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Is it ever ok to make a comment about the author in a book review?
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Sarah
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Aug 04, 2011 08:29PM
I've seen a few comments about reviewers saying nasty things about an author in a review. While it's never ok to be vulgar or hurtful in a review, I wonder if it's ok to give your opinion about an author in a review? Is a review the correct place and if not, where is the correct place?
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Sarah wrote: "I've seen a few comments about reviewers saying nasty things about an author in a review. While it's never ok to be vulgar or hurtful in a review, I wonder if it's ok to give your opinion about an ..."Most reviewers don't like or won't like personal comments about themselves (especially by the author), so I think for the most part personal comments about the author (especially nasty personal comments) are a big no-no. That being said, if you read a book and find the book blatantly sexist, racist or homophobic, that should be mentioned, but it needs to be done in a civilised manner (otherwise you run the risk of not only starting an online war of words, you run the risk of becoming just like the author/writer you are criticising). It is a bit of a tightrope though and a slippery slope, one that sometimes seems "damned if you do, damned if you don't."
Louise Erdrich is one of my favorite authors. I'm sure I have referenced her ethnic heritage in at least one of my reviews. It has influenced what she brings to her writing. But that is information in her biography, so I'm sure that hardly counts. It wouldn't help me to know whether or not she is blonde, dumb or not, so that kind of remark doesn't seem helpful. (And please, don't take exception here, I know lots of blondes whose intelligence hasn't suffered because of it.)
Generally *author bashing* is not allowed, but it is a slippery slope as has been noted here. Is calling a book dire/sexist/racist/drivel, etc. author bashing? Some authors might think so - I know I've seen a few nasty comments from sock-puppet author pals on Amazon reviews.
Misfit wrote: "Generally *author bashing* is not allowed, but it is a slippery slope as has been noted here. Is calling a book dire/sexist/racist/drivel, etc. author bashing? Some authors might think so - I know ..."If you think that a book is racist, you should mention that fact. In my opinion, that is calling a spade a spade (and you can still do it civilly), but if you think a book is racist and/or sexist and you don't mention it in your review, that's even worse.
I agree with Gundula that if a book has a problem, like racist or sexist themes, you should definitely mention it. However, I think that's more a comment about the book's content and not necessarily about the author.
This is a remark made in a group, not in a review...it makes it starkly clear what a preaching mysoginistic hypocrite Tolstoy was.
True, Tolstoy is dead ...
Is this comment fair?
A book is a reflection of the author, so I think it can hard to really separate the two. If the author's writing style or opinions (especially in non-fiction) have a profound impact on the rating you give the book, they should be mentioned. On personal example that I can think of is Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects (review), a media tie-in novel based on the World of Warcraft. As a player, one of the things I love about the game is the expansive mythos which is expanded on in the novels.
I've read 3 of the 5 novels written by Christie Golden in the Warcraft series, and I force myself through them for the story but I honestly can't stand her writing. For me, the poorly executed writing was the difference between 2*s and 4*s.
The review being a place to explain your rating of the book, I think something that impacts your rating so greatly deserves to be said, as long as you can do it tactfully.
It's a little personal isn't it? And snarky? I don't know if it's helpful to someone.I feel uncomfortable making judgements about authors who died that long ago, yea? That's what's not fair. That's like watching a western and being like, "Look they're killing indians again. THATS SO RACIST." Yea well, that's what shit was like too. Welcome to ugly, racist reality.
Sarah wrote: "It's a little personal isn't it? And snarky? I don't know if it's helpful to someone.I feel uncomfortable making judgements about authors who died that long ago, yea? That's what's not fair. That..."
LOL I've read little of Tolstoy, and I'm not sure I'm going to read the novel that prompted this comment. But yes, I agree completely that it is over the line (and further, the original comment had a word other than hypocrite, which the moderator asked the posted to change). Still, to say that the reviewer thinks the book is preachy and mysoginistic seems appropriate.
Sarah wrote: "It's a little personal isn't it? And snarky? I don't know if it's helpful to someone.I feel uncomfortable making judgements about authors who died that long ago, yea? That's what's not fair. That..."
I suppose then the question is, what is considered "personal" and what is not? Is someones opinion on the author's ability to write, develop characters, organize thoughts, create a world that pulls you in -- all which impact a person's enjoyment of a book -- too personal?
If I had instead written "I love Golden's novel, her writing is intelligent and her portrayal of characters we've grown to love was spot on" would it have been too personal, or would it be overlooked because it was a positive reaction?
I do agree with not passing judgement on authors who died long ago, I think it's important when reading older books (and even books written today that are about past times) to put them in the context in which they were written. There are hundreds of books that portray black slaves and women in a negative light, but they are reflective of the society they are meant to represent.
BunWat wrote: "Pfft. There is such a thing as being too polite."LOL - could you make your responses more concise, please?
BunWat wrote: "Pfft. There is such a thing as being too polite."I agree :)
I've taken some slaps on occasion for being too brutal, but then I always chuckle when I see the reviewers who *slapped* me struggle trying to find something nice to say about a book they hated.
Mod
"The book read as if written by someone who was preachy, misogynist, and hypocritical."
Or at least "The book was preachy, misogynist, and hypocritical."
I like Cheryl's way. Take the hostility and direct it at the book. Hate the book. HATE IT TO DEATH!Because we can't review authors. Yet. Wait, can we?
Can I get a reality check?
Cheryl in CC NV wrote: "Sorry, I'm a little behind. I think I'd try to turn "...it makes it starkly clear what a preaching mysoginistic hypocrite Tolstoy was" into"The book read as if written by someone who was preachy..."
That's much better, and sticks to the book without getting into personal attacks.
Mod
How about a comment like "I don't know what on earth the author was thinking when s/he wrote blah blah blah..."? Or is this a case of reviewing the book that the author didn't write?
There are times no matter how tactful (or not tactful) you are, an author is going to get ticked off. I love the example I saw used over at Amazon during the kerfuffle over reviews for the Breakthrough novel awards contest.Imagine two people biting into a dessert with salt inadvertantly used instead of sugar. One might tactfully point out that there might be a problem with the preparation. Another (like me), would spit it out and make sure everyone knew the problem with the dessert.
They are both saying the same thing, but differently.
Let's step this discussion up another notch, and if Madame moderator feels it is worthy of another thread I bow to her wisdom.What do you think of discussing author behavior? I don't mean their love life/night life/sexual habits, etc. I mean authors behaving badly towards reviewers, spamming threads with self promos, etc.? I as a reader want to know about it, as I'm sick and tired of it and put those authors on my never ever read list, but I've seen some comments get zapped that were discussing specific author behavior. Comments mind you, not reviews.
That's what I'm wondering. Is it appropriate to mention on a book that the author, say, pads his amazon reviews with sock puppet 5star reviews? Or that they are a know plagiarizer? Do they act like a jackass at conventions? This is info I need to know! But it doesn't strictly apply to the book. Argh! The dilemmas!
Misfit wrote: "Let's step this discussion up another notch, and if Madame moderator feels it is worthy of another thread I bow to her wisdom.What do you think of discussing author behavior? I don't mean their..."
Personally, I have absolutely NO tolerance for that kind of author behaviour, and if an author engages in review-bashing (I don't mean disagreements, I mean personal attacks), self-promos etc., I for one would like to be made aware of the fact and if I came across it, I will most definitely criticise it. I mean, if there is supposed to be a code of conduct for reviewers, there should also be one for authors. Maybe we need a specific section where suspect or potentially suspect author behaviour can be mentioned, can be brought to light.
Sarah wrote: "That's what I'm wondering. Is it appropriate to mention on a book that the author, say, pads his amazon reviews with sock puppet 5star reviews? Or that they are a know plagiarizer? Do they act like..."I'm the same way, and unfortunately the powers that be here have zapped a couple of discussions we've had on this. My guess is it only happens when the author in question spots it and complains, but still I thought we were able to discuss just about anything openly at GR. I follow the feedbacks group and I've seen them comment on that enough when they refuse to take down say swastikas or similar - but this kind of discussion gets zapped into oblivion?
There are no guarantees that 1) everyone is going to like it, and 2) that people who don't like it will be "polite" (their definition) and keep their mouths shut. Unfortunately, there are some reviewers out there in blogland and elsewhere who flat out won't say anything bad about a book. They either struggle in their review to find something nice to say, or oftentimes decline to review it at all. Great - to each their own and I'll respect your decision, but don't expect me to do the same. I'm seeing some authors become a bit overly spoiled by this petting and vetting and now seem to think it's the norm - gawd help anyone who *gasps* doesn't like their book and says so.
Then there were the two historical fiction authors who tried to cook up a cockamamie scheme to have me kicked off of Amazon...
Mod
I feel free to criticize any author for failing in professional responsibilities, especially the responsibility to write and think as excellently as possible.
I don't have much productive for this either, except to say that I don't think personal slams are appropriate either by an author or a reviewer. Slam the book or review if you want, but stick to that and leave the personal insults out of it.And I might be in the minority here, but I pay absolutely no attention to the reviews on Amazon, nor am I interested in the soap opera that seems to be that site. As a result, sometimes I find the references and complaints on GR about Amazon kinda tiresome. But that's just me. :)
Yeah it is a soap opera, but an entertaining one at times. I still review there, hopefully to bring some balance to Klausner and her ilk. I'm in the Vine program and while I mostly get books I could eventually get from the library anyway, once in a blue moon I get something very cool so it's worth it for me.
There's discussion groups on amazon! Wierd...I didn't know TPTB zap comments about author behavior. I guess that stuff will stay blogside.
By the way, you can delete any comments made by anyone on your own review page. So if you think anyone is getting abusive, you can just zap whatever they said.
