From Publisher's Weekly

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Joanne Marinelli - 17 Jan 2007 16:21 GMT

In a synopsis of Emily Rapp's memoir, Poster Child, a reviewer writes:

[As
the daughter of a pastor and fiercely optimistic parents, Rapp prays
earnestly for a normal leg even as she feverishly overcompensates for the
artificial limb through witty verve and rambunctious horseplay.]

The opening clause troubles me. I think a more logical construction would
be, "As the daughter of a pastor who was fiercely optimistic for her
future,"

It is true that Rapp can be the daughter of a pastor and an optimist both,
but the wording here seems a bit redundant.

Joanne

Signature

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DisabilityinArts/

Reply to this Message

mike.j.harvey@gmail.com - 17 Jan 2007 17:41 GMT

> As the daughter of a pastor and fiercely optimistic parents

> The opening clause troubles me. I think a more logical construction would
> be, "As the daughter of a pastor who was fiercely optimistic for her
> future,"
>
> It is true that Rapp can be the daughter of a pastor and an optimist both,
> but the wording here seems a bit redundant.

Not to me. It says 'parents' (plural). Both parents were fiercely
optimistic, which the writer clearly wished to emphasise. Your
suggested revision neglects the parent (gender unspecified) who was not
a pastor.

Reply to this Message

Flying Tortoise - 17 Jan 2007 18:17 GMT

> > As the daughter of a pastor and fiercely optimistic parents
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> suggested revision neglects the parent (gender unspecified) who was not
> a pastor.

Indeed, and where does 'for her future' come from. They were both
optimistic in all things and this encouraged their daughter to be
likewise. Perhaps 'As the daughter of fiercely optimistic parents, one
a pastor, .... '?

Reply to this Message

Joanne Marinelli - 17 Jan 2007 19:38 GMT

>> > As the daughter of a pastor and fiercely optimistic parents
>>
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> likewise. Perhaps 'As the daughter of fiercely optimistic parents, one
> a pastor, .... '?

I like your clause better than mine, but as to the original, it just seems
oddly unbalanced; not exactly ungrammatical, but a bit belabored on the
conjunction-- or unintentionally silly. One could compose the sense
differently.

Reply to this Message

John Dean - 17 Jan 2007 23:56 GMT

>> As the daughter of a pastor and fiercely optimistic parents
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> suggested revision neglects the parent (gender unspecified) who was
> not a pastor.

I'm a little concerned she may have had three parents - this pastor plus the
optimistic parents.
I'm also concerned that only one Publisher is producing a weekly. I'd have
thought there were enough of them to band together.

Signature

John Dean
Oxford

Reply to this Message

Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2007

From Publisher's Weekly