concordances
A friend just pointed me to a feature I hadn’t seen on Amazon: concordances. They’re pulling the most frequently used 100 words, and displaying them like a tag cloud. Here are the top 100 for I Am Charlotte Simmons, the new Tom Wolfe book that I’ve yet to throw across the room.
adam again am another anything arms away bed beverly big black boys came charlotte coach come daddy door down dupont enough even ever everybody eyes face fact felt first front fuck fucking gave get girl go going good got great guy hand head herself himself hoyt jojo knew know let lie little long look looked looking man mean moment momma mr night nothing now oh people put really right room say saying see seemed shit side simmons smile something still students take tell thing think thought three time tip took toward turned two vance voice want wanted went white word
NB: Both “fuck” and “fucking” made it into the top 100. Nothing against those words, mind you, it’s just a pointer that Wolfe may be trying a bit too hard. As usual.