I recently finished reading a book, or at least skimmed the last two chapters and, with great relief, threw it in the trash - actually the recycling bin. I had not enjoyed "Julie and Julia" by Julie Powell one little bit. I bought it as a novel way to do research on my new blogging activity. Julie Powell started a blog which became popular as readers followed her year-long activity of cooking French recipes. Now it is a first-rate movie starring Meryl Streep as the chef, Julia Child. I thought I might learn a thing or two, if not about writing, perhaps about cooking.
I didn't appreciate the blogging style of the book and so didn't care for how the story was told. However, it was her overuse of a little word beginning with the letter 'f' - and it is not the word 'french' - that finished it for me. I found her boring and crass - or should I say her writing is. Perhaps in person she is fun and easy to know. But I would have to turn a deaf ear to her coarse language. No - I'm sure there are others who would better appreciate her limited expressive vocabulary.
I didn't appreciate the blogging style of the book and so didn't care for how the story was told. However, it was her overuse of a little word beginning with the letter 'f' - and it is not the word 'french' - that finished it for me. I found her boring and crass - or should I say her writing is. Perhaps in person she is fun and easy to know. But I would have to turn a deaf ear to her coarse language. No - I'm sure there are others who would better appreciate her limited expressive vocabulary.
My ears are always tuned for fascinating new words. I like feisty words, festive words and fashionable words. I even come up with my own fandangle words. Usually a frown creasing my hearer's brow, alerts me to my own fabrication. I'm not farouche in trying a new word on for size. I like to sound it out and find the right moment for it to feature.
To be frank, I'm not that fuddy-duddy to think that the little word of which Mrs. Powell is such a fan doesn't have a place in the English language. In fact, it can best express extreme frustration as few other words can. In the movie, the husband of chef Julia Child uses the word famously in just that context. Even M gave a satisfied chuckle!
I may be frigorific in my assessment of Mrs. Powell and her funereal use of the pen. I stuck to reading her book hoping for a nugget of inspiration. None was to be found. Others, of course, have heralded her book with feverous accolades. As for me, Julie Powell is not my cut of roast beef.
