This isn't a loaded question, or even a thinly veiled excuse
for a rant, I promise. I genuinely want, nay, need your views on this.
I'm currently reading a range of titles with a view to recommendation
in the Summer Reads pages of the July issue of Chase Magazine. Even though I
was hooked by the blurb, barely a few chapters into one novel, I discounted
it. It was sprinkled with grammatical errors. At first I'd hoped they were typos which the publisher might pick up in the next print run. But the mistakes were too
consistent; the author didn't understand the correct usage of apostrophes and capital
letters, to name but a few examples.
This isn't me being a pedant or feeling superior (I'm
constantly reaching for The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation and toss and turn at night in
fear of typos in my own writing) it's just that mistakes of this kind ruin the
reader experience for me. You see, I start to picture the writer sitting at
their desk which takes me away from the world of the characters in which I want
to be immersed. In the case of apostrophes used to denote a plural noun, I'm
looking for what the noun is 'possessing' and not what the noun is 'doing', and
it's confusing. It spoils my read.
However, regarding this particular novel, there is much to
commend the plot. The section I read made me smile and choke in equal measure
which is a good barometer of potential enjoyment. And so, after closing the
book early and stomping downstairs to the kettle, it occurred to me that I might enjoy this story if I could
get beyond the mistakes. Moreover, it may be that other readers
are perfectly able to do this, losing themselves in the story - mistakes included. Maybe by not featuring these books on my
review pages, I am depriving the readers of a novel which they might love?
My question is this: do you, as readers, manage to gloss
over a writer's errors and still stay engrossed in the story? If the answer
is yes, then I feel I need to re-address my book reviewing criteria. I'm not
saying I will say a book is wonderful if I don’t feel it is - I only
review books I enjoy, preferring to spread the love, rather than ruin the day
for a fellow writer whose work may simply not be to my taste – but I might try
to push further on into the novel before discounting it on account of sloppy
presentation. If the answer is no, then I shall continue in much the same vein
as I do now.
I'd love to know your thoughts!
I agree to a certain degree. Poor grammar(and I'm praying it's not my book you are talking about) sticks out like a sore thumb and is very irritating. I'm afraid I sometimes let it slip through even though I've checked and checked and checked again. Because of this, I tend to forgive the writer if the plot is riveting and hope they will forgive me too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Carole! And firstly, let me put your mind at rest, I'm afraid I haven't started your book yet(not a lack of desire, believe me, just life and a teetering To Be Read pile getting in the way) and I have no connection with the author in question. Also, I totally agree, it's SO easy to let mistakes slip through. We can be blind to them as writers, can't we, because we know what we meant to write, but they stand out in lights to people looking at the text for the first time. That's what we're up against! So yes, I am totally understanding of mistakes, very fearful of them myself, but just have a stumbling block when it comes to enjoying something with mistakes in it. It sounds like you are better able to look beyond them.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for commenting:)
Hi Jax. I quietly pride myself on good grammar and punctuation and quite like spotting an error in a novel, but only one. Repeated errors and those that should be obvious to the writer are just unacceptable! A writer should, in my opinion, be the learnéd (sp?) one who makes no mistakes - or at worst their editor should spot and correct them. Maybe I'm just too harsh?!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jo, I certainly think good team work between the writer and editor should pick up the mistakes. I don't think you're too harsh, at all!
DeleteI feel an author has a responsibility to be professional. It is one thing to have your early drafts ridden with grammar mistakes but not on to ask someone to pay for your work and not have it polished.After all we wouldn't buy a piece of new clothing that was badly stitched. If you think the story has merit that's good, but I think it's perfectly acceptable to be honest in the review and tell the author the need to get a good editor!
ReplyDeleteThanks Virgina, love that analogy and you're right, I hadn't really thought about the paying aspect before. If I knew the author, I might send a private message re the need for an editor and hope it was taken in the spirit it was intended. This isn't a writer I know, however. Everything so far is pointing to me not reviewing the book...
DeleteNope. If I pay for a novel I expect it to be as good as it can possibly be. In the same way as I expect my plumber to know and understand the tools of his trade, I expect the writer to understand and know how to use words correctly. I'll forgive the odd typo (grudgingly) but persistent errors of grammar and spelling will put me off finishing, or ever reading another book by that author.
ReplyDeleteNicely put, Debbie! How are you? I haven't seen you around for a while - but might be me...?
DeleteStill here, still writing. My online social circle is a little smaller these days though, as I've jumped off the treadwheel of constant promotion. Life's too short!
DeleteIt's great to hear you're still writing, Debbie. And yes, promotion can easily take over the day job if we're not careful, can't it?
DeleteI think I'm pretty lucky in that I haven't come across a book that's liberal with errors, even though I read a lot of indie books. So I'm not sure what level would put me off. The errors that you mention sound like the final edit was omitted.
ReplyDeleteThanks Annalisa and yes, I agree, I think it must have been rushed to reach publication day. Such a shame.
DeleteHomophones! That's my bugbear. The "hoards" of people that made me giggle imagining them all stuffed into cupboards, at which point I literally lost the plot and gave up reading.
DeleteGreat image, though :) I'm thinking in another book it might have been perfect...???
DeleteOne of the most important factors for me when reading a book is the quality of the grammar and flow of the text. It affects so much of the experience that like you it jars with my enjoyment of a good story.
ReplyDeleteI think you've hit the nail on the head, Rachel. It affects the reading experience and a good book is about so much more than the story alone...
DeleteWell reading all the above I think you have the answer to your question. Grammar, punctuation and spelling are all still imortant and I, for one, am delighted.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right! I'm really surprised that there hasn't been anybody here or on Facebook who's said they really don't mind, they can see beyond the mistakes to the story. I'm pleased really, makes me feel better about all the hours I spend checking...!
DeleteLike most of your other commenters, I feel authors should do their job properly. I have seen the occasional error and it hasn't depleted my enjoyment of the book but when there are several, be they spelling errors or stupid punctuation and very clumsy sentences, then I feel that I'm reading something very second rate. As you point out, it slows down your reading - I once wondered why a character was suddenly injured - no mention of accidents - and realized it was meant to be inured. This particular was abandoned when it made such ridiculous factual errors - the writer had obviously done no research at all. The publisher went down in my estimation too.
ReplyDeleteLove the 'injured' example, Lindsay - ooops! And yes, it just smacks of a lack of professionalism all round doesn't it and that's such a shame when so much else about the book could be wonderful (although not in the case of your book in question, by the sounds of it...)
DeleteAnd just as I was about to add 'book' after 'this particular...' I accidentally hit send. Whoops for not being a great writer or proof reader myself.
ReplyDeleteHehe! That's why we all need editors, and books need a good edit!!!
ReplyDelete