What's Up Wednesday is a nifty little blog hop, over at Jaime's blog.
What I'm Reading
I am currently reading a book which was lent to me by a work colleague (who also happens to be the wife of my primary school headmaster). It's called Wolflore by Annaliese Matheron. I don't like criticising authors as I know how difficult it is to write and publish a book, but I am really struggling with this book. The story isn't my kind of thing (vampires, werewolves, etc.) so I'm not going to comment on that, but I am having to fight through so many apostrophe catastrophes, comma dramas, full-stop mishaps, and capitalisation violations, plus other grammar errors and plot flaws. Call me old fashioned, but the rules of language are extremely important generally, but more so when it comes to the written word.
A couple of things have really niggled me ...
Page 26 -
As Mr Blackburn said this, a large trolley of onions pushed out from the wall with a second empty trolley next to it. ... All the members of pod four went over to the trolleys. In the empty one they found a bucket each, containing a knife and a small chopping board.
Page 107 -
'Well, so was the ham in this Carbonara, but your alright with eating it,' Finn said.
Page 134 -
Adam looked at his clock. It was almost eleven - a bit too late to ring, so he sent a text message.
Harry, I'm sorry. I should have told you. Ring me.
Too serious. He deleted that and started again.
Also, the book indicates that the story is set in England, yet the characters and narrator use Americanisms, such as parking lot (instead of car park) and teachers lounge (instead of staff room). It is possible that the author wants to reach out to an American market, but if something is set in England, and the characters are English, surely they should use English phrases.
I will finish reading the book as I would like to find out what happens in the end, but I can't say that I'm enjoying it. Thankfully I've only got a few more chapters to go.
What I'm Writing
My novel is always hanging around in the background, and I will get it finished eventually. But more specifically, this week I am writing my homework for my Teen Writing Group, which is to write a review of a book/film/song. I know what I'm going to write about; I just need to write it.
I'm also planning activities and homework for the Lowestoft Library Writers' Group and Lowestoft Library Teen Writers. Our intrepid leader for the Writers' Group is on holiday so I'm stepping into her chair for one session. I quite like running the group, as I get to inflict my odd sense of creativity on the members!
What Inspires Me Right Now
Work is still high up on my list of inspiration. I love walking around the library, putting books back on the shelves, and seeing the wonderful variety of literature out there. One day I will be a part of that.
The lead up to Lowestoft Library Literary Festival is also inspiring. I'm so excited to be a part of an event which celebrates authors and the array of words that float around inside their brains (and eventually make their mark on paper).
What Else I've Been Up To
I have spent the last week or so trawling through boxes upon boxes that had been living in my parent's loft for the past 30 years! My parents kept hold of EVERYTHING, from scraps of paper that I scribbled on as soon as I knew how to hold a pen, up to all of my university paperwork. We've always been hoarders, but now it's time to get rid of all the unnecessary things cluttering up our lives. It's been quite cathartic, throwing away all the things I don't need. I've still got a way to go, but I'm getting there. And I've had a lovely trip down memory lane, reading a lot of books from my childhood.
How has your week been?
I can't stand it when I'm reading a book that's got a lot of grammar errors in it, I just don't understand why it would. Isn't that what beta readers, critique partners and editors are for? I tend to give up - it gets to me too much :)
ReplyDeleteI can't stand it when I'm reading a book that's got a lot of grammar errors in it, I just don't understand why it would. Isn't that what beta readers, critique partners and editors are for? I tend to give up - it gets to me too much :)
ReplyDeleteI know! My parents read through my work with a red pen, and then I give it to a critique partner, and then my parents go through it again. And all during this time I'm red-penning my own work. I was going to give up, but I'm actually quite enjoying spotting the mistakes. It's like a grammar version of Where's Wally!!
DeleteThat's soooooo hard when a book isn't well written, and it's been published. That drives me crazy, too! It really makes you wonder how they get to that point without serious editing. Of course, it's even harder to like a "bad" book when someone gives it to you as a recommendation! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting about this! :-)
Thank you. I'm kind of dreading giving the book back because I know she'll ask me if I liked it, and I'll have to be honest :/
DeleteI love having a big clear out. I always feel better afterwards ^_^ Have fun chairing your group too!
ReplyDeleteThank you. I'm feeling so much better with the clear out. I'm glad I'm getting rid of a lot of junk, and it's also nice to take a trip down memory lane and see all my old books again.
DeleteI'm so envious of your time working in a library. I can totally see how that would be an inspiration to you. And yay for your parents hanging on to all your stuff. Mine dumped pretty much everything, and now I'm the opposite when it comes to my daughter. Mommy hoarder. :-)
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to work in the library, and after a few years of perseverance, I finally got in!
DeleteOh dear, I cannot stand published books with grammar or spelling errors. I'm a translator / editor by training, and it's a pity that many publishers nowadays decide that our work is not really necessary before publishing a book. If I had bought this book, I'd go and demand a refund, that's an offense to any educated reader!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I didn't pay for it, because I would be after a refund. I do some editing for a fellow author, and she really trusts my red pen skills. If I were a publisher, I'd never let a book go out without severe editing :/
DeleteI agree with your about the things that "niggle" (love that) you about that book, especially using Americanisms if they're British. That's a no-no. I don't like to criticize other writers either, if I don't like something I either keep it to myself or try to be tactful in explaining why.
ReplyDeleteI feel awful if I have to tell someone that their work needs editing. I just tell them that it needs tidying up; that always sounds nicer!
DeleteOhmygosh - I cringed when I saw the "your" mistake. I catch the slightest error in other stories. Sadly, not always in my own. But that IS what CPs and betas and editors are for.
ReplyDeleteI used to be such a hoarder. I still save a lot of stuff, but I've gotten better over the years.
I hope you have a wonderful week!
Thank you. The 'your' mistake made me want to throw the book across the room. I'm not saying I'm perfect; I know I make mistakes, and am prone to making the odd typo every now and then, but I have critique readers who go through my stuff with a fine toothed comb over and over again until it's as close to error-free as possible.
Delete*sigh*
Have a good week :)
I'd love to work at a library. Maybe someday! I know what you mean about cleaning out the boxes of your past - every time I go to my mother's house, she sends home another box of stuff for me to go through. Some of it is tons of fun - some is just gross, broken down, scummy.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend!