Goodreads Authors/Readers discussion
III. Goodreads Readers
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Reviewers don't have to be educated!!!
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My first thought when I saw the title of this posting was: Who cares if reviewers're educated, they just need an opinion.As for the expression of that opinion, why get upset if it doesn't meet your qualifications? This is not a valid reason for putting someone down. This isn't an English class.
Says The Typo Queen.
No, reviewers don't have to be educated (unless, of course, they are marketing a review service or something). An opinion is an opinion.You're correct. This isn't English class. But it would be nice to have some semblance of intelligence behind them. I'm speaking as a fellow reader, not an author. It is frustrating trying to get a grasp on a book by reading the reviews only to have the review so unintelligable it is practically in a foreign language.
Do I get upset over improper grammar or punctuation in a review (unless it's by an actual reviewer)? No. That's silly. But was it educated enough to be understood? That is important.
Of course it is always possible the person did not write the review for the masses, that it being public is only a happy side product of reviewing, and wrote it strictly for themselves. On GR that happens often. But a review on Amazon or elsewhere? Those are typically left aimed at potential buyers to aide their decision to purchase.
(All Hail) Grimlock wrote: "Reading books isn't a craft that needs perfecting. Readers can read the book any way they please...."
Disagree. The mere fact that people can do something "any ole' way they please", is never a broader justification for doing something "any ole' way they please". We are a thinking species that (due to our ability to foresee outcomes) determines the way we progress through the world. We decide between various desirable/undesirable values. A strong literacy is one of those values; and right now literacy is frankly, in jeopardy and under siege. Not sure if you were aware, but a lot of people are wisely concerned with trying to safeguard this tradition. We don't just let it fall to whim and chance.
So many people are saying how readers don't read as well as they should be able to, and that the lack of analysis in their reviews means that they don't read books properly. I completely disagree with that. Back when I was at school I got A*s for both English Literature and English Language GCSE, I'm currently taking English Literature for A Levels and I'm at A grade now and predicted an A* for the end of the academic year. When I read books, I don't analyse them like I would a text from college. No, I just read the book for fun. My reviews are light-hearted and I just say what I thought about the book, I don't go into deep analysis.
If people are reading and reviewing books because they want to do it because they enjoy doing it, and their reviews are like mine, just thoughts and no deep analysis about every word and sentence written, does that mean the reader can't "read properly"? No.
There's a difference between being capable of reading a piece of written work properly and having the abilities to completely analyse the socks off of it, and just reading and reviewing for FUN. It doesn't state the educational level of the individual. Obviously I'd work harder if I was being graded for my reviews but I'm not, not many people are.
Feliks wrote: "...now literacy is frankly, in jeopardy and under siege. Not sure if you were aware, but a lot of people are wisely concerned with trying to safeguard this tradition."Hyperbole.
You cannot ascertain literacy levels from amateur reviews. GR reviewers don't have to perform to 'industry standards'. Whether they write a lucid critical review or 'OMG, I luv this book to bits' doesn't bear any relevancy on literacy levels.
Now, if you'd take a Kirkus review and attacked it for lack of critical analysis, I'd say you have a point, but you cannot apply the same standard to amateur reviews and conclude literacy is on the decline.
GR reviewers are predominantly readers, not writers. I could take your post and assess its literary value and describe a literacy evaluation to you, but would that be fair? Just because you write 'We are a thinking species that...' doesn't mean you are literary deficient. You're writing a post, not writing a thesis.
Martyn wrote: "Hyperbole..."Not at all. I feel you're misunderstanding the thrust of my remarks. My determinations above are not based on whatever 'book reviewers on the internet' may be doing. They are but a visible symptom. There are many such symptoms, on and off the net. My remarks derive instead from reference works on the topic of literacy, recently published. If you interest yourself in this field, (as I have) you will find what I've stated is becoming a consensus among researchers. Literacy is struggling. It was a matter of concern even before the internet and the cell phone arrived. Now its approaching a crisis.
As for my own writing style: I can only take your comment as a compliment. I generally like to write well whenever possible, no matter what the medium. Especially when its a topic I feel strongly about. Would that more people followed suit. Its not only a pleasure..it demonstrates respect both for the matter-at-hand and for the people one is exchanging views with. There's a lot of good writing present in this very thread. I'm sure you well know that the first sign a debate is crumbling is when people stop speaking with respect for their listeners.
Annie wrote: "If people are reading and reviewing books because they want to do it because they enjoy doing it, and their reviews are like mine, just thoughts and no deep analysis about every word and sentence written, does that mean the reader can't "read properly"? No. ..."The flaw here is that you're merely guessing in an offhand way about the abilities of a broad strata of people, based only on your own attitudes and habits. Just because there's an element of informality in internet book reviews, even recognizing that doesn't mean we can then assume that everyone is just 'goofing off'. We should try to understand what the actual state of reading competency is, since there are so many more alarming signals emerging which indicate that there is a real problem.
I never expect my readers to offer a full critical analysis when reviewing one of my books, but I do think it's helpful when they have a decent grasp of the different genres they're reading. For example, one of my books is a dystopia, which (if you follow the classic dystopian structure) should have a bleak (or at least uncertain) ending. A handful of readers have left reviews complaining about its bleak ending, which is (forgive my bluntness) misinformed.Now, I don't take issue with these reviews because they're honest reactions and everyone should be allowed to voice his/her opinion. However, it does make me happy when a reader shows he or she understands and appreciates what I've worked to get across--and, since my books all have a literary slant (which means they're filled with symbolism, irony, deeper meanings between the lines, etc.) a full-fledged critical analysis does make my day.
Readers come in all educational backgrounds, though, and I'm grateful that at least people are reading my books.
I saw this in my feed and had to come in to add my two cent. Today I received the first 2 star reviews of my debut novel. It was going to come sooner or later because so far only my friends had taken the time to review. You know how friends are, they want to make you feel good about your work. Even the most critical friend doesn't really want to hurt your feelings.
Both reviews gave me two stars - one stated it was more like 2.5 out of 5. One review hurt my feelings, I won't lie. Knee jerk reaction on my part "OMG that's MY book! I worked hard on it! OH NOES!"
Then I read it again. I read the other far 'nicer' one.
Both reviews said the same thing, but in different ways. Did either reviewer write their thoughts in the wrong way? NO.
As an author I couldn't care less if the person reading my book is less educated than I am. Who cares if they have a doctorate or not? The thing that matters is that person took time out of their lives to read my book (or any other book). We authors should be grateful a reader gives their words back to us.
We can only improve by valuing the feedback our readers give. It isn't my job to explain what I mean after the fact. If a writer can't get their ideas across in a way that anyone can understand, we shouldn't be writing.
In other words - butthurt doesn't help any author. We need to put our big boy/girl undies on and thank reviewers for helping us improve.
Shari wrote: "Do they still do sentence diagraming in school? I'm guessing they don't do much of it, if they do it at all. That stuff was burned into my brain when I was young, and it helps me now as an author. And cursive writing! It makes me want to cry that they don't teach that much anymore.
..."
They teach sentence diagramming if it's on the standardized test. If it's not...well, it goes away, like most history, science, and other subjects that don't make it to the tests.
As for cursive...I'm old enough to have learned that in elementary school, and I've never had to use it since junior high, when I got a typewriter for Christmas. They don't teach blacksmithing in shop classes anymore, either. There's little enough time in the school day to teach useful skills, far less archaic ones.
J.E. wrote: "As an author I could care less if the person reading my book is less educated than I am."So, how much less you could you care? :)
Martyn wrote: "J.E. wrote: "As an author I could care less if the person reading my book is less educated than I am."So, how much less you could you care? :)"
Quite a bit.
I could care less than I do about politics.
Could possibly care less than I do about fuzzy slippers.
Must go bang my head against the wall now. Bad writer, no cookie.
(editing it and thanks!)
@ J.E.,I don't want you to think I'm pestering you, but 'reviews' are for readers to make an informed choice. 'Feedback' is a private conversation with a (beta-)reader to help an author improve an unpublished work.
Of course an e-author can update their e-books to remove typos and such, but the published book should be finished.
These terms are often confused, 'review' and 'feedback', and I feel they put undue pressure on reviewers to somehow provide an educational review.
And even if a reader provides feedback, the feedback does not need to be 'educated' feedback. If a reader can point out boring scenes or scenes that shook them from the suspension of disbelief, that should provide the author with enough information to improve their work.
Annie wrote: "So many people are saying how readers don't read as well as they should be able to, and that the lack of analysis in their reviews means that they don't read books properly. I completely disagree..."
This is a good point. Reading to analyse is completely different to reading a book for fun. I read a lot and I do review but not all, by any means. Sometimes I like things simply because I enjoyed the couple of hours of escapism it gave me. I cannot state is was good because of this, this and this, but because I simply enjoyed reading. It depends on the book as well, some books require the reader to think more deeply about things and some are just a bit of fun. Both are equally valid.
If someone reads my book they might see something in it another reader doesn't or even things I have not considered, or they might not. They may miss something I think is obvious, but that doesn't necessarily make them less intelligent, people see things different ways and that is a good thing. People are diverse, readers are diverse and books are diverse.
I've read things I didn't understand and I consider myself reasonably intelligence. I don't understand maths for example but does that make me less intelligent than someone who does? Probably not it is just a different intelligence as I am creative, I like and read history etc.
Someone mentioned badly written books - to an extent this is relative, some people don't notice, some do but don't overly care and some get really annoyed. 50 shades of grey is a badly written book in my opinion but it is a best seller....are the millions who've read it all stupid? No.
If the reader enjoys the book, on whatever level then the writer has done something right for that reader. I re-read a lot and I always see something new.
Reviews are opinions and by that nature flawed, they are not standard, written for a myriad of reasons and by a mix of people so how much store readers and authors can put by them is debatable. Look at any book with reviews on Amazon, or indeed Goodreads and you will see a mix of reviews, some folks liked it, some liked it a lot and some didn't, some noticed the typos, some didn't mention them, some thought there was too much violence and some didn't.
Let people read how they wish to and review how they wish to. Everyone is different, every book is different and every reading experience is different.
Martyn wrote: "@ J.E.,I don't want you to think I'm pestering you, but 'reviews' are for readers to make an informed choice. 'Feedback' is a private conversation with a (beta-)reader to help an author improve a..."
Oh, I completely agree. I think that my statements made it seem as if reviewers should be used as a gauge to how well an author is writing for all readers. This isn't what I meant. Perhaps if I had been more clear instead of trying to be funny.
What I mean to say is that every reader should be valued. Every review, whether negative or positive, is a chance for authors to learn. We need to know what readers think of our work.
What authors do not need to do is stalk or harass reviewers. The system here, no matter what other authors believe, is set up for readers to say what they think, either by leaving a rating alone or adding a review.
That a reader takes the time to add a review along with a rating is a privilege, not a right for authors.
Perhaps working as a freelancer for years has given me a different perspective. In my mind, readers are clients. Authors are service providers. The caveat: readers pay in advance for our service - good or bad, they are stuck.
Sure, some might ask for a refund from Amazon or return a book elsewhere. But how often will every single unhappy reader do that? I know I have many books that I forgot to return or just didn't have the time. My only recourse is to let the author or other readers know what I thought about my experience.
As for reading comprehension in readers...this is none of the author's business. I'm appalled that any author would feel they have the right to put down their clients. Uneducated? So what? In one of my low star reviews the reader plainly stated they didn't 'get it' and one entity they pointed out doesn't exist. At least, not in the way I wrote the story. That doesn't mean the reader didn't believe (and still believe) that entity exists in my world. It doesn't mean the reader is uneducated.
It means I did a poor job in explaining or pacing my story for that particular reader. Maybe for many more. Is that the reviewers fault? Hell no. Is it my fault? Maybe. I can use their review as a starting point to understand how I can improve aspects of my own writing.
It doesn't mean my readers are beta readers and I'm sorry I came across that way. To me all feedback is important. That's really the gist of my rambling.
Very well said, J.E. I, too, value all feedback I receive on my novels, both good and bad. How else am I ever going to grow as an author? And when I am presented with praise in person, I always ask the reader, "Now tell me what you didn't like."
Feliks wrote: "(All Hail) Grimlock wrote: "Reading books isn't a craft that needs perfecting. Readers can read the book any way they please...."
Disagree. The mere fact that people can do something "any ole' wa..."
Literacy is getting better not worse. After the Gutenberg press was developed there was an enormous explosion of books. At first many of these books were almost unreadable because of the lack of literacy. People wanted to express their opinions, and they did even if they were the only ones who could read those opinions. But feedback from readers forced many who operated these presses to improve.
The same thing is happening now. A huge number of people are writing books, believing that their stories are the great stories, and in many cases they are not paying attention to grammar. But getting feedback, if difficult, is not impossible, and much of the feedback is helpful. Gradually people will become more literate because of that feedback, not only writers but readers who read the feedback. It will be a slow process, but that is the usual way it happens.
Some change in language is inevitable, but the most important point is that the comprehension of ideas will continue to improve worldwide.
J.E. wrote: "Martyn wrote: "@ J.E.,I don't want you to think I'm pestering you, but 'reviews' are for readers to make an informed choice. 'Feedback' is a private conversation with a (beta-)reader to help an a..."
JE I appreciate your candor. I think your take on this is "spot on" as the British would say. That's a good term :-)
Rory wrote: "J.E. wrote: "Martyn wrote: "@ J.E.,I don't want you to think I'm pestering you, but 'reviews' are for readers to make an informed choice. 'Feedback' is a private conversation with a (beta-)reader..."
Thanks.
(I haven't figured out how to multi-quote here yet, sorry.)
The entire idea that readers and reviewers are here to serve writers is silly. While I plan to self publish eventually, several posts before and after my own make great points about self publishing. Anyone that has a computer can put masses of junk out for sale. The dilution causes problems for readers. No one knows what is worth their dime or time. (ooo, I'm a poet and...not aware of the fact.)
Without reviews trash will continue to clutter the Kindles, Nooks, and physical bookshelves of unsuspecting consumers.
Discussions like this bother me. I believe potential authors should be encouraged to share their stories. I also believe readers have a right to express their opinion. The issue for me is when abuse becomes involved.
Abuse, by my definition for this purpose, is when either party stalks the other and works to damage the reputation or work of the other. Calling readers or reviewers uneducated is a level of abuse if unprovoked. Expressing an opinion about a work is not provocation. Even if that opinions says the book sucks big floppy donkey...you get the picture.
There's always going to be rude people out there. Authors that can't shut the hell up and abuse readers or call them names are not authors. They're unprofessional at best, whining children looking for attention at worst.
J.E. wrote: "(I haven't figured out how to multi-quote here yet, sorry.)"You copy the text you want to quote first:
(I haven't figured out how to multi-quote here yet, sorry.)
Then you hit reply, and remove the part that I've struck through below:
J.E. wrote: "
I don't want you to think I'm pestering you, but 'reviews' are for readers to make an informed choice. 'Feedback' is a private conversation with a ...
and replace it with the part that you copied, so you get:
J.E. wrote: "(I haven't figured out how to multi-quote here yet, sorry.)"
Martyn wrote: "You copy the text you want to quote first, Then you hit repl..."Thanks!
J.E. wrote: "Martyn wrote: "You copy the text you want to quote first, Then you hit repl..."Thanks!"
So if I want to reply to what you said, I just hit reply and remove what I said, so you get:
J.E. wrote: "Thanks!"
You're welcome!
To create your own reply when you have more than one to tag, use italics... so you will type something like this (without the spaces) < I > J.E. wrote: (Use copy paste here)I haven't figured out how to multi-quote here yet, sorry. (Then finish with this to end the quote, again remove the spaces. < / I >It will give something like this J.E. wrote: I haven't figured out how to multi-quote here yet, sorry.
So that way you can copy paste and quote every sentence you need.
Hope this helps.
J.E. wrote: "Rory wrote: "J.E. wrote: "Martyn wrote: "@ J.E.,I don't want you to think I'm pestering you, but 'reviews' are for readers to make an informed choice. 'Feedback' is a private conversation with a ..."
Good post. It's tempting to respond angrily to a unwarranted attack, but it's better to let it go.
Ha, you guys rock. Thanks for the tutorial!
Copy-paste is disabled in iPhone. That complicates following these rules. Do you know if it was done on purpose, or is it a bug?
I have no idea. Honest, I don't own a cell phone. However, I put copy paste for its convenience, but you don't have to. It just faster and less likely to have a typo. Please remember: Don't text and drive. It's a deadly combination. :(
(All Hail) Grimlock wrote: "Harrison wrote: "That's the key Annie. "Well written" reviews help both the reader and author perfect their craft."Reading books isn't a craft that needs perfecting. Readers can read the book a..."
I didn't say anything about reading needing perfecting, I was referring to reviews can be worked on and perfected.
Humberto wrote: "Copy-paste is disabled in iPhone. That complicates following these rules. Do you know if it was done on purpose, or is it a bug?"
Copy & Paste doesn't usually work on the app, on most devices. Only in certain areas. Like, editing reviews and such.
I have iPhone 5 and an iPad and I just open GRs in Safari if I need to quote. Or comment at all since the app always changes my notifs and sends me emails. PITA.
(All Hail) Grimlock wrote: "Harrison wrote: "(All Hail) Grimlock wrote: "Harrison wrote: "That's the key Annie. "Well written" reviews help both the reader and author perfect their craft."Reading books isn't a craft that ne..."
What about those writers who don't charge, do it for fun etc?
Isn't it just a little arrogant to state that non-professional readers shouldn't work to better themselves?
Grimlock wrote: "And my question still stands - how do you plan on changing this? By forcing them?..."No dilemma this vast is ever settled by quibbling over ways/means. The chief thing at the outset is to agree on what values we're pursuing.
Grimlock wrote: "Readers aren't obligated to read in any way you think they should. ..."
Well, we've already been obligating America's readers to read in the way we wish them to, since Horace friggin' Mann. Why does my notion of maintaining or strengthening/bettering our education system shock you with totalitarian overtones? Its no more than we've always been doing.
Grimlock wrote: "Isn't persuasion to read more intelligently and to think in a more analytical manner - when they choose to - better than trying to force their hand? And are you attempting to force their hand 100% of the time? I'm not sure that's healthy, either. Most of us need some down time..."
Not sure what you mean by all this talk of 'forcing'?
Stan wrote: "Literacy is getting better not worse. ..."Says who? Got any kind of source for this remark? How do you even arrive at your statement? Are you guessing? Is it something you heard on TV? Some article on Yahoo News? Is it substantiated by a body of references or is it something that just seems to be your impression?
Stan wrote: "After the Gutenberg press was developed there was an enormous explosion of books. At first many of these books were almost unreadable because of the lack of literacy. People wanted to express their opinions, and they did even if they were the only ones who could read those opinions. But feedback from readers forced many who operated these presses to improve...."
So..what? Do you mean to tell me that you think literacy is improving because compared to European people pre-Gutenberg, we are infinitely better read now?
Stan wrote: "The same thing is happening now. A huge number of people are writing books, believing that their stories are the great stories, and in many cases they are not paying attention to grammar. But getting feedback, if difficult, is not impossible, and much of the feedback is helpful. Gradually people will become more literate because of that feedback, not only writers but readers who read the feedback. It will be a slow process, but that is the usual way it happens.
Some change in language is inevitable, but the most important point is that the comprehension of ideas will continue to improve worldwide. ..."
Strange, strange theory, it seems to me. Can't say I've heard anyone else come up with this comforting slant, prior to this instance. 'Causes' aren't matching 'effects' the way you're laying it out. Can you name a single precedent for your predictions, which is more recent than what happened with Gutenberg's press? Aren't you just cherrypicking unrelated snapshots in history and conveniently juxtaposing them together? As if there's no other difference between society in 1450 and now...they will behave exactly the same? These aspects of publishing you're knitting together are 600 years apart, mind!
Grimlock wrote: "Would I love everyone to read literature? And not to watch reality TV? Sure. But neither stomping my feet, nor wagging my finger in anyones faces is going to work, especially when they have no *obligation* to read anything in anyway. Especially once they're out of school. ..."Meh. You're remaining fixated on trifles and perhaps you have issues with authority. You simply returned to your earlier point about 'enforcement'. History shows society can and does exert its will on individuals when it wants to. It can be done quite gently too, and in ways which allow people to choose it for themselves. So stop worry about 'policing' and 'monitoring' as if we're in a dystopian movie. Let's keep the discussion real.
Goals are reachable once you decide what the goal is. Half the quotes in Goodreads quotes' engine affirms this. Its pre-emptive and short-sighted to insist that 'something can't be done'. Ways-and-means are always resolvable in a later step. That's what humans are great at. All we need to do to start down the road though, is determining whether literacy is a positive value in society.
I agree Grimlock. No one has the right to lecture me on how I should or should not read (or write) and so I try to extend the same courtesy to reviewers.
Oh you need more details, do you? Insisting on caution, eh? To feel comfortable committing yourself to the wild, unorthodox idea of a society where our institutions all do just a little bit more to promote literacy, you need to hear...what kind of soothing reassurances, exactly? A sixteen-hundred page proof-of-concept paper? Talk about timid and fearful. I sense you're one of those guys who keeps a Taser by the side of his bed, and sends away for things like infrared night-glasses. Yep. You sure 'think things through' in every possible way...to the point of inertia. Look at the very end of your message and tell me you don't sound like a Unabomber-in-training. Who's threatening your reading habits? Hey, is there someone sneaking up behind you? Is there a snake in your apartment? Like, right now. Have you checked? Look behind you! Are there black helicopters in Montana? Sheeesh. Try to have a reasonable discussion in the internet, this is what you get. Arson and tugboats.
Look, no one said we had to work out any 'details' here, this isn't a commission. Its a random, unprofessional, strictly offhand, casual and informal, website chatroom forum thread. No one here is an expert, no one here is appointed, no one here is fact-finding or presenting research, and no one has to 'have all the answers' in this type of exchange.
Sure, if you take the discussion down this looney aisle --'How ya gonna enforce this draconian policy?'-- and then sit back in your corner (shivering and biting your nails) anything I say is going to sound ominous, abrupt, and dismissive. Gee, what's he talking about? Society reinforcing values? Imposing a policy on people? Burrr!
But come on, get a grip. Its like you don't know what world you're even living in, pal--ever heard of Facebook? How did you think it came about that millions of people gradually ported their lives onto a shadowy room full of computers somewhere which they have no control over, where all their vital and confidential data resides? How do you think it happened that people allow their purchasing habits and tastes in music and movies and even the jokes they laugh at and the news stories they monitor, all subtly 'prompted to them' and 'shunted to them' by a giant web of computers connected together around the globe God-only-knows-where, which collates their habits? Is this news to you that people live in this 'led by the nose' way?
And you think that a society this docile and susceptible and manipulable couldn't be offered an array of better choices in education or that they couldn't be convinced that there's merit in improving their vocabulary and in broadening and deepening their reading habits? Nonsense. It could be a success story just like recycling plastics, or reducing smoking is, or any of a number of other changes-in-public-consciousness have been. Paradigms can shift.
So your Unabomber act is about twenty years too late, chum. The only topic on the table is, literacy. Not removing anyone's reading choices. In fact, people's reading habits are already in the hands of strangers. Goodreads and Amazon, for example.
Feliks wrote: "Oh you need more details, do you? Insisting on caution, eg? To feel comfortable committing yourself to the wild, unorthodox idea of a society where our institutions all do just a little bit more to..."Dude, really?
First off, Grim is a woman. Not the only thing you've gotten wrong, though.
You're like a little wannabe dictator (sorry, Officer H) and your assumptions about not only Grim but society as a whole are insulting and slightly disturbing.
You're talking about her being 'paranoid' and a 'Unabomber-in-training' while ranting about how 'docile, susceptible and manipulatable' people are and how they won't even notice when you put all all these policies in place that are, in your opinion, for their own good.
Yes, yes. It's for their own good and fb, GRs, and Amz are already telling them what to read, like, think and they didn't even notice so who cares if we just forcefully steer them in the *right* direction? Only paranoid people and sociopaths ask questions anyway, right? Certainly nothing bad ever came from someone thinking *they* know what's best for everyone else.
/end sarcasm
Seriously, if anyone sounds like a 'loony' it's you.
You also sound like a monumental asshole.
Have a good one.
This thread has become hilarious.
Everyone who reads has received a certain amount of education even if they teach themselves. I think no reviewer needs a specific kind of education.I do recall once a music critic laughing about a book in which he said, 'it is a shame you need to know so much to get all the jokes.'
It's no good protecting your book by claiming that the reviewer clearly doesn't know what they're on about. There are only two options there: 1 - your book is not good enough to convey the concept/theme/implication you were aiming for;
2 - your marketing has pitched the book to the wrong audience.
If your belief is that the standard of literacy in the general population is not sufficient to understand your book (i.e. you need a degree in English literature to get the joke) then you should market it to that restricted audience. Or else accept that a majority of reviewers are going to go "Huh?"
(All Hail) Grimlock wrote: "TL;DR."Need a recap? :D
Linda wrote: "TFS;DR = I think you can figure that one out."Too Fucking Serious? :D
I give this thread 4.5 stars. Held my attention, though I didn't stay up all night to read. The plot twist - conspiracies about conspiracies continue to intrigue me.
The heroine was well developed. Her supporting characters made me smile, though the antagonist was TFS.
Can't wait for the next installment.
J.E. wrote: "I give this thread 4.5 stars. Held my attention, though I didn't stay up all night to read. The plot twist - conspiracies about conspiracies continue to intrigue me.
The heroine was well develop..."
:snicker
Yes, possible an up side. Efficient acquisition of pertinent information is desirable. But our short attention spans from that rewiring is a hindrance.
We should skim writing for pertinent information but we should be able to take the time to go back and re-read to seek out the subtlety in the content as well.
Great article, btw. Thank you for linking it. :)