tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post1746325186396550865..comments2024-03-28T02:34:34.041-07:00Comments on Rachna's Scriptorium: My book reviewing woesRachna Chhabriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-78656750740434369272017-06-05T16:52:35.595-07:002017-06-05T16:52:35.595-07:00I agree, you have to be honest. I'm sure you w...I agree, you have to be honest. I'm sure you were as kind and tactful as possible. When faced with this kind of thing, I try to draw out some positive aspects as well if I can. This is one reason why I don't consent to many reviews, for I prefer to review only books I enjoy, or can say positive or constructive things about them. Reviews are tricky, aren't they? :) Karen Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-27019725238668177762017-06-05T16:08:54.348-07:002017-06-05T16:08:54.348-07:00How did it go, Rachna?How did it go, Rachna?Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-64347538734787136282017-06-05T07:06:16.220-07:002017-06-05T07:06:16.220-07:00You have to be honest at all times. You did the ri...You have to be honest at all times. You did the right thing. At the same time, we all have a traditional view that a particular historical character is supposed to be like this. When someone challenges that, right or wrong, we beg to differ.SGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05790347071764332430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-13197353361584638762017-06-04T05:00:53.265-07:002017-06-04T05:00:53.265-07:00I am sure that would have been a hard stand to tak...I am sure that would have been a hard stand to take especially when you knew it would have it's repercussions. Kudos to that. <br />As readers we would expect a fair review and I for one do not like making fun of historical figures Sujatha Sathyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00448034391267400236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-64716874637721561292017-06-01T21:48:58.127-07:002017-06-01T21:48:58.127-07:00You've hit the reason I don't review anymo...You've hit the reason I don't review anymore. You just can't give a honest review without ruffling feathers. I think you did right by being true to your feelings, and it's great you pointed out the reasons without being insulting. I think big publishers sometimes choose books that are "different" and controversial -- pushing more people to read it to see what the fuss is about. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07735576044552810103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-24898126855697819152017-05-30T18:32:04.504-07:002017-05-30T18:32:04.504-07:00Go ahead and write it proper, I think. It's s...Go ahead and write it proper, I think. It's still probably better journalism than the rest of what's in the paper, if the Indian press is anything like the American press.Patrick Stahlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690555802232025818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-35972872939882677112017-05-28T01:08:10.458-07:002017-05-28T01:08:10.458-07:00I think you've done the right thing. It's ...I think you've done the right thing. It's your job to give honest reviews and you'd not be doing it if you gave only praise.Patsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12263765378083045973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-60182683030497167182017-05-27T16:16:39.183-07:002017-05-27T16:16:39.183-07:00That sounds like a tough job! I think if you added...That sounds like a tough job! I think if you added in those points about the good writing, then you did the most professional job you could do. Tyrean Martinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15356604721537744361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-9384145138851749972017-05-27T13:45:33.280-07:002017-05-27T13:45:33.280-07:00What a difficult job! I'm sure you handled it...What a difficult job! I'm sure you handled it in the most positive, professional way possible. <br />Patricia had a good point in mentioning that the review is subjective.<br />Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-19098954878379052482017-05-27T13:43:39.071-07:002017-05-27T13:43:39.071-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-12274205544973980912017-05-27T06:35:00.049-07:002017-05-27T06:35:00.049-07:00I don't review books anymore if I can't gi...I don't review books anymore if I can't give them 4 or 5 stars, but in your case, if you're obligated to review every book you read, then you must be honest. However, it never hurts to mention that liking or disliking a well-written book is a subjective undertaking. The book you dislike may be the best book ever written for another reader with a different outlook on history and humor.Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-35386582162473201392017-05-26T20:45:47.765-07:002017-05-26T20:45:47.765-07:00I can imagine that being a book reviewer is stress...I can imagine that being a book reviewer is stressful. If you genuinely have problems with a book it would be a disservice to say only good things about it. I always appreciate honest reviews. :)<br />~JessDMShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04202502753961748992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-556915227661516942017-05-26T13:58:37.864-07:002017-05-26T13:58:37.864-07:00If your reviews weren't honest then people wou...If your reviews weren't honest then people would no longer value them, and you'd be out of a job. You did the right thing. I'd love to have a job as a book reviewer. If I weren't a publisher I'd start a book review blog, or start reviewing a ton of books on Amazon and become a top reviewer!Karen Jones Gowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11378428503220197256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-72328634550165842502017-05-26T13:44:47.771-07:002017-05-26T13:44:47.771-07:00You absolutely did the right thing. If a big publi...You absolutely did the right thing. If a big publisher that knows better saw value, it is possible they viewed the style as one some people will appreciate. As a reviewer, you can point out what the author did well but that the tone was not to your personal liking. That doesn't mean others shouldn't like it. I hope you post a follow-up if you do get a lot of flack. Ha haWendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17863357756727783017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-46550905687946921042017-05-26T11:00:40.454-07:002017-05-26T11:00:40.454-07:00You absolutely did the right thing. Honesty equals...You absolutely did the right thing. Honesty equals integrity in this case. And as for publishers/editors, I'm not surprised some of these thing slipped by them. They're often so busy that they rely more and more on the author to confirm that what they say is true or makes sense. Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01793077012143289985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-65256593501332836542017-05-26T10:24:54.247-07:002017-05-26T10:24:54.247-07:00And that is how history gets changed. Sad. Stick t...And that is how history gets changed. Sad. Stick to your honest review. People need to know.L. Diane Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-8069017719533174462017-05-26T09:54:26.526-07:002017-05-26T09:54:26.526-07:00You are touching on a theme that has bothered me f...You are touching on a theme that has bothered me for some time: There are many good writers with wonderful writing skills, and they write books that engage readers . . . but is it a worthwhile read? Sometimes editors are really into "edgy", or "pushing the envelope", because it sells. But does that guarantee a good book? A well-written book, probably. A good to applaud? Not always. Keep being true to yourself, Rachna, when you review books.Elizabeth Varadan, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708206753256682635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-29163588165854035412017-05-26T06:20:19.198-07:002017-05-26T06:20:19.198-07:00No, you have to be honest. I'm sure you found ...No, you have to be honest. I'm sure you found a couple good things to say about it as well.<br />Actually, it doesn't surprise me that book was published with that tone. That's just where we are in society right now.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.com