Andrew is the author of Literary Rogues and, under the pen name Fanny Merkin, Fifty Shames of Earl Grey: A Parody. Follow him on Twitter @andrewtshaffer.
Recently, the New York Times published a profile of literary agent Luke Janklow, drawing attention to his “eyes the color of cornflowers.” A separate Times Style section story on Dagmara Dominczyk (author of the recently released The Lullaby of Polish Girls) made note of her “sculpted lips.”
Such details always jump out at me in literary profiles in a funny way—maybe because I’m still a little bitter that the New York Times failed to mention the height of my cheekbones or my deep, cerulean blue eyes when they profiled me in the Style section last year.
I combed the Times archives to find some of the more novel ways writers have been described. See if you can match the writers below with their descriptions in the Times:
E. L. James A. Wearing Ugg boots
Dagmara Dominczyk B. Trim with a habitual slouch
Jon-Jon Goulian C. Girlish with shoulder-length brown hair
Jonathan Franzen D. Features chiseled into Mount Literature
Rachel Kushner E. A sandy-haired Clark Kent
George Saunders F. A little stern, as if he just stepped out of a tent at Antietam
Malcolm Gladwell G. The relaxed intensity of a ballet dancer
Suzanne Collins H. A robust, Mephistophelian goatee
James Patterson I. Impossibly high cheekbones
G. R. R. Martin J. The boyish handsomeness of Clark Kent
Austin Ratner K. Like a rotund elf or Santa Claus
David Foster Wallace L. Slight, shoeless
Mark Leyner M. A small woman with fine features and long, flowing hair
Michael Chabon N. Plump
Lorrie Moore O. Body toned like an Olympic swimmer’s
Answers (highlight to make visible): 1-N, 2-I, 3-O, 4-E, 5-G, 6-F, 7-L, 8-M, 9-B, 10-K, 11-J, 12-D, 13-H, 14-A, 15-C
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Recently, the New York Times published a profile of literary agent Luke Janklow, drawing attention to his “eyes the color of cornflowers.” A separate Times Style section story on Dagmara Dominczyk (author of the recently released The Lullaby of Polish Girls) made note of her “sculpted lips.”
Such details always jump out at me in literary profiles in a funny way—maybe because I’m still a little bitter that the New York Times failed to mention the height of my cheekbones or my deep, cerulean blue eyes when they profiled me in the Style section last year.
I combed the Times archives to find some of the more novel ways writers have been described. See if you can match the writers below with their descriptions in the Times:
