The Bitch-a-Thon - CrimeSpace2024-03-28T23:30:11Zhttp://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/537324:Topic:74259?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A74773&feed=yes&xn_auth=noYour Kirkus reviewer sounds u…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-26:537324:Comment:760672007-09-26T13:42:32.379ZL. A. Starkshttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Starksbooks
Your Kirkus reviewer sounds unprofessional and a little too light in the vocabulary department.
Your Kirkus reviewer sounds unprofessional and a little too light in the vocabulary department. Thanks, Kevin, for the reply…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-23:537324:Comment:747732007-09-23T01:52:51.803ZFelicia Donovanhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/FeliciaDonovan
Thanks, Kevin, for the reply and support. You're right, it's not fair to dish out the cost of a dish only to find out it's indigestible. Responsibility falls both ways.
Thanks, Kevin, for the reply and support. You're right, it's not fair to dish out the cost of a dish only to find out it's indigestible. Responsibility falls both ways. Most reviewers, in my experie…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-23:537324:Comment:747692007-09-23T01:39:53.240ZKevin Allmanhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/kevinallman
Most reviewers, in my experience, are either writers, editors, or literature professors. I like to think that it makes me more sympathetic to the tribulations and challenges that face a writer, but ultimately my allegiance has to be with the reader. Books are expensive; time even more so these days. Imagine how you would feel if you spent $25 and several hours on a book that came raved in your Sunday paper...only to come away from the experience feeling that the reviewer had attempted to spare…
Most reviewers, in my experience, are either writers, editors, or literature professors. I like to think that it makes me more sympathetic to the tribulations and challenges that face a writer, but ultimately my allegiance has to be with the reader. Books are expensive; time even more so these days. Imagine how you would feel if you spent $25 and several hours on a book that came raved in your Sunday paper...only to come away from the experience feeling that the reviewer had attempted to spare the author's feelings. You'd feel cheated, and you'd be right.<br />
<br />
That said, I can think of only two titles out of hundreds that I've completely panned with anything approaching viciousness, and both well deserved it. One was a contemporary historical novel where the author didn't check his dates, which were integral to the plot. The other was a Tom Clancy-style thriller in which the writer never seemed to have heard actual human conversation, and all I had to do was quote dialogue, put a bow on it, and send it to my editor.<br />
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Please don't take one negative review to heart (particularly if it's Kirkus - oy vey). As for me, I'll be reading THE BLACK WIDOW AGENCY (though not reviewing it!), and based on your description, I'm looking forward to doing so.<br />
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Good luck! Thanks, Kevin, for your thoug…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-23:537324:Comment:747582007-09-23T01:00:22.012ZFelicia Donovanhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/FeliciaDonovan
Thanks, Kevin, for your thoughts. Indelicate you may be. No offense taken and I appreciate the work you do. Just out of curiosity, are most reviewers also writers and how does that effect your review, if at all? Does it give you greater appreciation for the writing process when doing a review? Just wondering...
Thanks, Kevin, for your thoughts. Indelicate you may be. No offense taken and I appreciate the work you do. Just out of curiosity, are most reviewers also writers and how does that effect your review, if at all? Does it give you greater appreciation for the writing process when doing a review? Just wondering... 1. As you've noted, Kirkus is…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-23:537324:Comment:747522007-09-23T00:43:17.199ZKevin Allmanhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/kevinallman
1. As you've noted, Kirkus is notoriously tough.<br />
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2. Don't take <i>any</i> reviews too seriously -- the good or the bad. If several reviewers mention the same problem independent of one another, you might take it to heart as an education, but otherwise (if I may be indelicate) it's just one asshole's opinion. And I can say that, because I'm one of those assholes who makes his bones doing it.
1. As you've noted, Kirkus is notoriously tough.<br />
<br />
2. Don't take <i>any</i> reviews too seriously -- the good or the bad. If several reviewers mention the same problem independent of one another, you might take it to heart as an education, but otherwise (if I may be indelicate) it's just one asshole's opinion. And I can say that, because I'm one of those assholes who makes his bones doing it. Thanks to all for your though…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-21:537324:Comment:744642007-09-21T17:23:01.161ZFelicia Donovanhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/FeliciaDonovan
Thanks to all for your thoughtful comments. I've received a lot of comments back saying this is pretty indicative of the way Kirkus Reviews operates.<br />
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Just to clarify, I have not designated an amount or percentage that I'm donating to my local Womenade chapter because as a debut author, I don't know what kind of revenue to expect. I will make a donation, though, as good as my word. As for posting the Kirkus Review, I'll have to seek permission to do that. I tried to link to it, but it requires…
Thanks to all for your thoughtful comments. I've received a lot of comments back saying this is pretty indicative of the way Kirkus Reviews operates.<br />
<br />
Just to clarify, I have not designated an amount or percentage that I'm donating to my local Womenade chapter because as a debut author, I don't know what kind of revenue to expect. I will make a donation, though, as good as my word. As for posting the Kirkus Review, I'll have to seek permission to do that. I tried to link to it, but it requires an on-line subscription.<br />
<br />
I thank you all for the comments and input. As we near the launch of THE BLACK WIDOW AGENCY on Oct. 1st, it will be interesting to see how much awareness can be raised.<br />
<br />
The bottom line for me is that I've always been a member of…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-21:537324:Comment:744612007-09-21T17:18:30.093ZKathryn Lilleyhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/KathrynL
I've always been a member of the camp of "as long as they spell my name right, it's all good." But nothing wrong with taking charge of your word of mouth!
I've always been a member of the camp of "as long as they spell my name right, it's all good." But nothing wrong with taking charge of your word of mouth! Angie's right; any review is…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-21:537324:Comment:744412007-09-21T16:43:27.580ZDana Kinghttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/DanaKing
Angie's right; any review is the critic's opinion. That's the issue I have with Kirkus reviews. An anonymous review leaves out the most important thing to know about a review: who wrote it. In any opinion-based writing, 'consider the source" is critical advice. (No pun intended.) There are certain critics I read, because I know I'll probably like something they liked. Others have completely different tastes. Kirkus removes that context from the equation. I know they draw a lot of water (maybe…
Angie's right; any review is the critic's opinion. That's the issue I have with Kirkus reviews. An anonymous review leaves out the most important thing to know about a review: who wrote it. In any opinion-based writing, 'consider the source" is critical advice. (No pun intended.) There are certain critics I read, because I know I'll probably like something they liked. Others have completely different tastes. Kirkus removes that context from the equation. I know they draw a lot of water (maybe less so, now that they're selling reviews), but I'd ignore any review if i couldn't identify the source. It's true about Kirkus. I can…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-21:537324:Comment:744142007-09-21T14:03:24.730ZI. J. Parkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
It's true about Kirkus. I can't comment on the book, but if the ladies do a bit of male-bashing, that could have set off antagonism.
It's true about Kirkus. I can't comment on the book, but if the ladies do a bit of male-bashing, that could have set off antagonism. A review is purely subjective…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-21:537324:Comment:743172007-09-21T04:10:05.807ZAngiehttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/slackerwriter
A review is purely subjective - it's just that reviewer's opinion. Obviously it's not an opinion that's cropping up across the board with your other reviews, so I'm not sure what the big deal is. Without having the actual review to look at, it's impossible to judge beyond what you've shared (a single phrase).<br />
<br />
Truthfully, chances are I'd pick up a book described as a bitch-a-thon if the plot and characters sounded interesting. But that's just me...
A review is purely subjective - it's just that reviewer's opinion. Obviously it's not an opinion that's cropping up across the board with your other reviews, so I'm not sure what the big deal is. Without having the actual review to look at, it's impossible to judge beyond what you've shared (a single phrase).<br />
<br />
Truthfully, chances are I'd pick up a book described as a bitch-a-thon if the plot and characters sounded interesting. But that's just me...