Thanks for the link.  I just read Chapter 4.  I am flabbergasted by all the grammatical and spelling errors.  I know others have posted about this before, but the errors seem to be worse in this chapter.  For example, “spilt up” instead of “split up” and “barley” instead of “barely.”

Castle said:

Ouch – that is rather concerning.

I had to laugh at Judge Horace Simpson given the actor that plays one of the judges in the show is known for a certain H Simpson character.

I burst out laughing when I read that hahaha

Does anyone else get a little excited when you find a reference to an episode in one of the Heat Wave chapters?

Castle-Lover45 said:

Not a little!  A lot! It is like finding the answer to a puzzle–”There! There it is! Another one!”  I really like this book. I wish they had more discussion and wit between Rook and Heat like in the TV show. That relationship is what it is all about.  Nonetheless, I still love it.

“I am not a Suspect.  I am a Human Being.” Heh, loved that.

I love the whole reference to the finale episode in this latest chapter! I was totally picturing Jacey Goldberg throughout the whole Mrs. Starr part.

akajb said:

P.S. And don’t get me started on the product placement going on…

Haha the product placement is done rather shamelessly.

BigSis said:

You know, I don’t think it’s product placement per se. There is a school of thought in writing I’ve run across that thinks that branding everything is the same as being detailed and specific. The Faith Fairchild mysteries by Katherine Hall are similar. You can’t go more than two sentences before hitting a brand name in her mysteries also (well, at least in the first couple–I didn’t read more than that).

Not my favorite writing technique, and it dates the book pretty quickly, but Castle is not alone in using it.

I've seen some branding used before, but it was usually references to thinks like McDonalds, or Barnes and Noble. Companies that have been around for a long time and don't immediately date a book. And the references weren't very common. I actually find references to technology as the worst offenders for dating books.

If using references is a technique… ugh, I won't be buying books by those authors. I do believe it's meant to be product placement though. From what I can tell, the books going to be hardcover. However, it's going to be a pretty cheap hardcover, which makes me wonder if the product placement isn't being used to cut down the cost for consumers.

I asked someone at ABC about the mistakes in the online chapters and he said that he checked with the Publisher, and all errors were removed from the final version. The online version was pulled from the preview edition before it went to press. I don't know if that makes anyone feel better but….

Akajb, I agree with you, I'm not really even looking forward to the chapters anymore. It's just such dreadfully painful reading that I definitely can't justify buying the book. That's a good theory about the product placement, and I can't help but feel like–if that is indeed the case–instead of frustrating the readers, they could just make it public that yes, this book is brought to you by an alphabet soup of corporations.

Taimdala, I wouldn't be surprised to see them try to use a (dare I say?) cop-out like that to justify the writing. I just don't think anyone would buy it, I mean what author forgets to include simple things like character descriptions, mannerisms, and the simplest of details. I didn't realize how much I take these things for granted in books until I started reading these chapters that are completely omitting those things.

And hotdmoss, do you know if the person at ABC meant that they simply fixed spelling mistakes, or did they add in the missing elements (descriptions/take out the blatant endorsement) to make it more novel-like?

As of now, these chapters are reading more and more like a poorly written 'fan fic' and I have to say that this brilliant promotional idea has been a pretty big let down so far.  

hdotmoss said:

Unfortunately I think they only fixed the spelling and gramatical errors.

That's what I figured. It's too bad, maybe they'll know better next time though.

pocket-maccarena

I am SO stealing that LOL, fair is fair.

I really hope they fix the book as I've ordered it and have so far resisted reading any of the chapters posted on line. I will be very pissed off if its junk. It does have such potential if done right. Done wrong it will turn people off in droves.

Yer I reckon we could get Castle into all sorts of mischief. How about 100 word challenge drabbles?

SydneyDeb said:

Boston Scientist said:

OMG!  To all the teenagers on here: GET A JOB!  Babysit someone's kids, rake some leaves, scoop icecream, work at the mall, etc.  The book doesn't cost very much.  Support the show by buying your own copy.

---

Same goes for copying the series. In a nutshell its stealing from the actors who would otherwise get royalities etc for sales. Same goes for downloading songs from the internet and coping DVD, its stealing. Might not matter to you but it will to someone.

Lol I downloaded the episodes a while back but I still plan on snatching the DVD when it comes out  I only got the episodes earlier so I could watch them after hours when I don't have the internet around.