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Pedants' corner

Nigella Christmas - I can't buy a book with that title

56 replies

VintageGardenia · 08/10/2008 08:08

What does it mean? Am I stifling my life through my own pedantry??

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Anna8888 · 08/10/2008 08:14

Has she really written a whole book about Christmas?

In desperation three years ago I followed her Christmas dinner instructions from How to Eat to the letter (I had just moved house and was having in laws for Christmas) and it was all fine but we had far too much food. And that was just a few pages

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JackieNo · 08/10/2008 08:16

Maybe it needs a colon 'Nigella: Christmas' . No, not sure that works any better. Just 'Nigella's Christmas'? But then we'd all be saying 'But what about my Christmas?'

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ADragonIs4LifeNotJustHalloween · 08/10/2008 08:17

Did you manage to buy Nigella Express?

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VintageGardenia · 08/10/2008 08:20

But yes, she has.

I thought the Christmas bit in How to Eat was great - I have nothing against Nigella! But now I'm just going to have to figure out for myself how to make snowflake biscuits for the tree, and what sort of dressing gown to wear as I crouch at the fireplace tweaking handmade stockings.

Nigella's Christmas I'd have found acceptable.

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Anna8888 · 08/10/2008 08:23

Oh.

I do have something against Nigella - her quantities are far too copious (and it shows on her - she's fat). I find slim, healthy looking cooks (River Café) much more reassuring.

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VintageGardenia · 08/10/2008 08:23

Yes because I interpreted that as "this is Nigella, Express". Express was allowed to be describing her. Like VintageGardenia Expounding.

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VintageGardenia · 08/10/2008 08:25

She's usually photographed from the waist up. She has a good waist, I think. Her hips are roundy, but I wouldn't describe her as fat, Anna!

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Anna8888 · 08/10/2008 08:26

If I were the same size as Nigella I would be seriously depressed (and feel elephantesque, frankly).

Give me a nice slim Ruth Rogers anyday

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VintageGardenia · 08/10/2008 08:30

Even if she's plump of hip I think elephantesque is completely over the top.

Anna, tis pistols at dawn for us I'm afraid. How on earth did I get into a defence of blardy Nigella when I came on to complain about her punctuation? Anna, you must have dark powers.

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fishie · 08/10/2008 08:31

she is [ahem] well covered but i do like a lot of her food and have never cooked a single thing from river cafe cookbooks.

brand nigella is certainly asserting itself.

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Anna8888 · 08/10/2008 08:34

Well, while I agree that the punctuation of her book title is a bit off, it wouldn't prevent me from buying a book I really wanted. However, her embonpoint seriously alerts me to the dangers of her oeuvre ie fat more troubling than grammar IMO.

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geordieminx · 08/10/2008 08:39

God, it is the first time I have posted in Pedants' corner... here goes.

If anyone is interested, they have the Nigella book in Tesco (and online) for £12.50, as opposed to £25.

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fishie · 08/10/2008 08:40

i think of nigella express as in a train. "nigella express came down the track and she blew" etc.

nigella christmas cries out for a third word. nigella christmas overload?

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mangolassi · 08/10/2008 08:40

For crying out loud, this is pedants corner.

Elephantine.

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VintageGardenia · 08/10/2008 08:42

Well Anna we are worlds apart on this one, poor grammar is so much more troubling and important than cup size. Perhaps at this stage I should wish you joyeux Noel (can't do umlauty thing) and return to my Strunk and White.

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VintageGardenia · 08/10/2008 08:43

Thank you!

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Anna8888 · 08/10/2008 08:43

Elephantesque

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VintageGardenia · 08/10/2008 13:59

Not sure you can invoke the Urban Dictionary in Pedants' Corner! Anyway I think it's a bit off to call someone fat (it and 'ugly' are not permitted chez moi) and we should perhaps stick to pedantry.

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browntrout · 08/10/2008 14:42

I am genuinely surprised to hear the comment that to look like Nigella would make someone feel seriously depressed. She can be quite annoying with all that pseudo-porn film finger-sucking soft focus stuff but she really is quite gorgeous IMO. Glossy hair, lovely skin, sparkly eyes and the right level of curviness. Ah well, each to their own I suppose.

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schneebly · 08/10/2008 14:45

Elephantesque? I Wish I was elephantesque if that is how one would describe Nigella.

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VintageGardenia · 08/10/2008 17:11

She's a beauty all right.

Still not buying her book!

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Swedes · 09/10/2008 11:50

Anna8888 Nigella Lawson has frequently been voted one of the world's most beautiful women. You might feel like an elephant if you were her size but clearly she doesn't feel like an elephant nor does she look like one. There is a good article from the Times here

Anna8888 why don't you post a picture of yourself on your profile and we can let you know whether we find you or Nigella the more attractive woman?

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Kathyis6incheshigh · 09/10/2008 11:51

Anna can't you just use Nigella but cut down the quantities?

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LadyGlencoraPalliser · 09/10/2008 11:54

Elephantesque

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TheDullWitch · 09/10/2008 11:57

Nigella Express was the most disgusting recipes I have ever seen. It was like she was trying to work out, from her Belgravia mansion, how poor people without servants would eat quickly. So it veered from the disgusting "I say, I think tinned mince would be a good wheeze" to the Marie Antoinette "Yes, why make a starter, when you can go to the deli and get lots of lovely Italian meats for only £100!"