THE QUEEN CLEARS HER THROAT

Too often the Times selects people to review books who seem more intent on displaying their own highly-honed use of English than plain-speak.

One such reviewer is Lawrence Chua. Here is a typical sentence: “Set apart from the Queer congregation of streamlined musculature, the opera queen, clinging to his pristine recording of ‘Tosca,’ is overwrought and overweight.”

Translation:

“Intimidated by the gay tendency to fancy men with muscles, the opera queen becomes little more than a couch potato as he listens to his favorite arias over and over.”

TOM WAYMAN

CAMBRIA