First let me say, when I read a book, I'm in it for the story. I love concise, flowing prose, but it's the characters and what they are up to that gets and holds my attention. Am I getting to know them? Do I care when they face their trials and tribulations? Is the story moving along and compelling?

An occasional misspelled word, or a misplaced comma, or "to" instead of "too" doesn't get my attention. But if one of these typos or misspellings does get my attention, they only serve to to make me glad to know I'm not the only author or editor that overlooks them from time to time.

I have great respect for those who are well-schooled in the rules of our language. It is helpful when my mistakes are pointed out by them; it gives me the desire to strive to catch my mistakes. What I am at odds with is the scholar that knocks a book's rating down a star or two because he or she noticed "there" spelled as "their".

So it's your money you spend on a book, and your time you spend reading it. If the book is flush with typos and errors, sure, take it apart in your review. But an occasional misspelling? Come on; even the sharpest editors miss one now and then.