Dispatch 3 from Hell Is Other People's Opinions: Went to a book club last week. We discussed "The Kite Runner," which I thought was not very good. Completely and instantly clear when I walked in that everyone else loved it. LOVED it. One girl said it was her favorite book ever. We went around the room and said our favorite books, so I know these are not dumb or unread women. I just can't figure out what about that book has made such an impression on readers. I found it amateurish in writing and plot. Implausibilities involving topics I do know about (life in publishing) made me doubt the facts relating to topics I don't know about (the Taliban). I guess it's another Da Vinci Code. Oh lord, though. I said my favorite book was "Howard's End." Why not.

Here are some words I have banned in copy at my office:
decorative
special
various
-type as a suffix