tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13978803.post113965779635752947..comments2023-05-19T04:43:10.395-07:00Comments on These Aye Mean Streets: Russel on ReviewingRusselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08882590221382217329noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13978803.post-1139739566811278692006-02-12T02:19:00.000-08:002006-02-12T02:19:00.000-08:00RaySo that's the blurb I can use on the cover, the...Ray<BR/><BR/>So that's the blurb I can use on the cover, then?Russelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08882590221382217329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13978803.post-1139709280385874642006-02-11T17:54:00.000-08:002006-02-11T17:54:00.000-08:00Hey, you're nobody until you've had your first cra...Hey, you're nobody until you've had your first crazy person review on Amazon. As soon as the Squeaky book comes out, I'm there:<BR/><BR/>"This buk is like a buk what I red ages ago and its like fucked and not goof cuz its like fulla people an shit. AND HE IS NOT RANKIN HE IS NOT RANKIN I WILL MURDER HIS PETS HE IS NOT RANKIN HE DUZZNT EVEN KEN HOW TO SPELL LIKE WHAT AS GOOD AS AH DAE."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13978803.post-1139692711207136502006-02-11T13:18:00.000-08:002006-02-11T13:18:00.000-08:00SandraI have heard that argument before about givi...Sandra<BR/><BR/>I have heard that argument before about giving new writers an easy time. I don't see why. Should we go easy on To Kill A Mockingbird because its a first novel?<BR/><BR/>And by God I don't want to be Rankin. He's probably quite happy being himself and I know I'm very happy being me.<BR/><BR/>Except when my big ass screws fall out.Russelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08882590221382217329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13978803.post-1139692372257129662006-02-11T13:12:00.000-08:002006-02-11T13:12:00.000-08:00Fascinating guys! This is why you should talk to ...Fascinating guys! This is why you should talk to many people in the business, because you get a broader perspective.<BR/><BR/>Note, I didn't say they should get an easier go of it - just that I've been told that they do. Maybe 'tis a Canadian thing?<BR/><BR/>And Russel, you <I>aren't Rankin.</I> Dammit man, can't you just get that through your thick skull?<BR/><BR/>(Those wankers. I mean, I still collect the Ian Rankin trading cards in the corn pops boxes and all, but I get just as excited when Stuart MacBride has a spinning top in the fruit loops box. If Rickards had his monkey mask in cocoa pops (shudder) I'd buy it too.)Sandra Ruttanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06109584805469336742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13978803.post-1139685390792028942006-02-11T11:16:00.000-08:002006-02-11T11:16:00.000-08:00By the way my excuse for all those spelling mistak...By the way my excuse for all those spelling mistakes is my cold.<BR/><BR/>Or stupidity.<BR/><BR/>One or the other.Russelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08882590221382217329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13978803.post-1139685212086149202006-02-11T11:13:00.000-08:002006-02-11T11:13:00.000-08:00SandraI'm with Jen on this. A debut is not somethi...Sandra<BR/><BR/>I'm with Jen on this. A debut is not something to be treated with extra care. If its out there it should be out there because it is ready. Now sometimes, yes, I have said, "Okay, this book didn't quite work for me but there's enough that I'm looking forward to a writer's future endeavours" but I would dearly love not to have to say that. I have encountered two perfect debuts in the past two years: The Big Blind and Deadolk. Read those books and you'll forget by page two that these guys are debut novelists. <BR/><BR/>No special favours. Like I said I odn't expect any either.<BR/><BR/>Stuart:<BR/><BR/>The thing is with Amazon that whether they admit it or not you can always see the loony reviewers' alternate agenda. In the case of any book set in Scotland it is "this is not Rankin" which is the beating I'm really looking forward to.<BR/><BR/>The other good one is when you set your book in a specific place and it doesn't quite match up to what everyone thinks you should be writing about that place. That's the other one I'm looking forward to, getting told that I'm making Dundee look horrible/too nice/whatever.Russelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08882590221382217329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13978803.post-1139682323358495552006-02-11T10:25:00.000-08:002006-02-11T10:25:00.000-08:00Ah Russel, you want fair and balanced reviews, jus...Ah Russel, you want fair and balanced reviews, just wait till you get your first b******g on Amazon. Tis a right of passage and no mistake.Stuart MacBridehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12392706513278533408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13978803.post-1139676275517631032006-02-11T08:44:00.000-08:002006-02-11T08:44:00.000-08:00No forgiving just because it is a debut. In fact, ...No forgiving just because it is a debut. In fact, there is a thing called "debut-itis" in which one expects to find faults and lo, do find them. That's why reviews that say, "This book does not read like a debut," mean something.<BR/><BR/>I am beloved for my mean streak. Beloved, I tell you!Jen Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02026293111477563651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13978803.post-1139667789580028402006-02-11T06:23:00.000-08:002006-02-11T06:23:00.000-08:00"an honest appraisal of the book's strengths and w..."an honest appraisal of the book's strengths and weaknesses"<BR/><BR/>That's what you want. Exactly.<BR/><BR/>What bothers me, of course, is people who don't qualify their criticism. "The book is shit." Why?<BR/><BR/>Of course, another thing about <I>some</I> reviewers is that they don't have anything to back up their position and it is strictly based on taste.<BR/><BR/>I'm thinking I need to be a bit more well-balanced in my reviewing, but I find it so hard to criticize wee little things in the writing that I notice as a writer when I know how easy it is to make those mistakes - and that the average reader isn't picking up on them.<BR/><BR/>But people who trash based on taste alone? That kinda bothers me.<BR/><BR/>Now, my goal is to get a half-decent assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of my book from Russel.<BR/><BR/>But here's a que for you: I've been told that many reviewers will be more forgiving on debut novelists. Is that true for you Russel, or do you even consider that?Sandra Ruttanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06109584805469336742noreply@blogger.com