Wikipedia:Peer review/Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang/archive1

Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang is the only non-Bond novel that Ian Fleming wrote. He did so shortly after suffering a heart attack and while he was supposed to be convalescing. Although he planned to release a story a year, he never saw this first one published, dying two months before it hit the shops. This has been through a bit of a rewrite recently and a trip to FAC is envisioned. - SchroCat (talk) 12:54, 25 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Comments from Tim riley

edit

Booking my place, and shall look in with suggestions shortly. Tim riley talk 13:08, 25 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Most pleasing piece. Precious little from me:

  • "While recuperating, one of Fleming's friends—probably Sir George Duff-Sutherland-Dunbar, according to Fleming's biographer Andrew Lycett—gave him a copy ..." – It was Fleming, not the friend, who was recuperating. You want something on the lines of "While Fleming was recuperating, one of his friends—probably Sir George Duff-Sutherland-Dunbar, according to Fleming's biographer Andrew Lycett—gave him a copy ..."
  • "the strain of writing new Bond novel was too much for him, so he asked for a pen" – missing an indefinite article and you know my views on strong-arming "so" to serve as a conjunction in formal English.
  • "completed preliminary drawings for the project, the The Daily Mail refused" – duplicate definite article.
  • "He produced some trial sketches, but Fleming rejected these" – perhaps a simple "them" rather than "these"?
  • "The New York Times's list of best selling children's books" – needs a hyphen, and if we're avoiding theoretical ambiguity I'd make this "best-selling books for children".

That's all I can find to carp about. Tim riley talk 07:45, 27 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

All duly attended to. Thanks very much for these - you have, as always, tetigisti-ed the rem acu with these. Cheers - SchroCat (talk) 08:19, 27 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Comments by Alavense

edit
  • Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang was serialised in The Daily Express - It should be "the Daily Express", as in other instances throughout the article.
  • By March 1961 the author Ian Fleming had published nine books at the rate of one a year: eight novels and a collection of short stories. - Can it be stated that they are all about James Bond?
  • but may also have been inspired by early aeronautical engineer Letitia Chitty - Why "also"?
  • An obscene song from the First World War song
  • 10s. in the text but then 10s in the note. Which one is correct?
  • Since its initial publication the book has been re-issued in hardback and paperback editions and has never been out of print - Maybe "and, as of 2024, has never been out of print"?
  • considered that the first two volumes of Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang, "would make - No need for the comma.
  • The unnamed reviewer for The Birmingham Post through
  • Both Oscar Turnill, writing for The Sunday Times and Townsend - A comma is missing after "The Sunday Times".
  • The author Richard Usborne, reviewing for The Daily Telegraph also reviewed - A comma is missing after "The Daily Telegraph'". It would also be better to avoid the repetition of reviewing and reviewed.

That's what I saw. Kind regards, Alavense (talk) 20:09, 25 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Many thanks Alavense - all dealt with. - SchroCat (talk) 07:27, 26 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Enjoyable read, SchroCat. Kind regards, Alavense (talk) 07:29, 26 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]