Editing My Life Away
I read to my kids every night before they go to bed, two books. One picked by girl child and one picked by boy child. It’s a good thing. It mellows them out, they relax against me, get all snuggly and reading is a good thing. Damn it, I’m a writer, I want my kids to be readers.
Problem is, once I start reading some of that crap ahem, I mean the children’s books, I start editing the thing in my head. Then I edit it as I read. It’s ridiculous.
But I can’t help myself.
These chicks’ books are the worst. I’ve never seen more “exclaiming” in all my life. They exclaim all over the place and sometimes, I hate to say this, but they are too stupid to live. The Disney princesses! My daughter idolizes these women! She wants to BE one when she grows up! Hell, she’s Snow White for Halloween this year and she was Cinderella a couple of years ago!
But the books that Disney spews out featuring their beloved princesses are not written that well. They’re silly. Too many “she said, she said, she saids” too. Grrr. I drop ‘em. I alter sentences so they make more sense. I’ve even dropped sentences because they were pointless.
Now the Diego and Dora books, they teach you a little Spanish. I like that, that’s cool.
So yeah, if you think it’s bad that you’re editing a book in your head while you read, a book you chose yourself, try editing your kids’ books as you read out loud. It’s even worse! Trust me.
October 10th, 2007 at 12:25 am
Ha! I love it! I’ve thought the same thing reading a Care Bears book. I was like, damn, how much sugar and coffee do these crazy themed bears down? They’re screaming and exclaiming anytime they open their mouth.
October 10th, 2007 at 12:38 am
I always avoided Disney books or any other books based on tv/movies, as I discovered that they were all drivel. The only exception I made was for the Sesame Street books, I loved those things! My kids have since graduated to Hank the Cowdog (awesome series), Junie B (love that kid, so glad she’s not mine) and for the older ones, young adults that I love reading as well. I found out that once the kids were about 4, they enjoyed long chapter books where I read them a chapter or two a day - as long as there’s an occasional picture, they’re happy.
October 10th, 2007 at 7:45 am
Since I started reviewing I find myself editing more than I did just as a writer. I even edit newspapers. I caught myself editing the inflight magazine on the flight back from Oz last week. I think it’s an occupational hazzard, and really, if some of this stuff gets published then I’ve got nothing to be negative about. I’m a certainty!
Rachel.C
October 10th, 2007 at 10:48 am
My son loves his Disney Pixar books and his Thomas the Train books, so I try not to fret the overuse of dialoge tags!
October 10th, 2007 at 11:37 am
We don’t have any Disney books here. But I can’t stand kids’ music or videos. They make me ill.
October 10th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
Lillian! How can you not have Disney?! I’m a Disney ADDICT! I swear I feel like a six year old. I wanna be Belle–totally in search of my Beast.
October 10th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Shelli’s looking for her beast. **Snicker** I like it. She’s certainly a beauty.
Well my dear Lillian I don’t blame you for keeping the Disney out of the house. Some of it is drivel but my kids sure like it especially my daughter. She is a princess fer sure.
October 10th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
LOL Karen!
This is the main reason why I try to encourage my almost-seven year old to read the stories on her own. Man, some of these kids tales are so pointless and annoying… to the point that I start to yawn.
The editing thing, I totally do it too. ;)
Cool post!
October 10th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
The reason I don’t have Disney books is because I don’t read to my child. I’m afraid he’ll grow up and read smut.
October 11th, 2007 at 1:07 am
Lillian, with those genetics? Just deal with the truth… Let’s just hope he waits until he’s a bit older to get caught reading it.
October 11th, 2007 at 1:09 am
Hmmm is reading smut better than watching smut? I dunno.
I say reading smut is better. Keeps us all in business.