A commitment to review unknown authors
I was about to review The Cat���s Table by Michael Ondaatje when I discovered this work already has 352 reviews on Amazon. Does Michael need another review? Will my comments make a difference to this internationally known, winner of every major literary award, Canadian literary icon?
I know an author that would like to see his novel(s) reviewed ��� me. Or someone like me. Someone at the beginning of his or her writing career when a review and a starred rating are actually worth something, perhaps in sales and certainly in self-esteem.
So why not read works written by author���s like myself and write a review of their book instead of a book by the Michael Ondaatje���s of this world? There���s certainly lots to choose from and many of these books are free on sites like BookLikes, StoryCartel, even Smashwords and Amazon.
Just a second, that could mean reading a lot of bad writing. Am I up to that kind of sacrifice to help promote new literary voices?
No.
I believe an author should read the same type of books he wants to writes. Why read westerns when you write commercial/literary fiction? Why read amateurs when you want to be a pro?
Nietzsche said, ���The essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is gratitude.��� If I want to create great art, perhaps I should be a little more gracious. Probably good for my karma as well.
Okay, how about half of what I read will be from new, undiscovered writers and the other half from someone I aspire to write like?
I can���t see any point in writing a dishonest review. There���s likely at least a few on most new writers book pages as it is ��� family and friends guilted into posting something flattering and hitting five stars. I���m not sure how that helps them and I won���t be doing that.
I���ll write constructive reviews. I think I know enough about this craft to point out what the author is doing right and perhaps suggest how they might improve other areas, though this by no means suggests I don���t make the same mistakes myself ��� again and again.
I actually get more from well-considered negative reviews of my work (and I���ve had enough) than glowing ones that lack specifics. However, if the review I write is less than three stars I���ll email it to the author to see if they want me to post it. If they don���t, I won���t. They can use it for their edification or send it to their trash file unread.
I hope to make some surprising discoveries and maybe offer some assistance along the way.
P.S. Anyway, I went ahead and reviewed The Cat���s Table. I gave it one star just so you know what you���re in for.
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My new novels, FOREST ��� Love, Loss, Legend and The BIG PICTURE ��� A Camera, A Young Woman, An Uncompromising Ethic (now in paperback) are available on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003DS6LEU and at https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/raglin
Read Reviews https://readersfavorite.com:book-review:39014
Visit my publisher���s website for excerpts from, and buy links to, my three novels, Spirit Bear, Eagleridge Bluffs, and Not Wonder More ��� Mad Maggie and the Mystery of the Ancients. http://www.devinedestinies.com/?route=product%2Fauthor&author_id=92
More of my original photographs can be viewed, purchased, and shipped to you as GREETING CARDS; matted, laminated, mounted, framed, or canvas PRINTS; and POSTERS. Go to: http://www.redbubble.com/people/rodraglin
View my flickr photostream at https://www.flickr.com/photos/78791029@N04/
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