My Ramblings: Descriptions & Metaphors

Descriptions & Metaphors

I've learned, over the years, that books that describe too much of how something looks or has examples in metaphors for descriptions annoy me to no end. I like things presented to me in a straightforward manner. When every single inch of a space is described to me my eyes start to gloss over because, I've also learned the hard way, that most of those mapped out corners never get mentioned again.

Let's say I'm reading a story and there's a scene involving a garden. 

Here's what gets under my skin:

*These are merely examples.

"The garden is X ft by Z ft and has an intricate rock border where I can see ants climbing on and eventually making it their home. Most of the flowers are vibrant and colorful. Tones of pinks, blues, violet will look beautiful once they all fully bloom in 64 and a half days. The dirt is high quality because I can imagine how soft and moist it must be." And it continues for another 3 or 4 pages like this.

Here's what I actually want to know:

"There's an average sized garden box in the backyard and the flowers haven't bloomed yet." And the story moves along.

In conclusion, I like books where the author points out the basic layout and leaves the rest for me to place and figure out. With too much description, I start to get lost in my own head trying to remember on what wall 1 of 3 tables was supposed to be placed in 1 of the 6 rooms in that particular house alone.

Do you enjoy books with longwinded descriptions and metaphors

Or do you want the bare minimum & fill in the blanks from there?

Let me know in the comments below!