What I'm really interested in are the reviews by people I don't know. Those are the readers I want to reach and their opinions are important to me - good or bad.
I've received a few great reviews, that for me, hit my intentions for Anathema right on the nose. It was as if I'd told them exactly what I wanted to achieve with the book and they wrote the review to reflect that. That's one aspect of writing I love - conveying a particular feeling to the reader. I want to entertain too, and if I can do both I'm thrilled.
Then I saw this morning I received a one-star review (ouch!) that lamented the speed of my book. Everything happened too fast. S/he felt I hadn't given relationships time to develop. That's fair. When I read, I want to be entertained. I want action. I want to move the story along. I have been known to skip pages in books where all characters do is wax on and on about their love for each other. Boring. Let's blow something up instead. Maybe even one of those schmoopy characters!
As a former bookseller, I always made recommendations based on what the reader loves. So, if you love long, drawn-out books with pages and pages and pages of character development, don't read Anathema. If you like a fast-paced novel with magic, romance, and mystery, then I suggest you give Anathema a try. It's that simple.
Happy reading!!!
Megg
You have such a great outlook, Megg! Not every book is for every reader. I, however, love Anathema! :D
ReplyDeleteI am exactly the same way. I like plot, I like stuff to happen. I too skip paragraphs when it put a halt to the plot's movement.
ReplyDeleteSo of course I write in the same way. It's just a matter of taste. Others revel in description and want a slower paced book.
I thought the plot moved nicely and wasn't rushed. I thought it would be because of the length of the novel, but all the events happened naturally and weren't rushed. I admit I am very critical of romance in any YA novel. And I mean I am not easy to please. I thought the romance moved nicely in Anathema and you didn't give us a perfect happy ending. I'll be interested to see how it plays out in Oubliette. ^.^
ReplyDeleteThanks Ang!!! :D
ReplyDeleteJay - It's all about matching the right book to the right reader, isn't it? Good thing there's zillions of books for us to chose from! :D
Ky - if I printed out reviews and framed them, yours would be among those on my wall. I was so happy to read your review!!! Oh, and in Oubliette, things go from bad to worse. ;)
I've heard authors say they don't read the reviews. You are right, they lie. I love your attitude.
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