So there it is. You’re reading a book by one of your favorite authors. You’re loving it, they’re rolling the plot along with some snappy dialog or action, and then the author does it. Drops a metaphor or a simile in that TOTALLY destroys the mood. Maybe you’re laughing, maybe you’re puzzled, maybe you’re disgusted, maybe you’re angry. Whatever the reaction, this is the point where you just put the book down for a while and come back to it later. After reading that line you just can’t get back into the book.
This isn’t one of those 'throw it against the wall and never let it darken your door again" kind of threads, but what horrible line have you run across in one of your favorite author’s books that just brought you to a halt like a slap in the face or ice water down your pants?
For me it was last night. Simon Green’s Deathstalker(which I’m re-reading and I apparently didn’t catch this the first time or two) where the characters are at an arranged wedding. Huge fancy 'do. Hundreds of guests, armed guards, etc. One of Green’s trademark acidic females is commenting on the disoriented nature of the bride(a minor cousin from a noble family who is suddenly the center of attention in a wedding between her and minor cousin from a rival noble family).
“Poor girl looks as confused as a blind lesbian in a fish market.”
:eek: That was it. That one line took me to places I never wanted to go and certainly didn’t expect to be taken while I was doing my nighttime reading. I just had to put the book down. I just couldn’t get back into it.
What authors have done this to you? Do you like it or hate it? I’m not sure if I liked it or hated it, but it was certainly a novel experience.
Enjoy,
Steven