physiognomy to physiognomy with the problem...
Posted by Janette on October 09, 1997 at 07:53:57:
In response to Charlotte's words, written by Kathy F. on October 08, 1997 at 08:56:56
] Does anybody think that JE would have been better if CB had occasionally used smaller words? Maybe I'm just too used to reading JA, but it seems like on several occasions, the sentences are just flowing by beautifully, and then she uses a huge word that brings the sentence to a screeching halt. It seems out of place. I got used to "preternatural" but there were many more words that I had to slow down and think about, and it interrupted the enjoyment of the actual story. Or is it just that I got a 20th century education, instead of a 19th century one?
] Kathy
I have to agree with you, Kathy. I have no objection to long words as such, but I found the repeated use of words such as "physiognomy" (FACE, would you believe) irritating this time round. Also the use of "organ of adhesiveness" and "organ of veneration" I found annoying. And occasionally some of the metaphors were so over the top as to be really unpleasant - eg this one:
"And I then strangled a newborn agony - a deformed thing which I could not persuade myself to own and rear - and ran on."
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