I do enjoy writing reviews, however, especially of books and movies. I wouldn't do it if I didn't enjoy it (the money is not that good, even with the promotional, believe me!). One thing I've discovered, however, during this month of trying to write and post at a much faster than usual pace, is that I have certain "fall back" words. When something really moves me, I tend to run toward a certain handful of adjectives and use them over and over, if not in one review, then at least consistently throughout several reviews.
I think my major clutch-hitting adjective is "poignant." I just love this little word. It's a good one. For one thing, it sounds so lovely, so much smoother than it looks like it would sound with that middle 'g.' It's got Anglo-French roots, which is probably why the 'g' doesn't get a typical English pronunciation. Its "pointed" look as a word, yet its somehow more beautiful and smooth sound than you expected, all relate to its meaning. Here's a look at its etymology and definition from www.merriam-webster.com
Etymology:
Middle English poynaunt, from Anglo-French poinant, poignant, present participle of poindre to prick, sting, from Latin pungere — more at pungent
Date:
14th century
1: pungently pervasive (a poignant perfume) 2 a (1): painfully affecting the feelings : piercing (2): deeply affecting : touching b: designed to make an impression : cutting
As wonderful a word as it is, I think I need some new ones. A quick look around thesaurus.com provided a handful of synonyms. Synonyms of poignant's cousin "eloquent" provided this verbal bouquet:
witty, affecting, ardent, articulate, expressive, facund, fervent, fervid, fluent, forceful, glib, grandiloquent, graphic, impassioned, impressive, indicative, magniloquent, meaningful, moving, outspoken, passionate, persuasive, poignant, potent, powerful, revealing, rhetorical, sententious, significant, silver-tongued*, smooth-spoken*, stirring, suggestive, telling, touching, vivid, vocal, voluble, well-expressed
Antonyms: inarticulate, tongue-tied
Source: Roget's New Millennium™ Thesaurus, First Edition (v 1.3.1)
Copyright © 2008 by Lexico Publishing Group, LLC. All rights reserved.
* = informal or slang
I'm hoping all this research will inspire me to dig a little deeper in my grab-bag of words the next time I decide that a book has really moved me profoundly. Although I still plan to use "poignant" in my next review...
What are some of your favorite fall back adjectives?
3 comments:
I love the word "poignant" too, and "eloquent." Others that I tend to use a lot... tender, exquisite, gut-wrenching, hilarious... well, there are quite a few. But I'm particularly mindful of my word usage when I'm reviewing books in the same series; I try to avoid saying the same thing again and again, but I do wind up falling back on the same adjective a many times.
So, how about them making March a 10-4-20 month too? Do they want our heads to explode, or are they just looking for all their reviewers to develop carpal tunnel?
Um...I think they want our heads to explode.
I may have to eat my hat, as I firmly told D. the other day that I wasn't going to write a ton of reviews in March no matter what promotional they threw at us. I figured it was a safe thing to say, since I was almost positive they'd move back into "firsties" sweepstakes mode. I was very surprised that they continued the guaranteed money promotion. And now I don't know what to do, as we're really in need of the money, but I am also trying to stay sane and balanced and spend more time on my class as well as some other things that I really need to focus on in March.
How many did you end up doing in February? Did you post 100? I managed 20, and thought I would keel over before it was all over.
I like "exquisite" a lot. :-) And "eloquent." Wonder how many of these I can sneak into my March reviews....!
I can't believe they're doing this for the fourth month running! It's hard to imagine it's worth it for them, but I guess it must be. I posted my hundredth review late Friday afternoon; I'd love to do it again this month but I have a feeling I'm going to conk out!
Post a Comment