Misplaced modifier (and first line answers)

[tahnan]

In the category of "I really, really hope that isn't what they meant":

"The name [puttanesca] comes from the Italian for streetwalker, and the idea is a sauce that's hot and only takes minutes to make." --Boston Globe Magazine, 2/23/03

Because after all an Italian streetwalker is hot and only.... The actual reason for the name is that Italian streetwalkers needed a sauce they could make quickly, between clients. I don't think that quite comes across in the above.

For those wondering where the first lines in my previous post came from, I've listed them.

1. The Lions of Al-Rassan, Guy Gavriel Kay (it's the advice Jehane's father gave her about the Asharites)

2. Glengarry Glen Ross, David Mamet

3. The Westing Game, Ellen Raskin

4. To Say Nothing of the Dog, Connie Willis

5. Hyperion, Dan Simmons

6. Good Omens, Nail Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (the section goes on to talk about how all the days had been nice, and eventually that it would be a dark and stormy night)

7. Arcadia, Tom Stoppard

8. Jhereg, Steven Brust

9. Bridge of Birds, Barry Hughart (which you must go read; it's lovely)

10. "Story of Your Life," Ted Chiang (ditto)

11. Mockingbird, Sean Stewart

12. Lord of Light, Roger Zelazny

13. Proof, David Auburn

And now you know.

Comments

Bother

[lilisonna.livejournal.com]

I knew I'd missed something on my list.

[ztbb.livejournal.com]

> 6. Good Omens, Nail Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (the section goes on to talk about how all the days > had been nice, and eventually that it would be a dark and stormy night)

Oh, of course. I knew that the section went on to talk about how all the days had been nice, and yet I just couldn't place it....

[littleowl.livejournal.com]

Piffle. The only one I recognized was The Westing Game of all things. You'd think I'd have recognized the lines from Kay and Brust. Oy.

[ironrat.livejournal.com]

I'd nearly forgotten about Lions of Al-Rassan and how much I enjoyed it... Thanks for the reminder.

[bitty.livejournal.com]

hm. i've read five of those, and Bridge of Birds has been on my to-read pile for years - an old roommie's copy, 'cause he insists I must read it. I've never been able to get into it, though.