No, Don't Pull Your Punches, Really...
I don't really feel like writing today, especially since I read one of the WORST (as in harshest) reviews of ALMOST TO DIE FOR this morning on Red House Books. Check it out. I'm not saying it's unfair, it's just kind of brutal. It's never good, for instance, when the one thing the reviewer liked about the book is its cover. The one thing, in point of fact, I have zero control over.
Yowch!
I suppose it's better than saying they only liked the font... but wow. I think, too, one of the reasons that this review hit home for me is that, most of the time, I *know* when I've written a book that isn't my best. It's not something you're ever allowed to say out loud, and, you always kind of hope that no one else will notice. In fact, with ALMOST I've been quite taken aback by the fact that Publisher's Weekly liked this book enough to give it a starred review, when I personally believe EVERYTHING the reviewer at Red House had to say (before she said it.) I worked hard on the book, but I thought it was fairly deeply flawed from the beginning. And, you know, try as you might, not every book you write is going to be your best.
The Emperor, in case you wondered, has no clothes.
But, reading that first thing this morning kind of sucked the life out of my already fairly weak desire to work today. Alas.
Now don't feel compelled to tell me how awesome I am or run out and post "you're so wrong" over at Red House Books. Well, okay, you can tell me I'm awesome, but you know... don't harrass the reviewer. She's just expressing her honest opinion, which I actually respect. I post critical reviews of books by colleagues all the time. I think it's part of the deal I signed up for when I took on this writing gig.
It's all part of the life of a published writer. You get to take the good times (like finding out yesterday that ALMOST will be published in Chinese!) and you take the kicks in the teeth, too. I don't get mad when people honestly express their opinion of my work. It's sometimes demoralizing to read, but what can you do? If I could write a book that pleased everybody all of the time I'd be a best seller.
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So, when I saw you were writing a young adult novel, I was intrigued & thought up a few of the readers I know who may enjoy it. Maybe I'm weird here, but in all honesty... I actually want to read the book more than I did before. If I happen to agree? Well, Robert Jordan, Terry Goodkind, Anya Bast... all writers I'm a huge fan of that have had books that weren't my faves. Still, I highly recommend them as authors to just about everyone.
Clearly, this wasn't a book she enjoyed overly much. Maybe it was her mood. Maybe she just wasn't into it. Maybe she has a different reading preference than I do.
It kinda sounded like some thoughts I've had on other young adult books I've read, but some of her remarks just made me roll my eyes. Especially the whole 'vampires are hundreds of years old yet they're interested in a teenager is yucky' thought. Hmmmmm, that seems a pretty invalid point for anyone who chooses to read a young adult paranormal/vampire love story. My first thought in response to that? Um, Twilight anyone? Seems plenty of people thought it was fine there.
Another point I considered somewhat invalid is that the main character didn't confront her mom but instead had a "secret meeting" with Daddy-dearest. Not sure about the reviewer, but I can think of several real life teenagers who make similar decisions that also leave me with a "um, what were you thinking?? seriously, have you thought of just ASKING?!" feeling myself, but that actually leads it to being more believable. Perhaps I'm the odd man (or rather girl) out here, but I don't exactly look to my teenage years as a shining example of the best decisions I've ever made.
So that makes me wonder...is it the writing that left her to feel this way? Is it simply that it wasn't a review I would agree with? *sigh* This is gonna bug me so now I've gotta see if I can eek out the $$ to go grab it from the bookstore.