Why,
oh why, do I read Amazon reviews? Because like many writers, I’m neurotic. I’m
desperate for people—especially readers—to like me. And more importantly, I
want them to like my children. As I have no human offspring, my children are
the books I’ve written. Granted, I don’t have to feed them, or pay for their
college, or bail them out of jail if they get too wild at the beach, but I do
LABOR over each work. Picture this: the gestation period for THE STONE NECKLACE
was six years.
I’ve
written before about how blessed I’ve been to have Story River Books as my
publisher, and to have THE STONE NECKLACE chosen to be the One Book One
Community read for Columbia, SC, where I live. What I hope happens now is for
the book to spread its wings beyond our state. I want readers all across the
country.
This
means I compulsively check my Amazon statistics and reviews. And, for the most part, readers have been
kind to me and my child. That they liked it, and actually took the time to post
a positive review, means the world to me. I savor these narratives like my
favorite green peanut M&Ms.
But
then along comes Lyn R., who posted her comments on May 28th, a day
that will live in infamy. “This book was
just OK. Not a great work of literature … The writing attempts depth, but falls
short. The dialogue lacks complexity.”
Reading
this was like biting into a really bad M&M. One missing a peanut, but was instead
filled with lost dreams and maybe salmonella. I texted my writer friends about
it and got this immediate response: “DON’T READ THAT SH%T CARLA. Damnit.” And
they were right, of course. I should know better.
I
brooded for much of the morning. What happened in Lyn R’s life to make her want
to post what she said? Maybe she was ill with a migraine. Maybe she’d gotten a
letter from the IRS. Or maybe she’d read Faulkner or James Joyce before my
book, in which case I definitely lacked complexity. Or maybe she’d eaten a
salmonella tainted M&M.
I
sure know how that feels.
There’s
nothing to be done, of course. I can’t expect everyone to love my children. I
can, however, take solace in knowing my reviews are honest. I’ve not asked
friends to post positive reviews as a favor. Some bad will come with the good,
because that’s just how life works.
What
about tomorrow? Will I compulsively check Amazon and other review sites, now
that I’ve felt this sting?
You
betcha. My maybe-not-perfect-but-still-pretty-damn-good
child has been birthed, and I’m ready for her to see the world.
Yep, despite the advice to not read reviews for my books, I still do. I feel good with the positive ones and not so good with the blah reviews. I’ll stop reading, I promise, if I begin to get (oh say) 250 reviews per book. [That should be a high enough number I don’t have to worry about fulfilling my promise.]
ReplyDeleteI always read the reviews.
ReplyDeleteI have one one-star review that just says "It's boring."
Another two star review that says it's too much like the others in the series.
Everything isn't to everybody's taste. Most people are honest. Some are a bit mean.
I read one where the reader complained about a metaphor. "her mouth was no bigger than a green bean." She said the average green bean was 4 to 4.5 inches long, so the metaphor was absurd. Guess I should have specified "kitchen sliced, canned green bean."
ReplyDeleteOne reviewer said MURDER MANHATTAN STYLE had a misleading title because the Manhattan she expected was not the Manhattan in the collection. I guess I failed to read her mind.
ReplyDeleteIt is so painful when we learn that someone doesn't like us--and equally painful when they don't like our work. I guess the thing to do is focus on all the people who do and ignore the ones who don't. But, you were smart putting the review to work for you by writing an interesting blog. Well done.
ReplyDeleteCarla, I can't imagine anyone writing a bad review of The Stone Necklace, or your Caleb Knowles series which I hope you soon get back to. I miss them.
ReplyDeleteActually, I only read the reviews on my first book in the first week or two it went up on Amazon before anyone had time to download and read the book except for several sisters who were already familiar with the book and gave me positive reviews. I have yet to read any review of any of my books on Amazon. I've had several people email me positive reviews they read about my books, and I love hearing in person when people say how much they enjoy my books. Maybe I should read my reviews, but I'm not sure I ever will.
I have a thick hide, but negative criticism still stings. In some cases, it's not about what I've written at all, but the fact that I've struck a raw nerve, or unleashed a powerful memory.
ReplyDeleteYes it is painful, but my hide is much thicker than it once was. Having people critique a work in progress, even if it's very negative, can be key to helping the writer improve it. And somebody just brought me M&Ms after he read my blog, so there's that!!!
ReplyDeleteAh, the pain of the bad review. There is no getting around it! Hang in there and hopefully this will be your last one.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, I hate it when my other persona posts. Bad reviews are weird. Like you, I figure it's due to bad green m&ms. I'm always torn between, well at least they read the book, and wondering why they finished if it was so not to their taste (or if they disliked it so much).
ReplyDeleteI haven't published a novel yet, but already the thought of negative reviews terrifies me!
ReplyDeleteMy friend Sherry Harris has the best advice: You can have the sweetest peach, but if someone doesn't like peaches, they won't like yours no matter what. Can't worry about them!