tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post3428571789831644601..comments2024-01-01T10:51:49.578-05:00Comments on Cynthia's Attic: Book Review! The Slippery Art of Book ReviewingMary Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-77275967778621191592008-11-12T09:23:00.000-05:002008-11-12T09:23:00.000-05:00I discovered, early on, that even a less-than-perf...I discovered, early on, that even a less-than-perfect review is better than no review at all. <BR/><BR/>I was given a choice, by a reviewer whether to post a review or not. It wasn't that she didn't like the book, but she had an extreme fear of clowns and an evil clown was featured in the book (YA book). Her phobia seemed to drive the review.<BR/><BR/>I made the decision to pull the review and I've regretted it ever since. Think of the attention it would've gotten!! Duh! <BR/><BR/>I've taken a completely different attitude on reviews and reviewers ever since. <BR/><BR/>Now, that doesn't mean I'd want to be savaged by a review from a relative!! LOLMary Cunninghamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-92160864178556638802008-11-12T09:05:00.000-05:002008-11-12T09:05:00.000-05:00About a month ago, I decided to post the only nega...About a month ago, I decided to post the only negative review about me ... on the first page of my website (www.normcowie.com).<BR/><BR/>Soon after, my site started getting a bunch of hits from a forum that was all about the SciFi Dune series. <BR/><BR/>I followed the thread, and there were a bunch of funny posts where the posters were all slamming the guy who reviewed my book. I went, "huh?"<BR/><BR/>Turns out that the negative review was by a grandson of the creator of Dune, and these posters all feel that the second generation Dune had been ruined by the guy who reviewed my book. So he's basically a whipping boy for them.<BR/><BR/>Weird, but true.<BR/><BR/>Norm CowieNorm Cowiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16686763415358589497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-36897209873390651912008-11-09T21:35:00.000-05:002008-11-09T21:35:00.000-05:00As an author, I often find myself waiting for revi...As an author, I often find myself waiting for reviews with baited breath. I've had great reviews and so-so reviews, but the worst reviews are those that seem to go on and on raving about by book only to give it an average star rating. That makes me crazy.<BR/><BR/>I've also tried my hand at being a reviewer and can understand how challenging it can be to write a review that fairly and accurately expresses my opinion, especially if I had misgivings about a book. It's so easy and fun to rave about something I like, but to have to share why I didn't like it is quite another story.<BR/><BR/>Erin Aislinn<BR/>www.erinaislinn.comErin Aislinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15173027098367204797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-18689823081257926712008-11-09T15:28:00.000-05:002008-11-09T15:28:00.000-05:00Ha, it is always hard to take criticism and writer...Ha, it is always hard to take criticism and writers get more of it than most professions. Can you imagine if frequent reviews were written about doctors? I don't think they could take it like we can!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-19224084805763248282008-11-09T11:00:00.000-05:002008-11-09T11:00:00.000-05:00Mayra: Nice blog post and your book is square on ...Mayra: Nice blog post and your book is square on the mark. In the early going, most of us are eager for good reviews, both for the positive strokes they give us and to help our book promotion efforts. You provide some much needed and valuable perspective and advice about what reviews of all kinds can mean for new writers and veterans alike.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-38891081021837206512008-11-08T20:25:00.000-05:002008-11-08T20:25:00.000-05:00Happy you host you, Mayra. Anytime! As to the M-in...Happy you host you, Mayra. Anytime! <BR/><BR/>As to the M-in-L horror story, I'm torn. She may not have realized the damage such an awful review could do, but, as the author, I think I would've disguised her character a little better. LOL!Mary Cunninghamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04377529303481858837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-2078072864476513342008-11-08T18:03:00.000-05:002008-11-08T18:03:00.000-05:00Great post Mayra, but the bit about the disgruntle...Great post Mayra, but the bit about the disgruntled M-in-L smacked me in the face. If my son-in-law put me in his book , and described me like that, I would at least cut him out of my will!! <BR/><BR/>Really, if you are thoughtless enough to put a relative in a book in such an unflattering way, and then make it obvious to all, whom you are referring too, then you must expect a nasty reaction. <BR/><BR/>Using the quirks and frailties of friends and relatives in their books is a time-honored author secret. But the smart ones disguise the characters well enough, so that no one's feelings get hurt.<BR/><BR/>I am afraid my sympathy is with M-in-L. If I was parodied as a fat, red headed, wrinkled old bag, I would be HURT - even if it was true. However, her huge chunk of revenge was WAY over the top. <BR/><BR/>ME? Hmmmm. . . I guess I would have taken out an add in the New York Times, rather than scribbled in Amazon. Don't mess with this Aussie sheila, mate!!<BR/><BR/>Love to be a fly on the wall during their family Thanksgiving dinner. <BR/><BR/>By the way, my M-in-L is a sweetheart. If I put her in a book there would be a halo over her name.<BR/><BR/>Margot Finke<BR/>"Rattlesnake Jam"<BR/>Fun with Gran and Pa<BR/>www.margotfinke.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-67128721956900601952008-11-08T17:46:00.000-05:002008-11-08T17:46:00.000-05:00Thanks so much for your comments, Ladies! I apprec...Thanks so much for your comments, Ladies! I appreciate your stopping by!Mayra Calvanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-41536639537249340592008-11-08T17:24:00.000-05:002008-11-08T17:24:00.000-05:00Great post...LOL. I agree this is certainly what m...Great post...LOL. I agree this is certainly what makes a nightmare.<BR/><BR/>Warmly,<BR/>Donna <BR/>www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.comDonna McDinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00959673932828354020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-87282894524285274342008-11-08T16:34:00.000-05:002008-11-08T16:34:00.000-05:00That makes me glad I don't have a mother-in-law.That makes me glad I don't have a mother-in-law.A. F. Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09813561042723593419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-42298420170627202252008-11-08T16:29:00.000-05:002008-11-08T16:29:00.000-05:00I agree with Carolyn. It IS tough learning to be a...I agree with Carolyn. It IS tough learning to be a professional. Sometimes I settle for at least acting professional, even though I'm seething inside. <BR/><BR/>But then, nobody's compared my hands to wobbly maggots yet.<BR/><BR/>Susan Stephenson<BR/>The Book Chook<BR/>www.susanstephenson.com.auBookChookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06230711251425187241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-47666967810185129752008-11-08T15:48:00.000-05:002008-11-08T15:48:00.000-05:00I love this, Mayra. It is tough learning to be a p...I love this, Mayra. It is tough learning to be a professional. Whether we are a newbie or oldie. But getting charged up about a negative review (or even one negative comment in a review!) is a waste of time. We have free speech, after all, so a better approach is to consider if the comment has value--something we could or should change--and then move on. Life is too darn short.<BR/>Best,<BR/>Carolyn Howard-Johnson<BR/>Author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series for writers<BR/>www.howtodoitfrugally.comCarolyn Howard-Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15041591136206289558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-10252294307053292472008-11-08T15:43:00.000-05:002008-11-08T15:43:00.000-05:00Wow - those are the things nightmares are made of....Wow - those are the things nightmares are made of. Kind of like when you're planning something big...like a wedding...and you dream that nobody shows up at the reception.<BR/><BR/>Thanks Mayra...you've given me a new nightmare...if and when I ever get published. ;-)<BR/><BR/>But I did enjoy your post AND it's good to know that something can be done about those slam type of reviews.<BR/><BR/>WordThe Creative Cafehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12167785784830502323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-7955320962960670562008-11-08T15:37:00.000-05:002008-11-08T15:37:00.000-05:00Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog, Mary!Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog, Mary!Mayra Calvanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5375847995047931856.post-17165042526610084382008-11-08T15:14:00.000-05:002008-11-08T15:14:00.000-05:00Book reviews are a slippery slope. Putting your wo...Book reviews are a slippery slope. Putting your work out there is always scary. It sounds like Mayra offers solid advice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com