The Letters: good review, bad review, praise, blame
"A bit disappointing. The story ambled along for ages, giving no indication of where it was going, with lots of rather pointless looks at the main character's youth. There's also the mysterious letters that have no purpose in the story until the very end, when the reason for them is revealed totally out of the blue."
Is that true? Is my book disappointing and rather pointless?
"The Letters flings the reader up onto an edge of adrenaline fuelled frisson before dropping you into fur lined ruts where you could happily luxuriate forever."
What about that? Which review is true?
I think both are.
Here's what started me thinking about this. I found this short review of Michael Kimball's How Much of Us There Was. "...possibly the dullest book ever written." Horror! How could someone think that about such a moving, exquisitely written, profound book?
Then I remembered that for that reader, it WAS probably the dullest book ever written.
It's very important for all of us to remember this. Maybe it's especially important for us writerly types, who (if we're very lucky) have to listen to a lot of praise. Here's what the Buddha said...
“Praise and blame and loss, pleasure and sorrow come and go like the wind. To be happy, rest like a great tree in the midst of them all.”
And a great quote by Dereke Bruce, which also gave me the excuse for the photo for this post:
“In order to keep a true perspective of one’s importance, everyone should have a dog that will worship him and a cat that will ignore him.”
About Fiona
Fiona Robyn is on a mission to help people connect with the world through writing. You can hear more about how to pay more attention (and read Lorrie's story) in her free e-book, 'How to Write Your Way Home'. She runs a free community for beginner and...
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Wasn't it the Buddha who
Wasn't it the Buddha who also said: It doesn't matter what they say, as long as they spell your name correctly.
I have a theory (disputed by many but what do they know) that if 100 people read a positive review, 50 people will look at the book. And, if 100 people read a negative review, 50 people will look at the book.
I agree with Dale.
Adrenaline fuelled frisson and fur lined ruts? Who is this reviewer?
Here's something to think about - not only was your book published, it was also reviewed! And his review made me want to read it - sounds engaging. Now if only the reviewer knew how to write.
Thanks for your comments
Reminds me of the Oscar Wilde quote, Dale, that all publicity is good publicity (or something like that...) I like it.
Thanks Evelyn - and yes, I am very grateful for what I have, including the not-so-good reviews!
enjoyed your blog, fiona
reading is such an intimate act, and reviewing such a public one. Sometimes when a review of a work of mine has pointed out a problem, i've thought, "damn, they are right!" but once a very public review seemed to be about another book entirely. no recourse, of course, except to remember why we write: it's not for the reviews... Thanks for your blog.
Hi Masha
Glad you're enjoying the blog - thanks for writing. You're absolutely right - writing needs to be intrinsically rewarding for us to survive/thrive!
Good to meet you.