Grammar Gaffes
The End of the Day, Al Forno and Miss Kim, Natalie Merchant, Undrafted Heat, Surprise Sailor
Welcome to my weekly newsletter. This week’s issue features ten recent examples that violated my unfortunate usage list, the second novel by Bill Clegg, three ethnic food sandwiches, the return of the former lead singer of 10,000 Maniacs, an NBA Finals team that relies on five players who were not drafted, and nautical negligence. I hope you enjoy the picks and pics.
Fave Five 35: Grammar Gaffes. Series of Secrets (The End of the Day), Savory Sandwiches (Al Forno and Miss Kim), Magnificent Maniac (Natalie Merchant), Miami Mainstays (Undrafted Heat), and a Surprise Sailor.
Fave Five Lists: Grammar Gaffes
I recently provided a dozen reminders on using English correctly. The same day it was published, I was reading the local newspaper and spotted two errors. In the past three weeks I collected other examples from the newspaper, a local magazine, this week’s book, social media posts, and email correspondence.
List 1: Newspaper and Magazine Examples
Singular Possessive
Past Tense
Wrong Word
Plural Noun
Plural Verb
List 2: Book, Social Media, and Email
Adjective, Not Adverb (from this week’s book)
Singular Noun
Incorrect Pronoun
Unnecessary Apostrophe
Object of a Preposition
Book Best Bet
The End of the Day by Bill Clegg
When I featured Did You Ever Have a Family I wrote that I looked forward to reading Bill Clegg’s second novel. I finished it yesterday, and I didn’t think it was nearly as good as his first novel. It was compelling, and I read to the end quickly. But I was disappointed in the ending. The writing is very expressive but does not always need to be. The actions and motivations of the characters are not always plausible. Of the two reviews highlighted below, the second one captures my view very well. I recommend the book, but with these caveats.
In The End of the Day, the Past is Knocking at the Door by J. Ryan Stradal
For the beautifully complex characters who populate The End of the Day, whom or what the truth actually sets free is richly called into question. With detail and empathy, Clegg is particularly effective at describing the subtleties of relationships. His work is political without being didactic or dogmatic; and, especially in his descriptions of Hap’s life, he illustrates the elusiveness of the American dream. In a novel where there are only a few villains, the past is the ultimate antagonist, the memories of others a great army at the gates. Ultimately, there’s no old order to be restored — and, for these four characters, that revelation alone may be a victory.
Review by Rebecca Munro
A complex and layered, but deeply emotional novel about a long-hidden secret and the year that the truth finally comes to light.
Clegg writes with the fluidity of a far more experienced writer, and his ability to evoke time and place and accurately capture the social and economic rulings of any era is nearly unmatched. That said, this is a highly ambitious novel, and I fear that the plotting did not always live up to the prose.
Juggling several characters is never easy, and though Dana, Jackie and Lupita are obviously, factually, very different, I struggled to keep their stories separate through at least the first third of the book — a bit too long to develop an emotional attachment to any of them. Each woman is hiding a secret, and none of them are entirely blameless for what happened all those years ago. To his credit, Clegg does not strive to make excuses for any of his characters, nor shield his readers from their most unattractive qualities, which is a commendable decision. However, it did make it difficult for me to find someone to root for, a character to whom I could latch on and depend on as the backbone of the novel. Lupita comes closest, for it is she who suffers the most, but even she seemed just out of reach.
Clegg is known for his ability to write affecting, resonant relationships and bring together wildly different types of characters in believable ways. The book is all about these sorts of complicated bonds, and though he succeeds about half the time, I found many of the relationships in the novel to be too intricate. I enjoy character-driven books with multiple perspectives, but I had to reread some passages to understand exactly how one character knew another. It certainly would have spoiled the plot, but still I longed for a family tree.
Nevertheless, Clegg remains a brilliant and skillful writer, and his unmatched emotional acuity means that I definitely will be reading whatever he writes next.
Why the Most Famous Agent In Book Publishing Is About to Become a Famous Novelist Too by Meredith Turits
“It, to me, is an act of stunning hubris to attempt to write when you look at who I work with,” Bill Clegg says from behind his desk inside a private office in the new headquarters of the Clegg Agency (so new, in fact, barely a book can be found in the industrial, high-ceilinged space along Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District). “But I also follow my own advice, which is when someone comes to me and says they want to write a book, I say there’s really no advice to give. If you feel like you don’t have a choice to write it, write it. If you feel like you do have a choice, then move on, because there are so many books in the world. Did You Ever Have a Family just sprung up like a weed. It was just a persistent thing, and I, at a certain point, recognized that it wanted to be written.”
From Amazon: Following his acclaimed New York Times best seller Did You Ever Have a Family, Bill Clegg returns with a “delicate, deeply observed, and deftly crafted” (Nickolas Butler, author of Shotgun Lovesongs) second novel about the complicated bonds and breaking points of friendship, the corrosive forces of secrets, the heartbeat of longing, and the redemption found in forgiveness.
A retired widow in rural Connecticut wakes to an unexpected visit from her childhood best friend whom she hasn’t seen in 49 years.
A man arrives at a Pennsylvania hotel to introduce his estranged father to his newborn daughter and finds him collapsed on the floor of the lobby.
A 67-year-old taxi driver in Kauai receives a phone call from the mainland that jars her back to a traumatic past.
These seemingly disconnected lives come together as half-century-old secrets begin to surface. It is in this moment that Bill Clegg reminds us how choices — to connect, to betray, to protect — become our legacy.
“Written in lyrical, beautiful prose that makes even waking up seem like a poetic event” (Good Morning America), this novel is a feat of storytelling, capturing 60 years within the framework of one fateful day.
Restaurant Recommendations
Two Places Right Across the Street
This week I feature two ethnic restaurants: one Lebanese and one Korean. We tried three types of sandwiches there: one Lebanese, one Korean, and one Vietnamese (at the Korean restaurant).
Al Forno Mediterranean Grill & Subs 34708 Plymouth Road, Livonia, MI, 48150
This place is right across the street from the Hyundai dealer where we dropped off Barb’s Santa Fe for service. We each had the Chicken Shawarma Sandwich lunch special: marinated charbroiled chicken, served with garlic and fries (Barb) or salad (me). The sandwich was properly prepared, the salad was delicious, and the garlic sauce was divine.
From the restaurant: Located in Livonia, Michigan right on Plymouth Road, our variety of authentic Lebanese-inspired cuisine that includes delicious shish tawook, chicken and beef shawarma (gyro), kafta and more will leave you wanting more! This fresh concept features a new way to experience Lebanese food, with made-to-order bowls, pita bread sandwiches, subs, and burgers filled with your choice of shawarma, shish tawook/kabob and falafel, along with other items like hummus, baba ghanouj, grape leaves and tabbouleh. All our menu is Halal!
Miss Kim 415 N 5th Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Before a show at Kerrytown Concert House in Ann Arbor (Chamber Soloists of Detroit: Is There a Composer in the House?), Barb and I wanted to dine out before the concert. The closest restaurant open on Sunday night was Miss Kim, just steps away and right across the street. I had wanted to try this place ever since hearing about its opening at a Zingerman’s event years ago.
We were pleased to be offered two complimentary dishes to start out: Koryo Carrot Salad (The floral and citrusy coriander seeds add a fresh pop of flavor against the sweet, crisp carrots kissed by a vinaigrette) and Smashed Potatoes (new potatoes, crushed and fried, then tossed with Korean chili flakes, sesame seeds, salt, and sugar).
I ordered the Banh Mi sandwich with garlicky roasted chicken (marinated in anchovy sauce), cucumbers, pickled carrots, radishes, cilantro, jalapeño, and sriracha mayo on a Zingerman's baguette. It had a lot going on, and it was successfully executed.
Barb chose a Korean fried chicken sandwich with sriracha mayo, koryo carrots, cucumbers, and jalapeños on a Zingerman's Bakehouse challah bun. The chicken is marinated with fish sauce and garlic before frying. She liked it and had some left over to take home for lunch the next day. But I finished mine.
From the restaurant: Inspired by Korean Ancestors, Michigan Ingredients
Miss Kim, a Korean restaurant, opened in 2016 as a proud part of the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses. Chef Ji Hye Kim grew up in Seoul, South Korea and is obsessed with ancient Korean culinary texts and the finer points of fermentation. Despite rumors of its eponymous origin, the name Miss Kim was chosen for its reference to the most recognizable Korean last name and our restaurant’s female chef-owner.
Our food is rooted in Korean tradition and adapted to showcase Michigan’s bountiful produce. We work with local farmers to build a menu that shines seasonally.
We want our restaurant to be a bright, fun and easy place to be for all our guests. Our service aims to be helpful, informative, warm and enthusiastic – everything you’ve come to expect from Zingerman’s.
Marvelous Musician
I was pleasantly surprised when a concert by Natalie was announced for the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor to be held on May 17, 2023. I was glad to have quickly bought a single ticket, as the show soon sold out, resulting in very high prices for tickets in the resale market. It was my first time seeing Natalie in concert, and she was fabulous.
My old friend Arnold Kling, who introduced me to Substack, calls his own Substack newsletter In My Tribe, named for the album of the same name by 10,000 Maniacs, his favorite band of the 80s.
In the 80s and 90s, the singing and songwriting of Natalie Merchant and the sound of 10,000 Maniacs appealed to me, so I bought six of the band’s albums and an EP. I love “What’s the Matter Here?”, “Like the Weather,” and “These Are Days,” and their covers of “Peace Train,” “Because the Night,” “Let the Mystery Be” (with David Byrne), and “To Sir with Love” (with Michael Stipe). I bought Natalie’s first two solo albums and really like her latest one, Keep Your Courage.
From Wikipedia: Natalie Anne Merchant (born October 26, 1963 in Jamestown, NY) is an American alternative rock singer-songwriter. She joined the band 10,000 Maniacs in 1981 and was lead vocalist and primary lyricist for the group. She remained with the group for their first seven albums and left it to begin her solo career in 1993. She has since released nine studio albums as a solo artist.
Natalie Merchant emerges from darkness with nothing but love by Mark Kennedy
The singer-songwriter had major spine surgery just four days before lockdown, with three bones removed from her neck and an incision made over her vocal cords. She lost her voice and suffered nerve damage in her right hand.
It took nine months to get her voice back and a year to get her hand to behave. And yet out of that came not bitterness or anger, but love: The heart-forward new album Keep Your Courage.
“This album sort of grew out of all that. It was a health crisis, but also everything was in crisis in the world,” she says. “We all turned inward and held on to each other. And the only thing that really mattered was love. Love and caring for people.”
Keep Your Courage has some of Merchant's best songwriting, with melodies that veer from Gaelic to Middle Eastern, delving into horn-driven soul, melancholy ballads, pure pop and defiant sisterhood anthems. The last lines are: “Love will conquer all.”
From Wikipedia: 10,000 Maniacs is an American alternative rock band that was founded in 1981 in Jamestown, New York. They have released nine studio albums, six EPs and five live albums. They achieved their most significant success between 1987 and 1993, when they released four albums that charted in the top 50 in the US: In My Tribe (1987), Blind Man's Zoo (1989), Our Time in Eden (1992) and the live album MTV Unplugged (1993). After the recording but before the release of MTV Unplugged, original lead singer and main songwriter Natalie Merchant left the band to pursue a solo career. She was replaced by Mary Ramsey, who was the lead singer from 1993 to 2001 and then from 2007 to the present.
Co-founder John Lombardo left the group during a rehearsal in 1986. The remaining five members started recording a new album in Los Angeles with Peter Asher as the producer. In My Tribe, a more pop-rock oriented record, was released in 1987. The album originally contained “Peace Train,” their first notable American hit. It was removed from subsequent pressings after Cat Stevens (who became Yusuf Islam) made comments implying he agreed with a death Fatwa against author Salman Rushdie.
Videos from The Michigan Theater
Come on, Aphrodite (snippet taken by Joseph Zarazua)
Verdi Cries (taken by Kyra Jackman)
10,000 Maniacs - These Are Days
10,000 Maniacs with Michael Stipe - To Sir With Love
Natalie Merchant and David Byrne - Let the Mystery Be
My Playlist
Sports Stars
Undrafted Heat
On Monday, the Miami Heat easily won game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics. Jimmy Butler was named the MVP, but you can make a case that Caleb Martin also deserved the honor. I previously featured the exploits of Playoff Jimmy, but he would not have moved on to his second NBA Finals without the strong support of five teammates who were not drafted but were signed as free agents. Here is a look at the those five, and a list of four other undrafted Miami Heat players.
Caleb Martin – Nevada 2019
In game 7, Caleb scored 26 points, shot 11-16 and 4-6 from three, grabbed 10 rebounds, dished 3 assists, and had one steal. His playoff averages so far are 30.7 minutes, 14.1 points, and 5.7 rebounds.
Gabe Vincent – UC Santa Barbara 2018
In game 7, Gabe scored 10 points, shot 2-3 from three, grabbed 4 rebounds, and had 3 assists. His playoff averages so far are 31.2 minutes, 13.1 points, and 3.9 assists. I have a soft spot for the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos, as Barb and I spend our winters in Santa Barbara.
Max Strus – DePaul 2019
In game 7, Max scored 8 points and had 5 rebounds. His playoff averages so far are 29.0 minutes, 10.3 points, and 3.3 rebounds. He started at Division II Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois. After two years there, he transferred to DePaul University.
Duncan Robinson – Michigan 2018
In game 7, Duncan scored 10 points, shot 4-6 and 2-3 from three, had 2 steals, and blocked a shot. His playoff averages so far are 30.7 minutes, 14.1 points, and 5.7 rebounds. He played one season at Division III Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts before transferring to the University of Michigan. I love that he helped lead Williams to the D3 Championship game as a freshman, then moved up two levels to play for our Michigan Wolverines, and after being undrafted, became the fastest NBA player to reach 800 career 3-pointers (263 games) and received the largest contract by an undrafted player ($90 million).
Haywood Highsmith – Wheeling Jesuit 2018
Haywood has not played much, but he has made an impact with his defense and energy when in. In 9 minutes in game 7, Haywood scored 2 points, grabbed a rebound, and had a steal. His playoff averages so far are 9.7 minutes, 3.2 points, 1.5 rebounds, and a team-high 5.0 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Four other Miami undrafted players are on the roster, including three-time NBA champion Udonis Haslem, who was not picked 21 years ago and will turn 43 on June 9, 2023.
Udonis Haslem – Florida 2002
Omer Yurtseven – Georgetown 2020
Jamal Cain – Oakland 2022
Orlando Robinson – Fresno State 2022
Picture Pun
When it came to family planning, Allie's parents missed the boat.
Thanks for posting the cover of To Sir With Love.
Unlike you, I have not been to many live concerts. But one of them was 10,000 Maniacs, and when they sang "Campfire Song," all of a sudden Michael Stipe leaped out of the audience to sing his part.