When a Window is an Eye and a Slot Machine

I have a theory that when authors become successful and honored, editors just don’t bother editing their books anymore. I’m reading a book by one of my favorite, bestselling authors and tripped over this clunky line:

Then all he could see was the names scrolling through the window of his mind’s eye like symbols on a slot machine.

A window that’s an eye that’s a slot machine?  Yeah, I can picture that.

4 thoughts on “When a Window is an Eye and a Slot Machine”

  1. Is that the truth or what?
    I wonder when Robert Parker last had his books edited. Lord knows, they could use it. (Frankly, I’d edit Susan out of them altogether.)

    Reply
  2. I was actually able to read that sentence just fine with the appropriate imagery associated with the words. The only possible stumbling block I can see is the grammatical error six words in.
    “Then all he could see (was)WERE the names scrolling through the window of his mind’s eye like symbols on a slot machine.”
    Too bad the comments don’t allow html or I could have done the whole strikeout and bolding instead parenthesis and all-caps to emphasize words with.

    Reply

Leave a Comment