tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746564418600302090.post5050404280426632897..comments2023-08-09T09:01:29.229-07:00Comments on Pliny's Tangent Du Jour: Is There Such a Thing as Nonfiction? Or Am I just too Darned Picky?Pliny-the-in-Betweenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16580900408227953736noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746564418600302090.post-44377269646094401632009-05-28T09:55:50.674-07:002009-05-28T09:55:50.674-07:00Ok, Ok - I'm a pain, thanks for the smack down ;)Ok, Ok - I'm a pain, thanks for the smack down ;)Pliny-the-in-Betweenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16580900408227953736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746564418600302090.post-3537475948152661082009-05-27T20:08:40.593-07:002009-05-27T20:08:40.593-07:00Having written only one book, and that being ficti...Having written only one book, and that being fiction and not yet published, I do have a tiny bit of experience in the challenge of tracking the many elements in writing something larger than an article.<br /><br />A non-fiction covering something as large and complicated as World War II would be a tracking nightmare. Checking facts with utmost diligence will still leave some margin for error, especially if the author is the sole individual doing the checking.<br /><br />Somehow I see one technical error and one error in nomenclature in a book of any real dimension falling into a reasonably narrow margin for error. <br /><br />Unless your authors are grossly negligent or serving an agenda through propaganda, it might be reasonable to forgive them small errors.<br /><br />I also like to exercise a degree of forgiveness for perspective. Who is the writer? Where are they from? What is their background and how might it influence how they view the subject?<br /><br />Of course on matters where a writer displays ignorance or prejudice I will discount their opinion on the particulars. That does not preclude knowledge and expertise in other matters. I would grant that it makes them suspect, and they will require a more careful reading.<br /><br />MikeMichael Lockridgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06748256055779697021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746564418600302090.post-4493817590737921412009-05-27T19:38:16.167-07:002009-05-27T19:38:16.167-07:00I am a book addict as well - but a little differen...I am a book addict as well - but a little different - I like reference books. (Atlas' and such)That's probably why I like the internet so much.<br /><br /> I also can't put a piece of fiction down until I'm finished - so I have to make sure I have to set aside 2 days (approx - no sleep) and get rid of my family when I buy a new book - terrible, I know. "The Stand" about killed me. lol:-)Stacyhttp://car54.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746564418600302090.post-56528465911935100312009-05-27T17:36:35.888-07:002009-05-27T17:36:35.888-07:00The best read man I ever knew, my Dad, dropped out...The best read man I ever knew, my Dad, dropped out of school at 14.<br /><br />It was WWII and he was going off to fight. He made it through most of Basic training before being discovered (we macs are big young 'uns, I am the same size as I was at 13- and I aint small).<br /><br />He was sent home to ripen for a few years - never again offering his service. "To hell with 'em. They had me but gave me up!"<br /><br />But I digress....I suppose I thought of him when reading of your library. His was extensive as well. I inheirited it but lost most of it in 2004 in the 3hurricanes that struck my home. BUT, I did read a few, gave a few away. It was not a comeplete loss :-)<br /><br /><br />As to your point; I try not to sweat the small errors. Instead, I grin a smug little grin and IMAGINE my intellect superior the author....I did write imagine, right ;-)machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04073782907747032366noreply@blogger.com