- So true. I love being absorbed in a book set in places I've never been before. Jonathan Kellerman has a detective series set in Los Angeles and I had one of them with me when I visited a friend there for the first time a few years ago. She lived in the same part of town he so often describes - in West Hollywood near Sunset Boulevard, so it was fun seeing street names I had read about so much in those books. I'm reading two books for the two book groups right now - The Ballad of the Sad Cafe by Carson McCullers and The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. Two very different writers, but I am indeed transported to a small Georgia town (OK - not much of a stretch there) and Paris in the 1920s.
- Guilty. As charged. :)
- And does anyone know someone who could translate this for me? There will be a blog post about this later, but my dad had relics from World War II that included some photos. He did spend some time in Shanghai, China and I do think this script is Chinese.
**Update** Friend Leisa works for an international company and asked a colleague about it, who in turn checked with a friend who said this isn't Chinese, but Japanese. His Japanese is very good. "He said it was ancient Japanese, he couldn't
understand the exact meaning, however, the rough meaning is: The soldier must
have the characters of loyalty, courtesy,
bravery, faith and high quality." I'll keep you posted about the next steps.
Lots of signs today. Have a great middle of the week!
21 comments:
My mother would agree with the top quote. She's travelled around the world through her books, but never in real life.
I've broken every rule when it comes to writing well. :D
Sign, sign, everywhere a sign...
Great signs today. Agreed with the places one can go with a book. And the writing tips. Oh yeah... seriously, the parentheticals are unnecessary? (but I love them) I wish I was in a book club.
I can't help you with the translation, but the internet is the place to find someone to help with that! Funny advice about writing.
Sorry, can't help you either with the Chinese. fabulous piece to have.
How to write good -- what a fun piece. Enjoyed that!
XOXO
I always avoid alliteration early in the A.M. especially.
:-)
Hey Lynn!
(Nice post, as usual, :-) )
lg!
Joe -
That's interesting about your mom. And oh - I so break the rules!
happygirl -
(I love them, too.) Ha! The first book club I joined was well established and I was flattered to be let in. The second one - an old friend I don't see often started one that included friends she doesn't see often and it's gone from there. Only five of us are truly faithful to it though. The rule is - you have to read the book to come to the fun gatherings. :)
Sage -
I hope someone can at least confirm that it is Chinese.
Jannie -
Dad always wanted to return this item (a photo album) to the family of the soldier who lost it. This is me starting the process - I may end up at the Chinese embassy, but am shy about asking to come there.
lg -
Same here. :) Hope your vacation was good!
I am a seasoned armchair traveller. I should keep a book passport. (I just got back from book Afghanistan. The jet lag is killing me. ;-)
Wow, can't help with that translation...my dad always says things like that say, "Die, white devil!" ;)
I loved The Sun Also Rises. Free of most of the macho bullshit that Hemingway insisted on injecting into most of his stuff.
Yeah, that middle rule applies not only to my early writing, but my entire blogging career as well.:D
I'm in New York with Stone Barrington in Kisser by Stuart Woods this week. Last week Stone was in Palm Springs, before LA. Don't know how you do two at once.
The List- Very funny as examples of what it says not to do. The Nuns would've flipped out at the incorrect grammar in the list title! It should read: "How to write well"- we'd get deductions for that! They'd kill me over my n, Tho, thru, ect too. But we're free to write however seems right to ourselves, that's creative!
The Chinese n Japanese languages differ somewhat, but the characters are called "PinYin," n there are online translators if you search. Downloads are tough to find n ID tho.
I've learned to paint several Chinese words, for Feng Shui designs, n have some simple books to help from the Science Store, n some rubber stamps from Micheals. They're whole words n prases usually. Don't know what I did with those translator links years ago-
It does look Chinese, some characters look familiar on closer look-
Sparkling Red -
A book passport - I like that. The friends in The Sun Also Rises are in Pamplona, Spain now - I suspect some running with the bulls is coming up.
Riot Kitty -
I wonder about all the alcohol consumed in that book - did they just have eternal hangovers???
G -
Hmmm...
Snaggle -
I read those Stone Barrington books - I just read the one in which his son appears. Good, fast read.
I think that is Chinese, too - there was a Chinese currency bill stuck in the album.
I can't read it! So Lynn are you a writer? sandie
I can't read it! So Lynn are you a writer? sandie
I read that Hemingway way back when i was in my 20s. It was memorable. Not long after that, I read "The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter" and "Reflections In A Golden Eye", but I've never read the one you mention here. I have a copy, though, that I've had for thirty years! Maybe I will get to it one day.
Wonderful three things! I SO love to read and be transported away. #2 makes me laugh. I must share this.
And I hope you find someone to help with #3. Do you ever watch History Detectives on PBS? They take little pieces of history and delve into the stories behind them.
Love my book travels!
It is funny when we know the correct writing rules but fall into our relaxed language faux-paus when we write.
The writing says: "Someday bright, intelligent writer name Lynn create wonderful weblog all about many good thing."
Lynn,
Regarding your last request, you should contact Kelvin, at Puppet Kaos. Here's the link: http://www.puppetkaos.com/ He designed an app for Chinese and he knows some of older types of Chinese language. It couldn't hurt anyway!
I can't believe you read Jonathan Kellerman. I've read most of his books. I love Milo:~)
Have a good weekend. I know it's Thursday, but I like to ahead of myself sometimes:~)
I too love how books can just transport you.
Sandie -
It's just a tongue in cheek rules for writing. No - not a writer exactly, but I do have degree in Journalism. Going unused except for blog writing. Such is life. :)
FB -
Let me know if you ever read it and we can chat about it.
Leonora -
Thank you. And someone else mentioned that show - I will check it out!
Granny Annie -
You are sweet to say that about me - I love writing about my good things and reading about others'. Loved your blog post today - especially the cats having breakfast.
Sara -
I found out it's Japanese! See update. Thank you though - a wonderful tip.
I haven't read one of those in a while - I need to find them again. I remember seeing the sign for the street called Sepulveda and remembering I had just read about it.
Joanne -
It's the best, isn't it?
Hi Lynn - great descriptions arising from those signs and quotes ..
Loved reading the translation - great we live in this world where we can find things out relatively easily .. and those characteristics of loyalty, courtesy, bravery, faith and high quality .... excellent to think about and adhere to as best we can.
Cheers Hilary
Post a Comment