Comments on: >When writers attack! http://www.hbook.com/2009/06/blogs/read-roger/when-writers-attack/ Publications about books for children and young adults Tue, 14 May 2013 17:58:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Carol Henson Keesee http://www.hbook.com/2009/06/blogs/read-roger/when-writers-attack/#comment-8383 Carol Henson Keesee Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:41:07 +0000 http://nyad1/wp-thb/?p=3330#comment-8383 >I'm happy to get a review - good or bad. At least someone took the time to read my work. Appreciate it! >I'm happy to get a review – good or bad. At least someone took the time to read my work. Appreciate it!

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.hbook.com/2009/06/blogs/read-roger/when-writers-attack/#comment-8334 Anonymous Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:54:08 +0000 http://nyad1/wp-thb/?p=3330#comment-8334 >I really don't like the blurring of public and private that seems inevitable with these devices. I recently read a book by a very popular author who outsells me by about a billion to one. I told a friend that I thought the book was awful--everything about it, plot, characterization, writing. It was the very stuff the word "pedestrian" was invented for. Some authors might say they would never criticize another's work that way, and Jane Yolen probably knows they are liars. But we make our childish, petulant, jealous comments Privately. Twitter seems like a terrible conduit to carry all our private thoughts out to the public. I wonder if Hoffman thought she was addressing friends and was as horrified at the way it traveled as I would be if my own friend sat at a table at ALA and retailed my opinion of er, um's, work. >I really don't like the blurring of public and private that seems inevitable with these devices. I recently read a book by a very popular author who outsells me by about a billion to one. I told a friend that I thought the book was awful–everything about it, plot, characterization, writing. It was the very stuff the word "pedestrian" was invented for. Some authors might say they would never criticize another's work that way, and Jane Yolen probably knows they are liars. But we make our childish, petulant, jealous comments Privately. Twitter seems like a terrible conduit to carry all our private thoughts out to the public. I wonder if Hoffman thought she was addressing friends and was as horrified at the way it traveled as I would be if my own friend sat at a table at ALA and retailed my opinion of er, um's, work.

]]> By: Roger Sutton http://www.hbook.com/2009/06/blogs/read-roger/when-writers-attack/#comment-8333 Roger Sutton Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:01:14 +0000 http://nyad1/wp-thb/?p=3330#comment-8333 >Since I haven't read the book being reviewed (I loved Hoffman's <i>Illumination Night</i> but that's all I've read of her adult books, and I don't think her YAs are very good) I don't know if what the reviewer gave away was a "spoiler." I suspect people have different definitions of that word--for some, it's the revelation of a carefully prepared surprise (there's a good one in Lisa See's new <i>Shanghai Girls,</i>) but for others it can be anything and everything. And what should a mystery reviewer do if the revelation of the villain is lame and unprepared for? Should the review say just say (and only that), thus not providing any evidence for her point, or is the reviewer obliged to explain her reasoning, which might entail giving up some details of the msytery? I'm in the camp that says skip the reviews if you've already decided to read something. >Since I haven't read the book being reviewed (I loved Hoffman's Illumination Night but that's all I've read of her adult books, and I don't think her YAs are very good) I don't know if what the reviewer gave away was a "spoiler." I suspect people have different definitions of that word–for some, it's the revelation of a carefully prepared surprise (there's a good one in Lisa See's new Shanghai Girls,) but for others it can be anything and everything. And what should a mystery reviewer do if the revelation of the villain is lame and unprepared for? Should the review say just say (and only that), thus not providing any evidence for her point, or is the reviewer obliged to explain her reasoning, which might entail giving up some details of the msytery? I'm in the camp that says skip the reviews if you've already decided to read something.

]]> By: janeyolen http://www.hbook.com/2009/06/blogs/read-roger/when-writers-attack/#comment-8332 janeyolen Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:24:23 +0000 http://nyad1/wp-thb/?p=3330#comment-8332 >Upfront: I love Hoffman's work. Big fan here. I have never met her in person and if I do, I will be careful not to divulge my phone number. Just in case.<br /><br />Another upfront: All authors would love to write such twitters or tweets or other rebuttals to critics of all persuasions. We don't. And we don't because it makes us look like divas, el stupidos, and can only backfire. As it did<br /><br />Note: many authors will tell you they don't read reviews, good or bad. Don't believe them. We are professional liars, after all.<br /><br />Jane >Upfront: I love Hoffman's work. Big fan here. I have never met her in person and if I do, I will be careful not to divulge my phone number. Just in case.

Another upfront: All authors would love to write such twitters or tweets or other rebuttals to critics of all persuasions. We don't. And we don't because it makes us look like divas, el stupidos, and can only backfire. As it did

Note: many authors will tell you they don't read reviews, good or bad. Don't believe them. We are professional liars, after all.

Jane

]]> By: Tasses http://www.hbook.com/2009/06/blogs/read-roger/when-writers-attack/#comment-8331 Tasses Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:33:12 +0000 http://nyad1/wp-thb/?p=3330#comment-8331 >Roger, I won't speculate whether Hoffman would have gone as nuts had the review been more positive. I'm simply saying that spoilers have no place in a professional review. It's only information if you are reading a critical analysis. If you are reading a review of a story in order to decide if you want to buy/read said story, spoilers serve only to SPOIL the fun. <br /><br />I'm certainly not defending Hoffman's ridiculous actions (as I said on my own humble blog). I'm saying that reviewers, especially paid professionals, should be held to a higher standard and Silman's review (which I read BEFORE the novel and which totally spoiled the story for me) wasn't up to my idea of what a professional reviewer should do. <br /><br />Thanks for the discussion opportunity :-) >Roger, I won't speculate whether Hoffman would have gone as nuts had the review been more positive. I'm simply saying that spoilers have no place in a professional review. It's only information if you are reading a critical analysis. If you are reading a review of a story in order to decide if you want to buy/read said story, spoilers serve only to SPOIL the fun.

I'm certainly not defending Hoffman's ridiculous actions (as I said on my own humble blog). I'm saying that reviewers, especially paid professionals, should be held to a higher standard and Silman's review (which I read BEFORE the novel and which totally spoiled the story for me) wasn't up to my idea of what a professional reviewer should do.

Thanks for the discussion opportunity :-)

]]> By: Lyle Blake http://www.hbook.com/2009/06/blogs/read-roger/when-writers-attack/#comment-8330 Lyle Blake Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:38:30 +0000 http://nyad1/wp-thb/?p=3330#comment-8330 >As I opined in an earlier thread, the bottom line in the use of spoiler warnings is a display of respect: respect for the material being discussed, respect for the author whose hard work is being frivolously abused by the premature disclosure of carefully planned key elements, and respect for your fellow readers. I am sorry if Anonymous 1:00 finds such respect to be too tiresome to be bothered with. I would be willing to wager that Anon. 1:00 is not a reader of murder mysteries.<br /><br />Lyle Blake Smythers >As I opined in an earlier thread, the bottom line in the use of spoiler warnings is a display of respect: respect for the material being discussed, respect for the author whose hard work is being frivolously abused by the premature disclosure of carefully planned key elements, and respect for your fellow readers. I am sorry if Anonymous 1:00 finds such respect to be too tiresome to be bothered with. I would be willing to wager that Anon. 1:00 is not a reader of murder mysteries.

Lyle Blake Smythers

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.hbook.com/2009/06/blogs/read-roger/when-writers-attack/#comment-8329 Anonymous Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:01:46 +0000 http://nyad1/wp-thb/?p=3330#comment-8329 >sorry, that should be "after you HAVE read the book..." >sorry, that should be "after you HAVE read the book…"

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.hbook.com/2009/06/blogs/read-roger/when-writers-attack/#comment-8328 Anonymous Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:00:22 +0000 http://nyad1/wp-thb/?p=3330#comment-8328 >I don't understand people who complain about "spoilers" in professional reviews. It's part of this whole world-must-revolve-around-my-personal-comfort mindset. I would find the words SPOILER ALERT!!!!! in a the midst of a professional review to be incredibly amateurish. <br /><br />If you are so sensitive that knowing what happens in a book or movie would destroy your enjoyment of it, then don't read the reviews until after you read the book or seen the movie. Don't expect people you don't know to take care of you. >I don't understand people who complain about "spoilers" in professional reviews. It's part of this whole world-must-revolve-around-my-personal-comfort mindset. I would find the words SPOILER ALERT!!!!! in a the midst of a professional review to be incredibly amateurish.

If you are so sensitive that knowing what happens in a book or movie would destroy your enjoyment of it, then don't read the reviews until after you read the book or seen the movie. Don't expect people you don't know to take care of you.

]]> By: Roger Sutton http://www.hbook.com/2009/06/blogs/read-roger/when-writers-attack/#comment-8327 Roger Sutton Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:13:13 +0000 http://nyad1/wp-thb/?p=3330#comment-8327 >Tasses, I'm not buying that argument and I don't think for a second that Hoffman would have advanced it had the review been more laudatory. One person's spoiler is another person's information. >Tasses, I'm not buying that argument and I don't think for a second that Hoffman would have advanced it had the review been more laudatory. One person's spoiler is another person's information.

]]> By: KATE COOMBS http://www.hbook.com/2009/06/blogs/read-roger/when-writers-attack/#comment-8326 KATE COOMBS Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:26:21 +0000 http://nyad1/wp-thb/?p=3330#comment-8326 >Can't help but picture the person who might own that phone number; depict the colorful character of your choice in your head and then picture them saying to callers, "Alice who? Who gave you this number?" Or something far less repeatable... >Can't help but picture the person who might own that phone number; depict the colorful character of your choice in your head and then picture them saying to callers, "Alice who? Who gave you this number?" Or something far less repeatable…

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