Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

I don't want to ruin every book you're going to read from now, but have you noticed they all have the word

239 replies

Cify · 28/03/2018 09:06

Detritus.... in therm?

And now I've noticed it I can't stop seeing the word in everything I read.

And yet I've never heard a single friend complaining about the detritus in their kitchen.

Please tell me I'm not alone? Do you notice certain words or phrases (that people don't actually say in real life) being used over and over again in novels?

OP posts:
ScribblyGum · 28/03/2018 10:19

Grin Grin at CaptainCardamon and the three natural literary conclusions to padding in lounge wear.

Tidypidy · 28/03/2018 09:42

Easing into traffic, just read a Val McDermid and it's on every other page!

BothersomeCrow · 28/03/2018 09:36

You can tell when fanfic about British characters is written by Americans as they 'smirk' every other page. I know it's American for a general grin not just an unpleasant one, but the amount of it still grates. Jack Reacher manages to confine himself to one or two smirks per book so everyone else can too.

DivaPlavalaguna · 28/03/2018 09:34

I hate ‘padded’ too. It makes me think the book is going to be rubbish.

Buddyelf · 28/03/2018 09:33

Chagrin! If you've ever read any of the Twilight books its used on every other bloody page.

CaptainCardamom · 28/03/2018 09:32

Yes you must always "pad" when wearing a dressing gown. Typically you will be having an evening in in your loungewear and "padding" about not expecting anyone, when your love interest / a detective inspector / a killer clown suddenly shows up.

CaptainCardamom · 28/03/2018 09:31

What I hate is when they are talking about tea or coffee and at some point they always say "the hot liquid". Urrrrggghhh!

"She put down her latte, and at that moment the dog jumped up and knocked it over. She shrieked as the HOT LIQUID spread across the table."

"He handed her a steaming cup of tea, and she began to relax as se swallowed the HOT LIQUID"

If I ever write a novel my main priority will be to make sure i don't put "hot liquid" in it.

keepingbees · 28/03/2018 09:31

I haven't noticed detritus. But reading the same words and phrases in a book is a massive bugbear for me.

Fifty shades of grey was the worst. I know it wasn't exactly a literacy work of art but every other page was 'ghost of a smile.' and 'Restore my equilibrium.' Amongst many others.

ginghamstarfish · 28/03/2018 09:28

Oh yes, the 'padding' is greatly overused. Is that a word anyone ever speaks in real life?

BluthsFrozenBananas · 28/03/2018 09:26

If you’re reading Terry Pratchett Detritus is the name of a recurring character.

marchonto2018 · 28/03/2018 09:15

'Gotten' that word drives me nuts!

ScribblyGum · 28/03/2018 09:15

Nanny you are so right! The crap thriller I read yesterday had padding downstairs (in a dressing gown) in it.

I use detritus when describing to my dh what I found in the annual gutter clearing activity. Usually accompanied with “foul”.

Nannyplumssillyoldelf · 28/03/2018 09:12

Someone always pads somewhere, usually downstairs to make a cup of tea or sometimes to the bathroom. I don't think I've ever padded anywhere, my cat does though.

MarshaBradyo · 28/03/2018 09:07

Tendril

The women have loose tendrils of hair - sounds snakey

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.