Comments on: Playing Editor – Booking Through Thursday

By: Annie

Annie — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:02:45 +0000

Just stumbled on your blog. Great read!

I only ever find myself making suggestions when something is really bad but I liked your take on things! I guess books are like people in a way…we either like them warts and all or we don’t like them at all!

By: mellymel

mellymel — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 01:35:54 +0000

You make an excellent point with your answer. I am thinking that there are a few books that I wouldn’t want rewritten but I would want re-edited.

By: curlywurlygurly

curlywurlygurly — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:01:12 +0000

i would like to pipe up here and say:

The Almost Moon would have been a much better book if I never actually read it and just admired the cover.

By: Will Entrekin

Will Entrekin — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 04:11:53 +0000

Just one guy who thinks that Harry Potter, besides book 5, is perfect.

I would’ve changed The Great Gatsby. If I’d been Perkins, I would’ve encouraged Fitzgerald to clean up the chronology and put some muscle and consequence into the plot.

Also, I’d have tried to get Niffenegger to clean up/clarify the final 100 pages of The Time Traveler’s Wife.

And I’d have told both Stephen King and Michael Chabon to cut thousands of words from their manuscripts; both writers are, simply, better when they’re shorter.

Finally, I’d tell Hugh Laurie to write more. Just because he’s fucking awesome, and who’da thunk House could write a good novel?

By: Maree

Maree — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 03:31:55 +0000

A very thoughtful take on a thought-provoking question. I too, went for Harry Potter.

By: Susan Helene Gottfried

Susan Helene Gottfried — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 01:47:49 +0000

I was originally thinking along the same lines as you, Trish, but then I took the easy way out. Since I AM unlucky enough to be a writer.

But you’re right. Once you start tinkering with someone else’s book, you’ve got … fan fiction. Which rocks, but it’s not the same.

By: Idaho Gal

Idaho Gal — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:03:29 +0000

Yes, I will keep reading a book even if I don’t enjoy it (well, I’ll try my best, it doesn’t always work).

By: softdrink

softdrink — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 23:53:18 +0000

Excellent point. I couldn’t even think of a coherent answer for this week, so I left well enough alone. Which means I shouldn’t be a writer, either. Or an editor.

By: Kris

Kris — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 21:18:16 +0000

I like your answer and agree. I was able to pick a book for my answer because it was a recent read, a new author, and it just read like a new author. I hope that makes sense. There were too many different stories within the one book – that it was confusing. I would have changed that.

By: pussreboots

pussreboots — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:57:30 +0000

Your answer is better written than mine. Mine is just a rant about Harry Potter.