I just have to vent a little. I’ve been listening to the audio version of LED ASTRAY, by Sandra Brown. If you’re a romance reader, you’ve no doubt heard of her. She’s a big name. I’ve listened to one or two of her other books–can’t think of the titles right now. This one has me gritting my teeth.
First off, the parents of the hero (and his brother) are judgemental, bible-thumping, holier-than-thou— er, I mean— respectable, devout Christians. The father is a preacher, and the mother is the stereotypical preacher’s wife. Spreading the Word is their life’s mission. So they named their firstborn son…
Cage.
What?!!! Don’t get me wrong. I love the name Cage for a romance hero. But I don’t believe for a split second these two dyed-in-the-wool Christians named their kid that. No way. No how. Nope. Not buying it.
Second, Brown’s writing technique is questionable at best in this one. She uses so many LY adjectives the reader sounds like she’s trying not to trip over her tougue. “She sat down nervously at the table and drank from her soft drink thirstily.” I can’t remember if that’s verbatim, but it’s close. What kind of lazy writing is that?
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse trailer
Add to that the over-abundance of “telling” phrases and I’m about ready to scream. “Her shirt was sticking to her back.” Was sticking? Come on, Sandra. You can do better than that. Nevermind that a few minutes later, the heroine has a shower and we discover that she was wearing a full slip beneath her clothes. Shouldn’t her slip have been sticking to her back rather than her shirt?
I’m telling you, I sometimes wonder whether the editors for the big name authors even read the book before they send it to press. Not long ago, I read a Bertrice Small book, part four of her contemporary erotica series, where Bertrice called the heroine by the wrong name. Not once, but twice!!! Shouldn’t the editor have caught that?
Granted, big name authors who’ve proven they can sell books are allowed more room to break the rules than others. I mean, if you loved her other books, you’re going to buy the next one, right? But don’t t faithful readers deserve well-written, well edited books?
Nita
Hey Nita,
I have read books by bestselling NY authors and came across the same thing. It does make you wonder if the editor is paying attention. I actually prefer to read e-book authors because I find the stories more interesting. I also find the editing in ebooks to be better than in NY pubs.
Perhaps if all we e-writers send our rough drafts off, they might get the hint. I doubt it, but I can dream.
The biggest one I found lately was when the murderer used a fireplace poker to bludgeon someone on one page and three pages over it was a golf club. lol
Yeah, the passive voice gets me. I try soooo hard to make everything just perfect, then pick up a book like this and want to slam it against a wall.
It just goes to show you that if you get big name enough you don’t have to follow the rules anymore. Like our fellow writer Nora Roberts, who goes from one POV to another, every other second.
LMAO! If I didn’t know better I’d swear my edits on The Wagonmaster and lessons at AWH have converted you!
But I do know what you mean. I rant and rave a lot about the crap that big name authors get away with too.
Btw, I LOVE the look of your blog.
Kelley, I think you’re right about that. The epubs, especially the ones who’ve been around for more than just a year or so, tend to demand better, crisper writing than NY.
Karl, I’ll keep dreaming right along with you. LOL
Tess, OMG the poker/golf club goof is almost as bad as calling your heroine the wrong name. Poor editing. No excuse.
Mary, Before I started writing, I never noticed POV switches at all. Even though I might notice them now, it only bothers me if it’s not absolutely clear that the POV has changed. As long as I know who is thinking what, I’m fine with it. I listened to Nora Roberts’ Red Lily just last week. Yes, I noticed the many, many POV switches, but none of them confused me at all, so I enjoyed the book anyway. LOL
Faith, you have forever ruined my reading enjoyment. LOL Somehow you flipped on a switch and now my Inner Editor catches all that stuff. Sucks all the entertainment right out of a book. But I’m a better writer for it. I learned so much working with you on TW. Thank you.
Yeah, it’s amazing what the NY writers get away with.
Janice~