Let me clear a little something up…
Thursday, May 1, 2008 19:43
I had someone accuse me recently of reviewing a book I hadn’t read. She/he said because I got facts wrong in my review, it was apparent I hadn’t read the same book she/he did. Her/his conclusion was I had not read the book.
After I picked myself up off the floor from the shock, I started to get angry that someone would insult me like that. Someone I hardly know, to boot. I mean – this is the kind of thing I expect from a bitter ex, not someone I hardly know. Then it occurred to me perhaps others thought the same. Please allow me clear the air on this little fact…
I have never reviewed, nor will I ever review, a book I haven’t read.
There. I feel much better.
First, reviews are a pain in the butt to write. Why on earth would I write one for a book I haven’t read? It’s a bit like sewing clothes you’ll never wear. Gak! Just too much trouble.
Second, I love reading. I read all the time. I ALWAYS have one in my purse, a couple in the car, others scattered all over the house. So why WOULDN’T I read a book I reviewed? Would you expect a cook to ignore fresh produce? Or a mechanic to walk away from an interesting engine?
There are only two situations I can think of where I may get the odd fact incorrect in one of my reviews, though frankly it would surprise me:
- Sybil hates this but sometimes I write a review a week (or three) after I read a book. In those rare cases, it’s entirely possible I’ll flub a detail. If that happens, and someone points it out to me, I’ll do a big ol’ mea culpa in big, bold text and it won’t even bother me. Shit happens, after all.
- Sometimes I’ll read and review a book pretty far in advance of the release (two or more months). By the time it actually comes out in final form, some of the details of the story have changed. Again, all someone needs to do is point it out to me and, voila, I’ll happily admit any and all wrongs. Again, shit happens.
But rest assured, dear authors and dear readers: I do NOT review books I haven’t read. And THAT I’m willing to swear to in whatever method you wish.
Now, to the aspersion-caster - Put up or Shut up.
azteclady says:
May 1st, 2008 at 7:48 pm
*hug*
(reviews = a total pain)
(you think perhaps we are all masochists?)
ShannonC says:
May 1st, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Yes, we really must be masochists. I enjoy writing reviews, but they can sometimes be tedious. Sometimes I miss the days of yore when all I had to say about a book was, “It was OK, I guess.” But then, I get so much out of these kinds of blogs that I couldn’t imagine *not* reviewing anymore. It’s gotten so engrained in my head that even if I’m reading a book just for me I end up trying to analyze it. I’m going to be a real pain in the ass if I ever take a literary analysis class.
Holly says:
May 1st, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Wait. You mean we aren’t supposed to write reviews for books we haven’t read? Why didn’t someone tell me??
Sandy M says:
May 1st, 2008 at 9:05 pm
LOL, you’re bad, Gwen! Bad Gwen! But funny, tho!
limecello says:
May 1st, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Maybe I should get out now…
Liviania says:
May 1st, 2008 at 10:47 pm
They’re just jealous. ^_~
Mwahaha, literary analysis. Now that’s not a pain anymore. If you do it enough it’s like breathing. But I still can’t work ’syndoche’ into everyday conversation.
Lynne Connolly says:
May 2nd, 2008 at 7:00 am
Nothing surprises me any more. I’ve seen rumours turn into “fact” because more than one blog reported it, I’ve even seen things that never happened turn into “reality” by the same process.
People make stuff up.
Why they do this passes my understanding, but there it is. We used to call them “trolls” in the old days of t’Internet (what we call it in rural England) but I don’t know if that’s still current. People who love to stir the pot.
Hugs, Gwen.
Gwen says:
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:29 am
Trolls is as good a name as any Lynne, and better than what *I* was thinking.
(starts with a “w” and ends with a “hore”)
Sybil says:
May 2nd, 2008 at 10:59 am
Hands off my word gwen my pet.
Gwen says:
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Sorry Sybil. I forgot you had that thing copyrighted. :p
ShannonC says:
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Liviania,
Please, take this nice shiny Internet for teaching me a new word. And here I thought that working in oeuvre into a recent review was appropriately pretentious.
Sybil says:
May 2nd, 2008 at 6:34 pm
shannon hon you are sooooooooooooooo reviewing on the wrong blog if you are going for pretentious. Half the time we can’t seem to spell the authors names right.
oh wait you are on the right blog
Bonnie Edwards says:
May 3rd, 2008 at 12:47 pm
I turn my back to get
a pedicureget some writing done and all kinds of things occur.I can’t for the life of me figure why anyone would want to write a review for a book they haven’t read…but I can see why some people would make the accusation. Some folks just live that way. Love drama and pointing they little fingers…
Sad, really.
Bonnie
Liviania says:
May 3rd, 2008 at 2:04 pm
ShannonC,
I’m (half) an English major. It’s my job to be pretentious.
Gwen says:
May 5th, 2008 at 9:47 am
(snicker)