green ceiling n.— «In Mexico, I painted, I read and then got the idea that I could be a writer.…Back home, I was going to face what I call the “green ceiling.” It was the attitude among the older generation of Irish that...
slagosphere n.— «In a recent interview about his controversy-baiting wife Ayelet Waldman, novelist Michael Chabon condemned “the slagosphere”—that merciless virtual coliseum in which anyone with a DSL can publicly eviscerate...
Retifism n.— «Retifism (named after a kinky 18th century French novelist named Nicolas-Edme Rétif) is the term for boot and shoe fetishism (sorry, boots don’t get their own term).» —“Getting the boot” by Josey...
therapism n. a culture or ideal of mental therapy, empathy, or sharing of feelings, especially as a cure. Editorial Note: This term was popularized, although probably not coined by, novelist Fay Weldon. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Jerkish n.— «The word is “Jerkish.” Originally coined by the Czech novelist Ivan Klima to describe the thoughtless, boiled-down language acceptable to Stalinist censors, he announced that Jerkish had been invented in America...
sontag n.— «How describe Susan Sontag? She was essayist, novelist, critic, director, celebrity, feuilletonist in the best/worst European fashion…No one description applies, and no one job category would sum her up; she was kind of...