Welcome to Wondrous Words Wednesday, a meme hosted by Kathy at bermudaonion.net. Join us as we share new vocabulary from our reading. Last week I learned a great word from Kathy: shambolic. But I haven’t used that one in daily conversation yet. Must fix that!
This week, I’m sharing another word from A Good American, a novel that explores, from an immigrant’s perspective, what it means to be a good American. Here’s the excerpt. Setting: a prize-fight:
“The man moved to the center of the ring and stretched his arms out toward the corners where the two fighters stood. ‘Tonight we witness the glorious pugilistic traditions of these United States of America…'”
When I looked in Websters, I expected to find something about bravery or patriotism. I did not.
pugilistic \,pyü-jə-‘lis-tik\adj, from Latin pugil boxer, akin to pugnus fist; having to do with boxing
That’s it. Pugilism = Boxing. And pardon me, but I hardly find it a glorious tradition.
You get it? Pug?
Word Nerd Workout
Share another book that somehow includes pugilistic themes. I can think of a lot of movies, but books? Enlighten me.
Obviously, I love to read. And I want everyone else to love it too. Here I am, at my son’s school on “Fit for Reading Day”, hoping to hook his classmates with Eoin Colfer’s wit and humor.
It worked. While I read Colfer’s humorous short story, the kids, and their teacher, snickered and giggled at all the right spots. When I finished, I told the kids about Artemis Fowl, the evil kid genius who plots to get rich by stealing gold from fairies. One smiling boy said, “My sister has those books. I think I’ll borrow them.”
Mission accomplished.
The school hosted reading activities all week to celebrate Read Across America day on March 1. My daughter even wore these crazy socks, with shorts, in 30 degree weather, on Wacky Wednesday.
But wit, humor, and wackiness don’t always work. Some kids cringe at books. Often boys do, especially tweens and teens. Maybe they’d rather play video games or toss a football.
That’s okay. Reading doesn’t have to involve books. How about sports?
Many guys (of any age) I know can’t remember to pick up dirty laundry, but they can cite every stat from Tom Brady’s career with the Patriots. So why not capitalize on that interest?
The mailman delivers Sports Illustrated Kids to our house every month. And the pages get worn out quickly. Why?
lots of eye grabbing color photos
short bits of copy instead of long, intimidating paragraphs
monthly features like “Freeze Frame” (cool sports pics), “Sports Gamer”, “Tips from the Pros”, and “What’s the Call?” to engage sports fans
The March 2013 issue has tons of stories about March Madness, aka the NCAA Basketball Tournament for those of you non-sports types. I especially like a feature on Aaron Craft, the point guard from Ohio State. Sure, the easy-to-read article comments on his skill with defense etc, etc, but what caught my eye was the blue side bar listing “Aaron’s Favorite Stuff.”
Guess what Aaron’s favorite hobby is?
Reading!
I love role models (yes, Charles Barkley, athletes are role models) who love reading!
I’ll be cheering for you Aaron Craft!
Please note that girls like sports too. I’m one of them. SI Kids does a great job of covering female athletes.
So the next time you need to get a gift for the not so enthusiastic reader in your life (of any gender or age), get him or her a few magazines, and see if they start reading.
And if they like sports, by all means give ’em SI Kids.
Welcome to Wondrous Words Wednesday, hosted by Kathy at bermudaonion.net. Every week, several word nerds and I get together to share new and/or interesting words from our reading or everyday life. Come learn with us!
Today I’m highlighting another great word from The Good American, by Alex George, an epic story that begins at the turn of the 20th century with two German lovers who flee to America to pursue their dreams. Here’s the context:
…with that humiliation came a new, unfamiliar suspicion of those around him- now he saw a rapacious glint in the eye of every native, an unscrupulous trick lurking up every foreign sleeve.
rapacious \rə-‘pā-shəs\ adj, from Latin rapere to seize; excessively grasping or covetous; ravenous
I’m thinking wanting, with a predatory and sinister overtone.
Word Nerd Workout
Think of a character that you could describe as rapacious. And if you’re really feeling smart today, give a synonym for rapacious too!
For example,
Gollum watched the ring around Frodo’s neck with rapacious eyes.
I’ve always believed in the power of books, and if you’re here reading, you probably do too. We’re not alone. Doctors in England will soon be “prescribing” books to their patients to treat mild to moderate mental illness!
According to a recent article in the The Guardian, a British charity called The Reading Agency has developed a plan to link doctors, libraries, and books. The program targets people who have mild to moderate problems with :
depression
anxiety
anger
eating disorders
panic attacks
phobias
self-esteem
worry
obsessions and compulsions
Organizers argue that with the plethora of self-help titles out there (Amazon sells over 250,000), it’s hard to find the right one. Doctors will get a list of thirty books, including The Feeling Good Handbook and How to Stop Worrying, that they can recommend to patients.
Similar programs already exist in Wales, Denmark, and New Zealand.
Could bibliotherapy work in America?
I’m all about self-help, and have read many such books. My favorites: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Simple Abundance, and Unglued. I avoid taking medication, a habit I have picked up from my husband, a physician. Ironic, I know, but he’s seen first hand that every medicine has a side effect. (Note, that new Jude Law movie takes this notion to the extreme).
So I applaud The Reading Agency, and think we should try a similar program here too. It could decrease health care costs and get everyone reading more. As a bonus, it could give libraries a crucial new role in society, thereby securing a necessary position in a world where printed media seems to be disappearing.
But a lot of Americans like quick fixes. They want their problems solved with a pill. Or better yet, a chocolate shake. (Think Slim Fast) What would happen to the doctor who suggested a book to his anxious patient seeking “a nerve pill”? My guess? That patient would walk out the door and find the next doctor willing to write a script for Xanax.
And of course The Guardian article, The Reading Agency, and I acknowledge that some patients need more than just a book for treatment. But wouldn’t it be nice if reading could help lots of people?
How do you think a program like this would be received in America? What self-help books have been beneficial to you?
Share your thoughts in the comments, and thanks for stopping by.
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My book club has started A Good American by Alex George. An epic tale, it begins at the turn of the 20thcentury, with two German immigrants who escape from disapproving family by fleeing to America. I’m not too far in yet, but the cover tells me that the novel explores what it means to be a “Good American”, and how it feels to be an outsider in your town, your country, and even your own family.
Music weaves itself throughout the narrative, as noted in the opening line of the novel:
Always, there was music.
Here’s a new word I found:
They sang … maudlin songs of love, and sentimental ballads about the land they left behind. The words rose up to the ceiling, joyful and elegiac.
elegiac \,el-ə-‘jī-ək\ also \i-‘lē-jē-,ak\ adj from Greek elegos, song of mourning ; of relating to, or comprising an elegy, especially expressing sorrow often for something now past.
[Note: there was also a cryptic reference to a specific form of Greek poetry involving dactylic hexameter lines and “arses”. I didn’t think that applied here…]
Word Nerd Workout
Think of an elegiac song or poem, something that captures what this word means.
For example:
I love how S. E. Hinton incorporated the elegiac poem Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost into her book The Outsiders.
Thanks for playing, and I hope you learn some great words today! A few weeks ago, I picked up a fun new expression with this meme: Don’t get in a swivet!
Have you heard of John Green? Young adult author and leader of Nerdfighters everywhere? Let me introduce you.
John Green has published five YA novels. His latest, The Fault in Our Stars, has earned critical praise, commercial success, and the Goodreads Choice Award for 2012 for YA fiction. Fox 2000 also plans to make it into a movie.
I cannot stop raving about The Fault in Our Stars, even though I sobbed for two days after I read it. (I know, I’m sensitive, but you’d really have to be a Grinch not to shed one tear.) My book club will read this 21st century romantic tragedy in April, and I can’t wait to discuss it. Expect to find a “What Makes a Great Character” post that month!
Five great things about John Green’s novels
John Green writes realistic fiction. No vampires, witches, or magic. And yet, his books captivate millions of readers and many critics. Here’s why I enjoy them:
big questions Green’s books tackle deep questions, like “What mark will I leave on the world?” or “Am I more than just my reputation?”
humor Green balances the intense philosophical stuff with humor. His characters exchange witty dialogue and embark on hilarious adventures. While reading Paper Towns late one night, I literally shook my bed with giggling and earned a glare from my (trying to sleep) husband.
references to great literature and poetry His characters discuss works like “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” and “Leaves of Grass” and their significance in modern lives.
nerdiness Green’s characters often are smart and introspective. A little on the geeky side. I love that. (See title of this blog.)
unique voice Many of his protagonists are male, which is unusual for YA fiction. All of them bring a quirky and interesting perspective to the narrative.
Besides having tons of readers who follow him, John Green also has a huge online audience via:
The VlogBrothers You Tube channel: John and his brother Hank post videos about things like Internet Addiction and Football for Nerds. (Did you know that only 11% of a televised football game actually shows the players playing? See Hank’s breakdown for more details…)
The Crash Course! You Tube channel: John and Hank post instructional videos on literature, ecology, history, and other subjects. More fun than those high school videos you watch(ed).
The Nerdfighters Website and Community: Over 80,000 members gather to “increase awesome and decrease suck”. You can find chats, forums, videos, and book bloggers all dedicated to celebrating nerdiness.
An active Twitter account. Quick! See his tweets about President Obama and the penny!
With his books and his videos, John Green has made geekiness cool. How can this word nerd NOT love him?
Have you read any of John Green’s books? What did you think? Who are your favorite YA authors and why?
Thanks for adding to the discussion. Now go be awesome!
Welcome to Wondrous Words Wednesday, a meme hosted by Kathy at bermudaonion.net. Join us as we share new vocabulary from our reading. Last week I learned a great word from Kathy: shambolic. But I haven’t used that one in daily conversation yet. Must fix that!
