| I can take a bad review. Really, I can. I find a lot of valid points in what reviewers of all levels have to say as I'm always trying to better my writing. I don't want to be one of those authors I read about who must address everything a reader says when the reader didn't like a book. Today, however, I'm going to delve into a bit of a bad CUSTOMER review. Not from an actual review from what I would consider a legitimate source, but a customer review at a shopping for books site. So I'm given the lowest ranking they can give at the site, followed by a statement (paraphrased) that my plot characters and dialogue are a complete rip off of the movie "Men in Black" and that I pretty much searched and replaced aliens and put in ghosts. I have to say that left me a little livid. If it was an accusation on their own blog, that would be fine, but this is made a very public forum. Now to say I have tropes in my work is one thing... as, say, fellow author Rachel Vincent put very elegantly in this quote: "Part Ghostbusters, part Men-in-Black, Strout's debut is both dark and funny, with quirky characters, an eminently likable protagonist, and the comfortable, familiar voice of a close friend. His mix of (mostly) secret bureaucratic bickering and offbeat action shows Now I like this quote for several reasons: 1. Hey, it's positive. 2. It shows an understanding that there are nods to genre tropes, but clearly gets that they are unique takes on them. For anyone who's read The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell, you'll know that a lot of concepts in my book are classics and not, as accused, rip offs of a movie that, yes, I did like The rookie/veteran investigator? Gee, that's never been done before... on wait, except for the master/apprentice relationship from everything ever. And my characters are only ten years apart in age, so it's not like it's all that rookie/vet anyway... Secret organization handling odd things? That's all over the place too, but again, my work is my take on ideas that predate what I'm accused of. Remember that classic scene in MiB when Will Smith has to defend himself against a carniverous book case? Yeah, me neither. I fail to see how my plot even remotely touches MiB. I can't make the connection. Again, I normally wouldn't give a review this type of time or energy, but again it is in a fairly public forum and attacks me on a level that simply is false. Yes, I touch on common ground of my genre, but I stand by my story and characters. But I've got this great idea for a giant cockroach and a talking dog for my next book... |
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It reminds me of when someone dissed Stacia's book as a pale copy of Carrie Vaughn since both had something to do with radio.
I, frankly, am glad we live in a country where people are allowed to spout off with ill-informed opinions in public spaces.
It will make them much easier to locate when the revolution comes.
I know I've told you not to take the reviews personally especially one that is reviewed by someone who read the book.
But what you could do if that person left their e-mail addy, you could send a nice e-mail thanking them for the review, but then tell them how wrong they are. Some people are just going to be negative, but if you mentioned something and they knew that you were reading the reviews, perhaps ...
I say tear them a new one!
Heh, yeah, it is nice when a review actually shows some measure of actually reading said book before doing said review. At least I finish a book before I write my opinions on it; though some of my opinions are formed in the first fifty pages, which takes forever to purge from the tone of a book.
But, that type of review is specially frustrating because it shows a lack of everything. :) You know, things like reading skills and basic cognitive associations.
Hope the next review is much better.
"It will make them much easier to locate when the revolution comes."
Reminds me of the end of Jay and Silent Bob, when they tracked down everyone who gave them a bad review and beat them. :)
The rookie/veteran investigator? Gee, that's never been done before... on wait, except for the master/apprentice relationship from everything ever.
Never knew the literary world was so full of hacks...
I wouldn't bother emailing the guy--just get all your friends to tag the review as "unhelpful" until it gets removed, then hire a PI to find out where the reviewer lives and--
What? That's been done before? I'm a total hack.
*hugs* They are an idiot. Your book was fresh and fun... and you know how much I adore Simon!! I know people are entitled to their opinions, but they shouldn't give them if they are so uneducated (IOW- it sounds like they didn't finish your book). So lemme at 'im!! Lemme at 'im! I'll knock their bleedin' socks off!! :)
Well I hope you like my review!!
*hugs*