Word: dreariest
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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Growing up ethnic is surely the liveliest theme to appear in the American novel since the closing of the frontier (growing up alienated and getting a divorce are the dreariest). One cheerful result is that Wasps, to the disgust of Nathan Zuckerman's relatives, now know about Jewish families, shnorrers, yentas and all, and that Catholics are knowledgeable about those little ethnicities that Presbyterians possess but do not like to admit to. Northerners understand Southerners, at least on paper, and whites even know something of how life ferments, black among black...
...DREARIEST WAVE OF THE FUTURE The domestically produced, vacuum-sealed bags that hold appetizers and main courses and are available at Bloomingdale's in New York City and have more recently been introduced at Marshall Field's in Chicago leave almost everything to be desired in flavor and texture. Based on tastings of a dozen or so choices (omelet creole, lobster bisque, ravioli with snails, poached salmon and pork with apricots), these generally expensive creations, with main courses from $2.25 for pasta to $12.90 for veal, are a cut above airline food...
...subplot that involves them in an endlessly unfunny attempt to soothe the troubled spirit of Burgess's mad old mom is irrelevant and near to tasteless. She is played by Lillian Gish, and the movies' oldest pro clearly understands that she is trapped in Sweet Liberty's dreariest neighborhood. She does her brash best to break loose, but her efforts are more brave than successful. Doubtless her first auteur, D.W. Griffith, warned her there would be roles like this. And movies like this, signaling good intentions at every turn, but never quite achieving them...
This was the dreariest political carnival in 20 years. Yet it was more than carnival, for it was fought on two levels. On one level were the classic issues, all sprayed over with statistics and figures: disputed factoids of missile and nuclear capability, of budget entitlements, of thunderhead deficits that could prove anything any candidate wanted to prove. Yet underneath, more enduring and more important, was a clash between American cultures. At bottom the candidates were talking about the community of Americans, torn by enormous surges of new forces, bewildered by how to greet or resist them. The campaign...
...prisons is to keep criminals on the inside. To the inmates themselves, prisons are for other things: to kill time; to learn, perhaps; above all, to wait. Life behind walls may be harsh and occasionally dangerous, but it is primarily boring-the undemarcated succession of hours in which the dreariest routines must either be given some importance, however contrived, or be ignored entirely through an effort of will or imagination. Many inmates conclude that the experience of prison makes someone other, and worse, than himself. Perhaps. Surely it makes one different for the time he spends in prison...