Active Users:401 Time:02/05/2025 01:54:42 AM
Back to Messageboard Post New Thread Search Help Stats Rules
And Camilla Send a noteboard - 02/11/2011 06:38:56 AM
"Mutual" means reciprocal. If Mr. Dickens had even the faintest notion as to how to properly use the English language, he would have named the book Our Common Friend or, if that made the friend sound too plebeian, he could have called it simply Our Friend. After all, the use of the possessive "our" already implies commonality of relationship.


Both of those would have missed out on the cruicial point.

*sniffs indignantly*


I am sure you are exaggerating your seriousness for comic effect, but allow me to observe (for the record -- because this is the internet and someone might pick up your objection as fact) that a)languages change, and this expression has been around since... at least the 1600s, b)Dickens did (demonstrably) know how to use the English language, and.
*MySmiley*
structured procrastinator
This message last edited by Camilla on 02/11/2011 at 06:39:33 AM
Reply to message
November! Only two months left this year! What are you reading, chaps? Rebekah - 01/11/2011 08:10:09 AM 1459 Views
The Charles Dickens biography by Michael Slater Camilla - 01/11/2011 08:57:58 AM 1223 Views
I have a problem with that title - Our Mutual Friend, indeed! Tom - 02/11/2011 01:21:39 AM 1062 Views
Hahahhahahaha Camilla - 02/11/2011 06:04:28 AM 2259 Views
But Camilla - 02/11/2011 06:05:15 AM 1015 Views
And Camilla - 02/11/2011 06:38:56 AM 1146 Views
It was for comic effect, and based on my memory of your posting that article. Tom - 02/11/2011 04:43:10 PM 963 Views
Re: It was for comic effect, and based on my memory of your posting that article. Camilla - 02/11/2011 05:16:15 PM 1078 Views
I finished The Secret Pilgrim by Le Carré (the last Smiley novel, if you can call it that) Camilla - 04/11/2011 08:41:50 PM 985 Views
Finished the Charles Dickens biography (my challenge book) Camilla - 05/11/2011 08:23:13 AM 1203 Views
Finished Our Mutual Friend Camilla - 06/11/2011 12:03:32 PM 1096 Views
I started Lighthousekeeping by Jeanette Winterson Camilla - 13/11/2011 12:25:54 PM 1183 Views
I finished this book. Camilla - 14/11/2011 01:36:41 PM 1091 Views
Finished The Honourable Schoolboy Camilla - 22/11/2011 10:19:07 PM 1020 Views
Read Helen DeWitt's new book: Lightning Rods Camilla - 29/11/2011 09:33:43 AM 1123 Views
Middlemarch will probably take me a few weeks more. After that, we'll see. Legolas - 01/11/2011 10:32:21 AM 1129 Views
Read Tintentod, now reading Antony and Cleopatra (Goldsworthy, not Shakespeare). *NM* Legolas - 28/11/2011 09:35:13 PM 513 Views
Am falling back on Harry Dresden due to the pressures of studying. Tim - 01/11/2011 02:00:49 PM 1116 Views
Dresden also Spoticus - 02/11/2011 10:37:24 AM 1038 Views
I loved that one. Definitely the best I've read so far. *NM* Tim - 02/11/2011 10:43:01 AM 487 Views
My plans, such as they are. Rebekah - 01/11/2011 06:48:12 PM 1062 Views
I am doing well so far. Rebekah - 16/11/2011 05:38:14 PM 988 Views
Complete Cosmicomics jh - 01/11/2011 06:58:59 PM 1013 Views
Nothing... not a thing. Jacob - 01/11/2011 07:28:51 PM 1049 Views
So, books. Stephen - 01/11/2011 10:08:00 PM 1062 Views
The Master and Margarita by Bulgakov. *NM* Stephen - 05/11/2011 02:19:39 PM 530 Views
That is an excellent book Camilla - 05/11/2011 08:29:33 PM 1093 Views
It is. Stephen - 07/11/2011 06:17:34 PM 1072 Views
THe Great Gatsby. *NM* Stephen - 28/11/2011 02:26:14 PM 472 Views
Allow me to request a review of that one. I've long been thinking I need to read it. *NM* Legolas - 28/11/2011 09:35:48 PM 493 Views
I think it's Fitzgerald's weakest novel. Tom - 30/11/2011 05:34:42 PM 1108 Views
Back to Der Zauberberg. About halfway through now. Tom - 02/11/2011 01:17:32 AM 1070 Views
I don't know how I managed to read about 900 pages of German this month... Tom - 26/11/2011 10:33:52 PM 1024 Views
Re: November! Only two months left this year! What are you reading, chaps? DomA - 02/11/2011 08:07:11 PM 1300 Views
new Catherine Asaro book! Aeryn - 02/11/2011 08:22:15 PM 1105 Views
reading Temeraire Aeryn - 15/11/2011 05:50:45 PM 1087 Views
"Temeraire" was fun. Started on "Tumbling After" by Paul Witcover. *NM* Aeryn - 16/11/2011 06:32:50 PM 455 Views
Read "Broken Time" by Maggy Thomas/Emily Devenport. Really good! Aeryn - 30/11/2011 04:31:41 PM 1335 Views
Not too sure A Deathwatch Guard - 02/11/2011 09:48:44 PM 1088 Views
Yeesh, November already. nossy - 06/11/2011 12:28:51 PM 1090 Views
Have you read Old Custer by Eli Cash? Tom - 06/11/2011 04:06:33 PM 1076 Views
Nope. nossy - 06/11/2011 04:50:27 PM 1058 Views
Never mind. Tom - 06/11/2011 05:07:30 PM 1069 Views
Jen says " " *NM* snoopcester - 06/11/2011 09:02:20 PM 526 Views
Have you changed the water you're drinking? nossy - 08/11/2011 01:04:50 AM 1092 Views
Who needs water when you have vodka? Tom - 09/11/2011 07:01:26 PM 1026 Views
Proust. Larry - 06/11/2011 08:31:17 PM 1089 Views
School and fun Sir Tybalt - 16/11/2011 05:49:16 PM 1008 Views
Re: November! Only two months left this year! What are you reading, chaps? eromreven - 28/11/2011 04:16:33 AM 1234 Views
Back to Messageboard Post New Thread Search Help Stats Rules

Reply to Message

Block Quote Paragraph Quote
Formatting
Smiley Codes