tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post800584539112205228..comments2024-03-27T07:18:58.033+00:00Comments on Frances Garrood: Amazon reviewsFrances Garroodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10614916006798375706noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-58597972214515278902012-07-12T22:56:13.268+01:002012-07-12T22:56:13.268+01:00PS I only wrote my review of this novel this after...PS I only wrote my review of this novel this afternoon, and already two people have disagreed with it. Interesting, especially as there are no other reviews. I suspect insider voting!Frances Garroodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614916006798375706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-85205452172335957002012-07-12T22:30:58.857+01:002012-07-12T22:30:58.857+01:00Hi, Anne. well, I've written that review, and ...Hi, Anne. well, I've written that review, and now await indignant comments. But I had to say what I thought (although I did find one nice thing to say about it!).Frances Garroodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614916006798375706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-33731762107622381962012-07-12T22:29:15.410+01:002012-07-12T22:29:15.410+01:00Reviews can be helpful, Maggie. As for Fifty Shade...Reviews can be helpful, Maggie. As for Fifty Shades, well....nuff said!Frances Garroodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614916006798375706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-19692957848892879352012-07-12T19:02:28.773+01:002012-07-12T19:02:28.773+01:00I'm a Vine reviewer too and have often found m...I'm a Vine reviewer too and have often found myself in the same position Frances. In fact I think was one of my reviews that you commented on and both of us got some nasty remarks from other readers.<br />What is the point in not being honest? I can usually find something positive to say, but there have been times when I've really struggled to find even a tiny plus.<br />I'm not an author, I could never write a novel and I admire anyone that does, however I do feel that some published authors really shouldn't be!<br />I think the massive sales of Fifty Shades of Grey prove my point - I've not read it, I don't intend to either, but from what I have heard of it, the writing is terrible.Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07924239447789629612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-55542245217415562402012-07-12T10:32:15.477+01:002012-07-12T10:32:15.477+01:00I tend not to read reviews and go on the sales fig...I tend not to read reviews and go on the sales figures, except for Fifty Shades of Grey!Maggie Mayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15938216505505274248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-12830540938760423322012-07-12T09:32:57.238+01:002012-07-12T09:32:57.238+01:00Jill, are offered a selection each month, but have...Jill, are offered a selection each month, but have to review 80 percent in order to be sent more. No sure whether we can be fired! It's all quite relaxed.<br /><br />I finished that awful book last night. I shall try to dredge up something positive, but have to be honest. Sometimes people email to ask whether I would review their new book. They never seem to consider that I might not like it! In any case, I always refuse. Politely...Frances Garroodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614916006798375706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-1676190464819209992012-07-12T09:28:17.675+01:002012-07-12T09:28:17.675+01:00I think you're right, GB. Most people read the...I think you're right, GB. Most people read these reviews on an ad hoc basis.Frances Garroodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614916006798375706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-62976634663123428082012-07-11T23:41:17.045+01:002012-07-11T23:41:17.045+01:00How often will you be called on to offer a critiqu...How often will you be called on to offer a critique of Amazon books? Can they fire you? If your answers are frequently and no, then I suggest you establish a line of honesty and fairness with your reviews and then 'tell it like it is.' In fact, the review you wrote in this post is perfect. Don't soft coat your criticism about the writing. New and old writers need to sharpen their skills in these areas.Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11791018174075586241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-37019993862557364272012-07-11T21:03:44.575+01:002012-07-11T21:03:44.575+01:00So far as books and music are concerned I may take...So far as books and music are concerned I may take notice of what is written but I make up my own mind. For me it's different for Amazon reviews of other things though. So I'm not entirely logical. I suspect most people are not logical either and will take yeas and nays from reviewers on subjects as the mood takes them.Graham Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196744947133121475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-30337804421049055182012-07-11T20:16:20.418+01:002012-07-11T20:16:20.418+01:00Thanks, Jenny. I do always try to find something g...Thanks, Jenny. I do always try to find something good to say, though in this case it's going to be hard!Frances Garroodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614916006798375706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-6217270115510559732012-07-11T20:15:01.764+01:002012-07-11T20:15:01.764+01:00Thanks, Teresa. But I suppose if you can't sta...Thanks, Teresa. But I suppose if you can't stand the heat etc etc!Frances Garroodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614916006798375706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-17650975843591661612012-07-11T20:14:11.953+01:002012-07-11T20:14:11.953+01:00I do hope you enjoy it!I do hope you enjoy it!Frances Garroodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614916006798375706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-64704391460569345632012-07-11T20:13:15.376+01:002012-07-11T20:13:15.376+01:00You're right. Good writing doesn't seem to...You're right. Good writing doesn't seem to sell books, especially if the plot is strong enough. And it seems that a lot of people don't mind about the writing. Sadly.Frances Garroodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614916006798375706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-57754707052623483762012-07-11T20:11:23.994+01:002012-07-11T20:11:23.994+01:00I think I managed about two chapter of da Vinci, a...I think I managed about two chapter of da Vinci, and then the awful writing got in the way.Frances Garroodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10614916006798375706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-78017115233401374672012-07-11T18:49:53.693+01:002012-07-11T18:49:53.693+01:00That's a hard one. I think I'd be honest, ...That's a hard one. I think I'd be honest, but I'd also try to find SOMETHING nice to say and phrase it in the nicest possible way. I also mightn't say everything I hated about it!<br /><br />Amazon reviews, though, are really not to be trusted - they are so easily faked. Except that everyone does trust them of course. .Jenny Woolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16881781466502273314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-39266721956158834202012-07-11T18:34:07.834+01:002012-07-11T18:34:07.834+01:00Oh, dear, what a horrible position to be in. I do ...Oh, dear, what a horrible position to be in. I do sympathise, Frances xTeresa Ashbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15350697922935549188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-91635168475761542522012-07-11T17:05:09.166+01:002012-07-11T17:05:09.166+01:00PS: I have started on "Basic Theology" l...PS: I have started on "Basic Theology" last night :-)Librarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-84102333254640881862012-07-11T17:04:15.841+01:002012-07-11T17:04:15.841+01:00My Mum is part of the Amazon Vine programme, too, ...My Mum is part of the Amazon Vine programme, too, and not that long ago she wrote a review that wasn't altogether positive, either.<br />If I were you, I'd write an honest review. It may help the author a lot more than you think. And even if it doesn't - you know you have been honest, and of course you'll still be polite.<br /><br />Dr. Henry Tegner says "There is no doubt that bad writing does not mean a book won't sell", and I so agree with him! My mother-in-law gave me a book by a famous author; this lady churns out novels by the dozen, and has made a fortune selling them. It was the first time I'd ever read anything by her, and I couldn't help thinking that even I could do better, if I set my mind to the task.Librarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3132582821010486689.post-52934092282727477272012-07-11T16:22:53.853+01:002012-07-11T16:22:53.853+01:00This is quite worrying. Has it something to do wit...This is quite worrying. Has it something to do with a depressing trend away from good grammar, spelling and punctuation? There is no doubt that bad writing does not mean a book won't sell. I would give "The da Vinci Code" as a prime example. I have recently finished reading that, out of curiosity having been to Milan last month and viewing the beautiful and moving fresco of The Last Supper.<br /><br />The other point perhaps worth mentioning is that, invevitably perhaps, all reviewing must be subjective. One reader will love a book, another will not, regardless of the book's literary qualities.Dr Henry Tegnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09066781800926576413noreply@blogger.com