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Monday 16 March 2020

The weirdest thing I learned while reading

I had to twist this topic by Long and Short Reviews, because I honestly couldn't think of anything weird I had learned by reading fiction. I tend never to assume that weird things I read in fiction are true. So I came up with one weird thing from non-fiction and two from researching my own writing.

Otters play. I was a great lover of Gavin Maxwell's "Ring of Bright Water" and was fascinated to discover that otters are playful animals, spending hours tossing rocks around for sport. He also described that when playing fetch with an otter, it is the otter that throws the ball and the human who fetches it.

What happens if you squeeze a full can of drink. I had a scene in "The Hand He Dealt" with Ash squeezing his can of beer in shock and spraying it all over his girlfriend. My husband insisted the beer would simply run down the sides. So we filled a can with water, my husband stood in the shower and squeezed it. The resulting jet of water hit the ceiling, proving my point entirely.

You can pin someone to a tree with a spear. I haven't actually used this one yet, but my husband likes to remind me of it as a weird question I once asked him. Although apparently you'd be better using a pike. A spear is for throwing.

So what weird things have you learned while reading?

22 comments:

  1. Ring of Bright Water, my mother read that to me and my brother when I was about ten. I remember it every time I see them at the zoo. They're fascinating animals. https://pmprescott.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-weirdest-thing-ive-learned-reading.html

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    1. There used to be an otter sanctuary near me which I loved. I adore otters.

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  2. Aww, I didn't know that otters play. Adorable.

    My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/wednesday-weekly-blogging-challenge-the-weirdest-thing-i-learned-reading-fiction/

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  3. Hah - not just research but experiments, too. I love it!

    My post

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  4. I like the post. You've proved my point authors can do research without it just being the naughty kind. Great one!! Plus, otters playing? How adorable is that?

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    1. Apparently my husband tenses up every time I say "I was just wondering..." because he knows something bizarre is going to come up!

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  5. Great post! And research is the best! :)

    Here's mine: https://www.marymorganauthor.com/post/long-and-short-reviews-weekly-blog-challenge-03-18-20

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  6. I feel like I otter be making some kind of joke, here...

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    1. I otter come up with a better one, but I can't...

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  7. Wow, loved your post. Otters are so fascinating. LOL On the can. Thanks for sharing. here's mine. https://www.tenastetler.com/lsrs-wednesdays-blog-challenge-3-18-2020-the-weirdest-thing-i-learned-reading-fiction/

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  8. I also had to stop and think cause there honestly was not anything I could think of either. Good list and interesting things to pick up on while reading.

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    1. It certainly was easier to use my own research - I couldn't remember anything!

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  9. We're members of our local zoo, so we've watched otters play. They're fun to watch, and act like kids. When our kids were young, we went to the zoo every month. Helped them to develop a passion for nature, in all its manifestations.

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    1. I can remember going to the zoo as a child, although at the time I preferred the penguins.

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  10. I love that you and your husband tested your theory! Science experiments while researching for a novel. Awesome!

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  11. Loved this, especially your experiment with the beer can. It's like the writing equivalent of method acting.
    Fun post, Tanith!

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    1. I do throw myself into my research when I get the chance :)

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