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#Post#: 40652--------------------------------------------------
Re: Asked to Review a Book So Bad.......
By: DaDancingPsych Date: October 18, 2019, 11:31 am
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ZekailleTasker, you obviously have a kind heart! I know that you
will find a way to decline and still keep her in her happy
bubble!!!
#Post#: 40653--------------------------------------------------
Re: Asked to Review a Book So Bad.......
By: NFPwife Date: October 18, 2019, 11:44 am
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[quote author=Kimpossible link=topic=1371.msg40625#msg40625
date=1571394289]
"XXX has a particular style that comes through on every page. If
you are a fan of XXXX's work, then you'll love this one, too.""
[/quote]
This is so clever!
ZekailleTasker, I can see that you want to be kind while still
maintaining your personal integrity. That's very sweet of you.
#Post#: 40671--------------------------------------------------
Re: Asked to Review a Book So Bad.......
By: gramma dishes Date: October 18, 2019, 2:11 pm
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[quote author=ZekailleTasker link=topic=1371.msg40639#msg40639
date=1571410779]
... Since the book discussion group has broken up, I am able,
at least, to refrain from buying multiple copies of "My Werewolf
Priest Burned Me To Death and Used My Ashes on Ash Wednesday."
(That wasn't the title but it was the plot.) ...
[/quote]
Oh! Well you didn't tell us she's a comedy writer! That changes
everything! :D
#Post#: 40677--------------------------------------------------
Re: Asked to Review a Book So Bad.......
By: jpcher Date: October 18, 2019, 4:20 pm
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ZekailleTasker -- I'm with all the previous posters. Your heart
is in the right place. How wonderful for your library to buy
some books and set up a "Meet the Author" type of sessions! That
must make 80 year old Morticia feel like a queen!
I say keep doing what you've been doing that makes this woman
feel loved and valuable.
As far as the review? You've been given some great responses,
vague and intriguing, yet not truthfully hurtful.
Could you ask that your vague response be noted as anonymous?
Where does she plan on using your review?
Or is she seriously asking for an honest opinion? Not a public
review? If this is the case then you can maybe tell her honestly
(don't put it in writing, have a conversation) that she's not up
to Stephen King talent, but worth a read. Gently explain the
mis-steps (book 1 was an only son, then other siblings came
along in following books) and coach/mentor her as to your
thoughts . . . in little steps and comments.
#Post#: 40713--------------------------------------------------
Re: Asked to Review a Book So Bad.......
By: ZekailleTasker Date: October 19, 2019, 10:31 am
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[quote author=Rose Red link=topic=1371.msg40651#msg40651
date=1571416120]
[quote author=ZekailleTasker link=topic=1371.msg40639#msg40639
date=1571410779]
Rose Red, Morticia is a library patron who is sweetly clueless
and fragile. Because she is a local author, we do,
occasionally, buy her books and allow her to set up shop at one
or another of the libraries so she can have a "Meet the Author"
experience and maybe sell her books. She has mentored a couple
of aspiring poets so they could publish with the same company,
but God knows, her heart is in the right place and I can't fault
her for that. She's retired, her life hasn't been a piece of
cake and no one wants to take away her sense of pride in her
work. She keeps exclaiming over and over "I never thought they
would keep offering to publish my books! I'm not famous or
anything!" None of us has the heart to say "You keep paying
them and they will keep offering." But obviously we think it.
[/quote]
How sad. Since you don't want to break her heart and she don't
want to believe the "publishing company" is just out to make a
buck, I agree to just say you don't review anymore due to
conflict of interest. Otherwise, use the vague wording above.
I'll contribute too:
"A dizzying roller coaster of a read. It's a real trip for your
eyes."
[/quote]
:D :D :D
#Post#: 40786--------------------------------------------------
Re: Asked to Review a Book So Bad.......
By: malfoyfan13 Date: October 21, 2019, 12:18 am
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A friend of mine has a "Morticia" in her life. A really nice
guy who is a terrible writer of very long books, also
pay-published. We were on a trip together and she said she had
his latest with her and hadn't read it since it's very long and
she's a slow reader. Knowing I read fast, she asked if I'd read
it and give my opinion so she could pretend she'd read it. I
told her I would skim the first 100 pages and if it was really
bad that's as far as I'd go.
So I read those 100 pages fairly quickly and as she'd feared,
the book was awful. Poor grammar/spelling, no character
development, 80 pages of boring set-up in which every minute of
the main characters' lives were accounted for, and this book was
supposed to be a thriller! No plot in the first 100 pages? Not
very thrilling.
I told her to say something like what some of the other posters
said, such as "I can tell you put your heart into this book!" or
what Kimpossible said. I said, you can be polite and nice and
you don't have to hurt his feelings. There's no point in doing
that, since she really likes the guy and considers him a good
friend. I also told her that in the future (since he's really
gungho on writing) maybe just tell him she doesn't have much
time for reading...
I wish I could tell the guy to find a writing group and take
some classes...
#Post#: 40803--------------------------------------------------
Re: Asked to Review a Book So Bad.......
By: Aleko Date: October 21, 2019, 10:09 am
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[quote]... the book was awful. Poor grammar/spelling ...[/quote]
Actually I think that is one thing you could object to without
giving hurt: 'I'm sorry, misspellings and grammar mistakes just
ruin even the best writing for me; they act on me like itching
powder. I just end up counting them, and I couldn't get past
page 12 on account of that'.
An author who doesn't worry about grammar and spelling and
thinks their novel is so marvellous it shouldn't matter may be
annoyed at this (to them) absurdly pernickety prejudice, but
they won't be hurt by it. And it should discourage them from
plying you with their latest output.
#Post#: 40827--------------------------------------------------
Re: Asked to Review a Book So Bad.......
By: bopper Date: October 21, 2019, 4:42 pm
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1. Give some short advice:
"I think you need to get an editor to review your book for
continuity...for example: your hero is pronounced an only child
on page 1 only to have his brother and sister turn up in books 2
and 3 without explanation. On this page we are told he has one
child by his third wife and that child is an eight year old
girl. On that page we learn he hasn't heard from his only
child, a 21 year old male by his first wife, in 30 years. Our
hero kills all his wives for no particular reason anyone can
see: he doesn't need their money as he inherited all his
parents' cash when they died--either by a plane crash into the
Atlantic if you read page 31 or when their apartment on the West
Coast caught fire on page 50. "
2. Be vague
Like from Catbert
" Morticia's writing defies measurement. . Many wonder at the
extent of her knowledge and her core values show through in her
work. No one has caught Morticia sleeping on the job. She
handles her writing with unlooked-for creativity. "
3. Pawn her off
"There are some great online forums for writers like
HTML https://thelitforum.com/...you
could get a bunch of feedback
there."
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