The first place I saw italics used for word emphasis was Catcher In The Rye. I was floored. I didn't know you could do that.

I think you're right about the boldface and some of McKinley's stuff...I seem to remember that too, because it threw me out when she did it. I have a big problem with it...but that's me, also, how my eyes are drawn to things, etc. As someone below states, it has a lot to do with how you're used to seeing things.