Lint in Literature: The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls

I just started reading Jeannette Walls' latest book last night and love it! In case she doesn't ring any bells, she wrote the so-good memoir The Glass Castle. If you haven't read it, do! It's wonderful.

So, as I was reading along, the word "linthead" was used several times. Then it was explained! Here's that passage:

"Charlie was a fling, as far as she was concerned. Charlotte was pretty shaken up when that wastrel, Liz's father, decided he didn't want to be a father after all. She went through a wild-divorcee period and got involved with a number of men whom Mother and Father disapproved of. Charlie was one of them. She never considered marrying him. The way she saw it, he was just a linthead."

"What's that?" I'd heard Mom use the word, but I didn't know what it meant.

"A millworker. They come off their shifts covered in lint."

~*~

Isn't that perfect!? I think so. 

Lint in Literature: The Forest for the Trees by Betsy Lerner

I'm reading The Forest for the Trees:  An Editor's Advice to Writers by Betsy Lerner and loving it! Since it's nonfiction, I'm just dipping into it as I have a few minutes so I'm only on page 80. So far, so good!

Today I read this passage where Lerner is discussing types of writers (this chapter is about the self promoter):

I discovered that allegations of professional misconduct had attached themselves to this writer like lint.

I love that analogy. Lint does have a way of sticking where it doesn't belong. 

Lint in Literature: Freud's Mistress

I came across the word lint in the latest book I'm reading, Freud's Mistress by Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman. Here's the passage (Martha is Sigmund Freud's wife):

As the noise level rose, Martha flitted back and forth into the kitchen, checking on the biscuits, the beef, getting this child a glass of water, that child a napkin, removing an elbow or a leg from the arm of a chair, and, at one point, bending over and picking up a wad of lint from the floor.

I like his book, but in places it reads like a history lesson. The story is based in fact but is a historical fictional account of Freud and his sister-in-law Minna, who many feel had an affair.

Lint in Literature: Stella Bain by Anita Shreve

I finished this novel a few days ago and toward the end, came across our favorite word:  lint!

"He sets his teacup down. 'Well,' he says, picking off an imaginary piece of lint from his trousers, 'I'm in the middle of changing professions. Now that the war is over, there is, happily, less demand for cranial surgery. I'm reading psychiatry, which can't be a complete surprise to you."

I really enjoyed this book about memory loss and women during World War I or The Great War as it was called at the time, having no second world war to begin the numbering scheme.

Oh, I also changed my furnace air filter today, which was full of dust and lint. Do you need to change yours?

Lint in Literature: The First Affair by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

I recently read The First Affair by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus (of The Nanny Diaries fame). This novel was a fictional look at affairs women (young girls really) have with the President of the United States. I was pleasantly surprised; this book didn't just deal with the affair but largely with the aftermath of such a decision by both parties. 

It mostly was seen from the young intern's point of view and was handled very well. The character Jamie McAlister was idealistic and totally fooled, but I don't want to give too much away. Read it! I think anyone would love this smart look at the inner workings of politics today.

This little snippet about lint was in the book:

"Harrisburg? God, no." He considered for a second. "I thought there'd be more camaraderie. I thought join the government, join the campaign, share a common vision, a cause." He picked lint off his slim-cut cords. "But people suck everywhere, I guess."

Lint in Literature: The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert

I recently read The Signature of All Things, a novel by Elizabeth Gilbert (you know, Eat Pray Love?). Anyway, this novel was amazing! It can be called epic and a classic and smart and funny. So good!

I was delighted to find this lint reference somewhat early in the book (on page 147):

Retta ran over to her friend, and sat down beside her. "Look at you! You are overcome on my behalf! You care about me do!" Retta put her arm around Alma's waist, just as she had done on the day they met, and embraced her closely. "I must confess that I am still a bit overcome myself. What would such a clever man want with a silly bit of lint like me?..."

If you are looking for a book you can really settle into for a week or so (I'm a slow reader; maybe you'd read the nearly 500 pages much quicker), The Signature of All Things is highly recommended.

Lint in Literature: Started Early, Took My Dog

I recently read Kate Atkinson's novel Started Early, Took My Dog. Early in the book, I came across this line:

Tracey felt defeated. She glanced down and picked some lint off her jacket. Things could only get worse.

This book was wonderful, as are all of Atkinson's books, so if you're looking for a novel with a touch of mystery and great characters, Started Early, Took My Dog is a winner.