Dept. of Bad Reading

[kaffy_r]

Why Am I Finishing This Book?

It's on my Kindle, so I must have thought it was worth picking up. But ... if you're writing a character who you specifically place in 1728, and have them refer to a) men's top hats, and b) a guillotine, you haven't done the most basic, lazy Google research. Nor has your editor caught your lack of research. 

Men's top hats were first introduced in the early 1800s. Dr. Guillotin invented his machine in 1789. Yes, there were earlier versions of the guillotine (the Scottish Maiden and such, and even possible earlier French machines), but the one called the guillotine? Not around until 1789. 

I'm annoyed that I'm still reading the thing, especially since I wasn't all that impressed with it before I read those ahistorical blunders. I"m sure it's just because I normally feel as if I should finish books I start. The one book I recall not being able to read past a few pages was some libertarian piece of twaddle by Milton Friedman's son. I threw it across the room. 

Comments

[gwenhwyfar1984]

I hope your Kindle is okay!

Are you on Goodreads? You can warn others not to pick it up.

[kaffy_r]

My Kindle has survived. Heh ....

I feel a bit bad about warning others not to pick it up. Perhaps they'll like it ... and I'm enough of a Canadian wuss to feel that it's rude to name the book.

Yes, I'm dithering, because you're probably right, but the author at the end of the book (I did make it that far) was so effusive to the people who had helped and supported her, that it would seem cruel.

I was right about one thing; she said she began the story on Wattpad, so my suspicion that this was at least next door to fanfic-with-the-numbers-filed-off might be correct. Mind you, I've seen fanfic-with-the-numbersk-filed-off done a hell of a lot better.

Argh.

*continues dithering*

[nostalgia]

ooh thats handy that they invented the guillotine just in time for the revolution.

[bibliofile]

The idea whose time had come.

[kaffy_r]

One thing that horrified me was learning that Hitler's government made the guillotine an official mode of execution in Germany. He ordered close to two dozen of them to be dispersed to various Germany cities and somewhere around 16,500 people died by plummeting blade between the late 30s and the end of the war.

[kaffy_r]

*snrk*

Indeed. Dr. Guillotin was apparently horrified by the end of the whole affair.

[bibliofile]

I too used to finish every book I started, but I decided a while ago that life's too short to keep doing that. (Maybe when my mom had her heart attack?) YMMV, of course.

Then again, I've been reading a fun SF book that's totally ridiculous in logistics but still keeps me reading. So ya never know.

[smallhobbit]

If I'm enjoying something I'll forgive a lot more than if it's debatable in the first place. Like clean horses after travelling for miles in costume dramas.

[kaffy_r]

Like clean horses after travelling for miles in costume dramas.

You know, I'd never thought about that. Lordy.

[kaffy_r]

Heck, I used to enjoy E.E. "Doc" Smith stories that were absolutely ridiculous, so I hear you.

[thisbluespirit]

If it's vaguely the right(ish) century, it's all fine! (Apparently. /vexed reader of Regency romances.)

[kaffy_r]

Yeah, it was very vexing. Doubly so when her editor didn't catch it either.

[elisi]

You reminded me of this...

Urban myth has it that Strand clothier John Hetherington was the first man to wear a silk top hat in London, in early 1797. It was variously reported, including in an alleged 1797 edition of The St James’s Gazette and in an actual 1890s edition of The Hatters’ Gazette, that he appeared, “on the public highway, wearing upon his head a tall structure having a shiny lustre and calculated to frighten timid people… several women fainted at the unusual sight, while children screamed, dogs yelped and a younger son of Cordwainer Thomas was thrown down by the crowd which collected and had his right arm broken.”

[kaffy_r]

*snort*

That was wonderful. I do have to ask how and why you came about this wonderful knowledge.

[elisi]

... Tumblr? I think? Either Tumblr or Twitter, and Tumblr is more likely.

ETA: Found the rest of the quote! :D

For these reasons the defendant was seized by the guards and taken before the Lord Mayor. In extenuation of his crime, the defendant claimed that he had not violated any law of the kingdom, but was merely exercising a right to appear in a head-dress of his own design—a right not denied to any Englishman.

[kaffy_r]

This is wonderful. "a right not denied to any Englishman" ... why did this not turn into a Gilbert and Sullivan libretto?

[chez_jae]

I finish stupid books, too, because I'm not a quitter.

:D

Good luck with yours!

[kaffy_r]

I finished it. I told my Best Beloved that the plot was at least a C+, but upon further consideration, I downgraded it to a D+ because I realized that it was terribly balanced and paced, and had some last minute twists and turns that were ... unprofessional.

[verdande_mi]

I'm getting a bit better at giving up books when they are not for me, but I also have this feeling that I should finish. In the end I do feel like life is too short and I would rather read books I enjoy.

[kaffy_r]

I think I was disappointed even before I got to the historical anachronisms, but it was those anachronisms that eventually tore it for me. Although, as I've mentioned to others, I did finish it. I have more, and I suspect better, books awaiting me now.