Thanks Terry for that inside look. Many of the things you draw attention to . . .are hard! I work in healthcare and although you need truth, the dispensing of that truth--requires diplomacy! So kudos to you. And I can't begin to imagine those type of here's 5 books, need something in . . . God bless you sir!
I've always been kinda horrified when authors contact the negative reviewers of their books. I've only once thought of doing it but that was because the reviewer accused me and my publisher of running some sort of confidence game. She couldn't just hate the book. She had to create a conspiracy theory. But I eventually just shrugged. It's all part of the business. But I also have to confess that I haven't written a book review in 23 years. I don't want that power, however small or large it might be.
Terry, I liked the blunt critic you quoted and laughed out loud. Thought I’d share this anecdote of interaction.
A man is waiting for word from a publisher after he has sent his poems for review. Finally, he writes asking about them: “Can you let me know soon about my poems as I have other irons in the fire.”
Soon the letter arrives; it simply says: “Take out irons; insert poems.”
Interesting. Yeah: I wouldn’t want to do book reviewing full time, that’s for sure. But I am attracted to doing book reviews on my stack. I’ve done several, including one on a George Orwell biography and one on Cormac McCarthy’s No Country for Old Men.
I've read in the past that a book reviewer can get some money for reviewing books but that you shouldn't quit your day job.
If I ever get into it, I'll take your suggestions that you gave to Anu. I have the one book review I did on my site. I wish I would have written reviews for all the books I've read since I started keeping track of the number. I'd be rich right now or maybe not! 🤣
Terry, I thoroughly enjoyed this read - what a great post! I loved reading the inside - romantic! - story of a book reviewer.
I've reviewed just the one book, but it was something I really enjoyed. I'm in the process of reading an altogether different book with a view to writing a post about it - it's not going to be a book review as such, but part-review, part exploration of one aspect of the subject which had really grabbed me.
How does one become a book reviewer? With that that question, I am afraid, I have slipped right into the false romanticism of that world! I write for my day job and I love developing features, blogs, anything long form on internationally oriented topics, but I’d fancy reviewing books even if to realize it’s drudgery:)
😃
Thanks Terry for that inside look. Many of the things you draw attention to . . .are hard! I work in healthcare and although you need truth, the dispensing of that truth--requires diplomacy! So kudos to you. And I can't begin to imagine those type of here's 5 books, need something in . . . God bless you sir!
I’m with Dorothy Parker 🙌 Great post, thank you. I’ve saved for later reading.
Oh, I've had many many many book review editors throw it back at me, as well! Hahahaha!
I've always been kinda horrified when authors contact the negative reviewers of their books. I've only once thought of doing it but that was because the reviewer accused me and my publisher of running some sort of confidence game. She couldn't just hate the book. She had to create a conspiracy theory. But I eventually just shrugged. It's all part of the business. But I also have to confess that I haven't written a book review in 23 years. I don't want that power, however small or large it might be.
Terry, I liked the blunt critic you quoted and laughed out loud. Thought I’d share this anecdote of interaction.
A man is waiting for word from a publisher after he has sent his poems for review. Finally, he writes asking about them: “Can you let me know soon about my poems as I have other irons in the fire.”
Soon the letter arrives; it simply says: “Take out irons; insert poems.”
Interesting. Yeah: I wouldn’t want to do book reviewing full time, that’s for sure. But I am attracted to doing book reviews on my stack. I’ve done several, including one on a George Orwell biography and one on Cormac McCarthy’s No Country for Old Men.
https://michaelmohr.substack.com/p/no-country-for-old-men
Very informative Terry!
I've read in the past that a book reviewer can get some money for reviewing books but that you shouldn't quit your day job.
If I ever get into it, I'll take your suggestions that you gave to Anu. I have the one book review I did on my site. I wish I would have written reviews for all the books I've read since I started keeping track of the number. I'd be rich right now or maybe not! 🤣
Terry, I thoroughly enjoyed this read - what a great post! I loved reading the inside - romantic! - story of a book reviewer.
I've reviewed just the one book, but it was something I really enjoyed. I'm in the process of reading an altogether different book with a view to writing a post about it - it's not going to be a book review as such, but part-review, part exploration of one aspect of the subject which had really grabbed me.
How does one become a book reviewer? With that that question, I am afraid, I have slipped right into the false romanticism of that world! I write for my day job and I love developing features, blogs, anything long form on internationally oriented topics, but I’d fancy reviewing books even if to realize it’s drudgery:)
Excellent. I appreciated your conclusion here, Terry. Right on!