tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post2549065800961392980..comments2024-03-29T09:22:57.031+00:00Comments on Declan Burke: Watchmen: Who Reviews The Reviewers?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-81787285613779900612009-02-27T18:47:00.000+00:002009-02-27T18:47:00.000+00:00Declan, you'll have to exorcise your demon by crea...Declan, you'll have to exorcise your demon by creating a villain named Glenn Marshall, then killing him off. <BR/><BR/>A kind of cosmic balance may be ay work here. I knew a kid named David Alper many years ago, but for some reason I could never remember his last name, and I always thought of him as David Harper.<BR/>================================<BR/> Detectives Beyond Borders<BR/>"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"<BR/> <A HREF="http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/</A>Peter Rozovskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09977933481463759162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-30749540683651642532009-02-27T15:27:00.000+00:002009-02-27T15:27:00.000+00:00I'd suggest that Alex Barclay is entitled to the s...<I>I'd suggest that Alex Barclay is entitled to the same degree of scrutiny and critique as Zadie Smith, particularly if you're styling yourself 'the Book Critic'.</I><BR/><BR/>Agreed. And I'm not saying it was a substantially better review, just that it makes me think that there is some level of discernment behind these critiques, even though poorly articulated and supported. And the only reason I bring it up is because I think the reviewer, and maybe others lurking here who might feel quashed before they're even started, probably can do a decent job, once they realize what's missing from their argument.<BR/><BR/>Gotta go. I'm off to sell some of those beloved Rita Mae Brown Snenakie Pie mysteries. Ka ching, Ka ching, Ka ching.seana grahamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03774794086733027289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-83437369536971931482009-02-27T13:20:00.000+00:002009-02-27T13:20:00.000+00:00Heh Adrian, I understand purrrrfectly your concern...Heh Adrian, I understand purrrrfectly your concerns.<BR/>AAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-11403989468983611312009-02-27T13:18:00.000+00:002009-02-27T13:18:00.000+00:00I'll send him right over. He works cheap, Chinese ...I'll send him right over. He works cheap, Chinese take away should cover it, but requires a door butler and chin scratcher to be on hand AT ALL TIMES.<BR/>AAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-74730053969544639702009-02-27T13:15:00.000+00:002009-02-27T13:15:00.000+00:00ArleneKeep the cat away from the keyboard for all ...Arlene<BR/><BR/>Keep the cat away from the keyboard for all our sakes. Remember what happened to that brilliant young talent Rita Mae Brown.adrian mckintyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03349942973907386269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-10591827204035340952009-02-27T13:05:00.000+00:002009-02-27T13:05:00.000+00:00Stuart - You read Empire for its film reviews? Ser...Stuart - You read Empire for its film reviews? Seriously?<BR/><BR/>"There's a counter argument that says one person's opinion is not as valid as another's."<BR/><BR/>You're right, squire. Say we're talking about black holes: who are you going to take more seriously, me or Stephen Hawking? <BR/><BR/>Peter - why do I keep calling Glenn Harper 'Glenn Marshall'? It's beyond a joke at this stage.<BR/><BR/>Adrian - scorched earth is the only way. If you raise your banner, be prepared to defend it. Hoo-ah, etc.<BR/><BR/>Arlene? If Bill the Cat isn't doing anything for the weekend, I have a couple of novels I need reviewed.<BR/><BR/>Seanag - I'd suggest that Alex Barclay is entitled to the same degree of scrutiny and critique as Zadie Smith, particularly if you're styling yourself 'the Book Critic'. <BR/><BR/>Cheers, DecDeclan Burkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14322645323239292406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-78333372565217309062009-02-27T12:21:00.000+00:002009-02-27T12:21:00.000+00:00Oh Peter, you're just so terrifically beardy.Decla...Oh Peter, you're just so terrifically beardy.<BR/>Declan, good post. I don't mind reading a review, negative or otherwise, if I can glean something from it, but 'dunno why, just didn't like it' type of reviews tally me banana something fierce.<BR/>Arlene<BR/>855555555555555555 -- sorry, that was Bill the Cat's view on this review, unfavourable too it seems.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-84354621630049216082009-02-27T05:42:00.000+00:002009-02-27T05:42:00.000+00:00I feel a bit odd being the voice of the free marke...I feel a bit odd being the voice of the free market here, but I do think there is at least a sense in which the blogosphere regulates itself, especially with things like reviews. If someone has consistently interesting things to say about books or movies or whatever, people who care about these things will tend to keep coming back.<BR/><BR/>I understand Declan's criticism of this particular review. I have never read Alex Barclay, so can't know if I would agree with the review's opinion of this author. However, I did just read the Book Critic's review of <I>On Beauty</I>, a book I have read, and I did agree with the critique, including his or her judgement that <I>White Teeth</I> was superior. I found the review still a little lacking on detail, but also quite capable of doing a 'on the one hand, but on the other' type of commenting. In other words, I don't doubt the validity of the reviewer's opinion, harsh a it is in the review cited here. It really just lacks specific example to acquire depth.seana grahamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03774794086733027289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-45414697697819220722009-02-27T03:06:00.000+00:002009-02-27T03:06:00.000+00:00Er, did you mean Glenn Harper rather than Glenn Ma...Er, did you mean Glenn Harper rather than Glenn Marshall?<BR/><BR/>I intend that constructively.Peter Rozovskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09977933481463759162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-41646946719691741942009-02-27T02:55:00.000+00:002009-02-27T02:55:00.000+00:00In a string filled with comments from the likes of...In a string filled with comments from the likes of Adrian McKinty and Stuart Neville, I take my place humbly. My quarrel with the review is not that it says mean things about the book, but that is does so poorly. “The protagonist in this novel is totally unsympathetic” is not a critical judgment, it’s barroom chatter. Such an assessment means nothing unless the review gives examples.<BR/>==============<BR/> Detectives Beyond Borders<BR/>“Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home”<BR/> http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/Peter Rozovskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09977933481463759162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-3669305364482835012009-02-26T22:22:00.000+00:002009-02-26T22:22:00.000+00:00I'll preface this by saying I don't know the revie...I'll preface this by saying I don't know the reviewer in questions, and I don't mean this as any criticism of them personally.<BR/><BR/>Anyway...<BR/><BR/>There has been some discussion online in recent days about what one editor called "cultural authority". Some argue that the disappearance of reviews in the traditional press is offset by the proliferation of reviews in blogs and forums. That it's come back to the masses.<BR/><BR/>There's a counter argument that says one person's opinion is not as valid as another's. There is not an equality of appreciation. The argument is that to offer criticism well, the critic must have the aforementioned cultural authority. They must have a viewpoint that is honed by experience and a greater understanding of what is being critiqued.<BR/><BR/>You could say that's snobbery, but take a look at the reviews on Amazon or IMDB.com. The latter in particular is prone to reviews that can be summarised as "This sucks because I don't like it."<BR/><BR/>While the Internet is a great leveller in terms of access to information and opinion, I'm still inclined to go to Empire magazine for my film reviews.<BR/><BR/>I frequent Blu-ray.com to keep up with the latest releases on that format. Unfortunately, that site has an ongoing problem with its reviews. The site owners defend the position of their critics by arguing that all reviews are subjective, just one person's opinion. I would argue that if you are going to offer public criticism of someone else's work, then you better have more to offer than a subjective opinion. I can get subjective opinions off my mum, but if I listened to her I'd have nothing but Cliff Richard CDs.<BR/>One particularly bad review on Blu-ray.com slated The Shawshank Redemption for its negative portrayal of a Christian character, saying it vilified religion. Really, if you're so blinded by you own personal beliefs, then you have no business offering critique in the first place.Stuart Nevillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03883631620345577504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-87064102553338683612009-02-26T22:07:00.000+00:002009-02-26T22:07:00.000+00:00UiscebotYeah but what does it stand for? Is it som...Uiscebot<BR/><BR/>Yeah but what does it stand for? <BR/><BR/>Is it something funny so I can LOL or is it something hilarious so I can LMAO?<BR/><BR/>DEC<BR/><BR/>I've had it with book reviewers who: 1)dont read the book they are reviewing 2) get the book title wrong in their review 3) get character names wrong in their review 4)write sloppy prose 5) take bread from the mouths of my children with their ignorant, illiterate, rambling opinions and lazy writing. <BR/><BR/>It used to be that novelists would take the high road and ignore bad reviews but I think that was a mistake, now I think SCORCHED EARTH is the answer. I will fisk your review motherfrakker and you better be ready to go to war, because I am.adrian mckintyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03349942973907386269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-37252730372756263982009-02-26T20:20:00.000+00:002009-02-26T20:20:00.000+00:00PWNED,The term implies domination or humiliation o...PWNED,<BR/><BR/>The term implies domination or humiliation of a rival, used primarily in the Internet gaming culture to taunt an opponent who has just been soundly defeated (e.g. "You just got pwned!")Colm Keeganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08415603898882232950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-43270495927249188602009-02-26T19:55:00.000+00:002009-02-26T19:55:00.000+00:00More worselier ...More worselier ...Declan Burkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14322645323239292406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-52648330836517309772009-02-26T18:22:00.000+00:002009-02-26T18:22:00.000+00:00My issue is with the quality of the review rather ...<I>My issue is with the quality of the review rather than what he's saying. </I><BR/><BR/>Yeah, there's nothing more worse than someone reviewing your book who does write badlier than you do yourself.Twenty Majorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09371000451615091448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-77805446016700379142009-02-26T16:13:00.000+00:002009-02-26T16:13:00.000+00:00Joe -A very valid point; in fact, a number of vali...Joe -<BR/><BR/>A very valid point; in fact, a number of valid points. However, I think that you earn the right to criticise books (or anything else, for that matter) by proving that your opinion is worth consideration. (For example, I don't think it's a good idea for anyone, including our friend The Book Critic, to denounce a writer for shoddy writing with shoddy writing.) <BR/><BR/>Personally, I'm offended by bad reviews because I earn part of my income from reviewing; and trust me, had I sent in a review like that to any of the papers I work for, I'd have received an email or phone-call solicitously enquiring as to when I suffered the stroke. <BR/><BR/>In terms of the bigger picture, crime writing gets sparse enough press in the mainstream media. The internet, on the other hand, offers the opportunity to critique (positively and negatively) those kinds of novels that don't get featuered in the mainstream press; and it's the kind of review I highlight here that gives internet reviewers a bad name, and undermines everyone else. <BR/><BR/>The Book Critic is entitled to call 'Blood Runs Cold' a bad novel, of course; we all have our own interpretations of what is good and bad. My issue is with the quality of the review rather than what he's saying. <BR/><BR/>Hope that clarifies a few things. Oh, and welcome to CAP. <BR/><BR/>Cheers, DecDeclan Burkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14322645323239292406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-76742993339877979262009-02-26T15:35:00.000+00:002009-02-26T15:35:00.000+00:00I guess I've always figured that once you put your...I guess I've always figured that once you put your book out to the public, there will be all kinds of reactions. There's no guarantees for any of us that we'll be treated fairly or with respect in anything we do. Nor does one person's opinion determine who we (or our writings) are.<BR/><BR/>I regret hurtful reviews, and this seemed to be one of those.Joe Baronehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10275991273751678636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-83877143582314003052009-02-26T15:26:00.000+00:002009-02-26T15:26:00.000+00:00My favourite bit was "mired in clunkiness of the h...My favourite bit was "mired in clunkiness of the highest order". <BR/><BR/>I'd attempt to deconstruct that, but where to start?<BR/><BR/>Cheers, DecDeclan Burkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14322645323239292406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-62584866463666546532009-02-26T12:16:00.000+00:002009-02-26T12:16:00.000+00:00I'd say PWNED too but I dont really know what it m...I'd say PWNED too but I dont really know what it means.<BR/><BR/>You're are doing the Lord's work Dec and if not this life then your reward will undoubtedly be in heaven.adrian mckintyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03349942973907386269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-67496710946295988962009-02-26T10:39:00.000+00:002009-02-26T10:39:00.000+00:00PWNED!PWNED!Colm Keeganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08415603898882232950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-66102987460269551182009-02-26T10:17:00.000+00:002009-02-26T10:17:00.000+00:00Hah! Love it.gbHah! Love it.<BR/><BR/>gbGerard Brennanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18301381067485712366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-39323424709901321592009-02-26T09:15:00.000+00:002009-02-26T09:15:00.000+00:00For a moment I thought you were talking about me. ...For a moment I thought you were talking about me. But then, why would you? Bertionrob seems not to read much. Or at least not to blog often.<BR/><BR/>I try to be nice, and try to say nothing when I can't. (Unlike just now.) But there's the embarrassment of having specifically asked for a book which you turn out to hate, or can't even finish.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4938060587020568315.post-53984211877169943922009-02-26T08:02:00.000+00:002009-02-26T08:02:00.000+00:00Everyone's a critic.Especially critics though. Nic...Everyone's a critic.<BR/><BR/>Especially critics though. <BR/><BR/>Nice turnaround.Twenty Majorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09371000451615091448noreply@blogger.com