Christian fiction, Writing life

For Love of Description

If I stacked all of my to-read books and together instead of having piles scattered throughout the house, I would have a book version of the Leaning Tower of Pisa that would be nearly as tall as my kids. So many books, so little time …

I finally got to a novel by Angela Hunt that’s been on my shelf for way too long — Magdalene. It’s a fictional account of Mary Magdalene and tells what could have been her story before she met Christ, her perspective of things during His ministry, and how her life was after his death and resurrection. I haven’t read one of Angie’s books in a while, so it reminded me how much I enjoy her stories as a reader and how much I can learn from her as a writer.

I especially loved her descriptions throughout the book — just the way she words things puts me right in the story and lets me see things just as clearly as if I were standing beside her characters. Here are a few favorites I marked:

  • My heart trembled like an animal in a cage of ribs.
  • Atticus felt a series of ghost spiders crawl across the back of his neck.
  • Gulping back my fear, I slipped along the passageway like a shadow.
  • Her voice was like velvet edged with iron.
  • And my very favorite: The sky, streaked by this time with orange and gold and red, seemed to be descending upon the city lke the lid of a brightly lined jewel box.

Wow! Don’t those just let you know exactly what’s happening or how the character feels? Gotta love it. 🙂

If you’ve never read anyof Angela Hunt’s books, she’s a phenomenal author who’s written so many things you’re bound to find a title you like. Check out her website at www.angelaelwellhunt.com.