...in fiction.
Thoughts from Betsy and Liz B.
I've noticed that unless I have issues with the voice or the writing, I generally don't stop to think much about authenticity while I'm reading. Maybe because while I'm engrossed in the world of a book, I don't think to question it, but if something knocks me out of the story, my mind starts wandering?
(Unless it's a glaringly obvious factual error. But those knock me out of the story, so that situation amounts to the same thing.)
After I'm done reading? That's a whole different story.
Which is why I LOVE Author's Notes and Afterwards and Historical Notes and whatnot -- because I love it when the author foresees my questions and answers them immediately. (Instant gratification, I love you.) For instance, I really dug the Author's Note at the end of The King's Rose, and, after reading Liz B.'s review, I reallywished there'd been one at the end of Wildthorn. (Unless there was one in the finished copy -- I read an ARC.)
Anyway. You?
Author's Notes are either a hit or miss for me. For example, I really could care less about the process of their writing. (Does that sound bratty?) but do want to hear how they came up with the characters. Oooh and I love when they talk about the characters as if they were real people.
Posted by: Christina | 02 November 2010 at 05:25 PM
I feel the same way, I don't really question what's happening in the book while reading it unless something bumps me out of the story. Although I do have questions after reading, which is why I like discussing books right after reading them.
Posted by: Chachic | 02 November 2010 at 08:12 PM
It depends on the content of the author's note. I like the ones in historicals that are informational about some obscure aspect of the plot, like the one at the end of Newes from the Dead that talked about infanticide and infanticide laws throughout history. I know, I know, I'm a total nerd.
I always skip the ones that are all stuff like "OMG, and my Uncle Henry who baked me brownies on that one day, THANK YOU UNCLE HENRY!" Unless they're sharing Uncle Henry's brownie recipe.
Posted by: Maureen | 09 November 2010 at 11:15 PM
Maureen, same here -- while I certainly see the reason behind them, unless the Acknowledgements pertain to the book in some way (or mention other authors, etc.), I think it's mostly only the people listed in them who find 'em interesting.
Or, of course, if there are brownie recipes.
Posted by: Leila | 10 November 2010 at 07:27 AM