Carla
asked
Chris Bohjalian:
Hi Chris, I have a question about books you read and rate here on Goodreads. I note that you rate very high almost all the books you've read, most seem to be five star. Yet, you don't leave any comments about the book for us to see. Can I ask why? Thanks!
Chris Bohjalian
A perfectly reasonable question.
I know lots and lots of authors. All writers do.
And so rather than risk hurting a friend's or an acquaintance's feelings, any book I add to my Goodreads "read" column gets five stars.
If I don't like a book, I do not add it to the feed.
This policy allows me to recommend books I like -- without denigrating a peer's work.
Now, when I review a book for the Washington Post or the Boston Globe or wherever, I am completely honest. That's a different ballgame. And I can be honest, because professional venues such as those would never allow me to review a book if I knew the author.
Does this help? I hope so.
Again, a great question.
All the best,
Chris B.
I know lots and lots of authors. All writers do.
And so rather than risk hurting a friend's or an acquaintance's feelings, any book I add to my Goodreads "read" column gets five stars.
If I don't like a book, I do not add it to the feed.
This policy allows me to recommend books I like -- without denigrating a peer's work.
Now, when I review a book for the Washington Post or the Boston Globe or wherever, I am completely honest. That's a different ballgame. And I can be honest, because professional venues such as those would never allow me to review a book if I knew the author.
Does this help? I hope so.
Again, a great question.
All the best,
Chris B.
More Answered Questions
Ben
asked
Chris Bohjalian:
Which one of your books is most like The Flight Attendant? (My Favorite book of all time ;)
Wendy
asked
Chris Bohjalian:
I started The Guest Room yesterday and I totally love it! I am half way done and I do not want to put it down! But I do not want it to end because then it will be done! I have read all your books and some are more liked than others but this one will be in my memory bank for a long long time as one of your very best. I love that you always write about very different situations. So what will your next book be!?!?
Ann
asked
Chris Bohjalian:
I was intrigued by the extensive background on sleep disorders in "The Sleepwalker". As I was reading, I got the impression that you became interested in it because parasomnias are one of the mechanisms by which people end up behaving against their volition - and so you end up with tremendous potential for conflict, as you showed in the Ahlberg's marriage. What made you become interested in that? Thank you.
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