Flavorwire

Today marks the release of George Orwell’s Diaries, the influential writer’s personal writings from the years 1931 to 1949, published for the first time in the United States. Orwell is one of those writers who is so infused in our collective imagination and culture that his name has become its own adjective: “Orwellian” is used to describe a totalitarian government or situation similar to the one in 1984. Like Kafka, whose “Kafkaesque,” has come to mean not only “like Kafka’s writing” but also the more disconnected “marked by a senseless, disorienting, often menacing complexity,” Orwell’s namesake will probably continue to evolve, becoming a term one understands even without reading a word of his writing. But what about more modern writers? After the jump, we’ve speculated on a few (tongue-in-cheek, mind you) definitions for the adjective-ized versions of contemporary authors — sure, some of their names don’t exactly lend themselves to common adjectival endings, but that’s okay. The English language is ever evolving. And in that spirit, we challenge you to play our game and make up your own in the comments!

(Haruki) Murakamiesque

Marked by dream-like surreality and communal alienation. Also, containing many cats.

(Michael) Chabonish

The quality of pondering Jewish fatherhood and one’s own deep nostalgia.

(Junot) Díazian

Containing a copious amount of creative Spanglish.

(Sheila) Hetian

1. Of unclear or fluid basis in reality, and/or commentary on such.
2. Of or pertaining to graphic blowjob scenes.

(Gary) Shteyngartian

As pertaining to schlubby, awkward, and often self-deprecating dudes.