tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post803327214195887492..comments2024-01-10T17:38:08.333-05:00Comments on Elizabeth Burns: Faking ItLiz Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671844475303001610noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-11827300120481581402010-05-10T13:37:30.628-04:002010-05-10T13:37:30.628-04:00Liz,
Great response! And thanks for including my...Liz,<br /><br />Great response! And thanks for including my post in your list. I agree with what many other bloggers have said, I don't receive any form of compensation for my reviews. I do this because I enjoy it, and I am not going to sacrifice reading for pleasure just so I can give a book a poor review to seem more balanced. I review honestly, but if I don't like it, chances are I won't waste my time one it--either to finish it or review it. Thank you so much for your post. That article has really gotten us to think about what we do and say as bloggers.Melissa @ Mel's Books and Infohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01115407771547126072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-83544061007775488632010-05-05T11:04:17.346-04:002010-05-05T11:04:17.346-04:00On reflection, I find it a little odd that Roger S...On reflection, I find it a little odd that Roger Sutton, of all people, would question calling writing encouraging, positive things about books <i>reviewing</i>. Now, I'm another huge <i>Horn Book</i> fan and pay my own money to read it. One thing I like is that every book they review is recommended. Their very selectivity is a recommendation in itself. Sure, they don't shrink from talking about a book's drawbacks, but the overall tone is one of celebrating good books. Yes, they review everything in <i>The Horn Book Guide,</i> which must have plenty of negative reviews. But what I'm trying to achieve with my own blog is more the spirit of <i>The Horn Book,</i> where people know that if I give time and space to talking about a book, I enjoyed it, so any negative points do not outweigh that.<br /><br />But I think I can still call what I write "reviews." Choosing to celebrate good books does not lessen the value of what I have to say, any more than it does with <i>The Horn Book.</i>Sondyhttp://www.sonderbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-50309822768505818172010-05-04T20:22:09.300-04:002010-05-04T20:22:09.300-04:00A general response: words evolve. Why cannot a &qu...A general response: words evolve. Why cannot a "blog review" be its own definition, one that means more recommendation and discussion? Tho disclaimer: when I speak in front of nonblogger groups, I explain that blogs contain discussions more than reviews.<br /><br />Also, why should what happens on blogs replicate what happens in magazines/journals/periodicals? I (& other bloggers) do not say "we're going to put mainstream media out of business," yet here are outside commentors asking why our (free, individual) content isn't the same as mainstream media. Want the critical type of writing found in ALAN, the Horn Book, the Lion & Unicorn? BUY THOSE JOURNALS. Don't expect a bunch of solo daily operations, with one person wearing all hats, to be the same as the edited, peer reviewed, multiple staffed magazines. And since WE don't say we're doing that type of writing, stop slamming us for not delivering it.<br /><br />CLM, authors behaving badly (ie the right/wrong way to react to reviews & blogs) is a whole nother topic.<br /><br />Lara, I think authors are in a tough spot & too much to go into in this short space. I do think that those authors who review on traditional media, so have editors, etc., have more freedom to review critically.<br /><br />Grier, I understand what you're saying and agree. Truth to be told, I just haven't read such a book myself recently enough to post here. That bloggers are solo operators cannot be overemphasized. The Horn Book has a staff; its their job to produce monthly content. I have me, plus a full time job, to produce my daily content. (I pick on the Horn Book cause I love it and its the one I pay my own money to read).<br /><br />I think the issue of "rock star fawning" is another issue; and truthfully there are only a few authors who get such treatment. That said, see how women are damned! If I write positively about a woman, I'm supporting the sisterhood; about a man, I'm a fawning fangirl. While men are the rational beasts who aren't questioned on their positive writing.<br /><br />Sondy, I don't do stars but I do have my "favorites" which is on the sidebar. I use favorites to show its my subjective opinion; it's my five star books.<br /><br />donna & alexandra, thanks!<br /><br />and again thanks all for adding to the convo. I'm sorry blogger hasn'tn been as helpful as it should be re comments.Liz Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16671844475303001610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-35973742444675206652010-05-04T16:27:42.277-04:002010-05-04T16:27:42.277-04:00wow!! thanks so much for answering to that post an...wow!! thanks so much for answering to that post and also for posting all these links. I coulsn't agree more with you. It's like a library in here, I love it! I linked this post on my blog, where I posted my opinion, too. thanks again.writer girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01924351621180053828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-68824014262895974212010-05-04T15:59:27.108-04:002010-05-04T15:59:27.108-04:00I'm just now catching up on five days' wor...I'm just now catching up on five days' worth of blog reading, sorry for the delay, but... wow. Thanks for bringing this craziness to my attention, and the excellent links. <br /><br />I walk the aspiring author/blogger line, and it's a tough one. My (group) blog isn't a book blog, and reviews are occasional, so I only review books I love and recommend, and don't highlight the flaws -- but I never lie, and I make the "gushing" aspect of the review clear to readers in the post's intro. Seems fair to me!Donna Gambalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00317767593205769881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-3367152346881427972010-05-04T14:59:36.803-04:002010-05-04T14:59:36.803-04:00Your response is excellent, Liz -- thanks for spea...Your response is excellent, Liz -- thanks for speaking up for us female book bloggers. I have a stated policy on my website that I don't review books I don't like.<br /><br />My thinking is like Robin McKinley's (That's a fun statement to make!), I don't want to spend time being negative. I try to be insightful in the positive reviews I write. But I'm only giving space to books I want to promote.<br /><br />However, I did switch my system from 5-stars to only giving a star to books I find particularly outstanding, because I was tired of explaining that a book I gave 3 stars to was still an excellent book, and I liked and enjoyed the books I gave one star to (or I wouldn't have reviewed them). Does that make my reviewing fake? No, I think it makes my communication more clear.<br /><br />I figure the beauty of having my own blog is that I don't <i>have</i> to review books I don't like. If I were hired by a review journal, that would be a different story. But I'm writing my blog for fun, and I think it's fun to tell people about good books I've read, hopefully giving them enough taste of the book to know if they will like it, too.Sondy at Sonderbookshttp://www.sonderbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-89752722424979628432010-05-04T11:17:48.428-04:002010-05-04T11:17:48.428-04:00I love this discussion. While I don't like gen...I love this discussion. While I don't like generalizations, especially when they're gender-related, I do agree that kids lit reviews tend to be *lite* (not all, of course). <br /><br />I appreciate reviews of great books and expect critical insights into what makes a book work; however, part of that includes elements that may be off or undeveloped. It doesn't diminish great writing to put it under the microscope. On the contrary, it shows respect and elevates the craft. I think we definitely need more of this than currently exists.<br /><br />I agree with you that reviewing books that aren't worth the trees they killed is a waste of a reviewer's time, but I'd love to see (from time to time) critical reviews of extremely popular books that have no literary merit--if only to say, wtf? This is the sort of reality check that exposes group think. Even if no one else agrees, it creates needed discussion.<br /><br />Unfortunately, I think that there is an uncomfortable fawning over male writers by some bloggers who wilt over the sighting of these rock stars at book events and drool over an upcoming release before it's even read. I never seem to read similar reactions to women rock star writers.<br /><br />Ach--good or bad, it's all good as long as we're free to discuss without being attacked personally.Grier Jewellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05514099763743044565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-16264346837914948812010-05-03T10:35:40.207-04:002010-05-03T10:35:40.207-04:00Liz, you should totally submit this to HuffPo.
Bu...Liz, you should totally submit this to HuffPo.<br /><br />But I do want to chime in and say that authors who blog really ARE criticized/ostracized when they publicly diss a book. It's seen as sour grapes on our part, even though writers can also be some of the most discriminating readers I know. Somehow once you publish, you lose the right to have an opinion on what other people are publishing. In this case, gender doesn't matter, although I do think the boys get more passes than the girls because ... well, because boys just do.<br /><br />The only real exception to that rule is if you trounce a book that's already been trounced by a zillion people (*cough* Twilight *cough*). For some reason, that's acceptable.Larahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13325194520650909801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-1833848198688859412010-05-02T19:23:35.613-04:002010-05-02T19:23:35.613-04:00Man, I didn't realize I was keeping it real! ...Man, I didn't realize I was keeping it real! Or heck, that you were faking it! I just thought we were both being honest. Jeepers....<br /><br />Sarcasm aside, I'll chime in and add to that accolades. It never ceases to amaze me that people who don't have experience with a particular culture feel the need to pidgeon hole it. Base on fact not assumption -- basing comments on research isn't out of the question me thinks!Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07965647842119649711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-38812126409239461002010-05-01T09:57:16.113-04:002010-05-01T09:57:16.113-04:00Well articulated, Liz. Also, I am glad to have ha...Well articulated, Liz. Also, I am glad to have have got the essence of the article without increasing their traffic by reading it!<br /><br />I rarely have the time or energy to review books but was recently startled to hear from an author after I commented on weak plotting (although overall I had liked her books enough to read every one!). I felt bad but it would not stop me from making the comment again - I would just be sure to provide more bases for my assessment.CLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03595294217111602231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-64046125901570798282010-04-30T19:54:14.586-04:002010-04-30T19:54:14.586-04:00Sigh. Wrote a long response and it got eaten by th...Sigh. Wrote a long response and it got eaten by the internets and now company is coming.<br /><br />I was so clever! And insightful! Witty! Said something meaningful to each and every one of you.<br /><br />So instead blanket statement:<br /><br />I think there can be intelligent conversation about what is going on in the blogosphere. McCarry did not deliver that. She made blanket statements, was sloppy, and most of all, tried to push women into saying "I'll stop blogging like a woman!" It also creates the lie that men -- they're doing it right. Let's all be like them!!<br /><br />It's people, period. Let's discuss the blogosphere, certainly. But without blanket statements. And with being open to a variety of motivations: promotion, ARCs, fandom, author crushes, the purpose of the blog, the experience of the writer (what is wrong with getting ones writing legs thru blog writing?), etc. None of which have to do with gender.<br /><br />I have a busy weekend and will hopefully check in later if I have the time. Now I'm going to sulk over the lost comment.Liz Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16671844475303001610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-48218991738805973962010-04-30T16:53:11.942-04:002010-04-30T16:53:11.942-04:00Wow, Liz, this hits home... I just posted about an...Wow, Liz, this hits home... I just posted about an infamous negative review I wrote that still attracts attention, negative attention. This week brought another author who linked to it, "winces" at my opinion, and then proceeded to tell me why I was wrong - but her comments were all based on her own issues and perceptions, not what I wrote. I think we all have the right to say how we feel about a book without the "be nice" police coming after us.Lori Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04575196285923366103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-40373428538593532392010-04-30T16:19:45.812-04:002010-04-30T16:19:45.812-04:00To the recent cover controversy, because I got bla...To the recent cover controversy, because I got blasted a bit in that one, I will note that one thing many folks wanted to point was that the author had no choice in the cover selection. So yeah, we did say it wasn't about the author for that reason but not from fear of being mean.Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18380722344521975869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-38818319173582026342010-04-30T14:28:03.933-04:002010-04-30T14:28:03.933-04:00Good response, Liz.
As I've said elsewhere m...Good response, Liz. <br /><br />As I've said elsewhere my HUGE problem with this piece is the leap from "hey, people post a lot of positive reviews" (paraphrasing) to "I'm going to say it's because they are women and must be nice at all times" (a paraphrase, and problematic in and of itself) to "This cult of niceness is at its heart a pernicious kind of misogyny" (NOT a paraphrase). Merriam-Webster defines misogyny as "a hatred of women."<br /><br />So, um, really? No. A sloppy, poorly thought-out piece of critical writing.Gwendahttp://gwendabond.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-82489073718258381882010-04-30T14:19:08.886-04:002010-04-30T14:19:08.886-04:00I mostly agree with you, Liz, but want to point ou...I mostly agree with you, Liz, but want to point out one thing. While it's true that bloggers went after the whitewashing vigorously, it seemed like every post on the topic had to reassure us that the complaint "was not about Justine," etc. So in that instance, anyway, the bonds of sisterhood remained intact and even strengthened. Obviously, people can and should do what they like with their blogs, but when you call what you do "reviewing," then you can expect to be appraised accordingly. And I don't think it's wrong to characterize the predominate tone of YA book-blogging as <i>encouraging</i>.<br /><br />Okay, I guess that was TWO points.Roger Suttonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00030627312439744621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-26135664219040419122010-04-30T13:34:35.411-04:002010-04-30T13:34:35.411-04:00Honestly, my first reaction to the Huffington Post...Honestly, my first reaction to the Huffington Post piece was to roll my eyes. Obviously, she's making broad generalizations. Obviously, she has no idea what she's talking about. Obviously, she's just trying to get us all worked up. That said, your response is spot-on. Thanks for being willing to tackle the injustices.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00217383813263874657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-5804436935691572622010-04-30T09:28:23.956-04:002010-04-30T09:28:23.956-04:00I've scribbled a few words on my blog about th...I've scribbled a few words on my blog about this. Mostly in your support but also to reassure my readers they will get unbiased reviews. I don't normally respond to articles of this nature, but I admit I saw red (or read as that's what my fingers typed originally) and felt I had to say something. As a pre-loved bookseller I was hesitant at first to write a bad review but felt it was my duty to be unbiased. A bad review means you're unlikly to sell the book but I decided it was way more important to be unbiased and have a good reputation for this than to write something I didn't mean.<br /><br />You can take out my link if you don't think it adds anything to the argument. http://wp.me/pviD6-bgSuziehttp://wnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-22829007154083127032010-04-30T08:52:30.485-04:002010-04-30T08:52:30.485-04:00I agree that there are many different reasons one ...I agree that there are many different reasons one might not post negative/critical reviews.<br /><br />I'm not a "book blogger" but do have a view point on writing negative reviews. I recently started a blog as a place for my young sons and I to "discuss" the books we read. (It is more for process rather than product, which is why I don't think of us as book bloggers... plus we only post around once a month.) I have been trying to decide recently if I want to write about the books that I read and *don't* like... and decided against it. Mostly because I almost always read a book first to myself before reading it with my boys... and so far we're only writing about the books they read or the ones we read together. I just read FABLEHAVEN by Brandon Mull and didn't think it was good enough to qualify as a read aloud. That doesn't mean it won't be available to my children if in the future they want to try it, but I'm not going to *recommend* it on our blog when I don't think it is worth reading to my own children. There are too many great books out there and only so much read aloud time. (And also? If I'm going to be truthful, negative reviews are hard to write because you really have to be judicious and thoughtful in doing it or it isn't fair... and I'm too lazy.)SiShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05726365506838157426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-36875768135423641632010-04-30T08:49:37.817-04:002010-04-30T08:49:37.817-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.SiShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05726365506838157426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-23457711977349471112010-04-30T08:39:51.880-04:002010-04-30T08:39:51.880-04:00Exactly! This is such a logical response to McCarr...Exactly! This is such a logical response to McCarry's blanket statements. <br /><br />(And thanks for the link!)Loretta Nyhanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02680385300130233511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-20285739650038307852010-04-30T07:45:48.516-04:002010-04-30T07:45:48.516-04:00I had a very different take on this article, and i...I had a very different take on this article, and in no way felt it was a sweeping indictment of ALL women book bloggers...I felt the author took a look at the YA blogosphere, saw a pattern, and decided to critique it. Given the horrific instances of verbal, psychological, and physical violence in our schools, I think it's a little extreme to call the writer a "bully" or "mean girl." We're adults, and maturity is part of what makes this conversation possible--and useful! This type of dissent is perhaps what the article was asking for...as for recent web controversies, there was no unified response from women bloggers that I could see---many were outraged and spoke out against whitewashing, but many were indignant when asked to condemn the practice on their blog. We do blog for various reasons---some of us are authors, some of us are bibliophiles, and some of us are fans. We shouldn't all be lumped together, but I don't think it's unfair to critique the resulting uneven-ness of reviews.Zettahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08073292465074072114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-29931816815032346812010-04-30T07:12:53.274-04:002010-04-30T07:12:53.274-04:00This author obviously missed all of the recent fur...This author obviously missed all of the recent furor over cover whitewashing. All of those women were faking nice by saying how much they disliked the publishers for doing that? None of those women wrote anything negative?<br /><br />Seriously?tanita✿davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01671822274852087499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-4593552351270656782010-04-30T01:15:10.767-04:002010-04-30T01:15:10.767-04:00Liz -totally agree with you on all this and must c...Liz -totally agree with you on all this and must chime in on your response to Angela as that was a key part of what bothered me so much on this as well. Beyond the fact that generally I only finish books I like, I need to add that I do not request or start books I know I won't like (for example vamp titles) so I usually find myself reviewing books I enjoy. This is not how it is done most of the time in print media - (such as for Booklist where I also review). Plus some sites/blogs are designed solely with recommendation in mind (like Guys Lit Wire) so again, we start from a positive place from the beginning for a reason.<br /><br />Beyond all that, I also wanted to note that this whole Huff Post thing is yet another example of someone who has nothing to do with the lit blogosphere but feels compelled to poke their toe in and pass judgment. It's like the Terre Haute basement junk from a few years ago and bloggers are crazy cat people and all the garbage that came from the NBCC. It's infuriating. <br /><br />And the woman are too nice bit? Now we're just back to mean girls vs good girls all over again and frankly, I left high school behind years ago.Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18380722344521975869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-68248403289935889682010-04-29T22:18:43.137-04:002010-04-29T22:18:43.137-04:00Sheila, that's a good point that sometimes see...Sheila, that's a good point that sometimes seems overlooked.<br /><br />Lydia, I think author/bloggers have a difficult line to tread.<br /><br />Retro, I love "cult of being professional."<br /><br />Lisa & Laura, I love Loretta's post! but then i have obsessed over whether or not to call things reviews or discussions.<br /><br />Angela, I understand what you're saying and to a point agree. Here is my problem with the "only positive" being less rigourous take. Using me as an example -- you'd be hard pressed to find a review here for something I didn't like. I have a few reasons: one, I read what I want so if I don't like a book I rarely finish it. Two, while I love a handful of books, I enjoy/ like many others, and there is only a handful of books I hate. Three, I write to connect books to readers and part of that is by writing reviews to connect to a reader. So, yeah, I get a little defensive when I'm told "oops, you're doing it wrong by not finishing that book, you're doing it wrong by liking too many books." That said, I defend anyone's writing critical reviews. Bloggers vary. And now I'm off to read your post & link it up.Liz Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16671844475303001610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-73370083635411834542010-04-29T22:07:09.464-04:002010-04-29T22:07:09.464-04:00I didn't interpret the "faking nice"...I didn't interpret the "faking nice" as people lying about whether they liked a book, but more in the fact that most bloggers seem to only post positive reviews. At least among the bloggers I've seen, they appear extremely reluctant to give a book a negative review, which in my opinion does lead to a lack of rigor overall in the blogosphere.<br /><br />I know not all of us set ourselves out there to be critics and I'm totally okay with that on an individual basis, but when our whole genre of blogging seems averse to posting negative reviews, I think it is suspect.<br /><br />I wrote a longer response to the original essay over at <a href="http://bookishblather.blogspot.com/2010/04/book-thoughts-my-role-as-reviewer.html" rel="nofollow">my blog</a> yesterday, which also gets into the gender bit.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13223450892316241062noreply@blogger.com