This morning I woke up to some unexpected snow so I think that means it’s time for a snowed-in day with books. I have no problem with that, of course. I’m already immobilized after a decadent Sunday breakfast.
Yesterday I started reading The History of Now, which I should have done ages ago as it was released at the beginning of March. But I’m quite angry. First was a reference to “egg tempura wash.” That’s right, tempura, not tempera. But a few pages later, mention of a “mourning coat” sent me over the edge. Typos I can handle. Typos mean sloppy typesetting and a bad proofreader. But “mourning coat”?!? That means I can’t trust you anymore.
I’ll be reviewing the book this week, and I don’t yet know what I’m going to think because I’m not far enough along to say for sure. It takes place in a fictionalized version of a town I’ve been to several times, a place I don’t know like a native but a place I know well enough to recognize it in these pages. And I do. All the storefronts and street corners I can imagine just as they are in real life, and the action makes sense, feels real. The verisimilitude is excellent. But then it’s betrayed by mourning coats and women named Francis. Makes me feel so picky. But I’m getting it off my chest now so I can review it more reasonably when the time comes.
What else is to come? More of last week’s bookstack, I hope. I also picked up The Book of Evidence the other day, on Amateur Reader‘s recommendation. Thinking about themes, too. Thinking, thinking.
Alas, there are more typos to come, I’m sorry to say. But I gather you are reading the uncorrected galleys. I think we caught most of them for the final edition. BTW, some dictionaries prefer “mourning coat” to “morning coat”, so a small plea there.
I look forward to your evaluation of the book.
all best, Danny Klein
I am reading the galleys, but I made sure to check against the final version before complaining here. And I even learned, to my surprise, that Friendly’s used to serve an Awful Awful, even though I always thought that was a Newport Creamery drink. Thanks for stopping by.