Comments on: How Should An Author Handle Negative Reviews?

By: Holly

Holly — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 04:36:30 +0000

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By: Holly

Holly — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 04:32:00 +0000

I don’t know that I have a lot to add. Everyone has said it so well. I had two authors respond to negative reviews. The first one was the first real negative review I did, and in hingsight, I probably could have been more positive. However, I thought the book was awful. http://2kidsandtiredbooks.blogspot.com/2008/10/chasing-diana.html
The author responded and while she said she respected my opinion, it was clear that she was offended and thought I’d missed the point.

The second one really bugged me, because I gave the publicist the option to not have a review at all (something I don’t normally do) and she said that as long as I could say some positive things, she’d still like the review. I think she gave the author the heads up. I thought I did a good job of being positive, even though I didn’t like it. However, the author responded as herself, and I suspect that several other comments were hers as well, just with a new profile. One of those in particular took great pains to say that I’d completely missed the point, and even took some cheap shots at another blogger who had agreed with my review. http://2kidsandtiredbooks.blogspot.com/2009/05/making-light-of-being-heavy.html

I think that it is completely unrealistic for an author to expect that everyone will love and adore their book the way they do. We are all the sum of our life’s experiences and those experiences affect what we do, what we read and how we interpret. I love having author’s comment on my reviews, but if a review is negative, they need to have a thicker skin and realize that arguing isn’t going to make me like their book any better.

By: The Kool-Aid Mom

The Kool-Aid Mom — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:07:36 +0000

I’ve gotten a negative comment about a review I’ve written, and was glad for it. The worst that could happen happened (well, I guess not the WORST since they didn’t publish my phone number) and I could go on without worry after that.

I’ve only ever written 2 really negative reviews, and I was very impressed with the author’s response to it. I really respected him afterwards. (The book was Katka, and the author is Stephen Meier)

I don’t think author’s have to shut up and take it, but they could perhaps respond without being psychotic. Did you read all the comments Alain de Botton left on Crain’s blog? I imagine he was tired from all the touring and I respect that he apologized, but you don’t have to hit the “submit” button (or the “update” button in Hoffman’s case).

The result of the different responses are this: I will definitely read Meier’s next book because I know he’s a decent guy and you can’t help but like him, but I’m debating just tossing the Hoffman book on my TBR pile back on BookMooch because she’s left a sour taste in my mouth. I wonder if her name will become a slang word for people who fly off the handle at the slightest criticism, like “Wow, I was just saying you needed to revamp that report, John, you don’t have to be such a Hoffman about it!”

By: Callista

Callista — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:36:02 +0000

I’m going to choose NOT to respond to the specific event that went down. I just wanted to let readers know that the June 2009 edition of Quill & Quire has an article at the back by Allan Levine about what to do when you get a negative review. He talks about getting a negative review in the Winnipeg Free Press, his hometown newspaper and was really angry. He says that:

“Writing a rebuttal letter to the newspaper is an option, but it is not something I’ve ever done (on those rare occasions when I have received lousy reviews) or would suggest to any other author. First it draws attention to the negative review, contributing to further humiliation.”

However he did “kvetch” to the Free Press’s book review editor. He also says this:

“In short, authors, no matter how aggrieved they feel, should just shut up and take it.”

I suggest anyone interested, especially other authors, check out the article.

By: Laura Brodie

Laura Brodie — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 13:25:44 +0000

As a brand new writer of fiction and memoir, I think writers who are starting out should welcome all reviews, positive and negative–anything to get the discussion started. Sometimes negative reviews are more interesting, if the reviewer has put some thought into it. I’m an English professor, and the best classes often come when students don’t like a book–you just have to get them beyond saying “this sucks” into serious comments about what does and doesn’t work in writing.

I think I might have thicker skin than some younger authors, because as a forty-something mom of three, I’m so used to kids saying “I hate you!” along with the occasional “I love you,” that whatever a reviewer says just rolls off my weary back.

As for famous authors with big egos, I find it crazy for them to respond at all to negative reviews. I would think their agents and editors would freak out, which is probably what happened in the two cases you mention. What a bad career move–what newspaper would want to review your next book if they knew you had attacked their reviewer?

In general, American society has gotten too tolerant of angry, personal attacks–encouraged by reality TV, and the knee-jerk nature of Twitter and the internet. Speed of thought yields low- quality thought and regret. Or maybe I’m just a southerner who prefers civility.

Laura Brodie

By: Marinka

Marinka — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:15:39 +0000

I totally agree with the “bad behavior is bad behavior” and Alice Hoffman’s behavior was atrocious. As was de Botton’s (and I’m not particularly swayed by apologies. Adults should realize that their intended acts have consequences).

As to how authors should react to a negative review–IDK. Should they respond? Why do they need to have the last word? If the review is more along the lines of “what a snooze” and less “this is plagiarism”, why not just let it go? I think it’s understood that the author and her mother will disagree.

By: Lisamm

Lisamm — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:09:09 +0000

Excellent post and conversation. I’m very surprised at Alice Hoffman’s immature reaction and unprofessional response to a negative opinion of her work. It’s one thing to discuss it with your friends, but to publicly call a reviewer out like that and post their phone number on Twitter seems a tad crazy.

By: paula

paula — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:12:28 +0000

I think we live in a tough world. People are frustrated with their community, the nation and the world. We hear all about the end of the world to come and how we all contributed to it. No one seems to have the answer for world peace. So…this brings out the worst in people and we respond in kind with criticism to those we read and connect with the most. It’s sad in so many ways. What are we teaching the future generations? To be kind to others? No get them before they get you. Beware of others and protect all that is valuable to you. Look around, it isn’t just the internet but your neighborhoods, the schools and even your homes.

By: Meg Waite Clayton

Meg Waite Clayton — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:18:08 +0000

And, I should have said, I really appreciate the efforts of bloggers to share their thoughts about books they’ve read. The buzz about The Wednesday Sisters certainly began in the blogosphere, and I am forever grateful.

By: Meg Waite Clayton

Meg Waite Clayton — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:16:20 +0000

As an author, it helps me a lot to think of the books that I haven’t particularly cared for that have been very popular or are even widely regarded as classics. Not every book is for every reader. That having been said, I feel folks reviewing books in a public forum in almost any capacity would serve us all well to approach all books with some measure of respect. I also think the anonymity of the internet leaves authors exposed to posts about a book that may have little to do with the book itself and much to do with the mindset of the reviewer or even, sometimes, the relationship between the author and the reviewer, or some perceived relationship. As a starting point, I feel that if a reviewer is not willing to attach their real name to their thoughts, one ought to take anything the have to say with a serious grain of salt.

Before my latest novel, The Wednesday Sisters, was published, Ballantine did a giveaway on LibraryThing and I did try to thank everyone that posted a review for that. So many early ones were good that I hadn’t much thought what I’d do when the inevitable negative ones came in. When a few did, I reverted to the thanks for reading, sorry it didn’t work better for you approach, as it seemed somehow ungracious to thank only those who gave me good reviews. I do appreciate any reader picking up my book.