tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23897968.post7715854235442499218..comments2023-08-28T09:21:28.705-04:00Comments on shermaniablog: commas and just one semi-colonSherman Clarkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17825017103161880163noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23897968.post-49213915548140899852011-08-22T00:09:13.365-04:002011-08-22T00:09:13.365-04:00Sherman, my friend, I wrote a poetic follow-up com...Sherman, my friend, I wrote a poetic follow-up comment about commas and Barbery, but the damn blogger software deleted my whole comment! In any case, I wanted to let you know that I just finished reading Barbery's book and simply loved it. The comma chapter was hilarious, and it justified my own reactive insanity when I see such abuses of grammar in the world. I wish I could read French fluently, because I have no doubt the original text for the book probably used exquisite language that only added to the book's content. As for the denouement...what can I say but that I now have a mission to seek out and appreciate "camellias" in whatever form they may take.Robertohttp://bklynbiblio.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23897968.post-48303448586242303472010-12-30T20:08:56.269-05:002010-12-30T20:08:56.269-05:00I think you know that I LOVE A.S. Byatt, and certa...I think you know that I LOVE A.S. Byatt, and certainly it's her technique of writing that is part of what I love. She's quite Germanic in her training, to the point where some of her descriptions can be exhausting reading them. She frequently uses partial run-on sentences at times, but she manipulates the rules of grammar so well, figuring out exactly when commas and semi-colons can be powerful, as you so aptly point out. The last phrase after the semi becomes a precious gem of imagery unto itself as a result. And just for the hell of it, the word glockenspiel gets thrown in there as well. Truly delectable textual imagery. I haven't read Babel Tower yet, so I'm looking forward to it, but Paul R. happened to give me Muriel Barbery's book for Christmas, so I must read that first.bklynbibliohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12857539103503922487noreply@blogger.com