Comments for The world's own optimist http://www.unamccormack.com Una McCormack Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:04:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Comment on The Curious Case of Fidelma’s Sentences by Una McCormack http://www.unamccormack.com/?p=528&cpage=1#comment-3209 Una McCormack Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:04:09 +0000 http://www.unamccormack.com/?p=528#comment-3209 I totally remember her as glamorous! All that huge jewellery... I'd much prefer to be called 'cavalier' than 'roundhead'! I totally remember her as glamorous! All that huge jewellery…

I’d much prefer to be called ‘cavalier’ than ’roundhead’!

]]> Comment on The Curious Case of Fidelma’s Sentences by Andy Curran http://www.unamccormack.com/?p=528&cpage=1#comment-3181 Andy Curran Sat, 28 Aug 2010 10:26:06 +0000 http://www.unamccormack.com/?p=528#comment-3181 Ahh the mysterious Miss M... you make her sound so glamorous! She once accused me of having a 'cavalier' attitude to grammar. I'm quite proud of that, no one's ever accused me of being cavalier about anything else before or since! Ahh the mysterious Miss M… you make her sound so glamorous! She once accused me of having a ‘cavalier’ attitude to grammar. I’m quite proud of that, no one’s ever accused me of being cavalier about anything else before or since!

]]> Comment on The Curious Case of Fidelma’s Sentences by Una McCormack http://www.unamccormack.com/?p=528&cpage=1#comment-3010 Una McCormack Fri, 20 Aug 2010 08:34:20 +0000 http://www.unamccormack.com/?p=528#comment-3010 I agree that it spoils the rhythm too, as if the writer has accidentally crashed backwards into the cymbals. I wish someone had ghost-written these books for him. I agree that it spoils the rhythm too, as if the writer has accidentally crashed backwards into the cymbals. I wish someone had ghost-written these books for him.

]]> Comment on The Curious Case of Fidelma’s Sentences by Kalypso http://www.unamccormack.com/?p=528&cpage=1#comment-2947 Kalypso Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:36:10 +0000 http://www.unamccormack.com/?p=528#comment-2947 Absolutely. "Can be" would have been fine, as it covers the fact that Roman nights can be oppressively scented but need not be. Not to mention the fact that "frequently" interrupts the rhythm. Absolutely. “Can be” would have been fine, as it covers the fact that Roman nights can be oppressively scented but need not be. Not to mention the fact that “frequently” interrupts the rhythm.

]]> Comment on Welcome to the cheap seats by Matthew Adams http://www.unamccormack.com/?p=524&cpage=1#comment-2549 Matthew Adams Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:16:17 +0000 http://www.unamccormack.com/?p=524#comment-2549 VoR - I’m afraid that you can be exclusionary and crypto-fascist without intending it; there’s a reason those lyrics are so easily co-opted by such repellent people as the BNP, and a reason why FAF needs to exist. I also think that you can’t just dismiss the fact that the audience at the folk festival is predominantly white and relatively comfortably-off (however they may describe themselves in “class” terms). The festival seemed to me to be one of the least diverse events I've attended, and if that is the case, I feel we should, at the very least, ask ourselves why. Perhaps the language used in songs like this is a part of it; I don't know? VoR -

I’m afraid that you can be exclusionary and crypto-fascist without intending it; there’s a reason those lyrics are so easily co-opted by such repellent people as the BNP, and a reason why FAF needs to exist.

I also think that you can’t just dismiss the fact that the audience at the folk festival is predominantly white and relatively comfortably-off (however they may describe themselves in “class” terms). The festival seemed to me to be one of the least diverse events I’ve attended, and if that is the case, I feel we should, at the very least, ask ourselves why. Perhaps the language used in songs like this is a part of it; I don’t know?

]]> Comment on Welcome to the cheap seats by Una McCormack http://www.unamccormack.com/?p=524&cpage=1#comment-2548 Una McCormack Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:13:42 +0000 http://www.unamccormack.com/?p=524#comment-2548 Thank you for your comment. The final link in my post is to Folk Against Fascism. It is excellent and important work. I have not misinterpreted "Roots". I have honestly reported my reaction to hearing it. I am sure that the song is meant well. I am also sure of my response to it, which was discomfort bordering on distress. I did not call the song racist or bigoted. I argued that the emotions which I observed it evoking leave it open to being co-opted. Thank you for your comment. The final link in my post is to Folk Against Fascism. It is excellent and important work.

I have not misinterpreted “Roots”. I have honestly reported my reaction to hearing it. I am sure that the song is meant well. I am also sure of my response to it, which was discomfort bordering on distress. I did not call the song racist or bigoted. I argued that the emotions which I observed it evoking leave it open to being co-opted.

]]> Comment on Welcome to the cheap seats by VoR http://www.unamccormack.com/?p=524&cpage=1#comment-2546 VoR Tue, 03 Aug 2010 11:54:36 +0000 http://www.unamccormack.com/?p=524#comment-2546 You have completely misinterpreted "Roots" - and the colour of the audience really is utterly irrelevant. Have you heard about this? http://www.folkagainstfascism.com/about.html "Folk Against Fascism was formed because many in the folk community wanted to say that you can be proud of England’s music, traditions and customs without being a bigot or a racist. We also wanted to keep folk free from the taint of right-wing extremism. " Guess who's supporting it... http://www.folkagainstfascism.com/links.html You have completely misinterpreted “Roots” – and the colour of the audience really is utterly irrelevant.

Have you heard about this?
http://www.folkagainstfascism.com/about.html

“Folk Against Fascism was formed because many in the folk community wanted to say that you can be proud of England’s music, traditions and customs without being a bigot or a racist. We also wanted to keep folk free from the taint of right-wing extremism. ”

Guess who’s supporting it…

http://www.folkagainstfascism.com/links.html

]]> Comment on The Never-Ending Sacrifice by Una McCormack http://www.unamccormack.com/?p=331&cpage=1#comment-1811 Una McCormack Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:37:54 +0000 http://unamccormack.com.apache04.hostbasket.com/?p=331#comment-1811 Hi Justin, and thank you for your very generous message. I'm delighted that you enjoyed the book so much. Writing it was a huge pleasure - I got very attached to all of the characters (even Geleth). I'm glad I managed to communicate my fondness for them to you. Thank you again! Una Hi Justin, and thank you for your very generous message. I’m delighted that you enjoyed the book so much. Writing it was a huge pleasure – I got very attached to all of the characters (even Geleth). I’m glad I managed to communicate my fondness for them to you.

Thank you again!

Una

]]> Comment on Author by Una McCormack http://www.unamccormack.com/?page_id=201&cpage=1#comment-1810 Una McCormack Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:35:46 +0000 http://unamccormack.com.apache04.hostbasket.com/?page_id=201#comment-1810 Hi Stephen - thank you for your message. I'm delighted that you liked the book and that the discussion here has cleared up any confusion in the ending. I have the editor, Marco Palmieri, to thank for the choice of protagonist. I agreed it was a brilliant idea, and I'm so glad I got the chance to write Rugal's story. Hi Stephen – thank you for your message. I’m delighted that you liked the book and that the discussion here has cleared up any confusion in the ending.
I have the editor, Marco Palmieri, to thank for the choice of protagonist. I agreed it was a brilliant idea, and I’m so glad I got the chance to write Rugal’s story.

]]> Comment on The Never-Ending Sacrifice by Justin http://www.unamccormack.com/?p=331&cpage=1#comment-1789 Justin Mon, 21 Jun 2010 22:58:38 +0000 http://unamccormack.com.apache04.hostbasket.com/?p=331#comment-1789 Greetings, I have read many books over my life time, and I must say that this novel (The Never-Ending Sacrifice), was easily in my top 3 most favorite books. I wish that I could express to you all the things that it did for me, and all the emotions it touched, but even being a bit of a writer myself, I can't seem to put it all into words. All I can really say is thanks, thank you for a novel whose characters were not shallow or one dimensional. Thank you for reviving my faith in Star Trek Novels (I have never been able to read through one until now.) And thank you most of all for having taken the time to write this so that we all can share in your triumph and the joy that is reading your works. With my Never-Ending Gratituted, Justin Greetings,

I have read many books over my life time, and I must say that this novel (The Never-Ending Sacrifice), was easily in my top 3 most favorite books. I wish that I could express to you all the things that it did for me, and all the emotions it touched, but even being a bit of a writer myself, I can’t seem to put it all into words. All I can really say is thanks, thank you for a novel whose characters were not shallow or one dimensional. Thank you for reviving my faith in Star Trek Novels (I have never been able to read through one until now.) And thank you most of all for having taken the time to write this so that we all can share in your triumph and the joy that is reading your works.

With my Never-Ending Gratituted,

Justin

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