My weekend was fine. Nothing terrible, nothing super exciting. I did do some things I enjoy — working in the backyard, going on walks, some cooking and I went shopping which I don’t hate as much if I doing it just to get out and look around. So nothing really exciting to talk about there. Instead, let me tell you about this book I just listened to and the weirdest thing I’ve encountered in a very long time.
It’s a Women’s Fiction with five women getting together for a weekend, and each of them, plus an adult daughter filming this weekend, have a POV and a character arc. The women alternate POV’s as things are revealed, working up to the Biggest Reveal (AKA Black Moment) of the main character. Okay, that’s typical Women’s Fiction. Now for the weirdest part. Right after the biggest reveal, the dog of one of the characters suddenly has a POV. Like a human. Since I was listening to the book, rather than reading it, I checked the time stamp and it’s about 3 minutes long. As best as I can remember this was the one and only time this dog had a point of view. Furthermore, there was no point to this part. It didn’t move the story or reveal anything more about the characters. It was so freaky-weird, it threw me out of the story. Hard. I’m still shaking my head about this. My only guess is that maybe the author had included the dog’s POV in several places in her first draft, and she and her editor decided to remove them and this one was missed?
For the record, I’m not against a dog having a POV in a book if works. I find they work best in comedy, children’s or young adult or some kind of magical place. But not in this book. It just didn’t make sense.
Anyway, that’s the weirdest part of my weekend.
How was your weekend?
June 26th, 2023 at 9:50 am · Link
LOL. I guess you haven’t read Spencer Quinn’s (aka Peter Abramhams) Chet and Bernie books. They are mysteries narrated from Chet the dogs POV. I really enjoyed them. The titles are all punny: “Bark to the Future” “It’s a Wonderful Woof” “Bark to the Future”
The best part is that they are absolutely solid traditional mysteries. I enjoy them.
June 26th, 2023 at 10:13 am · Link
Uhm…hooo-kay… Yeah, that’s freaky weird. I wonder how many reviews mention that. Glad you had a mostly quiet and enjoyable weekend. Mine was a big ugh for the most part.
Friday was the big water leak at The Kids’. Plumber got it fixed but the carpet was a mess even after we worked much of the day. Only and Baseball boy continued sucking up water Friday night.
Saturday was a mostly good day. Soccer, though it was the noon game and HOT! Stormy scored two goals–one on a penalty kick so that was a big yay! His team won 6-0. We were still worn out so got home, got cool, and napped. Only texted later to say they’d taken the pad up–as much as they could get to so the carpet would dry faster. Then the carpet ripped so they cut out the portions not covered by furniture they couldn’t move–like the big screen TV entertainment center.
Sunday, Basebally Boy headed up the turnpike. His dad is still in hospital and he and the doctors are tying to determine if he needs memory care or assisted living. Only called asking once again for our help we loaded up and headed her way. LG worked on the garage getting rid of stuff that got water soaked and couldn’t be “fixed” while she and I worked on the books and knickknacks in the entertainment center and boxing stuff up–throwing trash and setting aside “I can sell thats” and “give to thrift stores.” Then we unbolted the center from the wall, moved it to get the carpet underneath. Then we put it back. We did NOT unpack books because she’s thinking about rearranging the living room. By the time we got home, we were hot, tired, and ready for more naps. I managed one, but LG didn’t.
The Kids are going to leave the concrete for now and just get a cheap rug until they decide what to cover the floor with–laminate or tile. They’ve wanted to take the carpet up for a long time. Dozer was happy. He has lots of “cool” floor to lay on now. Big, furry dogs love bare floors. LOL
That was my weekend. Stormy has morning camp so we pick him up at noon. He’ll be here this afternoon due to his dad’s summer school and baseball practice/game. Not sure if we’ll take him to his dad’s school for the rest of the week or if he’ll come here. Guess we’ll find out eventually. LOL
I’m already ready for a nap. Have a great week all!
June 26th, 2023 at 2:47 pm · Link
That’s really strange. If the dog POV hadn’t been in all along how could they miss it? Sometimes I wonder about editors. It must be hard to find good ones.
I’m glad you had a good weekend. Seems like you got stuff done.
Mine was nothing to brag about. We ended up not having dinner with C. He got busy drywalling his garage and didn’t want to stop. We went over for a few minutes with some treats for me to give the grand dogs. He needed to little break.
We’re getting some sprinkles today. Wish we’d get a soaker.
I hope today is going well for you!
June 26th, 2023 at 3:36 pm · Link
Marianne, I went and looked at the series and can’t recall reading it. I am now deciding if I want the first book in the kindle version, paperback and audio
I don’t think it’s quite the same, this was a “surprise” POV of the dog that clearly didn’t belong there. So weird.
June 26th, 2023 at 3:44 pm · Link
Silver, I don’t know how many reviews mention it, there’s too many for me to go through. She’s a beloved author. I’m really leaning toward a editing problem — you know how it is when it goes through copyedits and all the STETs then the proofreaders don’t know what’s been STETed or supposed to be there, so they wouldn’t catch it — stuff can and does slip through. But I had to go back after I finished and find it again just to prove to myself it was really there.
Man Only and her family really got soaked by that leak! I think the concrete floor will work fine until they’re ready for floors. Especially in the summer months, winter when it’s cold might be harder. Plus they can make sure everything dries. But wow you guys all worked long and hard on that!
Go Stormy! What a great game his team played!
I’m really sorry Baseball boy and his family are going through this with his dad. It’s incredibly hard. I hope they find the right place for his dad.
Hope the rest of your week is less tiring!
June 26th, 2023 at 3:47 pm · Link
Viki, it’s with a NY publisher so one hopes they have good editors. Like I told Silver, my best bet was something got messed up at the copy edit state and the proofers didn’t know to catch it. The author usually does a final read too but who knows. Weird stuff happens.
I’m sorry you guys didn’t get to have dinner with C, I know you were looking forward to it (I would be!) But I get the not wanting to stop while working on a project. That was nice of you to take the dogs treats!
Hope your week is off to a good start.