Mar 5, 2015
Jo Kelsey is Blogging
My dear friend, writer Jo Kelsey, has joined the blogging community. Check out her debut blog on friendship here.
Mar 4, 2015
Books I read in 2014
I nearly doubled my reading in 2014, having read a grand total of 135 books.
I 'd love to be able to say it's because I had so much free time that I was able to sit back and read. Unfortunately that isn't the case. I was ultra busy in 2014, working well into the early hours of the morning on most days. I think my body forgot how to sleep. When I went to bed I couldn't shut my brain off so I'd read to get to sleep. I also couldn't sleep for more than an hour at a time. Then I'd find myself wide awake - so I'd read.
Sad to say, but my large reading count is, rather perversely, due to how overworked I was.
2015 is going to be different. I am changing things in my life to try and get a better balance. One that will include reading solely for pleasure.
You can view my reading list here.
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Sad to say, but my large reading count is, rather perversely, due to how overworked I was.
2015 is going to be different. I am changing things in my life to try and get a better balance. One that will include reading solely for pleasure.
You can view my reading list here.
Feb 25, 2015
Koala (not) Bears
I am currently reading a book that came highly recommended. I have to say, I'm really enjoying it - except for one, teeny, tiny, niggling point... koala's aren't bears!
In the book the author makes a reference to "koala bears". She did that many pages ago but I can't let it go. So please excuse my little lecture.
I know they look like real-life teddy bears, but they are just called koalas. I'm not being pedantic. They aren't called bears because they aren't bears.
Bears are mammals. They give birth to live young who have developed in-utero receiving nutrients via a placenta.
Koalas are marsupials. They give birth to live young who haven't received nutrients in-utero via a placenta. Instead the young are born much earlier than mammals (an earlier embryonic stage) and travel to a pouch where they attach themselves to a teat and remain there for weeks or months to complete their development.
Like I said, only a teeny point. But as an Australian reader it grated and pulled me from the story. Not helped by the fact I am also an environmental scientist, which is probably why I haven't been able to let it go.
I guess it just shows that readers will notice any error that slips through edits.
Has an incorrect fact in a book ever distracted you from the story?
In the book the author makes a reference to "koala bears". She did that many pages ago but I can't let it go. So please excuse my little lecture.
Bears are mammals. They give birth to live young who have developed in-utero receiving nutrients via a placenta.
Koalas are marsupials. They give birth to live young who haven't received nutrients in-utero via a placenta. Instead the young are born much earlier than mammals (an earlier embryonic stage) and travel to a pouch where they attach themselves to a teat and remain there for weeks or months to complete their development.
Like I said, only a teeny point. But as an Australian reader it grated and pulled me from the story. Not helped by the fact I am also an environmental scientist, which is probably why I haven't been able to let it go.
I guess it just shows that readers will notice any error that slips through edits.
Has an incorrect fact in a book ever distracted you from the story?
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