Claire's Corner

Posted on | March 12, 2010 | 22 Comments

Thank you all for celebrating my first blog birthday with me; I appreciated your warm and thoughtful comments. I was also interested in seeing which books I have highlighted over the past year were selected should you win my give-away; I was delighted to see so many of you coveting my favourite Persephone book, Lady Rose and Mrs Memmary. Alas, nobody will be receiving a copy of that title from me this time as the lucky winner is Tony who opted for I Am a Cat by Sōseki Natsume. Congratulations, Tony! Please email me your address and I’ll send you a copy via The Book Depository (can’t beat the worldwide free shipping).

As for my own progress with the read-along of I Am a Cat, hosted by Tanabata of In Spring it is the Dawn, I am a month behind in the reading of the third and final volume. I have been in a little bit of book slump recently and have a number of unfinished books around me, that being one of them, but I hope to present my concluded thoughts soon. The saving grace is that the delay will allow me the opportunity for something Sōseki Natsume related, which I will post about at the same time.

You may have read my negative review of An Elegy for Easterly last week so imagine my humiliation when the author, Petina Gappah, also read it. What is more, she linked to it on her own blog. Gappah’s grace and dignity shamed me because I was entirely negative; I do try and balance any negative reviews that I write but, for the most part (I did mention that I liked the emotionally-charged title story and The Cracked, Pink Lips of Rosie’s Bridegroom”), I was harsh. I have no issues with voicing my opinions but I do forget that on the internet nothing is private and in the age of Google Alerts and social networking sites, some things come back to bite you. As it was, Petina Gappah was exceedingly gracious and we shared a few messages back and forth; I am thrilled that she was so complimentary about my blog and her humble attitude and constructive use of criticism more than persuaded me to read her first novel, The Book of Memory, when it is published early next year. The author’s pleasant attitude reminded me that there is such a thing as tact and that I could exercise it more often; I’ll always be honest (as I am in all of my reviews, not just the negative ones) but I will try to be less brutal about it, a lesson that applies to life just as much as it does to writing. I now have something of a literary crush on Petina Gappah as she is incredibly cool! I mean that, really, not just because she didn’t respond to my post nastily: have a look at her biography.

Today in The Guardian there is a gallery selection of the best (and naughtiest) heroes from children’s literature. Anne Shirley (of Green Gables fame) is my favourite character from children’s fiction and one of the best heroines in literature as a whole, so I am delighted that she made the cut; pray tell why, though, in the photograph she looks as if she is a brunette as opposed to flaming red-head?! Gilbert would be less than taken, I feel.

Comments

22 Responses to “Claire's Corner”

Eva
March 12th, 2010 @ 2:43 pm

Anne as a brunette?! What is this world coming to?!

Reviewing is so tricky in the age of Google Alerts. But your original review of Gappah’s book is the first I’d heard of it, and despite your experience, I had still made a bit of a mental note to look for it. Her response has made me definitely want to read some of her writing!
Verity
March 12th, 2010 @ 2:50 pm

I love the Guardian books article and the discussions on twitter about favourite heroines!

I agree with Eva that reviewing can be tricky, but I think honesty is important, and how nice to have an author’s input. As you say, it has ultimately persuaded you to read her next book.
Steph
March 12th, 2010 @ 3:21 pm

Claire, you know that I’m also a huge proponent of writing honest reviews, and I often forget that authors might be out there reading what I write. It’s very rare that I completely slam a book, but it has happened. I often find that when I hear from authors, whether I’ve written a good or bad review, I get self-conscious, because I think it’s hard to be completely objective when you know the person whose work you’re evaluating is reading. I think the key to writing reviews is to attempt to be fair in our appraisals. I always try to articulate what specifically didn’t work for me, but who the book might work for instead. I think it’s also possible to write reviews in which it’s clear we aren’t maligning the author, but rather critiquing the work. When I read your review, it was clear you didn’t connect with the stories, but I never felt you were saying they were bad. You said you didn’t get what all the fuss was about and why the stories failed to impress you. I think there was a lot about what you wrote that would intrigue other readers and cause them to seek the stories out, so in the end, I don’t think your review was as harsh/unbalanced as you may have feared!
Aarti
March 12th, 2010 @ 3:53 pm

Amanda from The Zen Leaf and I were having a discussion about author comments on blogs yesterday! It can be very scary if they find a bad review! I also dislike the really creepy fans that can come out on bad reviews, too, saying you must be stupid not to like a particular author’s book.

But I also love authors that are so kind and tactful!
Amanda
March 12th, 2010 @ 4:14 pm

I’m glad your experience with the author turned out well.
Stujallen
March 12th, 2010 @ 4:37 pm

happy anniversary ,great to get feedback from a writer i would think its engoraging
Jackie (Farm Lane Books)
March 12th, 2010 @ 7:28 pm

What a lovely author! It is really nice when they respond in a nice way, especially when the review isn’t positive. I had a surprise author email this week too, but it was from Nigel Farndale (author of The Blasphemer which I loved!) I love it when authors contact me, whether the review is positive or negative. I hope you enjoy her next book a bit more!
artemisia
March 12th, 2010 @ 11:19 pm

What a lovely blog. I just discovered you while looking for Persephone book recommendations (and ordered Lady Rose on the strength of your review).

I read your review of Gappah’s book. Although your reaction to it was negative, I thought the review was very thoughtful. Owning your opinion and writing about it is very different from trashing the book.

I’ve found that my own taste in books is highly variable – I roll my eyes at many of the prize winners that other people rave about, I like some of the books they like, but for different reasons, etc etc. So, for me, reviews are much more useful when framed as “this is how I reacted to this book and why” and I’d hate to see you not write about this honestly.

The author gets points for being a good sport and I’ll order her book if it’s available in the US.

Happy blogiversary!
kiss a cloud
March 13th, 2010 @ 5:35 am

When writers are as nice as Petina Gappah, it makes me want to read them, because they earn my respect. Now I’ll always remember her formerly unfamiliar name, and in a very positive light.
Anna van Gelderen
March 13th, 2010 @ 8:34 am

Petina Gappah sounds like a remarkable person, and you know what? Your post has made me so curious about her work that I have just ordered An Elegy for Easterly!
Paperback Reader
March 13th, 2010 @ 11:52 am

Eva, I trust that it was simply a trick of lighting in the photograph … I hope.

Negative reviews often intrigue me and I am more likely to seek out a book to make up my own mind, which is why I don’t agree with not writing negative reviews as it is limiting to both the blog writer and reader. The author’s response has served to warm me to her and open me up to her future writings; previously I received a condescending response from a writer and her response turned me off the remainder of her work, despite enjoying one of her books previously. Writing is also an impression when first impressions in person count.

Verity, exactly: the author’s input has ultimately acquired more flies with honey than vinegar as I applaud her for it.

Steph, thank you for your fair appraisal of my review! I do try to be fair and examine what didn’t work for me and perhaps why it didn’t work; I respond well to reviews of that type myself. Blogging is where we express our thoughts about books and that’s all they are… personal thoughts. As much as writing for an audience is (whoever may be in that audience without our knowing), I am interested in my response to particular reading experiences and keeping a personal record of those.

Aarti, I was part of that conversation earlier on with Amanda. I’ve had an aggressive fan in the past who was rather cruel who, in turn, did not do the author whom they were defending any favours. The kind and tactful author responses are a welcome pay-off and make the bad experiences worth it.

Amanda, as am I! I appreciate how the experiences allow us the opportunity to re-evaluate our approach to reviews, ultimately improve them, as well as giving us even more points to discuss.
Paperback Reader
March 13th, 2010 @ 12:04 pm

Thanks, Stu. Yes, author feedback is encouraging.

Jackie, how lovely of Nigel Farndale! Some positive reinforcement is always welcome and definitely a bonus to what we do.

Hi artemisia, thank you for commenting on my blog for the first time. I am delighted that you are enjoying my blog and I hope that you love Lady Rose and Mrs Memmary.

I do want to remain thoughtful in my reviews and frame them with what did/didn’t work for me.

I think Petina Gappah has definitely done herself a service and widened her readership/fanbase by reacting so amicably.

Claire, gaining (or losing, come to that) my respect goes a long way in my future reading relationship with that author. I’m glad that you are similarly impressed and will keep the author in mind in future; she successful made me do a 180 degree turn and she gains my respect for that too).

Hi Anna, thank you for commenting on my blog for the first time. I am delighted that you ordered An Elegy for Easterly! I hope that you enjoy it. I’m thrilled that my post made you curious abut her work; she is a very wise writer and is deserving of further notice.
Sakura
March 13th, 2010 @ 1:27 pm

I’m so impressed that you talked about the response to your negative review. It’s difficult to write honestly about how you feel about a book but if you don’t there doesn’t seem much point in doing it. But, it’s also scary because authors do read reviews. I think as long as we are thoughtful and truthful about the posts we write, then there is some meaning to it.

Personally, I read reviews to see what my pique my interest, but a negative review never really puts me off. But reactions of some authors do.
Paperback Reader
March 13th, 2010 @ 5:03 pm

Thank you, Sakura. Thoughtful and truthful are two things that I always strive for, whether it is a negative, positive or middle-of-the-road review.

Negative reviews always make me curious how I would react to the book myself. Bad reactions and attitudes by authors succeed in putting me off the remainder of their work.
anothercookiecrumbles
March 14th, 2010 @ 9:04 am

Brunette Anne? Seriously? Sounds wrong!

You’ve got to admire an author that doesn’t take negative reviews personally, but, actually carries themselves out with dignity. Like Claire (kissacloud), I’ll be keeping her name in mind.
Paperback Reader
March 14th, 2010 @ 12:41 pm

anothecookie, I may be mistaken but the photograph certainly makes it seem that way! I hope it is a trick of the light.

I’m so pleased that by highlighting Petina Gappah’s dignified response, I have raised her profile some amongst by blogging friends. Admiration of how an author carries her/himself goes along way in my view.
Anjali
March 15th, 2010 @ 12:41 am

That photograph is so not my idea of Anne, but I’m biased – Anne for me is the girl on the Puffin cover!Megan Follows in the Anne movies is pretty close too…
Paperback Reader
March 15th, 2010 @ 1:42 pm

Angali, I read the Puffin editions with Megan Follows on the front and watched the TV series so I always had her as my image of Anne anyway and to deviate from that seems wrong!
Jodie
March 15th, 2010 @ 10:28 pm

Agh isn’t it awful when they pop up for the negative reviews and you are like, but I wrote happy reviews about so many other books…
Paperback Reader
March 16th, 2010 @ 3:08 pm

Jodie, in my experience it is always the negative reviews that obtain an author’s review! There’s nothing like a bit of controversy for publicity. I’m lucky with my book choices and consequently have to write few negative reviews but still all those happy, positive reviews remain neglected.
Jodie
March 16th, 2010 @ 10:41 pm

Oh no that’s too bad. I’ve had a mix (I had the nicest comment from Steig Larsson’s translator), but I notice that the positive reviews where I mention a couple of small flaws seem to draw authors in to defend themselves, just as much as the really negative ones.
Paperback Reader
March 16th, 2010 @ 10:49 pm

Oh how nice of the translator, Jodie! Translators are so under-appreciated. I’ve actually just remembered a thoroughly positive comment (on a positive review) from a writer who thanked me for my words and who sent me a signed copy of one of his other books; I feel guilty for forgetting that but I suppose the negative experiences do stick in one’s mind.