Proofreading is an essential part of the book publishing process, a step which can make or break the reputation of both the author and the publishing company they are attached to. If they get it right, awards can be won and further contracts can be signed. Get it wrong, sales can plummet and an authors reputation can suffer. But with the rise of books written by high profile online stars and YouTube success stories, some argue that the correlation between quality and sales seems to have disappeared. This has led me to ask the question, has proofreading been cast aside in pursuit of quick book sales?

A couple of years ago, I would have been the prime market for books written by online stars. To an extent now, I still am. Yes, I'm more choosy about what I buy and at what price, but if I see something I genuinely want to read, I will buy it. Tyler Oakley's autobiography Binge was honestly one of the best non-fiction books I read in 2015. Me being selective about these books has to do with one thing and one thing only. The quality of the book.

The past month has seen the publication of some long anticipated YouTube titles, most notably Tanya Burr's cookery book Tanya Bakes, and Carrie Hope Fletcher's debut novel On The Other Side. Both online content creators have a huge following, most of whom keenly anticipate the release of their publications, so its not surprising that both books have sold a huge amount of copies. However, in some cases fans have left melancholy reviews that all point towards the same issue: they wish the publishers had spent more time editing and proof-reading the authors work.

Shortly after it's publication, fans (like those above) noticed that vital ingredient information was missing from Tanya Bakes and called for Penguin books to right the situation. Tanya Burr also echoed this, tweeting out apologies and amendments to those who asked her for recipe advice. Penguin Books responded with an apology, access to correct online recipes for those who needed them, and a promise to replace fan's copies with correct editions if they wanted them. You can see the full apology here. Reviews (that can be found on on Amazon) for Carrie Hope Fletcher's novel On The Other Side also received similar comments from fans, who argued that closer editing and further proofreading from the publisher  would have made for a much easier read. I thoroughly agree with these comments; the novel overall is an enjoyable and original read, but could benefit from a little more editing. I particularly found there to be some awkward wording and sentences as long as a five line paragraph, which could have easily been altered to the story's advantage.

With this evidence in front of me, I can't help but wonder if proofreading has been cast aside by some publishers in exchange for a quick publishing date that would ultimately lead to a boost in sales. Perhaps, like one reviewer of Tanya Bakes says, publishing companies are more focused on getting YouTube books out there before a YouTuber's popularity wavers. Closer proofreading and editing is therefore sometimes overlooked for the sake of sales. 

I asked Kelly Bishop, proud owner of book blog Bright Book and Creative Writing undergraduate, for her take on this issue:

"I think that whilst it's the job of the editor to scan books for errors, 'quick' publishing really prevents them from doing this well and in an attempt to get books out quick, mistakes are often missed. I think this happens with all books sometimes, but I've noticed, in a few books that I've picked up from the [YouTube] genre and skimmed through, a fair few mistakes that make me almost unwilling to buy it."

Whilst publishing errors can be disappointing for readers, they will no doubt have a negative affect upon authors. They are, after all, being given the opportunity to achieve their dreams and create something to be proud of. If the publishing is not quite up to scratch, is it truly the authors fault? With more exciting YouTube publications by Zoe Sugg, Joe Sugg, and Hannah Hart (to name but a few) soon to be released, I hope that recent issues have placed proofreading firmly on top of a publisher's agenda once more. Readers and authors alike will surely be left disappointed if this isn't the case.

“Why does this person, who doesn’t even speak our language, care so much about us that he is willing to risk his life for us? It moved us both to tears. I said a silent prayer of thanks as we became a part of the night.” 

I thought I knew a great deal about North Korea and it's appalling human rights record. I'd read all about the famines, executions, escape attempts and propaganda. But I'd never actually read a survivor's story. I think that's why In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park touched a nerve with me, and completely changed how I see the worldwide problem that is North Korea. 

Yeonmi no longer lives in North Korea, as she managed to travel to South Korea. I feel like this is a gross understatement though - by travel, I mean struggle through Chinese human trafficking until she had enough money to pay to crawl across the Goji desert into Mongolia. That's not even half her story, but you're going to need to read her book if you want the whole picture.

With every page I became engrossed in North Korean culture; I truly started to understand why so many North Korean's choose to defect, and why others choose to stay. Famine, constant surveillance, executions and poor prospects may force people out, but patriotic propaganda, lack of knowledge, sincere belief in the communist regime, and fear all play a part in why people stay put. I had to constantly keep reminding myself that what I was reading was reality, not a piece of intense, dystopian fiction. This is probably Park's greatest asset as a writer and young advocate for human rights; having trouble assigning reality to such a brutal experience soon gave way to a feeling of utter disgust and an urge to do something myself. 

Yeonmi Park now spends her time campaigning for a greater awareness for human rights in North Korea - something that she hopes In Order To Live will help her do. Even after contending with every horror imaginable, she also volunteers with think-tanks and charities, in the hope that she can repay the world for the kindness that strangers showed her when she was in need. Park is an eloquent, knowledgable woman, wise beyond her years, who is not afraid to risk her life and speak out about the oppression that she suffered and thousands of others still suffer in North Korea today.

Beth x

(Thank you Penguin Random House via Netgalley for providing me with a copy of In Order to Live in exchange for an honest review.)

If you know me personally or follow me on Twitter and Instagram, you'll probably know that I haven't had the best week health wise and in general. But whilst I was moping around, I was astounded by the generosity, patience, kindness and understanding nature of complete strangers. As this week draw to a close, I'm putting on my positive pants and shouting out to all the lovely people who showed me infallible kindness this week.

 The staff in Lloyds Pharamacy who kindly took my blood pressure when I felt faint

Long story short, my doctor thinks I'm anemic, which I think means I don't have enough iron in my blood so I often feel faint, over-tired and sick. Before we went to the doctors, I came over all faint in a Lloyds Pharmacy. The staff quickly got me into a consultation room, made sure I was feeling better and took my blood pressure so we could gauge what was wrong with me. Thank you for taking the time to see me and putting me at ease.

The gentleman in The Range who showed my mum and I how to use the DIY tools

I'd like to think that we're pretty DIY savvy in thecatsouthebag household, but sometimes that DIY section can be really damn confusing. So a loud and proud shout-out goes to the lovely gentleman and fellow shopper who showed us how to use the grouting gun. You saved us from at least half an hour of wondering and probably a mini-argument. 

A lovely NHS phlebotomist who took my blood

My doctor asked for a blood test, so he could confirm my anemia and rule out anything more serious. Of course this meant a blood test, something I had never experienced before and quite honestly made me feel physically sick. This lovely phlebotomist picked up straight away on my anxiety, and really looked after me. In the end, it wasn't half as bad as I had envisaged. She even gave me a sweet at the end. 

Also a shout-out to Helena, an absolute star of a best friend. Despite having health issues herself, she took the time to reassure me about my blood test and listen to all my moaning. I truly appreciate you and how caring you are!

Tony from Arriva who tracked down my phone

I lost my phone on a bus. But because I rarely use my phone apart from to and from work, I didn't realise until a few days later. Thankfully, one call to Tony later, my phone had been found and I was able to get on my merry way. Just in time for the UK release of Pokemon GO...

Four complete strangers (and one very familiar friend) went out of their way to help me this week, and for that I am truly grateful. Next week, I've made it my mission to go out of my way to help others. Maybe you could to?

Beth x

(Image source)

Its hard supporting a lavish Lush lifestyle on a student budget. But it is do-able. After a couple of years of meticulous practice, I've finally worked out how to get more bang for your buck in Lush, leaving more money for lunch. 

Go for bubble bars instead of bath bombs

Yes, bath bombs add something great to a bath. But all they are when you're on a budget is wasted money. A £4 bubble bar can last for around 5 baths (if you don't go too crazy on the bubbles), whilst a £4 bomb can only be used once. 

If you don't like using the product one way, find another way to use it

We are all guilty of buying a product we would not have bought had we been thinking straight. And lets face it, 9 times out of 10, the sweet smells and glitter make it impossible for us to do so. I don't particularly like the shower jellies on my skin, but have found them to be great as bubble bath. A palmful of Needles and Pines actually makes better bubbles than a bubble bar. Go figure!

Buy a multi-purpose product

FUN is a student saviour. It functions as a shower gel, bubble bar and shampoo. £5 a month on one item is so much better for your overdraft than £5 every week. Right?

Ask for samples before you buy the full product

Every Lush store is full of friendly staff who actually want to help you. One of the ways they can do this is by offering you a small sample of the product. I tend to use samples for products such as face masks and body scrubs, as I never know if I'm going to be allergic to something or not. I then go back and buy the full size products that work best for me. It saves me money, and has meant that I have been able to find the products that genuinely do good for me.

Save up your tubs and grab a free face mask

If you do use pots of products on a regular basis, don't forget to wash and keep your pots. When you return five into store, you get to choose a free face mask. What a time to be alive.

Its really not as hard as it seems to cut down on your spending in Lush, whilst still satisfying the 'Lushie' inside you. But don't let this stop you from having a big spend every once in a while - uni is hard and we all need a pick me up every now and then!

Beth x 

Who doesn't love a good book on holiday? I mean, really, beach days are the ultimate time to sit back and crack on with my huge TBR pile. Even though my holiday is three weeks away, I've started sorting out what I will and won't pack with me. Thankfully, I have a Kindle so I won't be lugging around an extra suitcase full of reading material, but boy do I have a lot to read...

Physical Copies

Leaving Berlin by Joseph Kanon is a piece of historical fiction set in 1949 Berlin. It charts the life of young Jewish writer Alex Meier who fled the Nazi's before the war, and is now fighting for his right to stay in America indefinitely. 

I've wanted to read The Night Manager by John Le Carre ever since I watched the BBC adaptation with Mr Tom Hiddleston. A few people have told me that the book is vastly different from the TV show, but where would the fun be if everything was the same?

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD. HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD. HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD.

Kindle Books

24 Hours in Journalism by John Dale was only 99p on the Kindle Store, so I had to give it a go. It does exactly what it says on the tin - takes the reader through 24 hours in the news industry. I'm hoping that this will be great for my Master's application too!

Penguin were lovely enough to allow me early access to Forrest Leo's newest offering The Gentleman, so I'm looking forward to giving it a read. From what I can gather, a Victorian poet employs the Devil as his gardner and accidentally sells his wife to the Underworld. Chaos ensues. 

No doubt I will have added more books to this already out of control list by the time I'm going away - I am in fact waiting on a couple of publisher approvals for advance review copies. So watch this space and expect a tonne of reviews at the end of August!

Beth x

A couple of weeks ago, I took it upon myself to give airtime to news that had been glossed over due to the UK's EU referendum result. An overwhelming number of you all asked me to keep this going as a weekly series, so here's the first installment. So for all of you who don't want / don't have time to sit and read a newspaper in the morning, here's a five minute digest of the news you may not have heard of this week.

Monday 4th July: 

Nuredin Atta Wehabrebi, a former people smuggler in Sicily has claimed that hundreds of migrants who could not afford to pay for their journey across the Mediterranean were killed and had their organs sold for transplants. Italian police and investigators are looking into the claims.

Nigel Farage resigned from UKIP, saying that he would now like to focus on helping other countries break away from the EU. 

Tuesday 5th July:

Investigations into Hilary Clinton's emails will go no further, after she was accused of using a private email account for public business during her time as Secretary of State. The Democrat candidate could be voted President of the United States in November.

47% of all UK primary school children didn't achieve the new SAT standard. This result has come after 11 year olds sat tougher papers than previous years.

Wednesday 6th July:

The long awaited Chicot inquiry into the UK's entry into the Iraq war was published, revealing that Tony Blair's decision to go to war was made using 'flawed intelligence' regarding the presence of weapons of mass destruction. The report argues that although the evidence was true to some extent, it was exagerrated in order to justify the war to the UK public.

Vladmir Putin sees the UK Brexit vote as an opportunity to reconcile with the EU over Russia's actions in the Ukraine.

Thursday 7th July:

Michael Gove was the second potential Prime Minister candidate to be voted out of the running by Conservative MPs. This leaves Theresa May and Angela Leadsom left in the leadership contest, and shall therefore secure the UK its second female PM since Margaret Thatcher.

Experts have predicted that a shortage in nurses could affect the UK for many years to come. The Institute for Employment Studies for the Migration Advisory Committee have made these claims, citing the EU referendum, an aging population, and poor government planning to have been the main causes of this problem.

Friday 8th July:

A peaceful protest in Dallas turned into a shooting last night, after five policemen were shot dead and seven wounded by a gunman. The protests came after the death of Philando Castille in Minnesota and Alton Sterling in Louisiana. The news is still unfolding.

Five construction workers in Birmingham have been killed after a 15ft concrete wall collapsed on top of them at a metal recycling plant. A sixth man is in hospital with a leg injury.

Beth x

“You’re going to feel uncomfortable in your new world for a bit. It always does feel strange to be knocked out of your comfort zone . . . There is a hunger in you, Clark. A fearlessness. You just buried it, like most people do. Just live well. Just live.” 

Having read and reviewed Me Before You here, I couldn't resist picking up it's sequel After You, which seeks to fill the reader in on Louisa Clarke's life after Will Turner's exit. A life that is quite honestly a mess. Two years on, she lives in a dingy flat, holds down a degrading job and has no life outside her grief. Until someone knocks on her door in the middle of the night, and sets of a chain of events that will eventually put her life right back on track.

If your looking for an original piece of literature that sparks conversation and national debate, this certainly isn't for you. But if, like me, you've read Me Before You and/or want an easy, satisfying read, After You is right up your street. I really enjoyed following the Louisa's story, and adored the way in which Moyes chose to focus on peripheral characters and their story lines too.

Like every other rom-com book that's ever been released, the ending is of course light and fluffy. But I would have been so disappointed if that wasn't the case. Readers cry out for a sequel because they want a satisfying end to a heroine's tale, not more misery and desperation!

I have yet to see Me Before You in it's cinematographic form, despite having heard rave reviews from family, friends and bloggers alike. I have a sneaking suspicion that this sequel will also be made into a film, as the story is deep and has the potential to be developed into a meaningful screenplay. 

Pick After You up if you have even the slightest bit of interest in Louisa's life after Will's death. Pick it up even if you have only seen the film. Pick it up and take it away on holiday with you. Sometimes a sequel is needed for a story to feel complete, and Moyes was certainly right to tell the second installment of Louisa's story.

Beth x