Jane Stemp Wickenden brought this to my attention.
A few years ago British author Sarah Harrison (author of HOT BREATH and COLD FEET among other novels) wrote this guide to terms used by reviewers:
Sarah Harrison’s Guide to Literary Criticism
Enchanting : there’s a dog in it.
Heartwarming : a dog and a child.
Heartrending : they die.
Thoughtful : tedious.
Thought-provoking : tedious and hectoring.
Haunting : set in the past.
Exotic : set abroad.
Prize-winning : set in India.
Perceptive : set in London NW3.
Epic : editor cowed by writer’s reputation.
From the pen of a master : same old same old.
In the tradition of : shamelessly derivative.
Provocative : irritating.
Spare and taut : under-researched.
Richly detailed : over-researched.
Leslie Bulion
August 3, 2012 - 4:57 pm ·Hysterical!!! Now I have to go look back at my reviews!
katie
August 3, 2012 - 5:17 pm ·Can make us feel better, right?!
Leslie Bulion
August 3, 2012 - 9:57 pm ·Hmm…maybe…
Lain Ehmann
August 3, 2012 - 4:16 pm ·I love this – so funny! It reminds me of this:
http://consumerist.com/2009/08/what-home-sale-listings-say-what-they-mean.html
Elizabeth
August 3, 2012 - 11:42 am ·LOVE it! 🙂
katie
August 3, 2012 - 1:41 pm ·BTW, Fox Bros was on Good Morning America!
Bette A. Stevens
August 3, 2012 - 8:46 am ·Gave me food for thought (not a literary criticism) and it’s breakfast time! A “smiley” way to start the day.
katie
August 3, 2012 - 1:40 pm ·Ha! Lucky I didn’t write it or I’d be up for some lit crit!