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If you ask someone to review your work, you should be prepared for whatever the reviewer has to say about the book. Not only the good - if there is any, but also the negative. If you are too "thin-skinned" as one writer friend of mine suggested, then perhaps you shouldn't ask for a review in the first place. If all you want is a "pat-on-the-back" or someone to tell you what a wonderful book you've written, ask your mom, sister or brother. But that's not what a review is all about.
Earlier today, I posted something which I labeled an "excerpt" from a review of my book Missing by Bob Mustin. In so doing, I have been unfair to him, not only for the excellent work he did and the amount of time he spent in reviewing this book, but moreover because of the suggestions he made for improving the work.
Mr. Mustin took great exception with my post and I have apologized to him for posting selected parts of the review. To anyone who may have read the Post, I apologize to you as well. Should you care to see the entire review, let me know.
Bob does an excellent and thorough job - he takes reviewing very seriously. I recommend his work to any writer who is looking for an honest appraisal of his or her work.
Jack (J Russell)Rose
I think you two have hit on my hesitation to do full and indepth reviews. Because so much of what I read (in my opinion) is not well written. We have some really good writers in AAG--and then we have some writers who need to work (intensely) on their craft. What good does it do if the reviewer only encourages the mediocrity. If we think we're great, and people tell us we're great, where is the incentive to improve? Heck, we're already perfect. I have done some reviews on Amazon and I've yet to give anybody five stars. Five is reserved for the Bible and Shakespeare. And I'm always disappointed when somebody reviews my work and gives me five stars. They either didn't read the book or they're not being honest. I'm just saying...
ReplyDeleteMary Ann Artrip