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Summary
Summary
On the most important occasions of our lives, we often find ourselves at a loss for words; when we want to console, celebrate, explain, inspire, or thank, we end up repeating such uninspiring, uninformative phrases as "Words cannot express how I feel." To help us find the right words, Catherine Frank has compiled this handy compendium of quotations that capture the mundane and the magnificent, the everyday and extraordinary moments of our lives.
The three sections of the book cover 150 occasions. "Every Year" offers quotations on all the special dates in the calendar from New Year's Day to New Year's Eve, including Martin Luther King Day, Valentine's Day, Ramadan, Mother's Day, Thanksgiving, Kwanzaa, and Christmas. "Occasionally" presents quotations on such occasions as giving a speech, having an interview, becoming a parent, getting engaged, welcoming someone, and saying goodbye. "Once in a Lifetime" provides quotations on such momentous events as confirmation, coming out, turning 16, graduation, and retirement.
A sampling:
* Plato, John Donne, and Woody Allen give their words of wisdom on death.
* Betty Ford writes eloquently on recovery.
* Martina Navratilova ruminates on her first sexual encounter... and Holden Caufield on his.
* Ralph Waldo Emerson, Mark Twain, and Frederick Douglass ponder Independence Day.
* Amy Tan reflects on the meaning of the Chinese New Year.
* Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Susan Sontag offer poignant descriptions of pain and illness.
Whether you are offering consolation or congratulations, condolences or confessions, Quotations for All Occasions has the perfect words for every occasion.
Author Notes
Catherine Frank is involved in historical preservation work in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where she is currently completing a Ph.D. in English.
Reviews (2)
Choice Review
Do librarians and readers need another quotation dictionary when a large number of excellent titles are already available? In this case, the answer is a resounding "yes." This lively compilation organizes quotations under three major headings: "Every Year" (Passover, Labor Day, spring,), "Occasionally" (falling in love, taking exams, becoming a parent), and "Once in a Lifetime" (turning 16, first home, first baby). The compiler chose quotations to illuminate "many of the celebrations and rites of passage in the calendar year and in our personal lives." Entries supply not only the name of the writer/speaker, but the full title of the source and often a reference to the specific chapter from which the quote is taken. In many cases the compiler has attached a helpful note to explain context (e.g., when F. Scott Fitzgerald says "I like large parties. They're so intimate," we learn that the words were spoken by Jordan Baker, "a bored socialite," in chapter 3 of The Great Gatsby). A source index adds to the book's utility. Although this will not replace any standard quotation dictionary already on reference shelves, it will stand beside them as a useful and entertaining supplement. D. C. Dickinson; emeritus, University of Arizona
Library Journal Review
Frank's Quotations for All Occasions is a unique title that organizes its 1500-plus quotes into three sections that cover 150 different occasions. "Every Year" contains quotes for such annual events as holidays, birthdays, days of the week, and seasons, while "Occasionally" encompasses quotes for less frequent events, like going back to school, breaking up, quitting smoking, and school reunions. The final section is for "Once in a Lifetime" experiences, such as turning 16, getting a first car, menopause, and retirement. The detailed table of contents offers easy access to quotes for each occasion, and an index arranged by author (not seen) should help research. U.S. Senator Torricelli's (D-NJ) collection of more than 2300 quotes from 840 authors began as a loose-leaf notebook passed down from Hubert Humphrey via Walter Mondale, the editor's former employer. Far more traditional in both scope and organization than Frank'sÄwith a table of contents, author index, and 50 familiar categoriesÄit also includes political categories, such as democracy, war, government, education, patriotism, leadership, America, and the environment. Torricelli's quotations are generally shorter, pithier, and catchier than Frank's, which tend to be longer and derive from more traditional sources, such as Shakespeare and other classic authors. Both editors provide the quotation's source after each entry, and Torricelli's bibliography of books and web sites is a nice addition to his work. All public and academic libraries will want to purchase Frank's work because of the niche it fills in the vast array of available quotation dictionaries. While smaller libraries may decide to pass on Torricelli's because considerable overlap with standard quotation dictionaries is likely, larger libraries will probably want to own it for the quality of its original quotations and its ease of use.ÄLeah J. Sparks, Bowie P.L., MD (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
