Comments on: Some More Incoherent Thoughts on the Author/Reviewer Relationship

By: On the Opinion that Authors Should Not Respond to Reviews – Grasping for the Wind

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:12:45 +0000

[...] totally unyielding) isn’t worth the frustration. Justine Larbalestier eloquently points out that responding to “bad reviews” will get you nowhere. And she develops this argument in a subsequent post (with good quotes and links to [...]

By: Eric Luper

Eric Luper — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:52:30 +0000

Now that I think about it, I did blog about a bad review once because the reviewer loosely made the claim that since my book had characters who made questionable moral decisions, I as an author must share these morals. It raised an interesting philosophical question and spurred a really fascinating discussion.

By: Carla

Carla — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:12:39 +0000

RE authors responding to good reviews, I reviewed a book for Broad Universe’s The Broadsheet and the author tracked down my website (which isn’t that hard, to be fair) and left me the sweetest thank you comment. I can see how sometimes it might feel that the reviewer is being watched if an author came to engage, but that particular time I thought it was just a lovely gesture. She was very nice and I liked knowing my review had touched her in some way. But she didn’t have a huge web presence; if she had, it might have felt more intimidating.

By: Justine

Justine — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:21:28 +0000

Patrick: Obviously we’re going to have to disagree on this one. I think there’s a real danger in someone as popular as Scalzi engaging with bad reviews that it will lead to a pile on. I have seen several popular blogging authors respond to bad reviews and as a result there have been massive pile ons. I see it as a misuse of power. Scalzi has never intentionaly done that. But I think the danger remains.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:10:04 +0000

Justine – I’m not sure which incident you are thinking of. I think he has handled some negative reviews with quite a good bit of humor. I think, if you are going to acknowledge or respond, that’s the way to do it. I think Jay Lake also links to all reviews whether good or bad without comment.

By: Terry Weyna

Terry Weyna — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:05:49 +0000

I make it a point to email authors when I’ve written a positive review of their books; but if I’ve written a bad review (a fairly infrequent event, as I’m pretty good about picking books I know I’m likely to enjoy reading), I don’t. No author needs to find that out from me.

I’m bemused, however, at authors or editors who respond to reviews that are overwhelmingly positive but contain some tiny germ of disagreement with what the writer/editor has done. I’ve just said your book is essential; why are you yelling at me because I disagreed with one of your strategies? But then, perhaps I’m just as bad at taking criticism as is the author or editor in question!

By the way, there’s a new feud going on: Alain de Botton is very displeased with the review The New York Times Book Review provided for his latest book in this last Sunday’s issue, and has responded most intemperately on the reviewer’s blog. Here’s the link: http://www.steamthing.com/2009/06/review-of-alain-de-bottons-pleasures-and-sorrows-of-work.html

By: Justine

Justine — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:14:52 +0000

Nicholas: Fixed. Thanks!

Pam: I think in the abstract it’s a nice idea but I have heard from plenty of bloggers that they’re freaked out when the author shows up. They start to feel like they’re being watched. I don’t want to freak anyone out.

Patrick: John Scalzi’s a good friend of mine but that was not one of his finer moments.

Karson: We all start out with zero-trafficked blogs. I sure did.

I am all for honest opinions that’s why I think it’s better for authors to butt out and not respond to reviews. I know that for many bloggers it’s very difficult to give a bad review to an author they exchange emails with. Which is a shame. I have nothing against bad reviews. They can be helpful and cathartic.

By: Karson

Karson — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:56:18 +0000

It is very ironic that just a few hours ago I started a blog where I review young adult books! Yes, I am an amateur reviewer, however, the goal of my reviews are to promote reading to teens; specifically the students I teach. Authors may not like to hear opinions from amateurs like me, but at the same time, my students and I are that very same author’s target audience; don’t you think our opinions matter…possibly a lot?

Also, “their almost zero-trafficked blog are the least powerful criticism that can be made.” Ouch a little bit…

On the flip side, I do know that authors put their hearts and souls into their writing, so I would never knowingly slaughter them in a review. I just want to give my honest opinion about a book based on what I have read and what I know my readers will like.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:49:06 +0000

“I have yet to see an author respond to a bad review in any way that didn’t make them look like a petty loser.”

Umm, have you met John Scalzi?

Have you seen the Brad Meltzer video?
http://bit.ly/na3yt

PS. I would happily proclaim you lord of the internet if you made Thursdays “Internet U****rn Day!”

By: Pam

Pam — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:43:19 +0000

I like the idea of authors complementing and thanking reviewers for good reviews. Even if the author deserves a good review, thanking the reviewer is thoughtful.

By: Nicholas Waller

Nicholas Waller — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:13:14 +0000

Nit: “I have no idea what these people want from us reviewers” – you mean authors, no?