Sorry I'm not quoting particular comments, just adding a general two cents worth while taking a break from, well, proofreading for a client. *insert cheeky grin*
While, for me, the story is the primary thing, I have and will notice mistakes. I have read a book by an author that was so riddled with mistakes that, in spite of my liking the characters and storylines, I never picked up any of the author's books again - the mistakes were too distracting and I really wasn't keen on taking the chance that it would happen again.
While editors and proofreaders won't catch every mistake (and I do count myself in this category), the odd mistake here and there in a 150+ page book is forgivable.
Intentional mistakes in dialogue, regional wording, etc. - bring it on, and I do read it in the form it was intended.
I have also worked as an editor for a monthly publication (now defunct). Let's just say there were days when Word wanted to go on strike due to use of redlining.
Sure I make mistakes and even manage to catch some of them when I set something I've written aside for a time. Most of the time, the story, etc., is foisted on a very understanding writing partner.
With regard to differences in spelling between UK/US (and even Australian) English, I've gotten used to those and automatically 'correct' the spelling and wording depending on who I am speaking with (have friends in Oz) or the type of document I am proofreading (client usually lets me know which version is preferred). ]]>
Simplicity
Do you know what it feels like to run in the rain?
Do you know the pleasure that brings?
Do you know how the air feels on a clear summer day?
Or how sweet the flowers smell in the meadows?
Or even how peaceful the gurgling of a brook
sounds when not heard for a time?
Take the time for the simple pleasures life brings.
Run wild, run free
Unfettered, unbound
Let the joys that are found
Find you, enthrall you
Leave you earthbound ]]>
Gabby
said "maybe" to attending the event: ONLINE Interview, Chat and Contest with Author Karen Dales.
date: September 29, 2009 02:30PM
location: LIVE EVENT LINK: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=11285, The United States
description: Join us with Canadian author Karen Dales for an interview, chat and contest at
http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=11285. She will also be talking about her latest release Angel of Death.
She is also giving away some amazing prizes to some lucky readers! Contest is open to readers worldwide except where noted. You will have to check back to see what they are. But I promise you, you won’t be disappointed!
LIVE EVENT LINK here:
http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=11285
...more
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Dawn wrote Along those lines, are the books that I know include sex (which doesn't bother me) but don't include plot (which does bother me). There are a few authors of paranormal romance type books who seem to have foregone any attempt at a plot and just have a new sex scene every couple of pages. I'm not a prude, but gimme some plot!
I have to agree with Dawn on this - and this is what I call "all *cough, cough* action, no plot". My first encounter with this was a novella I was reviewing and I kept thinking "must not throw book across room, must not throw book across room." Thing was that if there was more plot, it would have been - for me - a better novella. And I do understand there are fans of this genre. That's fine, I'm just not one of them.
Another peeve of mine which has been mentioned here is bad editing. I picked up a book by an author whose books I have read before and liked and it read more like an ARC in the first stages of being prepared for final product rather than something I would have parted with money for. As much as I liked the stories presented in the book, and the worldbuilding, the editorial misses distracted me enough that I haven't read another of this author's books since I parted with that one two years ago. ]]>
Hmmm......tough call.
For me, it's an extremely close toss up between Shakespeare's Sonnets, Khalil Gibran's Inspirational Writings (which contains an excellent selection of his poetry) and any book containing Edward Stachura's poetry or lyrics.....and I think I'd have to think about maybe sneaking in Edna St. Vincent Millay on the side as well........ ]]>
With me it depends.
I have a couple of friends that, if they recommend something, I will definitely check the titles out.
I have 4-5 authors that are auto-buys as I really like their books.
As far as new (to me) reads, it depends. Most times it's a combination of cover art, back blurb, last few pages of book (hasn't spoiled it for me yet), and/or a combination of the above. And I am a bit leery of picking up new reads - I love reading and finding 'new' authors, but it's always a gamble if I will like the book/author.
Since I've started reviewing, that's helped too on whether or not I will pick up a certain author or genre in the future. ]]>
