Thursday, January 01, 2009

Tributes: Tony Hillerman and John Leonard 

Two of my favorite literary people died recently: two diverse men who entertained and enlightened me profoundly. Tony Hillerman wrote enchanting mysteries in and around Navajo country. I first learned of him in an interview on the Today Show in 1989. That summer I read seven of his novels, beginning with Listening Woman, a Joe Leaphorn novel, followed by People of Darkness featuring Jim Chee. Leaphorn and Chee, fictional policemen of the Navajo Nation, immediately became my literary heroes. Every year since then I have looked forward to at least one new Hillerman novel and I feared the day when there would be no more. Sadly, that day has come. During the school year of 1993/94, I lived in Cortez, Colorado and sometimes did substitute teaching on the nearby Ute Reservation. I remember standing by a large window in the classroom and gazing out at the surrounding desert scenery, especially the mesas in the distance, and thought about my favorite Navajo policemen. On the classroom shelves sat the books of Hillerman--the books of Indian Country. I don't know if they were required reading but I have heard that students learned more about their culture from Tony's books than they did living within it. Not all of his books were about Leaphorn and Chee. One of my favorites was Finding Moon, which took place in Southeast Asia. Wherever the setting, Tony Hillerman was a master storyteller and I will miss him profoundly.

My encounters with John Leonard were his regular appearances as a critic on The CBS Sunday Morning Show and that remained the only place where I saw him. But from the beginning, I was enthralled by him and his segment was my favorite part of that charming program. Most of the time I didn't understand a word he said but when I did, I was not only thrilled but also agreed with him. He critiqued everything--from books to movies to TV programs to music. Books, however, were what intrigued me the most. However, I only read one book that he recommended, The Witches’ Hammer by Jane Stanton Hitchcock, and when I finished it, I was puzzled as to why he had recommended it. Kurt Vonnegut once called him "the smartest man who ever lived."  He was also a TV critic for New York magazine, book critic for The Nation, and among many other accomplishments, the author of numerous books.

These were two men who gave immeasurable pleasure yet were as unlike each other as two literary men could be.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

English!!! What a language!

As my previous blog indicates, the misuse of the apostrophe is one of my pet peeves. I am adding the misuse of lie and lay and also object pronouns.

A sixth grade English teacher gave me the following little "tests":

Mary is going with John and [I or me].
I am traveling with [him or he] and Susie.
I received many [present’s or presents] for my birthday.
The [Smiths or Smith’s] live next door to Jane.
This is the [Smiths or Smith’s or Smiths’] house.
I am going to [lie or lay] down.
I [laid or lay] on the sofa yesterday.
I have [lain or laid] on the sofa almost everyday.
I will [lie or lay] the book on the table.
I have [lain or laid] the book on the table.

Before checking your answer, let’s review elementary English:

Object pronouns are used as the objects of prepositions or as direct objects. I, you, he, she, it, we, they are subject pronouns. Me, you, him, her, it, us, them are object pronouns.

Never use an apostrophe to form a plural. In the English language a plural is formed by adding s or es. The apostrophe is used to form a contraction or to indicate possession.

The proper use of lie [to rest or recline and not to be confused with lie meaning to tell a falsehood] and lay [to put or place something or someone] seems to baffle many people.

Lie, lay, [have or had] lain—rest, rested, [have or had] rested
Lay, laid, [have or had] laid—place, placed, [have or had] placed
And neither is to be confused with:
Lie, lied, [have or had] lied—fib, fibbed, [have or had] fibbed

Using the above as reference, go back over your responses then check them with the following correct answers:

Mary is going with John and me. [object of preposition]
I am traveling with him and Susie. [object of preposition]
I received many presents for my birthday. [plural]
The Smiths live next door to Jane. [plural]
This is the Smiths’ house. [The apostrophe is used to show that house is the possession of the entire Smith family. If there were only one Smith living in the house then Smith’s would be correct.]
I am going to lie down. [to rest or recline.]
I lay on the sofa yesterday. [rested or reclined.]
I have lain on the sofa almost every day. [have rested or reclined.]
I will lay the book on the table. [will place the book on the table]
I have laid the book on the table. [have placed the book on the table]

Easy? Confused? Are you as smart as a 6th grader?
Posted by Palmaltas Blog at 9:38 AM 

Wednesday,October 3, 2007

A PET PEEVE
by P.C. Hernández

[Published in Seasons for Writing, July 2001]

Why do people use an apostrophe when forming plurals? Apostrophes are used to form contractions and to show possessives. That’s it—no more, no less. So why the hang-up with plurals?

In the English language plurals are formed by adding s or es. No apostrophe is involved. The most irritating things I see as I roam around neighborhoods on my daily walk are the cutesy signs people put on their mailboxes: The Brown’s Home. Does only one Brown live there? Of course the sign should read: The Browns’ Home. Or sometimes a sign will say: The Brown’s live here. Naturally, the apostrophe should be dropped.

One of the worst signs that I’ve ever seen was on the door of the typing classroom across from mine: “The typewriter’s are fixed.” Say what? Literally that sign said, “The typewriter is are fixed.” Of course keyboarding is taught instead of typing these days but I have also seen signs that said, “The computer’s are here.”

Then there are advertisements in a newspaper that say: “TV’s for sale.” Literally that means that only one TV is for sale.

So, why is the apostrophe so popular and so misused?
Posted by Palmaltas Blog at 2:39 PM  

Friday, June 29, 2007

Criticism--A Good Thing
(Previously published January 2002 in Seasons for Writing, a newsletter for writers now on hiatus)

Several years ago I was invited to join a local writers' group and was told to bring something I had written. I very innocently brought an entire manuscript to the meeting. When the meeting started, I was introduced to the members who suggested that since it was my first time with them, I might consider just listening as they read and critiqued their current writings. Then, as I got the hang of what they were doing, I could join in at the next meeting. But I was prepared to share part of what I considered my masterpiece. When they finished their short readings, which consisted mostly of poetry and very short stories, I boldly plunged into mine.

Big mistake! Or was it? As I began reading, I realized they were getting fidgety and losing attention. I finally skipped to the end of the first chapter, concluding with what I thought was a humorous note. A few people chuckled but most seemed relieved that I had finished. Then the criticism began--my beginning needed a hook, the first chapter was too long, I needed to insert more humor, and so on. I began to wonder if they just criticized for the sake of criticizing. Were they trying to scare me off? Surely there would be no point in that.

For the next meeting I read a personal anecdote that was very short and humorous and got quite a few laughs. No one criticized anything. As the meetings progressed, I continued to bring my anecdotes, leaving my novel at home, I noticed that the others, however, were bringing original works that definitely needed outside opinions and they were getting them. The group, as a whole, picked everything apart--it was nothing personal. Finally, I began bringing excerpts from my novel expecting to be critiqued and, indeed, they tore those excerpts apart. But, I learned how important it is to admit the need for critique and how much one can learn from it. At first I didn't want to learn that my writing wasn't perfect the minute I put my words on paper. I loved my creations and felt pain when it was suggested that my carefully chosen words should be either removed or replaced with others. As one lady said, "I don't want anyone to tamper with my writing. Not! I'll do anything the publisher wants or even let the publisher rewrite it himself/herself." Well, to be honest, I wouldn't go that far.

It took me a while to learn that criticism is necessary; it can be a very good and helpful thing.

Posted by Palmaltas Blog at 7:22 AM  

Thursday, June 28, 2007

On Writing
Hello!!!

In the following days/weeks/months I will post my thoughts regarding the art of writing. Some of the topics will cover how to choose a point of view (POV); writing a rough draft; my pet peeves regarding writing; self-editing; accepting criticism; writing and rewriting.

Thank you so much,
The muse of the Island of Palmaltas
Posted by Palmaltas Blog at 9:19 AM