“Wrinkles appeared and disappeared as he squinted his eyes and relaxed them, like someone peering into a strobe light, police car-top beacon, flashing neon beer sign.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Polish the young woman’s ego like wax on a wood floor, Shinola on shoes, spit on an apple.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Her hair burst from her head like a fireworks shell erupting, framing her face in spray of red-blond energy.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Abandoned like an empty beer bottle, cigarette butt, worn-out shoe.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Laughter erupted from her belly and shot out her mouth like pigeons through an open cage door, schoolchildren bursting into summer vacation, water from a tapped hydrant.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Suddenly, she emitted a loud, long fart, like air escaping a beach ball, exhaust pipe of a Model T, tire-inflating hose at the service station, and this without any forewarning borborygmus.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Sweating like a fat woman in a sauna, nun with a tattoo on her tit, overweight jockey.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Faded like morning fog in the rising sun, sports team logo on a cheap T-shirt, ninety-nine dollar paint job on a Chevy.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Her brown eyes flashed like headlamps on a police cruiser, cameras at a Superbowl kickoff, lightning over Frankenstein’s
castle.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“The flesh of her butt jiggled like water-filled beach balls, oil drops dangling from a soupspoon, oversized Jell-O dessert cups.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Squeal like a cheerleader named prom queen, aging retiree placing the game-winning bingo button, frenzied fan finding Johnny Depp in her supermarket.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Poetry comes out of you like a pot of oatmeal boiling over.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Probing the corners of the room like a caged cat, fly caught in a jar, fart in an elevator.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“She looked at the ceiling, eyelashes batting like hummingbird wings.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Smiled like a homecoming queen, Pit Bull Terrier with a new collar, actress on the Letterman show.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“High-pitched squeal like a beauty pageant contestant found best in show, Oprah audience member given a new Chevy, rookie actress surprised with an unlikely Oscar.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Tourists hurried past them on the pedestrian-only street like chickens scampering to the feeder, cars scurrying through a tollgate, Niagara River rushing into the falls.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Could be an amazing product, sell like condoms at a high school prom, donuts at a police convention, sunscreen on a Caribbean crush ship.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“She pinched her lips tight together, like someone considering a foul smell, three-legged dog, ugly baby.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Fluorescent lights on the ceiling lit up the white Formica top of her desk like an operating table, white-sand beach at high noon, French fries under the heat lamp at McDonald’s.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Like a fire alarm going off in your ear, sulfur up your nose, mouth full of sour milk, reality is what it is – you deal with it.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Ditched like an unwanted cat, worn-out tire, ugly blind date.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“A surprising number, like options in the cereal aisle, liberal studies graduates working fast food, people who don’t know Shakespeare coined the phrase break the ice.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Breathed like a contestant in a polka marathon, sit-up contest, stationary bike race.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Snatched away like socks glommed off the sale table at Wal-Mart, dog treat snapped up by an eager German Sheppard, mouse picked off the lawn by a swooping owl.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“My mind spun like the flywheel on an antique John Deere, merry-go-round during second-grade recess, hard spun roulette wheel.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Flipped through memories like old copies of National Geographic, pages in a yellowing high-school year book, cable-television channels looking for a baseball game.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Disappeared like fog in a stiff morning breeze, teen revilers when a squad car creeps up the driveway, roaches when the kitchen light comes on.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Followed like a goat on a halter, hungry dog closing on his just-filled dinner bowl, water-bottle and towel carrier behind the tuba section of a marching band.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Rang in my ears like Easter morning churchbells in Rome, rumble from an unmuffled Harley, fireworks shells exploding over a Fourth-of-July parade.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Your eyes flash like Fourth-of-July sparklers, headlights on a mountain road, sparks in a short-circuited toaster.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“He yawned like a black bear coming out of hibernation.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Hung in the air like fart gas in an elevator, insecurity in a prom ballroom, guilt around a police lineup.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Studied all year and wrote in my journal like a nun works a Rosary, dog with a new bone, bee in his hive’s back room.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Washed-out like last year’s swimsuit.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Screamed like a manic cheerleader heaping encouragement on her high school’s punt returner as he breaks through the first wall of blocks.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Vanished like inhibitions at a bachelorette party.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“The company’s stock dropped like seagull turds on a car hood, panties on prom night, celebrity names during red-carpet coverage.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“gleaming like a searchlight, Iowa moon, silver plate.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Gasps erupted from his nostrils like grouse from a thicket, schoolboys onto a recess yard, grease spatters from frying bacon.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Whacked away under the desk like hail on a barn roof.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Divided like boys and girls at a summer camp, egg whites and yolks in grandma’s lemon-meringue-pie recipe, dogs and cats in pet heaven.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Deep ridges crossed his forehead like terraces in a Thai hillside, tucks in a leather cushion, troughs across a bloodhound’s jowls.”
Source: Between the Shadow and the Soul
“Respect the world and it takes care of you; disrespect her and she kicks your ass.”
Source: Mikawadizi Storms