tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-147222275433536467.post248399828685270512..comments2023-08-26T05:27:08.731-07:00Comments on A Peek At My Bookshelf: Faith 'n Fiction Saturday!Deena Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12267100019443842145noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-147222275433536467.post-88328860744098175112008-11-16T11:11:00.000-08:002008-11-16T11:11:00.000-08:00Ah, so that's why there's the disclaimer at the to...Ah, so that's why there's the disclaimer at the top of this comment form. ;-) hehe I really hope I never have to clash with anyone... I really try to be gentle and tactful when giving my opinion on a book. Really, I'm trying to imagine writing a book, then googling it and reading every review and responding negatively to someone who didn't like my book! lol It happens. <BR/><BR/>"And ocassionally I find a book that doesn't float my boat: either because of the genre, the writing, or some element in the book that hits me wrong."<BR/><BR/>Sometimes I wonder if it's just me when I don't like a book that others have liked. If I had picked it up at another time in my life, would I have seen it differently? Or if I wasn't so distracted by my six-month-old daughter would it have struck me differently? I just try to point out positives and then give my reaction to the book. Thankfully I've liked most of the books I've had to review so far! :-)<BR/><BR/>Here's my answer, a bit late: http://kindredthought.blogspot.com/2008/11/faith-n-fiction-saturday-on-sunday.html<BR/><BR/>God bless!Lindseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10852491614855067676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-147222275433536467.post-84334647693020260312008-11-16T01:45:00.000-08:002008-11-16T01:45:00.000-08:00I'm up with my thoughts :) http://relzreviewz.blog...I'm up with my thoughts :) http://relzreviewz.blogspot.com/2008/11/faith-and-fiction-saturday-reviewing.html<BR/><BR/>Always a pleasure reading yours :)Relhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14857426893482706263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-147222275433536467.post-6024145812014703592008-11-15T22:23:00.000-08:002008-11-15T22:23:00.000-08:00I love the strength of your answer! Also agree wi...I love the strength of your answer! Also agree with it!! Luckily I haven't had a negative experience with an author yet.<BR/><BR/>:) Wendi<BR/><BR/>I've got mine up late . . . <A HREF="http://wendisbookcorner.blogspot.com/2008/11/faith-n-fiction-saturday-reviewing.html" REL="nofollow"><BR/>Here</A> is my Faith 'n Fiction Saturday post.Wendihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08354458791978964560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-147222275433536467.post-57333741608476856962008-11-15T17:54:00.000-08:002008-11-15T17:54:00.000-08:00Very well said (as always)! I also agree with you ...Very well said (as always)! I also agree with you about reviews that seem to attack me because I like what they didnt. A "how could anyone like this" review is just destructive all around.Sunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17340796415443416237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-147222275433536467.post-11839527230304423222008-11-15T12:45:00.000-08:002008-11-15T12:45:00.000-08:00Hey Deena! I enjoyed reading your answer. I also...Hey Deena! I enjoyed reading your answer. I also feel that if I am given a book to review it is the very least I can do as a courtesy. If I request a book from a publisher or author, it is kind of implied that I am going to read it and not just rest my coffee cup on it. <BR/>Anyway...the thing that really struck me was this quote <BR/>"I try my best to stay focused on the book--never attacking the author, the reader, or the publisher. I review books. Period. I dislike reviews that make it personal and leave me feeling attacked because I enjoyed what they didn't like. To me, that's going a bit too far." <BR/>I have read reviews like this about books that kind of made me feel like this person was judging me and my Christianity because I enjoyed a certain read. That ticked me off, but I also realized that it was a narrow opinion and I discontinued readinng at that blog.<BR/><BR/>That is why I do try to consider the reader as well as God, myself and the writer. <BR/><BR/>If you want to read my answer here is the link:<BR/>http://enroutetolife.blogspot.com/2008/11/faith-and-fiction-saturday-reviewing.htmlkalea_kanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11645846028493046287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-147222275433536467.post-56184443865248766312008-11-15T11:08:00.000-08:002008-11-15T11:08:00.000-08:00Yes, I've had some authors not like what I've said...Yes, I've had some authors not like what I've said. I hope I can be gracious when people hate my books! LOL. I only want to learn how to write better. You cannot learn by compliments alone. ;-)<BR/><BR/>I am SO glad that you are honest.M. C. Pearsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13777325241098466381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-147222275433536467.post-71853071495325108002008-11-15T11:06:00.000-08:002008-11-15T11:06:00.000-08:00Deena, I love your third option to go start your o...Deena, I love your third option to go start your own review blog...that is funny!Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02515314638093018928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-147222275433536467.post-81293003513729337632008-11-15T10:48:00.000-08:002008-11-15T10:48:00.000-08:00Oh Deena, great answer! I'll just leave a hearty a...Oh Deena, great answer! I'll just leave a hearty a-men and invite you over to my WINDOW TO MY WORLD!<BR/>KimKimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02101345724592651458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-147222275433536467.post-31241118702149031462008-11-15T10:46:00.000-08:002008-11-15T10:46:00.000-08:00Great response, and I agree with you totally. I h...Great response, and I agree with you totally. I haven't had a chance to post a response on this yet on my blog though.<BR/><BR/>But, like you said, we do need to be truthful and review the book, not the author, publisher or reader. You stated your opinion very well.Shelley L. MacKenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15037786480134738465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-147222275433536467.post-78161015948585734632008-11-15T10:39:00.000-08:002008-11-15T10:39:00.000-08:00I think this is spot-on, Deena. You have to be hon...I think this is spot-on, Deena. You have to be honest -- you can't be anything less and maintain integrity. Your book reviews won't mean much if they are all only flowery free commercials for the books.<BR/><BR/>I know a book can seem like one's own child, but I think authors have to be (or should be) mature enough to realize that their work will not resonate with everyone. It would be pretty egotistical to think everyone will like everything they've ever written. Really mature authors will look at a negative review (if it is constructive -- I know some people just "rant," but I have never seen you do that) will look on it as an opportunity to improve. An unbiased reader may catch mistakes or things that don't jive or things that don't come across clearly, and I would think most authors would want to improve in those areas.<BR/><BR/>But this is one reason I turn down offers to review books. I've received several, but the fear that I will have to point out something that I think is "off" keeps me from it. I just review books in my normal course of reading and not even all of those.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-147222275433536467.post-52956228777995913942008-11-15T10:21:00.000-08:002008-11-15T10:21:00.000-08:00Way to go Deena!Love ya!AndieWay to go Deena!<BR/>Love ya!<BR/>AndieAndihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03427083039276649574noreply@blogger.com