tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post3688080602326461219..comments2023-09-29T05:32:04.308-07:00Comments on StrangePegs: It's Time For You To Grow Up (part 2)Andrew Leonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-89506672289490180872015-04-09T21:24:44.276-07:002015-04-09T21:24:44.276-07:00Lee: I certainly agree about the art being evaluat...Lee: I certainly agree about the art being evaluated apart from the artist. You might choose not to support an artist because you don't like him, but that has nothing to do with the quality of the work. For instance, Orson Scott Card is not an author I can quite bring myself to support because of the views he holds, but I cannot deny that Ender's Game is a good, well-written book.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-8065990146201823722015-04-09T21:13:55.184-07:002015-04-09T21:13:55.184-07:00Well, I don't like Alex either--never have and...Well, I don't like Alex either--never have and never will. Really now, how can anyone not like the nicest guy in blogging. Somebody would just be trying to get attention to say something like that.<br /><br />Revenge reviews is a downright nutty concept. That would negate any credibility any other reviews that sort of reviewer would have. That's not the point of reviews. I don't think I've given any books 1 star reviews. I've also never downgraded a review. There have been a couple were I might have upgraded them after I had thought about the work longer and realized that it was better than I initially assessed.<br /><br />A proper review should only take the work reviewed into account and nothing about the author, publisher, or anything else. That type of reviewing reminds me of a movie review I once read in the L.A.Times where the reviewer gave the movie a bad review because it somehow reminded him of George Bush and the movie had nothing to do with Bush. The reviewer went on to rant about Bush's policies until in the end it was not a review at all. <br /><br />When I read a book review all I care about is whether the book is worth reading or not based on the merit of the book itself. Otherwise I don't care how the reviewer feels about anything else as far as the context of that one review.<br /><br />Arlee Bird<br />A to Z Challenge Co-host<br /><a href="http://afarawayview.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">A Faraway View</a><br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-37875960206850378722015-04-09T11:57:05.079-07:002015-04-09T11:57:05.079-07:00ABftS: The beef with Alex is envy over his success...ABftS: The beef with Alex is envy over his success. It's the same as him giving that ABNA winner a 1-star, merely a "you suck for being successful when I'm not." Some people can't handle it when others do well.<br /><br />And, yes, terrorist=asshole in this case. I figured since I had already gone the asshole route (man, that sounds so BAD) that I would go the terrorist route, this time. That and I was listening to something on NPR the other day about the increasing problems in countries which will pay ransoms to terrorists.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-22265001531614715462015-04-09T11:53:23.379-07:002015-04-09T11:53:23.379-07:00Shannon: Well, it is obvious, especially since I&#...Shannon: Well, it is obvious, especially since I've stated it so clearly. Some people just don't like honesty. He flew off the handle about it way back when I first stated my policy about giving honest reviews (years ago) and not just "being nice."Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-55664355475074777512015-04-09T09:06:57.643-07:002015-04-09T09:06:57.643-07:00Yeah, that'll show that meddlesome Alex Cavana...Yeah, that'll show that meddlesome Alex Cavanaugh! That guy's such a dick! How does anyone tolerate him?<br /><br />(But really, how does anyone have beef with Alex?)<br /><br />I think you forgot to say "I don't negotiate with assholes." Or is that actually a terrorist in this case? A review terrorist.<br /><br />We're big fans of shining a light on a problem, and good for you for turning this into a post. You already know how we feel about honest reviews, so I'll spare the spiel, but the bigger issue here is standing up to a bully. And holding reviews 'hostage' is nothing more than bullying. It does nothing to help out Indie authors, it does nothing to further self-publication, and it makes Indie authors just look like a pack of rejects that all have to give each other fake reviews because no one else will like their work otherwise.<br /><br />And I, for one, do NOT want to be seen like that simply because the two of us CHOSE to self publish.A Beer for the Showerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17029139745335325356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-51077291547587649492015-04-08T22:06:37.403-07:002015-04-08T22:06:37.403-07:00Wait, someone doesn't like Alex? I'm glad ...Wait, someone doesn't like Alex? I'm glad you stuck to your guns. I took for it granted that it was obvious you gave honest reviews. I don't believe in giving a good rating just to do it. Or a bad one for the same reason. It's a pity some do.Shannon Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934641808195675935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-46690061247434452752015-04-08T18:57:08.217-07:002015-04-08T18:57:08.217-07:00Jo: The dinosaur one is directly tied into book 13...Jo: The dinosaur one is directly tied into book 13.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-77165567972994264262015-04-08T18:46:39.714-07:002015-04-08T18:46:39.714-07:00Well, I don't want to actually start a flame w...Well, I don't want to actually start a flame war on Amazon. It was bad enough that I responded to him in my review of Lyon's.<br /><br />And, um, hey, can I ride in your Moon Ship? Cause that thing is cool.<br /><br />(That doesn't sound bad, does it?)Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-73716331495867752612015-04-08T18:45:05.969-07:002015-04-08T18:45:05.969-07:00The last book I read he (Dresden) was living on an...The last book I read he (Dresden) was living on an island at the beginning. I wasn't sure how he got there. I think I missed more than one book in the series, not sure how. My favourite story was how he magicked a dinosaur and rode it.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14087140585742801854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-43359120630956502082015-04-08T17:53:47.725-07:002015-04-08T17:53:47.725-07:00I don't think I'm nicer than you. I wasn&...I don't think I'm nicer than you. I wasn't personally attacked, remember (so far as I know? I ought to check his reviews of my stuff.)<br /><br />I guess this answers the question I emailed you, Spidey. I think you're right about the response: shine a light on it. You ought to leave replies on the reviews he put on your books, too -- maybe just a note that he is downgrading you because of the feud or something, and a link to these posts? <br /><br />Sorry he did this to you; but if anyone can take PT's attacks, it's the Great and Mighty Andrew Leon. (Do I sound lapdog-y enough?) MOON KNIGHT OUT.Brianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01616494058636881575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-42811619049511678292015-04-08T16:18:06.916-07:002015-04-08T16:18:06.916-07:00Alex H: Oh, yeah, in his full-on flame post about ...Alex H: Oh, yeah, in his full-on flame post about me, he attacks me for my, as he says, "integrity" and "ethics" as if those are bad words. It's a lot of fun.<br /><br />And I'm not worried about the review. Like I said, the thing that made me mad, really mad, was the whole, "I'll change it back if you take down that review."Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-64156333907088679742015-04-08T16:11:47.978-07:002015-04-08T16:11:47.978-07:00Wow.... I'm sort of floored by the fallout of ...Wow.... I'm sort of floored by the fallout of all of this. I'm 100% behind you. It should never be quid pro quo, or even "helping by giving positive reviews" because that is also disingenuous. His comment attacking you for wanting to hold onto your integrity is still the "nugget" from the last post that rings in my ear. <br /><br />I wouldn't worry about his review on Tiberius. Usually those kinds of reviews can be spotted pretty easily.Alex Hursthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05556334141936498897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-9063362077157680352015-04-08T15:59:58.403-07:002015-04-08T15:59:58.403-07:00Jo: If you missed the Red Court stuff, you missed ...Jo: If you missed the Red Court stuff, you missed Changes.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-36107741218160575282015-04-08T15:57:35.128-07:002015-04-08T15:57:35.128-07:00Side Jobs. Will check out Changes, really not sure...Side Jobs. Will check out Changes, really not sure if I read it or not.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14087140585742801854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-12683520996127000632015-04-08T15:30:38.180-07:002015-04-08T15:30:38.180-07:00Jeanne: Well, you know, it wasn't actually a t...Jeanne: Well, you know, it wasn't actually a threat. He did do it. He just offered to fix it if I would capitulate.<br />And I think Briane might be nicer than me.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-8782942301860952672015-04-08T15:17:00.134-07:002015-04-08T15:17:00.134-07:00What a jerk. I can't believe he'd threaten...What a jerk. I can't believe he'd threaten you in such a childish manner because you didn't like a book. Selling books is just going to be harder with assholes who sell reviews out there. And I think Briane's response is incredibly mature and intelligent. Dilloway could use some of that.J E Oneilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09780097298061829471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-58399240527567107242015-04-08T15:15:37.752-07:002015-04-08T15:15:37.752-07:00Jo: Oh, no, go right ahead and write it here. I...Jo: Oh, no, go right ahead and write it here. I'm all for speaking your mind.<br />I wouldn't rate/review something based on a beta read. Theoretically, the author still has time to fix issues at that point. However, once the work has been published, it's open to public scrutiny -- in fact, the author has invited that public scrutiny -- so I think reviews should be reflective of that.<br /><br />(Was that Changes you picked up? Or Side Jobs?)Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-48443792553877612922015-04-08T14:08:34.148-07:002015-04-08T14:08:34.148-07:00Not being an author, I have done a couple of beta ...Not being an author, I have done a couple of beta reads but not posted ratings because I don't really consider I know enough about it. I have just stuck to pointing out typos and things I consider errors to the author and mentioned to them any problems I had with reading their work. What you are talking about is childish and spiteful. Dilloway sounds a right ..... oops, can't write that here. PS just got the Jim Butcher book from the library, thanks.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14087140585742801854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-90949237624347417292015-04-08T12:16:51.040-07:002015-04-08T12:16:51.040-07:00L.G.: On the one hand, I agree with you about not ...L.G.: On the one hand, I agree with you about not pissing people off; I used to try to walk that line of being pleasant and not doing anything to ruffle feathers. But, then, when you do that, you lose some, sometimes a lot, of who you are. That's why I changed my approach to things this year. If the person I am pisses you off, well, then, so be it. I'm going to be on one side of the fence or the other and not try to play nice with both sides. If other people respond with bad behavior, that's on them. Not that I am saying you should -try- to piss people off, but enough is enough.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-39153725517146457092015-04-08T12:11:12.866-07:002015-04-08T12:11:12.866-07:00Alex C: In general, I agree with you about not rev...Alex C: In general, I agree with you about not reviewing something you didn't finish but, as Briane says, sometimes it's worth pointing out that something was so bad you couldn't finish it.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-25401106422705133652015-04-08T11:57:25.295-07:002015-04-08T11:57:25.295-07:00Oy. It's a deeply ingrained practice, isn'...Oy. It's a deeply ingrained practice, isn't it, all the quid pro quo? And indy authors, particularly, have to be careful about pissing off people and getting bad revenge reviews. I've seen gangs of writers go after other authors, bombarding them with one star reviews after a flame war has erupted on some forum. Really, really unfortunate.Luanne G. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15762881276976395955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-31741016881089117522015-04-08T03:49:27.773-07:002015-04-08T03:49:27.773-07:00I wondered if you'd mention that one star revi...I wondered if you'd mention that one star review. CassaFire also had one, but he did go back and change that to a three star after reading it.<br />I agree with Briane about learning from reviews. I know I'm not a perfect writer and insights from an honest review help me to improve.<br />Giving great reviews just to get them is wrong. That's giving and expecting something in return, which is the wrong attitude. (My guest post last week at Stephanie Faris' site covered that.)<br />I'll probably always be guilty of not leaving a really bad review though. If I think a book is that bad, I don't finish it, and if I don't finish, I don't review. Life is too short and I am too slow of a reader...Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.com