I know I risk sounding like an English teacher when I use the words “figurative language.” The phrase may sound frightening but figurative language will make your writing more interesting evocative and memorable. And who doesn’t want that –even in non-fiction? Here are some examples of figurative language:
• allusion
• hyperbole
• metaphor
• oxymoron
• personification
• paradox
• simile
I read widely and follow many forms of media, keeping my eyes and ears attuned to figurative language so I can share a piece of it with you each week.
Reading time: About 1 minute I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. I write today about some similes and metaphors from Australian writer Geraldine Brooks…. Geraldine Brooks is an author and journalist who grew up in Australia but who now lives in the US. She was awarded the […]
The figurative language of Geraldine Brooks Read More »
Reading time: About 2 minutes I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. I write today about a series of metaphors from Louis Bayard… Writer Louis Bayard seems to have a keen interest in the love lives of American presidents. His 2019 book, Courting Mr. Lincoln, took a novelist’s
The figurative language of Louis Bayard… Read More »
Reading time: About 2 minutes I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. I write today about a series of similes from Meg Mason… Meg Mason began her writing career as a journalist. She started with newspapers including The Financial Times and The Times, London. Then, she moved to
The figurative language of Meg Mason… Read More »
Reading time: I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. I write today about a series of metaphors from novelist Gary Shteyngart… Author Gary Shteyngart is a really funny guy. Several years ago, I enjoyed his novel Super Sad True Love Story. And, more recently, I lapped up Our
The figurative language of Gary Shteyngart… Read More »
Reading time: About 1 minute I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. I write today about a series of metaphors from Tana French. Generally, I don’t read murder mysteries. I find the genre too predictable and, often, the writing is pedestrian. I make a happy exception for Tana
Yet more figurative language from Tana French Read More »
Reading time: About 1 minute I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. I write today about a series of similes from Dwight Garner…. Dwight Garner is one of my favourite book reviewers in the New York Times. I especially enjoyed his recent take-down of Jared Kushner’s new book,
The figurative language of Dwight Garner… Read More »
Reading time: Less than 2 minutes I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. I write today about a series of metaphors and similes from Jonathan Franzen…. I’ve never been a huge fan of Jonathan Franzen. I found his 2001 novel — a satirical family drama — The Corrections,
The figurative language of Jonathan Franzen… Read More »
Reading time: Less than 1 minute I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. I write today about the figurative language (and other writing skills) of novelist Julian Barnes… As a longtime fan of the superb British writer Julian Barnes, I was thrilled to receive a gift of his
The figurative language of Julian Barnes… Read More »
Reading time: Less than 2 minutes I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. I write today about a series of similes and metaphors from Edward St. Aubyn… I had never heard of Edward St. Aubyn until recently. News penetrated my dim consciousness when I learned that Benedict Cumberbatch
The figurative language of Edward St. Aubyn… Read More »
Reading time: Less than 1 minute I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. I write today about a series of metaphors from Noah Hawley…. I don’t typically read murder mysteries but when my friend Carlos Chavez recommend such a title a few days before I was about to
The figurative language of Noah Hawley… Read More »
