Monday Meanders

I ran across a couple of things over the weekend that made me, MAKE me, think.

First, while looking for something else, I ran across an Agatha Christie novel on the Gutenberg Project website; an Hercule Poirot called The Mysterious Affair At Styles.  I didn't think ANY of Christie's stuff was in public domain, but there it was.

Fascinated, I started to read.

I was immediately taken by the smoothness and flow of the writing - nothing was forced or artificial feeling - it was easy and pleasant to read.

I should write so well.  I wish I could write so well.

Second, while at the library yesterday, on a completely different mission, I stopped by the shelf of books for sale near the front door.  While on my way out.  I've been haunting that shelf, lately, looking for books on computers and related stuff.  I found something special - I didn't realize how special it was until I got home and started to read it.  It's a translation of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales by David Wright.

I never realized that Canterbury Tales is written in verse (because, shamefully, I'd never read it - or even tried), and in something more than 600 years after being written, the language has changed in terms of the meaning of words and the pronunciation of words, so at times the rhyming pattern gets lost in the fact and face of translation.  That said, there are enough remnants of rhyme within it to give one a strong impression of what Chaucer was after - and it's wonderful stuff.  I don't usually even TRY to sit through epic poetry - but I may have to take a shot at this one.

Depth.  Majesty.  Ease.  Flow.  - Things I need to make my writing better.

Ndinombethe.