Happy New Year! Both books sounds interesting and all of a sudden I wish the holidays (aka reading time) hadn't ended already. What I love about your newsletter is that whenever I feel like getting a new book I can just browse through your many posts for an endless source of good titles. Thank you!
Oh, thanks for two more book recommendations that I now want to read (or listen to!). I swear you’re creating my TBR list, Marg!
My mom often used the expression “chalk and cheese” to describe two people that were as different as, well, chalk and cheese. It always made perfect sense to me. Hoi polloi not so much, though I love the sound of it. I thought it sounded vaguely Yiddish, but it turns out it’s Greek for “the people” and has taken on a negative connotation in English as a term for the masses (as in the rabble-rousing types).
I love the way you make the effort to find out where things come from. We are kindred spirits in that respect. I looked up "chalk and cheese" and apparently it can be traced back to 14th Century England. According to some sources, some dishonest cheesemakers would mix chalk with their cheese to increase its weight. However, customers would eventually notice that they were being taken for a ride because chalk and cheese are completely different.
So very cool, Marg! I had no idea what the origin of this expression was, so now it seems there really is an answer that makes sense. I can only imagine how awful it would be to bite into a piece of something that looked like cheese and find out it was chalk!
I also recommended MY MURDER in our Present Tense newsletter so I can jump on the bandwagon and hope you saw it mentioned there, Marg! (Even if you didn't.) I think a lot of us were talking it up early in the year, and for good reason. It is a very fresh take on the domestic thriller. I will look for STANDARD DEVIATION--thanks for including some dialogue to provide us a sense of the humor/voice. I need more witty novels in my life!
Oh yes, please take some credit for a terrific recommendation 😀
In all likelihood I probably saw it mentioned in a couple of places. My library has a great new feature that lets you reserve a book before they even have it in stock, so I put a request in months ago! So exciting when they finally come through.
My mother always misused hoi polloi. She thought it meant the fancy people, instead of the common people. It was years before I realised that I was using it incorrectly.
I had to look that up after reading your comment because I misunderstood hoi polloi as well. I ALSO thought it was the fancy people. I googled and found out that many people have the definition reversed, so we can't blame our mothers or previous generations too much!
Happy New Year! Both books sounds interesting and all of a sudden I wish the holidays (aka reading time) hadn't ended already. What I love about your newsletter is that whenever I feel like getting a new book I can just browse through your many posts for an endless source of good titles. Thank you!
Thank you Sinù. I’m so glad to be of service. Happy new year to you too. I have a strong feeling this is going to be a good year for you.
For both of us :) Fingers crossed!!
Oh, thanks for two more book recommendations that I now want to read (or listen to!). I swear you’re creating my TBR list, Marg!
My mom often used the expression “chalk and cheese” to describe two people that were as different as, well, chalk and cheese. It always made perfect sense to me. Hoi polloi not so much, though I love the sound of it. I thought it sounded vaguely Yiddish, but it turns out it’s Greek for “the people” and has taken on a negative connotation in English as a term for the masses (as in the rabble-rousing types).
I love the way you make the effort to find out where things come from. We are kindred spirits in that respect. I looked up "chalk and cheese" and apparently it can be traced back to 14th Century England. According to some sources, some dishonest cheesemakers would mix chalk with their cheese to increase its weight. However, customers would eventually notice that they were being taken for a ride because chalk and cheese are completely different.
So very cool, Marg! I had no idea what the origin of this expression was, so now it seems there really is an answer that makes sense. I can only imagine how awful it would be to bite into a piece of something that looked like cheese and find out it was chalk!
Also, I thought the Hoi Pollloi were rich people. Got that from my mother!,
I’m loving Standard Deviation. I love all the characters. Such astute observations about people and what they say and what they think.
I agree. You read something and think 'that's so true'. I also love the fact that everyone has their funny little quirks, not just their lovely boy.
I also recommended MY MURDER in our Present Tense newsletter so I can jump on the bandwagon and hope you saw it mentioned there, Marg! (Even if you didn't.) I think a lot of us were talking it up early in the year, and for good reason. It is a very fresh take on the domestic thriller. I will look for STANDARD DEVIATION--thanks for including some dialogue to provide us a sense of the humor/voice. I need more witty novels in my life!
Oh yes, please take some credit for a terrific recommendation 😀
In all likelihood I probably saw it mentioned in a couple of places. My library has a great new feature that lets you reserve a book before they even have it in stock, so I put a request in months ago! So exciting when they finally come through.
Was just blown away by MY MURDER.
I have a strong feeling it was you who recommended it. Sorry I forgot to give you due credit. Great book!
No need for credit! Just happy people are finding it.
P.S. I have never understood why people say "chalk and cheese" when they mean two very different things!
My mother always misused hoi polloi. She thought it meant the fancy people, instead of the common people. It was years before I realised that I was using it incorrectly.
I had to look that up after reading your comment because I misunderstood hoi polloi as well. I ALSO thought it was the fancy people. I googled and found out that many people have the definition reversed, so we can't blame our mothers or previous generations too much!
That’s so funny. I thought I was the only person who was confused (apart from my mum).