Review by fmd1821 -- Why Do We Quote? by Ruth Finnegan
3 posts
[Following is a volunteer review of "Why Do We Quote?" by Ruth Finnegan.]
[rbc=4]id338831-125[/rbc]
Why Do We Quote? explores the subject thoroughly. Finnegan starts from the present, explaining that quotations are everywhere and are part of our daily lives. People quote everything, including jokes, proverbs, and family sayings. This practice finds supporters as well as critics, who consider it laziness and lack of originality. Finnegan also traces the history of quotations, with an accurate analysis for every different era. She explores literature, oral tradition, and even unexpected categories like music. In this way, she offers a wide and substantial overview.
As you can guess from this summary, Why Do We Quote? tackles many topics and stimulates the reader’s curiosity – mine for sure. I rarely find books written as intelligently as this one. Rather than lingering on boring dissertations, Finnegan uses her material consistently. She also asks some provocative questions, like the one about the use of quotation marks, and if we need them. These questions are not used for sensationalism, which would be out of place here. Instead, they help to highlight the contradictions and discoveries of the research and often have complex and stimulating answers. Nothing is easy and predictable in this book, but everything has a reasonable explanation. Even when the considerations are less sensational than this, they invite reflection.
My favorite parts of the book are those that analyze quotations in connection with the past. The past is implicitly part of quotations in many different ways (the most common is to quote an author). Moreover, quotations changed during the centuries, and the reflections Finnegan makes about plagiarism, imitation, and authorship are enlightening. Considering that plagiarism is an issue of primary importance nowadays, these pages help to clarify the situation.
I would like to add a few words about the author’s style. She chooses to avoid difficult turns of phrases and uses a conversational tone that makes the reading quick and easy. I consider this way of writing an element of the best studies. You can focus on the author’s message, and this immediacy is priceless.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I have to add to the other positive aspects of Why Do We Quote? that it is exceptionally well-edited. Therefore, it is perfect from every point of view.
I recommend Why Do We Quote? to two kinds of readers. The first is a general group of curious readers, who will find it an engaging read. The author’s style is fluid, and the lack of cryptic passages makes everything clear even for non-specialists. However, scholars are the ideal readers of this book, and they are the ones who will benefit more from this read.
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Why Do We Quote?
View: on Bookshelves |
Why Do We Quote? explores the subject thoroughly. Finnegan starts from the present, explaining that quotations are everywhere and are part of our daily lives. People quote everything, including jokes, proverbs, and family sayings. This practice finds supporters as well as critics, who consider it laziness and lack of originality. Finnegan also traces the history of quotations, with an accurate analysis for every different era. She explores literature, oral tradition, and even unexpected categories like music. In this way, she offers a wide and substantial overview.
As you can guess from this summary, Why Do We Quote? tackles many topics and stimulates the reader’s curiosity – mine for sure. I rarely find books written as intelligently as this one. Rather than lingering on boring dissertations, Finnegan uses her material consistently. She also asks some provocative questions, like the one about the use of quotation marks, and if we need them. These questions are not used for sensationalism, which would be out of place here. Instead, they help to highlight the contradictions and discoveries of the research and often have complex and stimulating answers. Nothing is easy and predictable in this book, but everything has a reasonable explanation. Even when the considerations are less sensational than this, they invite reflection.
My favorite parts of the book are those that analyze quotations in connection with the past. The past is implicitly part of quotations in many different ways (the most common is to quote an author). Moreover, quotations changed during the centuries, and the reflections Finnegan makes about plagiarism, imitation, and authorship are enlightening. Considering that plagiarism is an issue of primary importance nowadays, these pages help to clarify the situation.
I would like to add a few words about the author’s style. She chooses to avoid difficult turns of phrases and uses a conversational tone that makes the reading quick and easy. I consider this way of writing an element of the best studies. You can focus on the author’s message, and this immediacy is priceless.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I have to add to the other positive aspects of Why Do We Quote? that it is exceptionally well-edited. Therefore, it is perfect from every point of view.
I recommend Why Do We Quote? to two kinds of readers. The first is a general group of curious readers, who will find it an engaging read. The author’s style is fluid, and the lack of cryptic passages makes everything clear even for non-specialists. However, scholars are the ideal readers of this book, and they are the ones who will benefit more from this read.
******
Why Do We Quote?
View: on Bookshelves |
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