Just finished reading Sorkin's "Too Big To Fail."

[AngryOldDem]

This is not a commentary on the subject, but on the shoddy editing of the book as a whole. Spelling errors galore literally from beginning to end -- stuff that spellcheck could catch. Sentences and paragraphs that were obviously copied and pasted, rather than cut, into new positions on the page. It was perhaps the dirtiest book (mechanically speaking) I've read in awhile. It was like reading a galley proof.

As I'm a freelance proofreader, this kind of stuff really grates on my nerves. It's distracting and inexcusable. I also think it's an insult to the reader. I just sent an e-mail about this to Penguin, which owns the Viking imprint -- I've been "promised" an answer within 24 hours; not holding my breath. But I had to say something, given the sad state of this book.

I'm curious to know if anyone else here has sent any kind of communication to a publisher concerning the mechanics of its books, and if so, what happened?

[monmouth]

1. One time I wrote about the spelling. Misspelled words are a real

distraction (I was a secretary, proofing becomes second nature). Good for you.

[dorkulon]

2. Perhaps they're banking on the notion that no one will actually read the book. nt

[prairierose]

3. No, I have not written to any publisher about this but I sure have ...

been seeing more and more of it the last few years. In fact, the fiction book I am reading right now, I am sure was dictated and the program does not always recognize the correct word. Sometimes this results in usage errors, sometimes spelling errors.

[AngryOldDem]

4. It is becoming more prevalent.

And it bugs me to no end. It used to be extremely rare to come across grammar or spelling errors in books. There's just no excuse for it. It's an insult to the reader, not to mention the author, and most certainly detracts from the book. I noticed that the book's price was close to $25. Consumers deserve better.

[prairierose]

5. I think that the publishers are saving money by ...

getting rid of line editors and just not bothering with spending money on those things that used to ensure a cleaner book.

[raccoon]

6. I feel your pain! I started a thread in Fiction on this.

Some books are so poorly edited these days.

For instance, I was in the middle of CAT STRIKING BACK by Shirley Rousseau Murphy, and I probably won’t finish it because there are so many run-on sentences it drives me crazy.

And the Jake Tiptree mystery series by Sarah Graves--it drives me nuts the way she makes up all these "ly" words. For example, "crimsonly."

Once I read an intro to a SF anthology, where the writer actually used the word, "lovelily." I kid you not.

Aargh!!!!! Everybody and their mother thinks they can write, and published books aren't edited any better than this???


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=208x19509

I don't get why they can't get decent proofreaders in these times of such high unemployment.

BTW, I'm a former proofreader.

[lazarus]

7. happens in newspapers, too

I proofread a copy of the local paper (when I lived in Alabama) a few years ago, and took it in and met with the editor. I was hoping to get a job as a proofreader. He said they all have spell check, so they don't need a proofreader. I showed him his paper with over 6 errors per page. He got mad; I didn't get the job.

[AngryOldDem]

8. That's the problem --

People think spellcheck is all they need. I used to be a copy editor on a midsize daily, so I am especially sensitive to this as well.

Funny how they would rather settle for mediocrity and look foolish rather than produce a quality product. In the past I have been accused of being too nit-picky, which I see as a badge of honor in these editorially lazy times.

[AngryOldDem]

9. Update -- Penguin responded.

Said they would forward my suggestions to the proper department.

[WinterParkDonkey]

10. My 2 cents.....

I took this book back to the library without finishing it -- it made me that furious. Regarding the editing, I think it would have been about 1/3 the size if they had edited it better.

[AngryOldDem]

11. I read a LOT of books.

And by far, that was the worst one, mechanics wise, I have ever seen. I can excuse the stray typo, but what I saw in that book was indefensible, and again makes me wonder if I was reading the galleys.

I take it you didn't get to the "best" part, which I described in another post. A whole paragraph was repeated on the same page -- my guess is it was a copy-and-paste instead of a cut-and-paste.

I'm not blaming Sorkin for this, as some readers might -- I blame Penguin and the obviously grammatically challenged editors they have. You can rush a book into print and still have a decent product. If I am Sorkin, though, I'd be embarrassed and angry, and demand a thorough proofreading before a reprint comes out.