Gorgeous Words: Catherine Chidgey & “The Axeman’s Carnival”
I always consider writing style when reading and posting on books. And in Monday’s post on The Axeman’s Carnival, I mentioned that I loved the rhythm of the author’s prose and also the use of techniques such as repetition.
An early example of rhythm that caught my eye was this:
“Then, high above, a cawing and a screeching, and wide black wings that flashed with white, and rust eyes that fixed on Marnie, and Get out of here, get out get out get out, I’ll pierce your eyes and drink your blood and clean your bones. Down he swooped like a gale, like a god: my father.”
A little later, I was struck by the evocative quality of this passage:
“…But below the trees, down at the foot of the hill, I could see the yolk-yellow house, and hear the scree, scree, scree of the clothesline as it turned in the wind, all the dresses and shirts alive.”
Fear not, though — the gorgeous words continue all the way to the end. 😀
