tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post7237101136452817692..comments2024-03-28T06:16:39.508+00:00Comments on Help! I Need a Publisher!: STANDARDS IN PRIVATE LIFENicola Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-84640951189486593072010-04-23T22:45:01.730+01:002010-04-23T22:45:01.730+01:00Didjasee, didjasee? It gets worse - it was Orlando...Didjasee, didjasee? It gets worse - it was Orlando Figes after all, not his wife!<br /><br />http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/apr/23/poison-pen-reviews-historian-orlando-figes<br /><br />We have a saying here in Australia.<br />"You idiot!"Ebony McKenna.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02724727996270658767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-70615134192030837532010-04-21T22:24:06.524+01:002010-04-21T22:24:06.524+01:00Wow, that's completely reprehensible.
Consu...Wow, that's completely reprehensible. <br /><br />Consumerist had an article about how to spot fake online reviews recently. It was mostly about product reviews, but I always look at the book reviews on Amazon too. Some of the advice was relevant to those. <br /><br />-- I always discount things like "This book is dumb," or any ones that have no stars and no good reason why. <Elizabeth Westhttp://aelizabethwest.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-28339388806409718852010-04-21T11:47:55.876+01:002010-04-21T11:47:55.876+01:00I generally read a few Amazon reviews but generall...I generally read a few Amazon reviews but generally disregard those reviews that are overly negative and normally seek out reviews elsewhere to back the Amazon reviews up.<br /><br />I also agree with the idea that if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all - generally speaking if I'm not keen on a book I will still review it but I will try and find things good Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-68078635388960795272010-04-20T18:20:02.853+01:002010-04-20T18:20:02.853+01:00I will read amazon reviews because, more often tha...I will read amazon reviews because, more often than not, they're done by people who like to read and truthfully wanted to review the book to the best of their ability. But I will look for markers- do they talk about the author's other books? What books do they compare this one to? Etc...I think its obvious is someone is just 'badmouthing' and I disregard. Also, if the book hasCreepy Query Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18115161057496086972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-13008195269443491322010-04-20T16:08:21.549+01:002010-04-20T16:08:21.549+01:00Well said. Plus life is too short.Well said. Plus life is too short.Katherine Langrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529700103932422873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-42708348475171566292010-04-20T15:50:48.306+01:002010-04-20T15:50:48.306+01:00Oh yes, quite the hoax these Amazon reviews & ...Oh yes, quite the hoax these Amazon reviews & I wonder how someone can debase themselves in such a manner. In the end, crime does not pay. :)Harry Markovhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09140305922494369576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-86309291902466515152010-04-20T15:18:58.552+01:002010-04-20T15:18:58.552+01:00Nicola, dear, those without firing synapses will e...Nicola, dear, those without firing synapses will exploit and embrace anonymity to exhibit their inherent immaturity. I guess that's why I take Amazon reviews with a grain of salt. Too many whack jobs out there to be concern about.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-20940476594329783292010-04-20T12:09:24.821+01:002010-04-20T12:09:24.821+01:00I just read the article - I was appalled! She soun...I just read the article - I was appalled! She sounds like a 10 year old to me - and she has a phd?! Crazy... No morals, obviously!Privatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03018596012893869692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-44338752699994456802010-04-20T11:31:00.604+01:002010-04-20T11:31:00.604+01:00I review books that I have enjoyed on my blog, and...I review books that I have enjoyed on my blog, and tend to shy away from reviewing those I have not enjoyed. Because it is all subjective, isn't it? If I read a great book, I want to encourage others to enjoy it - but they might not! One friend of mine absolutely hated a book that I adored!<br /><br />I tend to believe that, if you can't say anything nice, you shouldn't say Catherine Hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17540552933192453722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-71965169711533405302010-04-20T11:27:21.846+01:002010-04-20T11:27:21.846+01:00Nicola, I am 100% in agreement.
It's the ano...Nicola, I am 100% in agreement. <br /><br />It's the anonymity that's so underhand here - this sort of thing has, of course, been going on non-anonymously in academic journals since time immemorial - whcih is the reason the newman and Baddiel "History Today" skit was so funny and true.Dan Hollowayhttp://www.yearzerowriters.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-53054392719487434282010-04-20T10:54:48.129+01:002010-04-20T10:54:48.129+01:00Blimey, that was a bit of a rubbish thing to do. F...Blimey, that was a bit of a rubbish thing to do. Fact is there are a lot of very bitter people out there and they can say what they like. <br />Sometimes I do wonder if we are spewing out words willy nilly thinking that the consequences are harmless.<br />Unfortunately one can only trust human beings to be one thing, human.The Molehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00877563886396414024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-26225420020769646632010-04-20T10:22:19.373+01:002010-04-20T10:22:19.373+01:00I wonder how many people out there would use the r...I wonder how many people out there would use the review process seriously; to make decisions about which books they buy? I certainly don't. I ignore most reviews and all hype. My experience of Amazon reviews is that they generally fall into two main categories, both highly non-objective: (i) bad reviews from people who, for whatever reason, hate the author and (ii) virtually mindless gushing Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-7707193584637465752010-04-20T08:02:18.696+01:002010-04-20T08:02:18.696+01:00That is low. I'll be interested to learn if th...That is low. I'll be interested to learn if there are any consequences from all of this.Paul Anthony Shortthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14393249001158230985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-57165459443861257032010-04-20T03:23:44.273+01:002010-04-20T03:23:44.273+01:00Amen sista!
I post things publicly as an author -...Amen sista!<br /><br />I post things publicly as an author - therefore I am always careful about what I write and assume everything is public and will get back to me.<br /><br />It's all about having some kind of integrity, or at the very least, accountability. If I don't like a book, I shut up about it. Just because a book isn't to my taste doesn't mean I'll stop anyone else Ebony McKenna.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02724727996270658767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-22756141118461254252010-04-20T02:33:09.737+01:002010-04-20T02:33:09.737+01:00Interesting that Figes' wife is a "member...Interesting that Figes' wife is a "member of the top human rights specialists, Blackstone Chambers". Human rights indeed!Kaz Augustinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01839835518368442832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-55654201460709552142010-04-20T01:57:44.659+01:002010-04-20T01:57:44.659+01:00Apalling 'Lady MacBeth' behaviour, infanti...Apalling 'Lady MacBeth' behaviour, infantile and cowardly.<br />Hoist by her own petard methinks and a superb example of what goes around comes around.<br /><br />I take no notice of book reviews on Amazon, or anywhere else for that matter, if they're signed by 'anon.'<br /><br />It's given you an oily little stomach flip hasn't it Nicola - like being back in the CC MacKenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09903422375744085705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-25794404116536593492010-04-20T00:50:57.561+01:002010-04-20T00:50:57.561+01:00I'll read a few Amazon reviews, but I disregar...I'll read a few Amazon reviews, but I disregard the ones that are overly negative without giving any justification for their position. <br /><br />I'll pay far more attention to reviews I see on blogs I trust than anything else. <br /><br />Still, Nicola, sorry you're having to deal with it. It's a form of bullying, I think. Someone is doing his or her best to land hits without Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06909176210194176373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-63670588674654805562010-04-19T23:30:44.258+01:002010-04-19T23:30:44.258+01:00Hi
Not that I defend Dr Figes' wife's act...Hi<br /><br />Not that I defend Dr Figes' wife's actions or anything - but I'd like to think she did this cos she loved hubby so much!<br /><br />Oh come on!!!! It's a kind of twisted love story for the 2010 generation - it's got everything - Amazon, online reviews, lawyers, media, and classic ingredients of madness, power, lust, and er... cambridge!<br /><br />Take care<br />xOld Kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13185547869183611159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-60812155332599716322010-04-19T23:18:10.142+01:002010-04-19T23:18:10.142+01:00Academia can be particularly bad for this sort of ...Academia can be particularly bad for this sort of thing. Employment and research money depend on being 'top' - no matter how. <br />I was almost annihilated when I made a small change to some research methodology (to suit the physical capacity of the subjects in question) and accidentally shattered a long held theory in psychology. It was not something I intended to do at all but that catdownunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06959328192182156574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-61140159585534923932010-04-19T22:14:59.995+01:002010-04-19T22:14:59.995+01:00KarenG - I think that more and more people are dis...KarenG - I think that more and more people are disregarding Amazon reviews, fortunately. The Vine programme is awful and useless. I've asked my publishers not to put me up for it from now on.Nicola Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-18273050645677588842010-04-19T22:13:41.726+01:002010-04-19T22:13:41.726+01:00Cloth Dragon - I went to read that and it was real...Cloth Dragon - I went to read that and it was really ineresting. He speaks very powerfully about it and describes very well the pain we have to deal with when reading a bad review of something we've poured our hearts into. Of course, we don't expect everyone to like it, and of course we have to deal with neg reviews (and, as he says, the more successful you are the more often you will Nicola Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-54311867998716710622010-04-19T22:09:36.778+01:002010-04-19T22:09:36.778+01:00Excellent points. There needs to be some professio...Excellent points. There needs to be some professionalism out there in reviewing. Amazon and Goodreads reviews carry a huge amount of power now to the reading/buying public. Which is both good and bad, depending.Karen Jones Gowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01153821980625034810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-15495200317811727052010-04-19T22:07:13.818+01:002010-04-19T22:07:13.818+01:001) Anonymity (or alias) is the first refuge of sco...1) Anonymity (or alias) is the first refuge of scoundrels.<br /><br />2) Everyone has an opinion, but some opinions are better supported by facts and logic.<br /><br />3) The Internet has brought democracy to Communication.<br /><br />4) Democracy is basically faith in the collective wisdom of a lot of ignorant individuals. <br /><br />I am contemplating building a service whereby posters are &#steeleweedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02077739629921574784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-2134009877145350812010-04-19T22:05:24.309+01:002010-04-19T22:05:24.309+01:00And then the rest of us have to explain to childre...And then the rest of us have to explain to children why it's not mature to behave like that.... :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2488887316391780144.post-12051723843568869752010-04-19T21:47:30.086+01:002010-04-19T21:47:30.086+01:00I recently found the blog of an author I enjoy and...I recently found the blog of an author I enjoy and have been reading through some older posts. He also had an issue with certain comments and the pain of publication.<br /><br />I read the explanation first,<br />http://jimbutcher.livejournal.com/2324.html<br /><br />and the reviews next,<br />http://jimbutcher.livejournal.com/2172.html<br /><br />But I thought it was an interesting insight into ClothDragonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07542830590515695754noreply@blogger.com