JA,
I liked how you handled it in the Alexis Carew series – using the “English” version (bugger).
V/R
Steve
P.S. I anxiously await your next book…
Elise
on January 4, 2019 at 8:16 pm
I think the survey is missing a question. Couldn’t figure out how to comment. I think the word has its place. It tends to reside well in some characters. If that’s the case here then I would read to book. I agree with the “bugger” comment. Fudge and “frosted my cookies” were favs of my mother.
The (mostly American?) obsession with swearing is utterly incomprehensible to me. “Oh, the character kills thousands of people. How nice. I’d definitely rec–she said the f-word! I’m outraged! I won’t read this! 1 star!”
I’ll probably insult some people but I’ll say it anyway: it’s fucking stupid.
But of course that doesn’t help with making a business decision. I’d put a warning somewhere.
Sarah
on January 7, 2019 at 3:49 pm
The word doesn’t bother me at all in stories that have well written characters. Especially when there are characters that would be likely to use bad language, I prefer a more realistically written character. Something like a hardcore gang member, for example, using the word «fudge » would likely cause me to stop reading the story.
Elise
on January 7, 2019 at 4:28 pm
Sorry. Don’t make myself very clear. The character drives the dialogue. Having a gritty character say “fudge” would be silly. That was kinda my point. For my mother to say this was appropriate for her. Your character is speaking to you and I think you should listen.
Sarah
on January 7, 2019 at 5:11 pm
Sorry Elise, your comment was clear and I am in agreement. I was just using « fudge » as a general example, not in response to your statement. I couldn’t think of another commonly used replacement word off the top of my head…even though I likely use many.😊
Big Ben
on January 8, 2019 at 12:34 am
Yeah, it depends entirely on the character and circumstances. I would liken it to explicit sex scenes – nice in moderation and if it fits into the story line, but annoying chapter after chapter.
It can be wearying to hear someone going through life with nothing more intelligent to say than profanity … unimaginative profanity, at that.
The last stop before drooling idiocy.
A grizzled sergeant cussing out the vagaries of war and the screwups of junior officers for a few paragraphs? Fine.
An uncouth bit character who pops up every once in a while spewing verbal diarrhea? Okay, if the story calls for it.
A character who delights in coming up with inventive threats and cutting wordplay leavened with a bit of profane spice? Hell yeah!
But some fictional badass who stomps through the entire story tossing f-bomb after f-bomb for cheap shock value? Tediously boring, (and boorish.)
Book Recommendation
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JA,
I liked how you handled it in the Alexis Carew series – using the “English” version (bugger).
V/R
Steve
P.S. I anxiously await your next book…
I think the survey is missing a question. Couldn’t figure out how to comment. I think the word has its place. It tends to reside well in some characters. If that’s the case here then I would read to book. I agree with the “bugger” comment. Fudge and “frosted my cookies” were favs of my mother.
STILL HOPPING FOR ANOTHER Alexis Carew BOOK!
The (mostly American?) obsession with swearing is utterly incomprehensible to me. “Oh, the character kills thousands of people. How nice. I’d definitely rec–she said the f-word! I’m outraged! I won’t read this! 1 star!”
I’ll probably insult some people but I’ll say it anyway: it’s fucking stupid.
But of course that doesn’t help with making a business decision. I’d put a warning somewhere.
The word doesn’t bother me at all in stories that have well written characters. Especially when there are characters that would be likely to use bad language, I prefer a more realistically written character. Something like a hardcore gang member, for example, using the word «fudge » would likely cause me to stop reading the story.
Sorry. Don’t make myself very clear. The character drives the dialogue. Having a gritty character say “fudge” would be silly. That was kinda my point. For my mother to say this was appropriate for her. Your character is speaking to you and I think you should listen.
Sorry Elise, your comment was clear and I am in agreement. I was just using « fudge » as a general example, not in response to your statement. I couldn’t think of another commonly used replacement word off the top of my head…even though I likely use many.😊
Yeah, it depends entirely on the character and circumstances. I would liken it to explicit sex scenes – nice in moderation and if it fits into the story line, but annoying chapter after chapter.
It can be wearying to hear someone going through life with nothing more intelligent to say than profanity … unimaginative profanity, at that.
The last stop before drooling idiocy.
A grizzled sergeant cussing out the vagaries of war and the screwups of junior officers for a few paragraphs? Fine.
An uncouth bit character who pops up every once in a while spewing verbal diarrhea? Okay, if the story calls for it.
A character who delights in coming up with inventive threats and cutting wordplay leavened with a bit of profane spice? Hell yeah!
But some fictional badass who stomps through the entire story tossing f-bomb after f-bomb for cheap shock value? Tediously boring, (and boorish.)