My proofreaderly soul is offended

[aunty_marion]

OK, not seriously offended. Just a trifle narked.

See, I bought this book a few weeks ago: Who Killed Albus Dumbledore? - "Six expert Harry Potter detectives examine the evidence", as the subtitle has it. And it has some very worthwhile theories in it, some very interesting stuff, and is worth the money on that account.

But. But. BUT.

Comments

[stasia]

Um... proofreading horror to the side - what are the theories?

*is nosy*

Stasia

[aunty_marion]

I wouldn't want to spoiler anybody too much - the book is worth a read! - but I can quote you the chapter headers (and a bit about each): Why Half-Blood Prince is the Best Harry Potter Novel (what it says, with various unanswered questions); The Curse of the Black Family Tree (why the Black Family is the underlying bane of Voldemort's cursed existence); How Dumbledore and Slughorn Used Magic - and Stage Magic - and Fooled Us All (pretty much what it says); The Locket, the Cup, Nagini, Harry and the Mirror of Erised (which of them are Horcruxes, if any, among other items, and how Harry might deal with them); Mourning for Her Own True Love (why Tonks is so different in HBP and whether Lupin is himself, a spy, both or neither!); Welcome to My Murder, Act 1 (or, how Dumbledore faked his own murder, with help from Snape, Slughorn, Hagrid and others).

[bronze_ribbons]

I remember when "Mourning for Her Own True Love" was posted on LJ. Some good discussion there:
http://community.livejournal.com/hp_essays/164477.html

[erastes]

It's sad really because it lessens their credibility, no matter how much they think it doesn't.

And I can sum it up in one sentence. Albus bloody Dumbledore did it.

[aunty_marion]

That's exactly what I think. Alas.

Also, yes; of course He Dun It. He can't resist dressing things up.

[rexluscus]

Isn't it disheartening when even the professionals don't bother getting a beta? :)

[otherdeb]

Um. Funny you should mention wanting to write the publisher about the editing...

fringefan got his start proofreading when we had bought copies of a small press book at a con which had some really abysmal errors in it. I suggested he write the publisher and offer to re-edit it. A few months later, he got a letter from the publisher asking him if he would like to edit a few books and get paid for it. He has been an editor for them since, working in his spare time, and has made a few bucks off the books he's proofed. It kind of jumpstarted him looking for pro copyediting work when he needed to go back to work, and has helped him get several freelance positions.

So, you might want to try writing them, after all....

Soul?

[eoforyth]

My proofreaderly soul is offended

How many souls do you have, or is this a horcrux thing?

Re: Soul?

[aunty_marion]

AVADA KEDAVRA!!!

Re: Soul?

[eoforyth]

Oh, please. It would be a blessing at the moment.