Tuesday Tomes - Carefully Chosen Words

I thought it might be good to post a little more information about the two books I mentioned in yesterday's post. One I've read, and the other I plan to read.

Pilgrim at Tinker Creek is a series of essays that combines scientific observation, philosophy, daily thoughts, and deeper introspection with glorious prose. On the surface, Annie Dillard is simply exploring a place called Tinker Creek and its inhabitants: "It's a good place to live; there's lots to think about." But as her observations range well beyond the landscape into worlds of esoteric fact and metaphysical insight, each paragraph becomes suffused with images and ideas. Whether she is quoting the Koran or Albert Einstein, describing the universe of an Eskimo shaman or the mating of luna moths, Annie Dillard offers up her own knowledge with reverence for her material and respect for her reader. She observes her surroundings faithfully, intimately, sharing what can be shared with anyone willing to wait and watch with her. In the end, however, "No matter how quiet we are, the muskrats stay hidden. Maybe they sense the tense hum of consciousness, the buzz from two human beings who in silence cannot help but be aware of each other, and so of themselves." The precision of individual words, the vitality of metaphor, the sheer profusion of sources, the vivid sensory and cerebral impressions - all combine to make Pilgrim at Tinker Creek something extravagant and extraordinary. -- From 500 Great Books by Women; review by Kirsten Backstrom

Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies
Concern for the abuse, misuse, inflation, and depletion of language is by no means new. Indeed, Orwell and Steiner both issued warnings on the topic linking the state of language to dominant political agendas which may seem strangely prophetic to contemporary Americans. In Caring for the Word, Marilyn Chandler McEntyre’s reflections on public discourse begin with similar concerns and then move into possible solutions.

McEntyre begins by inviting readers to recognize the forces that affect language in America culture. She examines the many ways in which commercial and political special interests have co-opted and expropriated language, leading to widely tolerated forms of deception and spin. She then offers twelve “strategies of stewardship” for those concerned with preserving the vitality and precision of the spoken and written word. These strategies include reflections on the complexities of truth telling, the importance of challenging lies, the art of conversation, and the importance of playfulness.

Drawing on a wide range of sources—both critical and literary—Caring for Words is addressed not solely to academics or professionals, but to all thoughtful users of language in an attempt to remind them of its essential character as a gift and a calling. --Publisher's Description