothing at all. But we are losing something precious if we only communicate via Facebook. Take a look at these special words:
From my daughter, last May
From my mother in 1992.From my dear friend in 2012
Our handwriting gives us unique identification; our handwritten words are so much more personal than typed ones. I blink away tears when I read my mom’s note. She wrote that while I was a student at UVA. By then, neurological disease made writing very difficult for her, but I can read the words, “I LOVE YOU LOTS.” Can you see them?
Mom died in 1996. But I still have her words. I keep them in the top drawer of my night stand, along with other cherished “hard copy” snippets from my life.
Why we should write more letters
We can’t let handwritten notes become obsolete; here’s why:
Handwritten letters show that you care. It takes effort, time, and thoughtfulness to compose a few lines, find a stamp, and visit a mail box. But aren’t your friends and family worth that?
Handwritten notes are physical reminders of affection. That note from my mom is a treasure; I’m so glad I kept it. When I travel away from home, I usually leave a note for my kids on their bed. It’s a piece of me they can tuck under their pillow until I return.
Handwritten notes last. Think of everything we’ve gleaned about history from letters. How will future generations learn about us? I doubt that anyone is archiving Facebook. How will we leave our mark on the world if our words can be clicked away by the delete button?
Word Nerd Workout
I don’t usually do this in my Friday posts, but I challenge you to a workout: write a note to someone and mail it. Today. I’ll do it too.
Do you fear for the future of letters? Do you write notes to the people you love?
Ready to learn a new word with me? Visit Kathy at Bermudaonion.net for links to find more interesting words via the Wondrous Words Wednesday meme.
