Using Adjectives to Define a House
In real estate listings, houses are described by the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, their square footage and whether or not they have a basement. But in a story, it takes more than numbers to describe a house, as the adjectives used in describing a home can convey a variety of emotions and sense of place. Choose adjectives that evoke a positive or negative reaction in your readers and use them to create a feeling for the house.
In House, Hugh Laurie stars as Dr. Robert House, a board-certified diagnostician whose specialty is in infectious diseases and nephrology. The show is set at a fictional hospital in West Windsor, New Jersey, and some filming has taken place at Princeton University’s Frist Campus Center. The show’s creator, Bryan Singer, selected the location based on the fact that it was near his childhood home in England.
The show is heavily influenced by Sherlock Holmes, with references to the author and character appearing throughout the series. The similarities are most evident in House’s reliance on deductive reasoning and psychology, as well as his disregard for cases he finds uninteresting. Like Holmes, House is a musical instrument player and a heavy user of drugs.
From the first episode, House has a troubled relationship with his coworkers. The acrimony often boils over into innuendo and sexual tension, most notably between him and his oncology specialist, Dr. James Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard). In addition to his friendship with Wilson, House has a romantic connection with Dr. Remy “Thirteen” Hadley (Olivia Wilde), an internist. The two begin dating in Season 5 and become a couple by the end of the season. The team also includes neurologist Dr. Robert Chase (Jesse Spencer) and immunologist Dr. Allison Cameron (Jennifer Morrison).
In the third season’s Family, House dismisses Chase and Cameron and hires a replacement for Thirteen. He chooses a third-year medical student, Martha M. Masters (Amber Tamblyn). The original team members later reappear in the seventh season’s Joy to the World, but Foreman and Chase soon leave the series; they are replaced by internist Dr. Jessica Adams (Odette Annable) and cardiologist Dr. Chi Park (Charlyne Yi).
The history of a house is not necessarily as clear-cut as that of a person, but you can still find clues about when the building was constructed and how it has changed over time. For example, by examining the silhouette of the house and its details, you can sometimes discern the era in which it was built. You can also learn about the area in which the house was located and what events took place there. Often, your local historical society or preservation group can provide you with this information. You can even ask local residents about their memories of the house.