Murtagh Throb Test

[torylltales]

There's a running joke among antis that Paolini has a bad habit of misusing – and over-using – the word 'throb' (and "crimson", "orb", and "thrust"). So I decided to search my ebook copy of Murtagh to see how he does.


13 throbs. Which is lower than Inheritance, if I recall, but higher than many other fantasy authors. And here's the list:

• throbbing embers
• A warning throb
• a throbbing headache
• the bone beneath the old cut throbbed '
• His veins throbbed
• His knee throbbed
• his right elbow throbbed
• His left knee throbbed
• the throbbing in his left wrist
• His eyeballs throbbed
• his throbbing temple
• The world throbbed
• a throbbing rhythm

UPDATE: by request, I searched for the phrase "sense of", as that's another one Paolini overuses. Brace yourself, people. It's...

...

84.

EIGHTY FOUR uses of the phrase "sense of".

 

I'm going to need a coffee before we start this spork. Or a wine. Or several wines.

 

GROUP SPORK NEWS

Snarkbotanya has asked me to remind you that she will be posting the chapter list soon for you to choose a chapter to spork. Keep an eye out for that, and get in quick with your chapter requests!

Comments

[epistler]

I think perhaps best wait until after the group spork is finished, but I'll defer to Anya on this one.

[mara_dienne459]

Yes, I was going to wait until after the group spork was finished. Which is, in my mind, a given anyway, as I still have to do the ForkBook, and my OCD demands Order even if my life is total chaos.

[epistler]

I still have to do the ForkBook

I've SO been looking forward to that!

my OCD demands Order even if my life is total chaos.

I don't have OCD but I do know what you mean. When things seem totally out of control and there's nothing I can do about it, I find taking care of the smaller things incredibly soothing. I have a to-do list app on my phone called Habitica (it turns doing your chores into a classic RPG!), and every time I tick off another item and get EXP, I feel better about things. Plus you can use the points you accumulate to buy accessories and pets for your avatar!

[mara_dienne459]

I promise that I will get to it :)

That also sounds like a fun little game. I should probably look into that. It might help me a great deal.

[epistler]

It really helped me during a period of extremely severe anxiety. Now it's mostly just a handy to-do list, but I use it much more assiduously when I'm stressed out.