To think nobody ‘pads’ in real life, is this just a book thing? Stuff you only read in books…

[Hottubby]

‘She slipped on his shirt and padded across the room ‘
Does anyone ‘pad’ in real life? I have read it 4 times this week (I’m on holiday and reading a lot of chic lit!). Why is it only used in books?

@bluesapphire48 and @WindowsSmindows

My degree is in Literature (and Linguistics).

So I've read - and enjoyed - lots of the classics, especially Jane Austen, which has been pilloried here.

That doesn't mean to say that I can't also enjoy reading a bit of fluff every now and then! Reading is for enjoyment and pleasure as well as education.

Snobbery over writers and writing is not a good look.

That doesn't mean to say, however, that we're not allowed to point out the irritations with how authors write or express certain things.

This is clearly a lighthearted thread. If you want to write about serious literature, there are plenty of other threads you could choose. Or - heaven forfend! - you could always start one of your own?

@bluesapphire48 presumably you mean Gabriel Garcia-Marquez?
Just thought I'd take a break from reading pulp fiction by lousy writers to mention it.

Buttertoast55. Yes, Gabriel Garcia-Marquez.

BIWI

Go back and read the OP, for crying out loud. She was complaining about what she was reading.

I am a professional librarian. If somebody wants to read light-hearted stuff, I can steer them to that. Clearly the OP wasn't happy, so I thought I would acquaint her with other kinds of fiction. Included in that list, in case you missed it, was one of the greatest sci-fi writers of all time.

"Lighted-hearted thread?" Really, much. I read a lot of domestic misery here.

And BTW, I didn't just STUDY linguistics. I also taught ESL for many years. So stop with the p---ing contest stuff already.

PuppyMonkey. I'm fine, thank. Why would you think I'm not?

Fucking chill out!

@bluesapphire48 this is a thread about chick lit. It's a lighthearted thread.

There's nothing wrong with reading chick lit and I'd wager that lots of us who do, also read stuff that you'd approve of.

And it's not a pissing contest - oh look! I swore! We are allowed to do that on Mumsnet ffs - just pointing out that there's a time and place for literary snobbery.

If you don't want to join in abhorring padding and knee patting, that's absolutely fine.

"She took his desire in her hand." No. No. Nóóó 🤦🏼‍♀️

Chikapu,

I was trying to steer the OP to something she might find more appealing.

Sorry you can't see anything positive in it. I took MY FUCKING PRECIOUS TIME an energy to find authors the OP might enjoy.

Clearly there are some really sad people in this group. I feel sorry for you. You take something that was meant kindly and twist it totally around.

Hope tomorrow is better for you.

She was complaining about what she was reading

She was commenting on the overuse of the word pad, she wasn't complaining about what she was reading other than that.
Reading comprehension is an important skill I believe...

But she never said she didn't read more 'worthy' books as well, she's on holiday and reading some lighthearted fluff for heaven's sake.

I too have read “Shit books”
In English Literature A level, the tutor asked what we liked reading.
I replied “ Jilly Cooper” whereas the others said Tolstoy and Dickens.
I was laughed at-
But on results day , I was exonerated.

It is possible to read sugar as well as “ Better” literature.

Well yes, but it's a bit odd to read shit books and then start a thread complaining about them being shit! If people don't want to read books full of these stupid, hackneyed descriptions, they should read better books.

I'm not a snob about books - as well as 'proper literature ', I read all kinds of fantasy and sci fi stuff that many people would sneer at. But I absolutely draw the line at chick lit (more because of the subject matter than the writing). Can't stand Jane Austen either!

@bluesapphire48 you really need to read the thread properly! The OP was not crying out for you to spend your precious time finding her a worthy reading list. And your post wasn't meant kindly either. It was hugely patronising.

You need to learn to read tone better - which surely you should be able to as an ESL teacher? - there isn't any sadness here. It's a thread filled with humour. I'm a bit that you seem to have missed that totally in your rush to educate us about 'better' literature.

@Hottubby Are you reading Jane Green? When I read her books, her heroines were always padding around.

The OP stated yes I’m reading a pile of shite but I have no concentration for anything else. She's still perfectly within her rights to complain about a phrase that she finds annoying!

You need to chill out and read some Jackie Collins. Highly recommended.

Not necessarily. I read crime novels - and both female and male characters are described as 'padding' to the bathroom . It's not meant to be a description of them doing anything sexily or in sensual surroundings .

My toes curl when everyone seems to be "chuckling"

Those must be some bad crime novels.

For "pad" I imagine "shuffle", but it doesn't sound as romantic!

"Pad" infers a feline, languid sexiness, not a heavy-footed clomp or scurry to get to the loo for wee like normal people do.

I just read a book in which a character had lilac eyes. Lilac ???

I, for one, pad about quite often. I also slip, slither and pussyfoot. On rare occasions, when my ire is entirely up, I might tromp or stomp.

However, padding is meant to convey moving with a certain animal stealth and/or grace. I bet more of the people on Mumsnet pad than realize it.

Yes, how come the sexy female is never half running, half limping with her legs crossed to the loo while her swollen perimenopausal bladder is about to burst forth?

Reminds me of the Scum referring to obese people as ‘roly poly’.

Are they dainty with large eyes an glossy hair. I can’t get my husbands shirts on too narrow