I just started reading a book by an author who is new to me.
I think I’ll probably not be able to finish it, despite the fact that the premise is interesting and the characterization of the protagonist is also interesting.
The problem? The author is just too darned subliterate for me to ignore her abuse of language.
Second paragraph: “…they did peak her interest about other areas…”
That’s “pique” not “peak”. A peak is a high point, not an arousal or excitement (as of interest, e.g. “pique my interest”).
*sigh*
My disinterest begins to peak…
Further down the page, one of my favorite gripes: “…there’s bound to be different interpretations…”
Nope. “There ARE (there’re) bound to be different interpretations” would be correct. “There IS (there’s) bound to be A different interpretation” is also correct, but “there’s bound to be different interpretations” is just stupid.
There’re more such stupid usages. All in the first coupla pages.
The author of this book (and no, I’ll not name either the book or the author; I’ll not inflict that pain on anyone else) shouldn’t get any play until she learns her craft properly. And since this author’s somewhere in her 60s, time’s running out for her.
Oh, and her editor/publisher should use hemp neckties to rid the world of their subliterate incompetence as well.
*profound sigh*
People who murder the English language for pay (and, of course, politicians and Mass Media Podpeople and Academia Nut Fruitcakes all fall into this category as well) really need to be introduced to Dr. Tarr and Mr. Fether for remedial instruction.
