tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944570901299649958.post6034261032496975378..comments2023-10-29T16:02:17.355+00:00Comments on Historical Tapestry: Thursday ThreadsMarghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13508430635744720721noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944570901299649958.post-44480291065263077902012-09-10T21:29:35.433+01:002012-09-10T21:29:35.433+01:00It's always good to remember we are writing an...It's always good to remember we are writing and reading fiction, not a historical textbook.It should be as accurate as possible, but I agree with Marg. I want the author's notes to explain any deliberate or known discrepencies. As a reader I always read the end notes and find they usually enhance my understanding of the story. I think readers are usually forgiving of small adjustments (I am). Now larger more in depth changes can carry us from the land of history over the border of fantasy if its overdone. In the end, it should be about trust and transperancy. Judith Scharahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06629065670753694883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944570901299649958.post-88573675408273255802012-09-08T00:47:03.666+01:002012-09-08T00:47:03.666+01:00I'm willing to accept angles that are unique o...I'm willing to accept angles that are unique or speculative, but...be up-front with me first! Ideally, let me know via the back cover that the novel is taking a different path. Then-give me an author's note that discusses why your "take" is atypical, and why you chose this route. <br /><br />I'm trying to think of a novel like this that I've enjoyed, and, frankly, I can't recall one. But I will say that, while I have enjoyed Carolly Erickson's nonfiction, I've given up on her bizarre hf. "The Last Wife of Henry VIII" was just too out there for me: never-happened plot twists that did not enhance the story or characterizations.Tara from MDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944570901299649958.post-52045977907694878742012-09-06T23:49:00.938+01:002012-09-06T23:49:00.938+01:00If there are inaccuracies it will ruin it for me, ...If there are inaccuracies it will ruin it for me, especially if it's major things. Rearranging of minor events to suit a story are okay, but it needs to be explained in the Authors notes - which I must say I read first, for this very reason. J.T. Websterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18042422842347246547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944570901299649958.post-14808961793784636112012-09-06T22:18:22.789+01:002012-09-06T22:18:22.789+01:00I tend to agree that a major change is a problem b...I tend to agree that a major change is a problem because I find it distracts me from the story in any case. But it's a fair point that if you don't know the period and therefore don't notice the change, it can have no effect on your enjoyment at all!Derek Birkshttp://www.derekbirks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944570901299649958.post-22773099758476661942012-09-06T21:32:59.034+01:002012-09-06T21:32:59.034+01:00If an author makes any major changes in history, i...If an author makes any major changes in history, it completely ruins the story for me so there is no either/or. J. R. Tomlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01109874615059334200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944570901299649958.post-16254055623623166182012-09-06T15:02:19.292+01:002012-09-06T15:02:19.292+01:00I would rather the story be built around major fac...I would rather the story be built around major facts that are accurate and maybe more lenient with the small things, because I do like to learn through my reading. I do like to know what truths have been manipulated at the end. missyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14866072925145042561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944570901299649958.post-66028218741793937142012-09-06T12:41:37.768+01:002012-09-06T12:41:37.768+01:00I'm willing to go for the good story over abso...I'm willing to go for the good story over absolutely correct facts. However, according to the historical survey I did, the number one thing that readers say detracts from their enjoyment of historical fiction is inaccuracies. I wonder whether readers become steeped in knowledge of a certain era because they love reading about that time period ... then of course, they know lots about that time period and can detect inaccuracies more readily.<br /><br />BTW Steven King's new book is all about rewriting history as he considers what might have happened had President Kennedy lived.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5944570901299649958.post-67816845256518233772012-09-06T11:45:00.451+01:002012-09-06T11:45:00.451+01:00I'm setting a higher priority to a good story....I'm setting a higher priority to a good story. Though I'm only willing to ignore errors if they don't affect the storyline, or otherwise become too disturbing. I mean some errors are ok, but not if the book is full of them.Elinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17698075526127663685noreply@blogger.com