Like a sponge

[Bassim]

I am wondering if "like a sponge" works in this sentence?

Martin was like a sponge, soaking up praise and insults and seldom showing any emotion. Once, I asked him how he managed to stay calm all the time, and he told me he didn't know. "Maybe I am just a good actor or don't give a damn. If I cared what people thought about me, I'd get sick in no time," he said.

 

[Tarheel]

I am wondering if "like a sponge" works in this sentence.

Martin was like a sponge, soaking up praise and insults and seldom showing any emotion. Once, I asked him how he managed to stay calm all the time, and he told me he didn't know. "Maybe I am just a good actor or don't give a damn. If I cared what people thought about me, I'd get sick in no time," he said.

It's OK.

 

[emsr2d2]

"like a sponge" is OK but I'd probably reorder the sentence a bit so it doesn't just start with "Martin was like a sponge".

Martin soaked up praise and insults like a sponge, but seldom showed any emotion.