The Promise of Autumn

It's been one long hot shitty summer. And now the heat bubble has finally burst and our long run of 100-degree days is all but over. In fact, highs may not even pass the mid 90s from here on out. September mornings can really be the greatest time of all to get outside and enjoy a hike and smell the world as the cooling nights bring everything back to life again. The radiant glow of the harvest-time foilage, sunflowers primping at their zenith, the blue sky shedding its summertime white-out and returning to a deeper blue. Take a deep breath and suck it all in.

The three months of June - July -August have been the most trying three months of my life. But the promise of autumn brings a change to our treatment routine. Nick goes in for his sixth treatment today - then next Wednesday an x-ray to assess his improvement. We all know he is gettting better - we can feel it.

I had an interesting exchange with author TC Boyle over the week-end regarding the ending of his latest novel. The amazing thing here is the accessibility of one of the world's most highly regarded contemporary writers:


utobya
Aug 27 2006, 07:31 AM
Lurker Group: members Posts: 14 Joined: 25-June 03 Member No.: 189

prestidigitation

Okay, many of you, perhaps even most of you, know the meaning of this word. But I didn't until, oh, about five minutes ago. Vocabulary has never been my strong suit.So, my inquiry is, does the inclusion of a word such as this one lessen or enhance the "impact" of such a climatic scene as rendered at the top of page 280? In my case I say it lessens it. Of course, it is not TCB's fault that I find myself ignorant and uninformed at such an important moment. I should add that I enjoy writers (both of fiction and songs) that help me broaden my vocabulary. But I still find it interesting as a writer myself that TCB chose to go with this word at that precise moment. I wonder if he even gave thought to the reader's potential plight? Please note that this is not a criticism but more of an observation. In fact, once I've adopted an artist as one of my favorites then I'm always very inclined to accept his or her artistic instinct as inevitable if not correct.
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TCB
Aug 27 2006, 10:33 AM
:: author :: Group: admin Posts: 51,164 Joined: 21-March 03 Member No.: 5

Dear utobya: What for one person seems a rather commonly used word may be off the radar for another. I made a joke last week in the company of a friend who has a Ph.D. in philosophy, a joke which revolved around the use of the word defenestration--to my amazement, he had never heard of it. (And so, of course, missed the joke, which then needed a wee bit of explanation.) TCB.



utobya
Aug 27 2006, 06:10 PM
Post #3
Lurker Group: members Posts: 14 Joined: 25-June 03 Member No.: 189

Thanks for your quick reply. Defenestration --- at least I've heard of it although I'd be hard-pressed to use it in a functionally believable sentence. The interesting part is that your educated friend had the balls to admit to his lack of knowledge. Most of us would of course grin and nod our heads and bullshit our way through it. Believe me, what with my fading hearing and sometimes murky wit, I've got that one down pat. I really loved the comical culmination of the Pecker's last hours north of the Mason-Dixon line. And his final answer to the question posed by Dana (a clever reversal of their roles). Nothing. He wasn't man enough to say what he really wanted: his life back.
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TCB
Aug 28 2006, 09:09 AM
Post #4
:: author :: Group: admin Posts: 51,164 Joined: 21-March 03 Member No.: 5

Dear utobya: Yes, and I love your take on the ending. If only all the reviewers had read so carefully or given it so much thought. TCB.