Me and Cousin 'IT'

[BrianKittrell]

Brian, you just hurt my brain. That was awesome.

lol So sorry, I hope you have enough turkey tomorrow to cure it. I know I will. 

[HAParker321]

Can't say that I do. I've only read one review posted here, and I found it not useful based upon the fact it was a review of the first two chapters.

You might want to read a few other reviews where I do actually read more than two chapters.  

"Would the lives of these authors be ruined if someone were to publish something negative about their reviews?"

I did not catch that, thanks.  

This sentence is WAY overwritten.

Sometimes, I do overwrite; this is one of the few sentences that are like that. That is why I usually go back and I re-read them prior to publishing. Nevertheless I agree with what you said.  

How about: "If every book pleased every critic, we would see only positive reviews."

Are you arguing more about the fact that I overwrite things or just the word order? The first one was legitimate, but the other one...well uhhh... I'm confused.

Parker

[BrianKittrell]

You might want to read a few other reviews where I do actually read more than two chapters.  
I did not catch that, thanks.  
Sometimes, I do overwrite; this is one of the few sentences that are like that. That is why I usually go back and I re-read them prior to publishing. Nevertheless I agree with what you said.  
Are you arguing more about the fact that I overwrite things or just the word order? The first one was legitimate, but the other one...well uhhh... I'm confused.

Parker

Sorry, I thought you said you were striving to be a better writer. Now, I'm confused.

Once I finish up posting this response to the KindleBoards forum, doing so while I eat a fresh sandwich recently delivered from my local Domino's Pizza and having significant trouble wiping my hands and keeping any grease or sauce from getting onto the keys of my keyboard, I plan to think of how I shall explain to those viewing here--either viewing this thread now or at any time in the future, near or distant--what things other than grammar itself make for quality and concise writing, whether it be rearranging a sentence to make it flow better or read better for the reader or if better wording, subject-verb agreement, tense agreement between verbs, or any other thing of the sort can be brought up to improve the writing substantially.

Or, I could have said:

Things other than grammar are important to good writing.

[deanfromaustralia]

Ah, to review something based upon two chapters. As useful as the people who post reviews on Amazon based upon the free sample, in my opinion.

As the author of the novel, The Hambledown Dream, I was a little excited when Parker's review showed up in my Google alerts the other day and I was actually looking forward to reading a review that ran counter to the many positive reviews of my novel.

However when I digested Parker's review and the background of how he came to review my novel, I was more than a little puzzled.

Firstly, I never actually approached Parker in soliciting a review from him - which in and of itself is insignificant - however, he gives the impression via his blog that I actually sent him a copy of my book. Looking back through my records of all the reviewers I have interacted with over the past year, I can find no correspondence with Parker at all, nor do I have any postal receipts from having sent a parcel to him.

Secondly, Parker has clearly based his review on the first two chapters of my novel - which is manifestly disingenuous on his part and it severely damages his credibility as a reviewer. How can anyone hope to gain a honest appraisal of a literary work when the reviewer bases his review on an incomplete reading of said work?

Having come to this thread via a second Google alert in the past 24 hours, I am now beginning to better understand the limitations of Parker as a reviewer. And it's really disappointing. As I said earlier - I was really hoping to read a balanced, constructive critique of my novel because I value both good and not so good reviews. They help me in addressing my own limitations as a writer and become better at my craft.

But it seems that Parker has simply happened upon my novel via Amazon - read the opening chapters which are indeed available as a preview and has gone onto to construct a poorly executed review based on that. I mean, he can't even get the name of my novel right.

If he is ever to be taken seriously as a reviewer, Parker needs to actually read the entire book he plans to review, no matter how bad it might be. That is the role of a reviewer. That he didn't endeavor to do so with The Hambledown Dream makes his review illegitimate and I can't take anything constructive away from it.

Which I really wanted to...

[BrianKittrell]

As the author of the novel, The Hambledown Dream, I was a little excited when Parker's review showed up in my Google alerts the other day and I was actually looking forward to reading a review that ran counter to the many positive reviews of my novel.

However when I digested Parker's review and the background of how he came to review my novel, I was more than a little puzzled.

Firstly, I never actually approached Parker in soliciting a review from him - which in and of itself is insignificant - however, he gives the impression via his blog that I actually sent him a copy of my book. Looking back through my records of all the reviewers I have interacted with over the past year, I can find no correspondence with Parker at all, nor do I have any postal receipts from having sent a parcel to him.

Secondly, Parker has clearly based his review on the first two chapters of my novel - which is manifestly disingenuous on his part and it severely damages his credibility as a reviewer. How can anyone hope to gain a honest appraisal of a literary work when the reviewer bases his review on an incomplete reading of said work?

Having come to this thread via a second Google alert in the past 24 hours, I am now beginning to better understand the limitations of Parker as a reviewer. And it's really disappointing. As I said earlier - I was really hoping to read a balanced, constructive critique of my novel because I value both good and not so good reviews. They help me in addressing my own limitations as a writer and become better at my craft.

But it seems that Parker has simply happened upon my novel via Amazon - read the opening chapters which are indeed available as a preview and has gone onto to construct a poorly executed review based on that. I mean, he can't even get the name of my novel right.

If he is ever to be taken seriously as a reviewer, Parker needs to actually read the entire book he plans to review, no matter how bad it might be. That is the role of a reviewer. That he didn't endeavor to do so with The Hambledown Dream makes his review illegitimate and I can't take anything constructive away from it.

Which I really wanted to...

Ah, thanks for taking the time to clarify that, Dean. I, too, am thankful for Google alerts. I also had my suspicions as to whether or not Parker was receiving these books from authors needing his review services. In fact, at least in your case, he's claimed that you did when in fact it was him looking at Amazon samples. His giving the reason of "it was so bad I couldn't go past the first two chapters" is just an attempt to hide the fact that he actually wasn't selected to review the work and instead is reviewing a sample of the novel.

I think he would do much better to come up with substance to keep his blog filled with new posts, but it's as if he wants to create posts that bash and which contain falsehoods. Of course, that's easier than coming up with useful, needed, original information that helps people. Always has been, too.

There are cases where reviewers cannot finish a book, but they get much farther than the sample. If they get on down to half or three-quarters, at least they made an effort to go the full stretch. Yes, I prefer a review of a book in its entirety, but I don't expect people to torture themselves with it if they just can't go all the way. This is different, though; this is a review of a sample dressed to be a solicited review.

We need a pole, Caribbean music, and someone cheering us on, "How low can you go!"

[deanfromaustralia]

Ah, thanks for taking the time to clarify that, Dean. I, too, am thankful for Google alerts. I also had my suspicions as to whether or not Parker was receiving these books from authors needing his review services. In fact, at least in your case, he's claimed that you did when in fact it was him looking at Amazon samples. His giving the reason of "it was so bad I couldn't go past the first two chapters" is just an attempt to hide the fact that he actually wasn't selected to review the work and instead is reviewing a sample of the novel.

I think he would do much better to come up with substance to keep his blog filled with new posts, but it's as if he wants to create posts that bash and which contain falsehoods. Of course, that's easier than coming up with useful, needed, original information that helps people. Always has been, too.

There are cases where reviewers cannot finish a book, but they get much farther than the sample. If they get on down to half or three-quarters, at least they made an effort to go the full stretch. Yes, I prefer a review of a book in its entirety, but I don't expect people to torture themselves with it if they just can't go all the way. This is different, though; this is a review of a sample dressed to be a solicited review.

We need a pole, Caribbean music, and someone cheering us on, "How low can you go!"

Hah-hah - Indeed!

As I said, I am not at all opposed to critical reviews of my work - in fact, I encourage it because I believe that they can actually be beneficial in terms of sales. I mean, if your title is resplendent with good reviews, a potential buyer will often go "hang on a minute - something's not right here" and most likely move on.

But right from the get-go, something didn't sit right with Parker's review and my suspicions have more or less been validated by this very thread.

Anyhow - it's all a little amusing.

The search for a good, bad review goes on...

[Michelle Halket]

So, I'm very new here to the boards - but I just had to say something about this. I am the Creative Director of Dean Mayes' publishing house and this has got to be one of the strangest things I've encountered. Our books get reviewed daily on bookstores, bloggers sites, book reviewers and reader sites. We've had great reviews, bad reviews and everything in between, sometimes all for the same book. The great thing about reviews is that they help writers make better books, especially well-thought out and crafted reviews. In my online travels, I have run across "DNF"s, which basically means the reader thought the book was so bad that they couldn't finish it. It's usually marked with just that - DNF - and that's it. Generally I find book bloggers to be folks of extreme politeness and even have a code of conduct that they lay out for their site. They don't like stomping all over someone's work without good reason. Never before have I seen such a well-constructed review of a DNF book.

When I started reading this 'review', I thought it was interesting since Dean's book has received very little negative criticism to date. But negative reviews are good for writers and for us and as much as my pride hurts when I read them, I do so with an open mind. It's pretty hard to do so with this one - since the reviewer didn't keep an open mind through at least the first quarter of the book. That kind of review doesn't help any reader decide whether or not to pick up a copy.

I would really like to know how he got his 'copy' of the book. I keep track of which reviewers our books are sent to and neither Dean nor myself can remember sending him a copy, so I just don't know what this person is up to besides what many of you have pointed out - trying to get their name out there. However, doing so in such a manner and ruining your credibility with the many talented people here who can help you is just plain odd to me.

Anyway, enough brain power and bandwidth has been spent on this topic, so onwards and here's to reading more great reviews by great reviewers.

[BrianKittrell]

I would really like to know how he got his 'copy' of the book. I keep track of which reviewers our books are sent to and neither Dean nor myself can remember sending him a copy, so I just don't know what this person is up to besides what many of you have pointed out - trying to get their name out there. However, doing so in such a manner and ruining your credibility with the many talented people here who can help you is just plain odd to me.

Anyway, enough brain power and bandwidth has been spent on this topic, so onwards and here's to reading more great reviews by great reviewers.

Agreed. I find it interesting that Parker, who is normally so apt to bump and promote this thread, is still absent and silent about the matter. Perhaps he thinks it will go away if he doesn't say anything?

But, Dean and Michelle, I wouldn't worry much about it if he doesn't respond. Small potatoes, as they say.

[deanfromaustralia]

Oh for sure - it's very much that

[Betsy the Quilter]

So, I'm very new here to the boards - but I just had to say something about this. I am the Creative Director of Dean Mayes' publishing house and this has got to be one of the strangest things I've encountered. Our books get reviewed daily on bookstores, bloggers sites, book reviewers and reader sites. We've had great reviews, bad reviews and everything in between, sometimes all for the same book. The great thing about reviews is that they help writers make better books, especially well-thought out and crafted reviews. In my online travels, I have run across "DNF"s, which basically means the reader thought the book was so bad that they couldn't finish it. It's usually marked with just that - DNF - and that's it. Generally I find book bloggers to be folks of extreme politeness and even have a code of conduct that they lay out for their site. They don't like stomping all over someone's work without good reason. Never before have I seen such a well-constructed review of a DNF book.

When I started reading this 'review', I thought it was interesting since Dean's book has received very little negative criticism to date. But negative reviews are good for writers and for us and as much as my pride hurts when I read them, I do so with an open mind. It's pretty hard to do so with this one - since the reviewer didn't keep an open mind through at least the first quarter of the book. That kind of review doesn't help any reader decide whether or not to pick up a copy.

I would really like to know how he got his 'copy' of the book. I keep track of which reviewers our books are sent to and neither Dean nor myself can remember sending him a copy, so I just don't know what this person is up to besides what many of you have pointed out - trying to get their name out there. However, doing so in such a manner and ruining your credibility with the many talented people here who can help you is just plain odd to me.

Anyway, enough brain power and bandwidth has been spent on this topic, so onwards and here's to reading more great reviews by great reviewers.

Michelle--

I just wanted to thank you for joining KindleBoards.  KindleBoards is a lively, vital community of Kindle fans and book lovers, some of whom happen to be authors (and professional book reviewers, cover artists and publishers), too!  Welcome!

Betsy

[HAParker321]

Firstly, I never actually approached Parker in soliciting a review from him - which in and of itself is insignificant - however, he gives the impression via his blog that I actually sent him a copy of my book.

You did, and I have an email to prove it.

Looking back through my records of all the reviewers I have interacted with over the past year, I can find no correspondence with Parker at all, nor do I have any postal receipts from having sent a parcel to him.

What is your email address, I can send you a copy of what you sent me. The message was sent May 23rd.

Secondly, Parker has clearly based his review on the first two chapters of my novel - which is manifestly disingenuous on his part and it severely damages his credibility as a reviewer.

As you may have noticed, all the good reviews I put on the other books never have notes on them because the basis of my review is not limited; in fact, I make it quite clear that I read the entire novel. Like I wrote in my recent post, (http://theresurrectionseries.wordpress.com/2011/12/01/countering-the-critics-decrying-the-criticism/), I usually do not bother with certain books because they did not make a sufficient hook to lure me into reading their book. This is something an author should do within the first 2,000 words of his or her story. It's not my fault you can't do that; I usually toss the book aside and say 'Thank God' prior to moving onto another one.

How can anyone hope to gain a honest appraisal of a literary work when the reviewer bases his review on an incomplete reading of said work?

Again, Dean read my post. You'll get the point.

Having come to this thread via a second Google alert in the past 24 hours, I am now beginning to better understand the limitations of Parker as a reviewer. And it's really disappointing. As I said earlier - I was really hoping to read a balanced, constructive critique of my novel because I value both good and not so good reviews. They help me in addressing my own limitations as a writer and become better at my craft.

I think my post has enough of that. I think you're more upset because I said something you did not like to hear.

But it seems that Parker has simply happened upon my novel via Amazon - read the opening chapters which are indeed available as a preview and has gone onto to construct a poorly executed review based on that. I mean, he can't even get the name of my novel right.

Like I said Dean, you provided this through an email. I have the email in my records (May 23, 2011) and I can send it to you for examination.

If he is ever to be taken seriously as a reviewer, Parker needs to actually read the entire book he plans to review, no matter how bad it might be.

I can do just fine without reading the entire thing and still be right about it. Were I to read your book entirely as you say, I would probably engage in some type of argument similarly because what I said is not something 'feasible' or 'satisfying'. Book bloggers usually judge by the blurb whenever someone decides to engage in reading the entire thing prior to actually reading it. To some extent, I would even argue that these same book bloggers would dump the book within a few chapters if he or she finds the work to be poorly executed. You are probably not going to get anyone who will seriously say the opposite of what I have said here on the board i.e. an actual book reviewer.

That he didn't endeavor to do so with The Hambledown Dream makes his review illegitimate and I can't take anything constructive away from it.

I love how you call my critique 'illegitimate'; it seems to suggest that you seem to know how everyone ought to review the books that are not really worth wasting breath over. Dean, I think I mentioned as a followup response that I don't waste time reading books further in order to come up with a 'legitimate' bad review. I do have the entire copy of your book and I read up to the third chapter (which way beyond what book bloggers, literary agents, editors, and general readers would do with crappy books). What I would like to know is on what grounds are you trying to say that reviews ought to be based on the entire book?

Parker

[HAParker321]

Agreed. I find it interesting that Parker, who is normally so apt to bump and promote this thread, is still absent and silent about the matter. Perhaps he thinks it will go away if he doesn't say anything?

But, Dean and Michelle, I wouldn't worry much about it if he doesn't respond. Small potatoes, as they say.

Brian,

I don't make an instant response if I tend to be away from the computer doing other things that might be equally time consuming e.g. 'day job, house chores, family outing, etc.' Normally, that would be thought on the topic were I not to receive a response soon.

Parker

[acellis]

I read somewhere recently that any review is a good review. A poor one can't really hurt a best seller, and it provides the exposure needed by a new writer.

[HAParker321]

I would really like to know how he got his 'copy' of the book. I keep track of which reviewers our books are sent to and neither Dean nor myself can remember sending him a copy, so I just don't know what this person is up to besides what many of you have pointed out - trying to get their name out there. However, doing so in such a manner and ruining your credibility with the many talented people here who can help you is just plain odd to me.

Anyway, enough brain power and bandwidth has been spent on this topic, so onwards and here's to reading more great reviews by great reviewers.

Just as I said earlier, I got a copy through an email sent by Dean. I can forward you the copy if you want.

Parker

[HAParker321]

I read somewhere recently that any review is a good review. A poor one can't really hurt a best seller, and it provides the exposure needed by a new writer.

Agreed, and I do not think that Dean or I would be offended by that. It's just that I believe that the first three chapters of the book did not lure me to read the rest of the book.

Parker

[HAParker321]

Note: The basis of this review is limited. Although the author has forwarded me their complete manuscript, I have refrained from further reading because the book lacks a particular element in its writing. All grades are based on honest evaluations and will be supplemented by a couple of examples to prove my point.

St. Peter Killed God

By KJ Kron

Cold Honest Truth:

    KJ, not St. Peter, killed God.

 OVERALL RATING: C

            I was not exactly sure whether you were intending to commit blasphemy with using the title above or preferred to use the title to make a sale, I could definitely tell that his book needed some work in either one or the other of the two scenarios. The idea does sound interesting at the start with ‘St. Peter’ to refer to a Roman Catholic priest who did not believe in the Word of God. I have no idea exactly where he was going, but I do think the idea is worth looking at.   

CHARACTERIZATION: B

            I liked the fact that you stuck to the genuine character guideline i.e., not crowding the beginning of the book with a series of people. The greatest part about that is not having the feeling of being confused with remembering who’s who in the realm of fiction. Another thing I like about the book is that there are a series of questions immediately raised in the book that are quite legitimate, very similar to the ones I raise in my own. To some degree there is some legitimate verisimilitude to the realities of bishops, popes, priests, and pastors face on a day to day basis. That is something I do like about the book from the limited amount of information I read.

Click here to see the rest of the review: http://theresurrectionseries.wordpress.com/

[HAParker321]

After making dozens of critiques on poorly written books, I began to notice a repeated pattern among the plethora of responses I get from these authors. Even though I specifically explain to them why I would not want to promote their books or how these books are not readable, I still get the same old replies where I began to realize they can fall into one of the following claims:

• You can’t make a review like that; you didn’t read the entire book!
• I don’t agree; novel styles are subjective.
• Don’t you realize that I’m on a limited budget here?
• I’m a critically acclaimed author; I don’t have to listen to you!
• Oh yeah, what credentials do you have under your belt?

 And my personal favorite:

   

• What book copies have you sold lately?

Although this does not account for all authors who I have critiqued, the responses are more or less your stereotypical ones received that come in one variation or another. Before I continue to respond to these claims one by one, I want to make a point:

Amateur authors are easy to spot.

Click here to read some more: http://theresurrectionseries.wordpress.com/

[Lynn ODell]

First of all, the term you are looking for is "unprofessional."

Amateur: a person inexperienced or unskilled in a particular activity

The things you are discussing refer more to the person's lack of professionalism than their skill at writing.

How to spot an unprofessional author trying to pass themselves off as a reviewer:

When the so-called reviewer mentions their own book in the review in a blatant attempt at self promotion.

One additional note: Anyone who thinks a book should be "graded" on its cover in a review should not be reviewing. A review should be written to help readers make buying decisions. Someone's personal opinion on a cover shouldn't affect that decision. Readers can see the cover for themselves and formulate their own opinions.

Before you go around calling people "amateurs," perhaps you should look in a mirror.

[HAParker321]

I beg to differ.

Parker





<<I've moved this to the Book Bazaar, Parker, as you are pushing your blog post and directing people to your blog; we ask that blog authors promote their blogs in the Book Bazaar.  I'll also be merging this with your existing blog thread.  --Betsy/KB mod>>

[Fredster]

I am torn between humorous images to post here.

[Betsy the Quilter]

Merging this with another blog post...

HAP, since both your commentary and your reviews direct people to your blog, we're going to place them all in your Book Bazaar blog thread.  Note that the seven day rule applies; so if you are going to post entries about reviews and about commentary, you must either do them in the same post or wait seven days between unless someone else posts a reply.

Thanks.

Betsy

[foreverjuly]

I don't think that's a wise idea to do here.

Parker

I beg to differ.

[HAParker321]

I beg to differ.

Whatever.

Parker

[BrianKittrell]

First of all, the term you are looking for is "unprofessional."

Amateur: a person inexperienced or unskilled in a particular activity

The things you are discussing refer more to the person's lack of professionalism than their skill at writing.

How to spot an unprofessional author trying to pass themselves off as a reviewer:

When the so-called reviewer mentions their own book in the review in a blatant attempt at self promotion.

One additional note: Anyone who thinks a book should be "graded" on its cover in a review should not be reviewing. A review should be written to help readers make buying decisions. Someone's personal opinion on a cover shouldn't affect that decision. Readers can see the cover for themselves and formulate their own opinions.

Before you go around calling people "amateurs," perhaps you should look in a mirror.

I will at least +1 this. The reviews, the controversy, and all of it really just boils down to a form of blatant self-promotion--the worst kind, too, in my opinion: the "I'm better than you" attempt.

[HAParker321]

While I took the liberty of taking a decent one month vacation, I revisited my book for a second time to find all the major grammatical errors that occur in my work. Although I do take these concerns seriously as a writer, why I did not bother to go back and immediately review my book were because of two reasons: (1) these accusations could be false and (2) part of my policy implicates that the customer needs to show where these errors occurred. It is not very common for me to go back and correct errors, but having heard of a major plethora of 'grammatical mishaps,' I decided to go back and take a look.

Amongst the midst of 'major mistakes' that were pointed out, I found a majority of these problems contained the following mistakes: (1) awkward sentencing and (2) missing words or punctuation. With all the time I am taking to go back and edit these 'serious errors' I came to realize a few different things.

Click Here to Read the rest: http://theresurrectionseries.wordpress.com/