Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.
~This Week's Question:
What writing device or trick most irritates you when reading a book? For example, if an author employs an omnipotent narrator that is sometimes considered bad form.
~My Answer:
Hmmm....I don't really know how to answer this for I don't completely understand the question but....I will say some of the things I don't like authors to do is over-do the vocabulary and metaphors.
Bigger words are helpful in books. It gives a more vibrant word that helps you understand the situation and emotions showing through at that time. It helps give you a better understanding and I don't mind making a trip to the dictionary every now and then but when I can barely understand what going on because of all the crazy elite words...thats a major no-no in my book. Authors don't need to look smart...too smart. Its not a contest. Yes, its literature but don't over do it.
As for the metaphors...another thing for further understanding and coloring the pages for expression and mood setting but...again....too much is too much. One example would have to be Maggie Stiefvater's Wolves of Mercy Falls...She had both. Not too much with the vocab but the metaphors...omg yes!! I'ts probably the main reason why I didn't enjoy it and left the series be and afraid to read anything else from her. The over-the-top moment for that first book was when she was comparing the character to a leaking womb. Uhmmm gross! Too far! There is a happy-medium for these two subjects.
This is what gets me up on my soap box. It is the biggest pet peeve I have with writing lol
Bigger words are helpful in books. It gives a more vibrant word that helps you understand the situation and emotions showing through at that time. It helps give you a better understanding and I don't mind making a trip to the dictionary every now and then but when I can barely understand what going on because of all the crazy elite words...thats a major no-no in my book. Authors don't need to look smart...too smart. Its not a contest. Yes, its literature but don't over do it.
As for the metaphors...another thing for further understanding and coloring the pages for expression and mood setting but...again....too much is too much. One example would have to be Maggie Stiefvater's Wolves of Mercy Falls...She had both. Not too much with the vocab but the metaphors...omg yes!! I'ts probably the main reason why I didn't enjoy it and left the series be and afraid to read anything else from her. The over-the-top moment for that first book was when she was comparing the character to a leaking womb. Uhmmm gross! Too far! There is a happy-medium for these two subjects.
This is what gets me up on my soap box. It is the biggest pet peeve I have with writing lol
What about you?
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Happy Friday! Have a great weekend!!
~Jaiden
P.s....Did you see my Waiting on Wednesday pick this week here? What about my interview with Jolene B Perry, author of Knee Deep? Check it out and enter to win a paperback copy of Knee Deep or 1 ebook copy of any released book of hers here!! Then!! Check out my Blogoversary Shazam!! Come and celebrate 1 full year of blogging with me and join the winning festivities!! Giveaways Ends 11/9/12 PLUS! Another interview and giveaway with Anne Greenwood Brown, author of Lies Beneath. An audio book of Lies Beneath and a book ispired soap are up for grabs! Enter now! Ends 11/4/12.
Hopping through. I agree that there's a fine line with vocabulary. Sometimes authors seem like they're trying to prove to me that they're really smart.
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LOL "a leaking womb?!" I don't remember that part but that's crazy! X)
ReplyDeleteYou should check out Stiefvater's The Raven Boys though, it's actually quite good! :)
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ReplyDeleteI've heard several readers complain about the leaking womb metaphor.You aren't alone in that. I'm pretty grossed out just thinking about it right now! lol!
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Old follower! Totally agree with the metaphor thing! Sometimes it is just too much and can take the reader out of the story!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean! I felt the same with Shatter Me. They don't have to make it so complicated. It is distracting.
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ReplyDeleteI hate that too - when the author feels the need to use loads of fancy words, and the sentence just ends up being too confusing!
Rinn (My FF)
Yeah, I agree with you.
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I don't like that either. That totally sucks! :)
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Whoa, leaking womb? Totally overkill. I haven't read any Maggie Stiefvater books (I know, the shame), but I have seen people said that her writing is lyrical... Anyway I hate having to check the dictionary when I am reading so I definitely get where you are coming from. I've read books that have so many weird words that most of the paragraph is highlighted (I highlight words that I checked), it's just annoying and totally put me off of reading the book, not to mention confusing since I am not sure how the new words that I learn are generally used in sentences, the example sentences just suck too BTW.
ReplyDeleteA new follower on GFC! I love your blog design! And we're totally close at age, 14-year-old here ;) Here's my FF
Yeah I faced the first problem with Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff. Yet to finish the book. And I haven't read Wolves of Mercy Falls.. BUT they say The Raven Boys is seriously good, so I might just give it a try! I do have it for review.
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Addie @ READioactive Book Blog
New follower here! :) See, I loooove a good metaphor and I loooove Maggie Stiefvater! lol That's what makes the book blogger community so great. We're so diverse. :) Cherie Reads
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Totally Agree! Its like sometimes we are blinded by the metaphors!
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Good answer.
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Interesting answer.
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Kristerrn @ BetweenTheLines -WithK
Great answer, I agree!
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Great answer. I'm not a fan of too many metaphors either.
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Sabina @ Delirious About Books