Let's Face the Truth: ALL Reviews Are Subjective
The Internet is abuzz in the book world about Giraldi's latest review of Alix Ohlin's novel and story collection. Why? Because I think the flaming culture that the Internet has allowed for is coming forth in reviews in such a way that the book world is not used to. We no longer have the rather staid lifetime reviewers who could skewer a writer's career with a few passive-aggressive critical comments. Now, an author is open to flaming comments from anyone. Whether on Goodreads or Amazon or the NYT. And we just have to live with it. We have to accept that ALL reviews are subjective in some way, that some reviewers may not even have read the book, and that a few may have a hidden agenda. That the new generation thinks it has a right to speak out rudely, cruelly, and hurtfully, under the guise of criticism. Safety behind the screen. What is surprising is that the NYT is opening itself to this sort of flaming review. I read the review (the link follows), and frankly Giraldi seems to have a good point and gives good supporting examples. What everyone is reacting to is the tone. The flaming torch he lit when he submitted his professional review to a professional magazine. To me, it sounds like he lost his temper. That the books drove him to that place that some of us editors get driven to when we feel something should not have gotten published or how the hell did the editors not edit this crap out? I've been there, felt that. Write it out, but don't hit send till you calm down and re-edit. There's a real person at the end of that review....
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/19/boo...
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Teresa
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Aug 21, 2012 09:31PM
And I'm not so sure that it's just the new generation, Tara. There's an example here of an older man, a federal prosecutor, who, under a pseudonym, was leaving comments on online news stories, bashing certain individuals on open cases that his office was working on. That anonymity is just too powerful for some.
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Good point, Teresa. I think the difference may be in that the older generation knows it is doing something wrong and can hide, whereas the younger gen just feels it's normal and part of how they communicate.
Tara wrote: "Good point, Teresa. I think the difference may be in that the older generation knows it is doing something wrong and can hide, whereas the younger gen just feels it's normal and part of how they co..."Ah, yes, that probably is a difference. Either way, I am totally behind the idea that everyone should remember there's a person behind whatever's being lambasted.
Yeah, I've known writers who've gone into near breakdown modes over these kinds of reviews.
Tara wrote: "Yeah, I've known writers who've gone into near breakdown modes over these kinds of reviews."After reading about authors in the past, I do believe they weren't immune to these kinds of reviews, it's just that now they are so widely and easily accessible.
At the same time, though, it's good to remember that the reviewer many times probably has an inflated sense of his/her own importance and influence.
And again I want to stress that it's not simply getting a bad review that can hurt so intensely, it's getting one that seems like a personal attack and uses aggressive, nonobjective language. It's like being bullied, with no chance to stand up for yourself, as authors are not allowed to reply.
Tara wrote: "And again I want to stress that it's not simply getting a bad review that can hurt so intensely, it's getting one that seems like a personal attack and uses aggressive, nonobjective language. It's ..."Oh, yes, of course. And that is definitely different than in the past.
