def: A sudden diminish from larger substance to a less.
"At the edge of the dock itself, there were twenty large, wooden fishing boats, built to the same designs used for vessels that had sailed the Arabian Sea, on the Maharashtrian coast of India, five hundred years before. Here and there between them were larger, more expensive metal boats. The contrast between those rusted, graceless hulks and the elegant wooden boats beside them spoke a history, a modern saga, a world story that moved from life at sea, as a romantic calling, to the profiteer's cold, efficient lusting for the bottom line."
"At the edge of the dock itself, there were twenty large, wooden fishing boats, built to the same designs used for vessels that had sailed the Arabian Sea, on the Maharashtrian coast of India, five hundred years before. Here and there between them were larger, more expensive metal boats. The contrast between those rusted, graceless hulks and the elegant wooden boats beside them spoke a history, a modern saga, a world story that moved from life at sea, as a romantic calling, to the profiteer's cold, efficient lusting for the bottom line."
-excerpt from the novel Shantaram, by Gregory David Roberts.
It is truly a sad thought as many things today share the unfortunate fate of those "graceless hulks".
On the upside, I believe this passage speaks to me the most out of all of the 933 pages in the book. Nine-hundred and thirty-three pages? Not bad for one who dislikes reading. Perhaps I can no longer claim to dislike this dubious act of reading after I have read, and thoroughly enjoyed, every page of such a lengthy novel! I don't find myself getting excited over many things, and if I do, I tend not to show it. This book is absolutely wonderful, intellectually sound, poetic, and beautifully descriptive.
I highly recommend this book.
On the upside, I believe this passage speaks to me the most out of all of the 933 pages in the book. Nine-hundred and thirty-three pages? Not bad for one who dislikes reading. Perhaps I can no longer claim to dislike this dubious act of reading after I have read, and thoroughly enjoyed, every page of such a lengthy novel! I don't find myself getting excited over many things, and if I do, I tend not to show it. This book is absolutely wonderful, intellectually sound, poetic, and beautifully descriptive.
I highly recommend this book.
We are different, in more ways then one. I do like getting off, feeling fine, and really showing i'm enjoying whatever it is. Why not, let's spread the joy. 1+1=3.
ReplyDeleteSunshine daydream, brother.
Sharing is caring!
Looking forward too the book.
What is this word??? Is it English?
ReplyDeleteOED says:
"Hanch: To snatch, snap at, or bite with violent or noisy action of the jaws; said of large dogs, wild beasts, cannibals, or greedy men.
Hence, hanch: a voracious snap"
I'm lost. Does this mean you gnawed your piece of the Victory in to a fid? ;)
PS: I wonder how many times you're going to have to discover that you really do like to read before you stop claiming to despise it!
On page number seventy eight in "The Elements and Practice of Rigging and Seamanship", Steel defines "HANCH. A sudden diminish from a larger substance to a less."
ReplyDeleteI would make a few quotes of some of Steel's uses here, but that seems unnecessary since there is a beautiful digital version available on the web. Here is the link if you are interested: 'http://www.hnsa.org/doc/steel/part3.htm'
I may be stuck in the mid 1700's at the moment. Looks like hanch is among the many words lost in history one may find while reading through Steel's.
By the way, who defines what a word is? One thing I love about English is that it is a form of art, unique, and at the same time containing words from so many different languages, a beautiful way to express oneself, or to describe something to a tee with words that sound just right.
... unfortunately I am starting to like reading, but there is still so much reading that I do despise!