Bad Reviews Are More Fun

Literary critics have often commented that the character of the Devil in Milton's Paradise Lost was much more entertaining than any of the righteous angels floating about, stroking harps and offering sanctimonious commentary.
So it is with book reviews.
I've had bad ones and I've had good ones, and though I'd rather have good ones, I have to admit that the bad ones are more fun.
Recently, my book Break Point got a very good review from CM magazine. http://umanitoba.ca/outreach/cm/vol19/no30/breakpoint.html
The reviewer, Jenice Batiforra, called it "an engaging story filled with vivid descriptions, insightful characters and a fast-paced plot line that will appeal to pre-teen and teen boys."
Thanks, Ms. Batiforra. I'm really glad you liked the book. I'm glad you gave it a good review, because it means that lots of librarians and teachers will read the review and put the book in the hands of readers. A positive review is great news for sales, and good for the ego too.
But a few years ago, another book of mine, Dunces Anonymous, got a much worse review from CM. Reviewer Michelle Superle called it "a schlocky school story" and concluded that "the story's ideological paradoxes and superficiality render (its) message powerless." Ouch. That hurt me for days. It might have even hurt sales of the book (though Dunces went on to become an Official Selection of the 2011 Silver Birch Fiction Award).
Still, I've got to hand it to you, Ms. Superle. "Schlocky school story" is a great line.
I wish I'd thought of it myself.