It’s tough coming up with good metaphors. Really tough. So I appreciate it when I come across an author particularly good at them. Some of the best metaphors I’ve seen recently are in Tim Wynne-Jones’ entertaining and thoughtful young-adult novel, The Emperor of Any Place.

I was so impressed I decided to list my favorites here:Wynnjones

  • How do you tell a man that if you thought you shared a trait with him, you’d rip your own DNA apart, by hand, helix by helix?
  • My mind was like a hive with a honey bear nearby.
  • …opens one eye under a steel-gray eyebrow arched like a pup tent…
  • …tries to look tough, eyes on high beam…
  • …dragging the sentence out as if he is removing a really sticky Band-Aid…

Thanks for the inspiration, and a great read, Tim Wynne-Jones.