Have you noticed that in Romance novels (you read 'em, I know you do), either the hero or heroin's eyes are 'sparkling'? Frankly, this has always rather scared me. I've never seen anyone's eyes actually sparkle, and in fact, if I did, it might scare me just a little. Here's the definition, note verb usage ("pleasure sparkling her eyes.").--verb (used without object)
- To issue in or as if in little sparks, as fire or light: The candlelight sparkled in the crystal.
- To emit little sparks, as burning matter: The flames leaped and sparkled.
- To shine or glisten with little gleams of light, as a brilliant gem; glitter; coruscate.
- To effervesce, as wine.
- To be brilliant, lively, or vivacious.
--verb (used with object)
- To cause to sparkle: moonlight sparkling the water; pleasure sparkling her eyes.
--noun
- A little spark or fiery particle.
- A sparkling appearance, luster, or play of light: the sparkle of a diamond.
- Brilliance, liveliness, or vivacity.
Here's some synonyms for sparkle: shine, glitter, glisten, flash, flicker, twinkle, glint, spark. Seeing eyes flicker and spark wouldn't be too high up on my list either.
When you are looking your true love in the eyes, have you ever seen them emit sparks or leaping flames? Gawd, I hope not. I can go along with the glisten, but that really wouldn't be sparkling. "A little spark or fiery particle"….OUCH!
In my novel, I was going to leave most of the detailed descriptions up to the reader, and just give them a head start: tall, blond, blue eyes. When I do get to the lovey-dovey and must describe the eyes at that moment, I think I will go the "brilliant, lively, vivacious" route. Honestly, when I read that eyes are sparkling, it makes me laugh first, then worry a smidgen.
