Fine sentences

[asoul]

Recently for the first time I read SK's work in the author language. The novel 'Misery'. Is long distance between perceptions of this work in Russian translation and SK's own language. From time to time when I looked at the original text I caught myself on the thought that SK not only writes the amazing story but also plays with letters and words. I like constructions of many his sentences. And few of them I give below.



You do. You do, don't you, Paul?
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"Roll out those lazy hazy crazy days of summer", he thought sourly, and threw the key-hammer in the general direction of the waste-basket.
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She had, hadn't she?
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Well, we'll have to talk about that, won't we?
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By the time they come, you should be back in your own room, snug as a bug in a rug.
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Better that way.
Better not to ask.
Better not to provoke.


It is fine work, isn't it?

[sam peebles]

Well...some of this may not be apparent to a non-native English speaking individual, but to me, lines like "She had, hadn't she?" and "You do. You do, don't you, Paul?" don't strike me as a writer playing with the language. Just seems like normal sentences to me. As does "Well, we'll have to talk about that, won't we?", besides some alliteration which may not have been intentional, it's pretty basic. Not to slam Misery or the author. It's awesome prose for an awesome novel.

[Patricia A]

I agree wholeheartedly! Words are wonderful, unfortunately for me I only speak one language and can't compare.
J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series comes to mind. I listened to the first story on audio book, then read it and was delighted to see that what sounded like 'Nocturne Alley' was actually spelled 'Knock Turn Alley'.
Words are awesome!

[GNTLGNT]

His wordplay apparently fascinates-no matter the language...Damn! This guy is GOOD!

[sam peebles]

Here here, Patricia! My personal favorite is actually Diagon Alley, right next to Knock Turn. Rowling definitely had some fun with the words that would probably be lost in translation.

[Lencho_of_the_Apes]

Well...some of this may not be apparent to a non-native English speaking individual, but to me, lines like "She had, hadn't she?" and "You do. You do, don't you, Paul?" don't strike me as a writer playing with the language. Just seems like normal sentences to me. As does "Well, we'll have to talk about that, won't we?", besides some alliteration which may not have been intentional, it's pretty basic. Not to slam Misery or the author. It's awesome prose for an awesome novel.

Actually, Sam... I never noticed it before, but asoul has stumbled on a useful point here. Look at the way the sentences are constructed. Statement followed by reversed form as a question. Is that a characteristic pattern in Annie's dialogue? And then Paul picks up that tic, assimilating himself to his captor's viewpoint?

I'd have to reread the book again to confirm that that's what's happening, but it looks plausible and I'm going to be alert to it next time around.

Some of the other things that asoul picked out as being noteworthy aren't really that special to a native speaker, though... "Lazy hazy crazy days of summer" was a pop-song in the 1940s, and "snug as a bug in a rug" is a cliche...

In any case, welcome to the board, asoul!

We all float down here.

[asoul]

Some of the other things that asoul picked out as being noteworthy aren't really that special to a native speaker, though... "Lazy hazy crazy days of summer" was a pop-song in the 1940s, and "snug as a bug in a rug" is a cliche...

SK uses this cliche in "Desperation" also.

"Hop in, Mare," he said. "Snug as a bug in a rug, that's what you'll be."

Favourite combination of letters?