Welcome to Wondrous Words Wednesday! Ready to learn something new? Visit Kathy at Bermudaonion.net for links to more interesting words.
My word comes from a fun piece of kid lit called The London Eye Mystery, by Siobhan Dowd. (By the way, if anyone can help me pronounce the author’s first name, I’d really appreciate it.) In it Ted and his sister Kat must solve the mystery of their cousin’s disappearance.
Early on in the search for clues, Ted finds his cousin’s camera:
‘I wish it was digital like Dad’s,’ [Kat] said. ‘Then we’d be able to see the pictures now. With this old-fashioned kind, you’ve to open it somehow.’ She shook the camera and shrugged… ‘You get the film out and take it to the camera shop to have it developed. It costs money and you have to wait. What a bloody palaver.’
First, I have to chuckle at the phrase “old-fashioned kind.” I still have film lying around my house! Next, what’s a palaver?
palaver \pə-‘lav-ər\ noun, from Latin parabola, parable, speech
A long parley usually between two people of different levels of sophistication; a conference or discussion
Idle talk; misleading speech
Neither one of these fits the context exactly; I guess Kat means that because they can’t see the pictures inside, the camera was a misleading clue, at least until they can get photos developed.
Word Nerd Workout
Think of another word for palaver using the definitions above. My example is one of my previous word nerd words: confabulation
Good luck! Also, any Spanish students out there? Did you notice the Latin basis for palaver can also explain the Spanish word palabra? (It means “word”!)
I’m excited to feature Jennifer Chow today. She is a writer and fellow member of Wordsmithstudio.org, and this summer she published her first novel, The 228 Legacy. The novel explores the struggles of three generations of Asian-American women living in California.
The narrative of The 228 Legacy has four points of view. Silk, the oldest character and the one who lived through the 228 Massacre in Taiwan, interested me the most. I wish the book had even more details about Taiwanese culture and history and how they shaped Silk’s view of life.
Jennifer is busy now that her book has been released, but she was kind enough to share some insights into her writing process.
Julia: What inspired you to start writing?
Jennifer: I’ve always wanted to be a writer, ever since I borrowed my dad’s typewriter as a child and started making up stories. The 228 Legacy, though, was inspired by speaking with and witnessing the emotion of my relatives as they relayed a part of their history which was kept secret for decades.
Julia: Are any of the characters from The 228 Legacy based on people in your own life? If so, which ones?
Jennifer: I think the characters are all culled from various sources. Silk’s tenacity to life and her ability to adapt is definitely an homage to the Taiwanese people I’ve met who survived 228, and to all immigrants who decide to move to a new country and start over. There’s also a piece of me in every one of the main characters: Silk’s desire to pass on her culture, Lisa’s struggle with finding a solid identity, Abbey’s problems fitting in at school, and Jack’s perception on aging.
Julia: Where could readers go for more information on Taiwan and the 228 Massacre?
Jennifer: The best possible solution would be to visit Taiwan. There are multiple monuments and museums dedicated to the history of the massacre. Thankfully, there now also exists online information sources about 228; there’s even a Wikipedia entry on it. For more detailed information, you can check out the major resources I used for my research here: http://jenniferjchow.com/books/
Julia: What were important things that you learned on your journey to publication? How did you find your publisher?
Jennifer Chow: “It’s essential to have that support …. on your writing journey.”
Jennifer: I learned to keep trying. Hand-in-hand with persevering is being part of a writers’community. It’s essential to have that support when you’re facing rejection (a normal thing) on your writing journey. It was great to have colleagues, in-person and online, to provide feedback and encouragement.
Personally, it took me a year to find a publisher. During that time I queried multiple literary agents, entered the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award (where The 228 Legacy landed in the second rounds), and eventually got picked up by an independent press, Martin Sisters Publishing.
Julia: I love the design of your website and how it ties in to the theme of your book; how did you achieve such a beautiful look?
Jennifer: I take no credit for that. The design was through the beautiful work of the talented Janet at Izzy Design. We talked back and forth about the themes in my book and my vision for the website. I also showed her the book cover’s artwork, so she was able to tie similar visual elements into the design.
Julia: What are your future projects?
Jennifer: I am currently revising a cozy mystery. It’s a light-hearted novel featuring an Asian-American protagonist. He’s called to investigate a potential crime at a local senior home.
Thanks Jennifer! You can find out more about Jennifer and her work at jenniferjchow.com.
Have you heard of the 228 Massacre or Jennifer’s book?What have you learned about history from your family?
Welcome to Wondrous Words Wednesday! It’s a great way to boost your vocabulary. Visit Kathy at Bermudaonion.net for links to more wondrous words!
After packing lunches for eight years, I’m trying to make things more interesting. My husband can eat PBJ every day without variation, but the kids crave something different every now and again.
So, with the help of Pinterest and some Bento boxes, I’m spicing up the mid-day meal.
What is a bento box, you ask?
A bento box packed for lunch
This clever little container, that comes with its own ice pack, can hold all kinds of yummy, non-sandwich treats. I found it at Wal-Mart. My kids like “homemade pizza lunchables.” We also want to try pancakes, sausage, and syrup, but I hope the kids realize everything will be cold.
I got really excited when I found “bento box” in a book I recently read, The 228 Legacy, by Jennifer Chow.
Silk recalls packing a bento box of rice and picked radish for him the morning he vanished.
Bento \’ben-tō\ noun; origin: Japanese; a lacquered or decorated wooden Japanese lunchbox; (special usage) a Japanese-style packed lunch, consisting of such items as rice, vegetables, and sashimi (raw fish with condiments)
Word Nerd Note:
This definition comes from the English Oxford Dictionary loaded on my Kindle. (So handy!) Also, I must clarify that The 228 Legacy is about Taiwanese culture, not Japanese. Come back Friday to learn more about The 228 Legacy and its author, Jennifer Chow.
Word Nerd Workout
Share a word that you use that comes from another culture, preferably something interesting or unique. (aka skip “taco” and “burrito” 🙂 ).
I didn’t think I would like this book at first. I was afraid it would be dark and depressing, like something Oprah would select for her book club.
But the beauty of the prose encouraged me to read, and I’m so glad I did.
The premise
The Language of Flowers tells the story of an intriguing young woman named Victoria. She has lived her entire life in foster care, and at 18, she is “emancipated” into the “real world” without money, friends, or formal education. She has spent her life building a protective barrier between herself and other people, but she knows the language of flowers, and she uses that to overcome her fears and heal.
What I liked
The story opens with Victoria waking to a fire in her bed.
Standing in the middle of the room, I located the source… A neat row of wooden matches lined the foot of the bed… Watching them light, I felt a terror unequal to the size of the flickering flames, and for a paralyzing moment I was ten years old again, desperate and hopeful in a way I had never been before and would never be again.
I thought, Oh, no. This is going to be a book about abuse. Granted, the novel describes bleak situations in the foster care system, and Victoria has lots of issues. But, more importantly, her story is one of hope.
One of the many thistles on my farm; note the prickles!
Here are the best parts:
The author, Vanessa Diffenbaugh, cleverly weaves two plot lines together: one told by 10-year-old Victoria and one told by 18-year-old Victoria. The two stories accelerate to an intersection and climax that does not disappoint.
Victoria is prickly, like thistle. (meaning: misanthropy) She’s so unemotional, she’s hard to like, but her perseverance inspires. I like inspiring characters.
The prose is lovely.
I enjoyed learning about flowers and their meanings. For example, sun flower means false riches, so Victoria hates it when brides choose this flower for weddings.
It has a happy ending. I’m a sucker for those.
What I didn’t like
I don’t have much to complain about. At a few key points, I thought that the characterization wasn’t consistent. For example, a character does something that clearly adds to the tension of the story but the action doesn’t really fit the character.
Recommendation
The Language of Flowers is one of the best books I’ve read this year. It’s the perfect blend of bitter and sweet, and I encourage anyone who likes stories about rising above difficult circumstances to pick it up. There is darkness, but it doesn’t overwhelm.
Also, if you read about Vanessa Diffenbaugh on Goodreads, you’ll learn she has very interesting experience with foster care and helping underprivileged youth.
Have you ever started a book that you thought would be depressing but turned out to be a great read? Tell us about it! If you have read The Language of Flowers, what did you think of it?
Welcome to Wondrous Words Wednesday, a meme perfect for word nerds like me. For links to more interesting words, visit Kathy over at Bermudaonion.net.
My word today is inspired by comment from last week’s Word Nerd Workout. I asked for synonyms for bellicose, and Nicole gave me truculent, a truly awesome word. I remember the first time I heard it, in the movie Jerry Maguire.
For those of you who are too young to know, Jerry Maguire tells the story of a sports agent who grows weary of the vicious ambition in his business and decides it would be better to have fewer clients and better relationships. When this philosophy gets him fired, he ends up running his own company with one very demanding client.
By the way, this flick is the only Tom Cruise movie that I’ve ever liked because he plays a bit of a loser, instead of a hot-shot. And Cuba Gooding, Jr., as the bombastic Rod Tidwell, makes me laugh.
Rod Tidwell always has truculent confrontations with the media; he often shakes his fist and shouts at reporters.
truculent \’trek-yə-lənt\ adj, from the Latin truc-, trux, meaning fierce; feeling or displaying ferocity; cruel, harsh; aggressively self-assertive (this fits Rod Tidwell the best)
Word Nerd Workout
Think of a truculent character from movies or literature. My suggestion: Tybalt, from Romeo and Juliet.
Sometimes, getting to all the great books I want to read means that I must listen to them. This is especially handy during my long commutes to and from my kids’ sports practice. When I can find a book that is friendly for all ears in my family, I’m really excited!
I started using audio books about a year ago. At first, I got most of them from iTunes. But I soon switched to Audible.com, and here’s why.
Price, Convenience, Selection
Older books on iTunes don’t cost too much- about $10 per book. You can also find specials, like great teen reads for $3.99. Or good deals on popular books. For example, September 2013 releases from Stephen King and Nicolas Sparks only cost $10 right now. But I’m interested in the Artemis Fowl series. The first few books cost $15 each, but as the series progressed, the cost increased! The most recent AF releases cost over $20 a piece on iTunes. Ouch!
Also, iTunes doesn’t have all of the books in the AF series. I found a promotion from Audible and took the plunge. So far, there has not been a book I’ve wanted that I can’t find. And it’s easy to download books from Audible to my iPod.
Membership Plans
Admittedly, it’s hard to find the fine print about membership on Audible’s web site. Here are helpful links:
Available plans, as of August 2015. (For up to date info, go to the help center and search membership plans.)
I actually called the company when I signed up and spoke to a rep who recommended the Gold Plan. Gold Plan Membership includes:
an annual fee of ~ $150 for 12 credits
1 credit = 1 book (so 1 book costs $12.50)
6 roll over credits per year (so if I don’t use all 12, I can keep 6 for the next year)
30% off all books not bought with credits
So far, I’m happy. I’ve been able to find all the books I want to “read”, and $12.50 seems like a great price when a lot of books cost $20+. If I get close to the end of my membership period, I can always download a bunch of books to my computer until I’m ready to listen- I’m sure I’ll always use my credits in time.
If you want to try Audible, they offer a 30 day free trial membership. After that, you pay $14.95 per month. If you cancel before the end of the 30 day trial, you won’t be charged anything. I actually did this, downloaded two books, then cancelled my membership and resigned up a few months later at the Gold Membership level, since $12.50 beats $14.95!
Technical Stuff
To use Audible books, you must download the Audible Manager software. (easy). Once you purchase books, you can tell the manager to download them to your favorite device: smartphone, tablet, iPod, or computer. Also, with many books, there’s a link between the Kindle version and the Audible version, so you can switch between reading and listening. But you must own both the Kindle book and the audio book to switch between reading and listening. You also need Audible mobile app and the Kindle app.
Suggested Audio Titles
My next “read”
Whether you use Audible or not, audio books are a great way to get in more reading. I highly recommend the Artemis Fowl series, narrated by Nathaniel Parker. He’s an excellent reader, using multiple accents to distinguish between characters. I also really enjoyed the audio versions of Wonder and Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore.
For a fantastic list of recommended audio titles visit
***Addendum. If you don’t like a book you download from Audible, you can return it up to one year after purchase. I hated The Great Brain by John Fitzgerald. I returned it and Audible gave me my credit back. Yippee!
Have you tried an Audible membership? How was your experience? Can you recommend another source for audio books?
Welcome to Wondrous Words Wednesday! Ready to learn something new? Visit Kathy at Bermudaonion.net for links to more interesting words.
First, I have to chuckle at the phrase “old-fashioned kind.” I still have film lying around my house! Next, what’s a palaver?
