“It was such a spring day that breathes into a man an ineffable yearning, a painful sweetness, a longing that makes him stand motionless, looking at the leaves of grass, and fling out his arms to embrace he knows not what. The earth gave forth a fainting warmth stealing up through the chilly garment in which winter had wrapped her. It was her long caress of invitation, to draw men down to lie within her arms, to roll their bodies on her, and put their lips to her breast.”
“The Forsyte Saga,” by John Galsworthy, Wordsworth Editions Limited, 1994 and 2001, p. 85.

*This* is why people who wish to learn and also learn how to write should read the works of great writers. Look at Galsworthy's use of personification and savor the images. We marked this passage as soon as we read it.

On Monday, June 19, 2023 at 9:25:32 AM UTC-4, NancyGene wrote:
> “It was such a spring day that breathes into a man an ineffable yearning, a painful sweetness, a longing that makes him stand motionless, looking at the leaves of grass, and fling out his arms to embrace he knows not what. The earth gave forth a fainting warmth stealing up through the chilly garment in which winter had wrapped her. It was her long caress of invitation, to draw men down to lie within her arms, to roll their bodies on her, and put their lips to her breast.”
> “The Forsyte Saga,” by John Galsworthy, Wordsworth Editions Limited, 1994 and 2001, p. 85.
>
> *This* is why people who wish to learn and also learn how to write should read the works of great writers. Look at Galsworthy's use of personification and savor the images. We marked this passage as soon as we read it.

Keep them coming! I agree completely-- why I love reading the works of my favs-- Lincoln, Churchill, Douglass, MLK Jr, Roosevelt, and many others...

On Monday, June 19, 2023 at 4:14:23 PM UTC, Ash Wurthing wrote:
> On Monday, June 19, 2023 at 9:25:32 AM UTC-4, NancyGene wrote:
> > “It was such a spring day that breathes into a man an ineffable yearning, a painful sweetness, a longing that makes him stand motionless, looking at the leaves of grass, and fling out his arms to embrace he knows not what. The earth gave forth a fainting warmth stealing up through the chilly garment in which winter had wrapped her. It was her long caress of invitation, to draw men down to lie within her arms, to roll their bodies on her, and put their lips to her breast.”
> > “The Forsyte Saga,” by John Galsworthy, Wordsworth Editions Limited, 1994 and 2001, p. 85.
> >
> > *This* is why people who wish to learn and also learn how to write should read the works of great writers. Look at Galsworthy's use of personification and savor the images. We marked this passage as soon as we read it.
> Keep them coming! I agree completely-- why I love reading the works of my favs-- Lincoln, Churchill, Douglass, MLK Jr, Roosevelt, and many others...
We read a lot and are disappointed when the bestseller we have waited for turns out to be poorly written--not just plot-wise but in a lack of talent for words. If we have marked no passages in a book, the author has failed.

On Monday, June 19, 2023 at 12:32:16 PM UTC-4, NancyGene wrote:
> On Monday, June 19, 2023 at 4:14:23 PM UTC, Ash Wurthing wrote:
> > On Monday, June 19, 2023 at 9:25:32 AM UTC-4, NancyGene wrote:
> > > “It was such a spring day that breathes into a man an ineffable yearning, a painful sweetness, a longing that makes him stand motionless, looking at the leaves of grass, and fling out his arms to embrace he knows not what. The earth gave forth a fainting warmth stealing up through the chilly garment in which winter had wrapped her. It was her long caress of invitation, to draw men down to lie within her arms, to roll their bodies on her, and put their lips to her breast.”
> > > “The Forsyte Saga,” by John Galsworthy, Wordsworth Editions Limited, 1994 and 2001, p. 85.
> > >
> > > *This* is why people who wish to learn and also learn how to write should read the works of great writers. Look at Galsworthy's use of personification and savor the images. We marked this passage as soon as we read it.
> > Keep them coming! I agree completely-- why I love reading the works of my favs-- Lincoln, Churchill, Douglass, MLK Jr, Roosevelt, and many others....
> We read a lot and are disappointed when the bestseller we have waited for turns out to be poorly written--not just plot-wise but in a lack of talent for words. If we have marked no passages in a book, the author has failed.

I like your system of grading. Unfortunately, like with the modern poetry some vaunt about here, modern writing has lost something-- why i prefer older written works.
I've been accused of purple prose by modern individuals so many times that you can color me purple-- which I'm quite proud of, I like the color purple-- but don't tell anyone 'cause they won't believe you :P