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Well if it is nit-picky I am in the same club. I find grammatical errors most distracting and in non-fiction particularly, my confidence in what I am reading is inversely proportional to the number of errors. This is mainly on the basis that if a person cannot be bothered with the quality of something produced in their own name, why would I expect the quality of their research and analysis to be better?

On the fiction side, I read some time ago the later volumes of the Dune series. Although the stories themselves were quite good the quality of the proof reading was atrocious and seriously spoiled my enjoyment of the books.

"A couple of other, more minor things bothered me about the fictional portion of The Hidden Whisper. The American characters often talk like Brits, using British syntax."

I don't like it when all the characters sound exactly like the author, and therefore like each other.

Another good "hybrid book" is Sophie's World by norwegian author Jostein Gaarder, which deals with the history of philosophy. It became a huge bestseller, selling over 40 million copies worldwide. However, it contains some typical skeptical remarks on paranormal phenomena, which disappointed me a little when I read the book for the second time and had become familiar with the evidence from parapsychology. However, it's an excellent book, and succeeds really well in combining a story with more non-fictional elements.

" The American characters often talk like Brits, using British syntax."

The only thing worse is a British author trying to depict American English. I'm an American who loves English literature but I always thought the way British authors caricature American speech was insulting: Mixed metaphores, slang, several figures of speech in every sentance with rarely a literal meaning of any word used. One day I realized that was exactly the way I spoke. Sometimes I even write that way.

If I am reading a British a novel, I'd prefer the Americans to speak well rather than naturally.

P.G. Woodhouse accurately depicted American speech patterns.

Lee Child is a British thriller writer who sets most of his books in America. Except for rare lapses, he gets the American idioms right.

I can't stand Hugh Thingymabob in 'House.'
Why have you guys over the pond fallen for it?
Can't get over the walking stick, let alone the 'Jimmy Stewart' accent.

Heh,Steve..I live in Beverly Hills, where do you live? :)

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