DON'T RESPOND TO BAD REVIEWS. Why not? Here's why not:

If it's a review by a private individual (blog, Goodreads, retailer site, etc):1. You don't know who they are. You have no idea how they'll respond. Odds are they'll ignore you, or tell you "Yeah, whatever, Author, this is my reaction so piss off." Or they might turn out to be slightly ( Read more... )

So THAT was pretty awesome ( Read more... )

I was reading this ( Read more... )

There are certain discussions that tend to cycle through the writersphere over and over again. And lately we’re back on the “mean reviews are BAD!” hobbyhorse, and other variations on the theme of how people ought not to give bad reviews. I have a lot to say on this subject.

Part the First: Who reviews?First let’s note that there are two types ( Read more... )

This book was a terrific first draft.

( And that sentence ought to forewarn you that this review is going to be harsh. Buckle up. )

Dinner tonight is shrimp with butter, sumac, and fresh basil. And salt and pepper, of course. Not bad, but I wish I had some rice. I need to buy rice.

Spent part of the afternoon spraying massive poison all over the poison ivy out back. Big shout out to quarkwiz for pointing me to the right product. BURNINATING THE COUNTRYSIDE was done, albeit as chemical ( Read more... )

I don't actually have too much to say about the book, mostly because it's been discussed many times by other people. But first, an observation and link:

Sometimes I weep for the future. And then sometimes I read stuff like this and weep with happiness for the future. Every time I think the world is going to shit, I am reminded that old, selfish ( Read more... )

Grade: A

[Note: getting an A from me is almost impossible. Those go to books I feel an immediate urge to reread as soon as I finish them.]

[second note: DO NOT LEAVE SPOILERS FOR LATER BOOKS in the comments. I hate spoilers.]

( and on that note, a cut-tag to hide spoilers of this book from unsuspecting readers )

The Lies of Locke Lamora, by Scott Lynch (or scott_lynch)
Grade: BThis book should have gotten an A out of me. I am absolutely the target audience. I love stories of clever people being clever, and if they’re rogues in a well-created fantasy setting, so much the better. However, it has several unforgivable flaws, which bring it from a great book to a merely ( Read more... )

Stardust, by Neil Gaiman
Grade: C-

Yeah, you read that grade right. I didn't find the book a waste of my time, but I sure wasn't thrilled, either.

( Let me start this review by ducking all the catcalls, hisses, and death threats. )