I compared it to Homicide at PF...but it so reminded me of something, I was like "I've read this..." But no, it was Pembleton's whole "Everyone's guilty of something" thing. And I'm gonna be writing on my walls any second, huh?
Buckle up, kids! Daddy's puttin' the hammer down.
Spike ,'Touched'
We're Literary 2: To Read Makes Our Speaking English Good
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
erikaj - Apr 13, 2004 8:45:22 am PDT #2185 of 10002
Always Anti-fascist!
Alicia K - Apr 13, 2004 11:07:56 am PDT #2186 of 10002
Uncertainty could be our guiding light.
I've read The Pact by Jodi Picoult. It was a good story, but a tad melodramatic, I thought. I always mean to try another of hers, but never know where to start. I may pick up the new one once it hits paperback.
Beverly - Apr 13, 2004 12:00:54 pm PDT #2187 of 10002
Days shrink and grow cold, sunlight through leaves is my song. Winter is long.
The Chabon piece is wonderful. Tina, thanks for sharing it.
erikaj - Apr 13, 2004 12:05:08 pm PDT #2188 of 10002
Always Anti-fascist!
Yeah...he's so brilliant. I need to read K&K...I've only read "Wonder Boys" but it really cracked me up.
Jess M. - Apr 13, 2004 12:23:33 pm PDT #2189 of 10002
Let me just say that popularity with people on public transportation does not equal literary respect. --Jesse
I'm not sure if this article has been linked before, but it seems to spell out some of Deb's arguments against anonymous reviews at Amazon.
If I'm putting words in your mouth, Deb, please let me know, and I'll edit or delete! I thought it was an interesting article, personally.
deborah grabien - Apr 13, 2004 2:49:06 pm PDT #2190 of 10002
It really doesn't matter. It's just an opinion. Don't worry about it. Not worth the hassle.
Jess, it wants a registration.
Jessica - Apr 13, 2004 3:09:34 pm PDT #2191 of 10002
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
How weird -- it doesn't want one from me. (I was going to try buffista/foamy and salon/tabletalk to see if either of those worked.)
Hil R. - Apr 13, 2004 3:10:22 pm PDT #2192 of 10002
Sometimes I think I might just move up to Vermont, open a bookstore or a vegan restaurant. Adam Schlesinger, z''l
It won't let me in without a registration, either.
deborah grabien - Apr 13, 2004 3:10:51 pm PDT #2193 of 10002
It really doesn't matter. It's just an opinion. Don't worry about it. Not worth the hassle.
Huh. Trying again...
edit: I wonder if it's something to do with having cookies enabled?
deborah grabien - Apr 13, 2004 3:23:49 pm PDT #2194 of 10002
It really doesn't matter. It's just an opinion. Don't worry about it. Not worth the hassle.
Ah - it let me in using buffista/foamy.
About the article: Jess, he makes some damned good points, and with the voice of authority as well; after all, he worked there when all this was beginning to really take shape.
But to clarify - I have no earthly problem with anonymous reviews, none at all. I see some drawbacks, sure, but really just the same as with something like Publishers Weekly, where the reviewer isn't required to put their name on it. The author, if slammed, has no recourse.
No, my problem with reviewing at Amazon is two-fold, and neither has to do with anonymity. The first one has to do with continuity: I take those reviews seriously, as feedback, to make me a better writer, or see if I can pinpoint areas that I might need to address. As long as "Donkey Kong in Long Island" uses the same tage every time he/she reviews something of mine, I can use it, because I have the continuity of opinions as a function.
The second problem is straightforward economics: like it or not, publishers read those reviews, and they often buy or don't buy with that as a contributing factor. So there's the bottom line aspect of it, crashing headlong into the editorial aspect. If Donkey Kong in Long Island voices an opinion at Amazon that is going to be considered as a determining factor in whether or not my next book is bought right along with PW or Booklist or whatever, then I'd like he/she to take some responsibility for the effect they're having.