Welcome to this week's Literary Blog Hop hosted by The Blue Bookcase, the ladies have posed yet another conundrum for us to ponder over . . . . .
What is one of your literary pet peeves?
Is there something that writers do that really sets your teeth on edge? Be specific, and give examples if you can.
Now this has flummoxed me! There was I, sure of my critical faculty, of my innate understanding of the very essence of literature, not just of those bits that bask in sunlight, but those that dwell in the very darkest, winding passages of Pandemonium (capitol of Hell). But those ladies at The Blue Bookcase have called my bluff, have shown me up to be a callow, unfledged being with little regard to the finer points of our world.
Now, I thought, that I was just laid back, relaxed, yes I can wonder why an author went off at a sudden tangent, has appeared to swerve right off track, but as long as they do find a way back, I’m happy to follow sometimes the side trails offer the greatest adventure (Pynchon, Bolano). Also dialect, as long as it helps define the character, places the individual in a specific setting, I have no problem with it in fact I recently read, Irvine Welsh’s- Reheated Cabbage (Tales of chemical degeneration), which was written partly in the dialect of Leith, Scotland and once I picked up the rhythm I loved it.
So where does that leave me and my Bookish ego? can I really find nothing that I can attack and in doing so restore my sense of self. Well, I don't like books that have pages with just a few lines on them - you know, you turn the page and there is just three lines then, blank, followed by a blank page before the next chapter – this can make the book appear to be longer than it is and more importantly heavier to carry around. It seems a bit petty, but it does count, doesn’t it, say it does - it would make me feel so much better.
22 comments:
That totally counts. I personally like the blank pages between chapters. Especially in books I'm reading for class or am not particularly enjoying at the moment.
I'm with you on only a few lines on a page though. It's frustrating.
Sarah @ Loving Books
I read couple like that just recently,all the best stu
That's not petty. Books are heavy enough without extra pages!
HAHA. I love this pet peeve. Great answer. :) Although secretly I like those pages because it makes me feel like I am reading faster ...
I love that this is what you came up with. I'm w/Ingrid...I have an inner cheerleader that says, "Wow! Look how fast you read that page! Amazing!" Silly, yes. but still.
Absolutely counts! Same with books that start new chapter text half way down the page. Lots of wasted space to make you feel like you're reading faster.
Of course it counts! The layout is an integral part of the book. I, on the other hand, like blank pages (within reason), I like when there is a bit of "air" in the book, but I don't like tiny typeface and when the lines are too crammed.
About Irvine Welsh, can you really get into his writing? I must have about 4 books by him, but I'm scared of them because I have the feeling I won't understand the writing, so I keep them for the day I will move to Scotland as I think that if I'm there I will understand the dialect better. The only problem is that moving to Scotland is not on my agenda...
I like the blanks. Makes me feel like the publisher cared enough about the book not to smush all the words together to save space. But that probably just means I've been sucked in by a marketing decision.
Like you, I appreciate experimental writing and good understanding of dialects when it comes to dialogue. Thomas Pynchon has the most irritating style, but I suppose that's the best part of reading his work!
Here's my pet peeve: http://mywordlyobsessions.wordpress.com
@mywordlyobsessions: Hi Zee. With my pet peeve, I couldn't find anything that I really deeply found problematic, in fact it came down to, it depends on the writer & how they handled it(prose, dialect etc.) I like your hygiene issues, but then again, unless blatantly filthy, not to fussed. Hence the semi joke peeve.
@Susan (Reading World): Hi, not a problem with blanks at the end of chapters, seems a natural place for them, it when they escape their enclosures & appear to run across the book, with no apparent reason(I mean have you ever tried reasoning with a blank page?)This post was came about because at the moment my wrist is broken & weight matters & I couldn't find any others.
@Em: Hi Em, I'm English and so live next door to Scotland(few 100 miles difference) So you would think I'd have some understanding, but No it doesn't help. But what does is finding its rhythm & a bit of perseverance, it will amaze you how quickly you'll get it, and also I'm a bit perverse & kinda like working it out.
@Em: Hi Em, like layout, sounds like there's logic involved, it's when they appear free to roam that my problems start.
@Sarah: Also, makes you wonder if the authors on piece work & is paid by the page (lol)
@Melody: Hi. That's half the problem, you see my inner cheerleader, says how the hell do expect me to wave that & still turn cartwheels (yes you Mr pynchon) more on that later.
@IngridLola: Hi. Ingrid, yeah confession time, this peeve came about only recently (and I couldn't think of any other).At the moment my wrist is recovering from a bad break, and at the time I was reading Gravity"s Rainbow, I physically couldn't hold the book (to thick for my finger spread) so had to temporarily give up (don't like that) . Since that,incident I found another copy in a 2nd hand bookstore, which I had no problems with, bought it, got it home ,compared books, new version has less pages (by quite a few) the only difference, typeface etc. is blanks. So instead of sitting on the Fence my semi-spoof peeve is .....Sorry , but feel better for confessing.
Blank pages bother me too! It's such a waste. And sometimes there are several blank pages at the end - what's that about?
@Jennifer: Hi Jennifer, well 2 possible answers, the first is the publisher wanted the book to look thicker to justify the price, and the 2nd, the writer intended to write more but couldn't, so just chuckled on "The End" followed by the blank pages, I'm sure I have read books that appeared like that (lol)
@Becky (Page Turners): Hello Becky, reading is supposed to be pretty sedentary, if I wanted to do weight lifting that's what I'd do
@winstonsdad: Hi Stu, Same Here mate, real bugger with my arm in plaster.
All the best.
Parrish
@Letter4no1: Hi Sarah, No problems with blank pages at the end of chapters, my query is those that appear without rhyme or reason throughout a book.
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