What is "foot patting"?

[grahamg]

I didn't care who done it. I just wondered what patting her foot had to do with the story.

You don't care who done it!!!!

Surely the poor guy or girl writing the book has done enough to pique your interest a little, and look how its got the rest of us enthralled.

 

[palides2021]

Thank you all for your guesses and info!

I flipped forward through the book, and she does it several more times. I felt sure that this habit would be a clue to her having done the crimes (or at least being suspected of the crimes). But that was not the case at all.

I can only guess that this is the author's attempt at "developing the character." She has a nervous habit, how interesting. (Not.) And "patting her foot" must be a synonym for "tapping her foot," as several of you have suggested.

But it really ruined the book for me.

As a writer, I would have expected the "patting of the foot" to be something significant that moves the story forward since it is done several times. Unfortunately, it makes the reader pay attention to this unusual gesture, almost like a teaser, and yet it goes nowhere. It lets you down. I would also have been disappointed in the story/author. In writing stories, we must write so that the reader is immersed in the story and not go "backstage" or leave the story to ask questions like you asked. Either the author is new, or their editor didn't do a good job.

 

[Jamala]

I didn't care who done it. The real mystery was what "patting her foot" had to do with the story. As it turns out, nothing!

They find the killer, and Ms. Patty and her husband live happily ever after.

Well, that's a relief and now they can go back to their daily routine
Poor Ms Patty probably has ADHD

 

[OneEyedDiva]

I used to hear my parents generation say pat your feet, which simply means tap your feet on the floor. Now I sometimes say it too. Patting one's foot or feet usually happens when listening to good and/or lively music.

 

[Owlivia]

@NorthernLight I believe it's a phrase my Mother said to us (children) if she was annoyed. "Don't pat your foot at me."

Here are some links: Johnny Hodges, something to pat your foot to. youtube

Pat your foot and turn the corner. Amiri Baraka (given name, (Everett) Leroy Jones) A black writer who I once had to write a paper about way back in high school. The link is a long essay about Amiri, not written by me!

My duck duck go search results for Pat Your Foot.

 

[grahamg]

I didn't care who done it. The real mystery was what "patting her foot" had to do with the story. As it turns out, nothing!

They find the killer, and Ms. Patty and her husband live happily ever after.

There are some legendary authors who write in such a style, with loose ends or aspects you cant understand, and to my mind it is often "a stream of consciousness". I can find it both unfathomable, and admirable at the same time, if that's possible (- James Joyce is the most obvious one I'm thinking of here).

 

[Sunny]

Maybe the author is dyslexic? Some people with dyslexia write their letters backwards. So, since pat is just the word tap in reverse, maybe it's the same thing?

Nah, the editor would have picked it up.

 

[Jace]

I heard of a little boy who didn't like anything on his feet.

His Mom took him to a specialty store to get him his 1st pr. of shoes.

Ever heard of anything like this?

Strange!

 

[grahamg]

I heard of a little boy who didn't like anything on his feet. His Mom took him to a specialty store to get him his 1st pr. of shoes.
Ever heard of anything like this? Strange!

Quite a literary style you've got going there, (had me scratching my head for a while! ).

 

[Geezer Garage]

Sounds kinky. Count me in.

 

[grahamg]

Sounds kinky. Count me in.

Not that kinky I'd have thought.

More likely a storm brewing underneath!