Book Reviews

‘The best moments in reading are when you come across something - a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things - which you had thought special and particular to you. And now, here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out, and taken yours.’ Alan Bennett

“Many a book is like a key to unknown chambers within the castle of one’s own self.” ― Franz Kafka

Wednesday, 17 September 2014

Wondrous Words Wednesday


Wondrous Words Wednesday is hosted by BermudaOnion and is a weekly meme where you can share new words that you’ve encountered or spotlight words you love.  

I'm highlighting words that are new to me/that I really like/that struck me for some reason..!

These came from the novel All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, which I read recently (and which I loved by the way).


1. upbraid (verb)

1. to reprove or reproach angrily
2. to find fault with


2. palmate (adjective)

1. (Zoology) shaped like an open hand: palmate antlers.
2. (Botany) botany having more than three lobes or segments that spread out from a common point: palmate leaves.
3. (Zoology) (of the feet of most water birds) having three toes connected by a web


3. embrasure (noun)

1. (Fortifications) fortifications an opening or indentation, as in a battlement, for shooting through
2. (Architecture) an opening forming a door or window, having splayed sides that increase the width of the opening in the interior


16 comments:

  1. I've looked up embrasure before and could remember it but the other two are new to me. I would have guessed upbraid was a hairstyle.

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    1. Me too re the hairstyle! :) Thank you for commenting and hosting.

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  2. I have not come across palmate before, a nice scientific term. :)

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    1. It's nice isn't it! And it kind of makes sense, when you think of the open hand definition.

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    2. Thanks for commenting Jane!

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  3. Great selection. Reading a lot of historical fiction as I do I had come across embrasure before but the others are new to me.

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    1. Thanks for commenting Tracy, I will try and remember embrasure, I like it.

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  4. I knew upbraid but the other 2 were new to me!

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    1. Thanks for visiting Becca, glad you found something new too!

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  5. I would have thought upbraid would be to improve something in a positive manner- I was way off! Glad you shared.

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    1. I see what you mean Julia, it does sound like it might actually be something positive. Thanks for visiting!

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  6. Upbraid is one I've come across before but the other two are new to me.

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  7. Upbraid did sound like it was a hairstyle.

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  8. Hi Lindsay,

    The only one of your words I didn't know of, was palmate, so thanks for sharing.

    From your chosen selection of words, I was intrigued as to what the book was about, so I just had to check it out. This sounds like an engrossing, immersive and totally absorbing story. How could I not add this one to my own list?

    Yvonne.

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  9. Thank you for the words. I think "upbraid" will stick in my brain.

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Thank you so much for taking the time to visit and leave a comment. It's great reading your comments and I really appreciate them :)