Someone really hates me...

[mdperera]

I've always believed that when you put a book or story out on the marketplace, you'd better be prepared for any kinds of reviews. That's the nature of the business, and reviewers shouldn't be under any obligation to cushion the blow to spare the author's feelings if they didn't enjoy the story.

That being said, I just got a really virulent review

Comments

[peacewish]

I know this woman. I run across her often. She's the woman that threw away Jurassic Park because it was sexist (a character mentioned Ellie looked good in shorts; Ellie later outwitted several velociraptors and saved lives). She's the woman that throws a hissy fit because you use him/his for an abstract pronoun, instead of them/their or him-or-her and his-or-hers. She's the woman that accuses you of being a sell-out for men if you suggest affirmative action isn't doing women any favors, and spits at your feet if you confess your ultimate goal in life is to marry and raise children. I have met, studied with, and worked for this woman. This woman is miserable.

Pay no attention! You know your story is not what she saw, through her little feminist spectacles. In what universe does a woman who does battle with her former rapist on top of a tower rooftop qualify as helpless heroine who 'takes people's constant crap'? My only concern is that, unlike you garden-variety fanfic review, something like this could actually depress sales. Since I don't know what the overall count or quality of your reviews is, I don't know how much this will affect it. But if this is a review in a public form where people can chime in to agree or disagree, give me the link so I can stamp it with a thumb's down. People are free to dislike your book on its own merits, but it's unfair to smear it for reasons that simply don't exist.

[mdperera]

Thanks so much, that made me feel better. :) I can usually shrug off negative reviews, but today was kind of rough and this made it worse.

But here's something... interesting... for lack of a better word. The review is on this website, which shows the reader's full name. Someone with the same name reviews books for All About Romance, and in one of her reviews there, she says, "Two of my many passions are standing up for romance novels and also being a feminist." Her ratings/reviews for novels are the same on both sites, so it's probably the same person.

And why is this interesting? Because two months ago I mailed a print copy of my book to All About Romance, knowing that there was no guarantee they'd review it (they get plenty of books from major publishers, so I'm way back in the line), but deciding I had to take that chance.

So it looks like they got the copy and gave it to this person, who's probably burning it as I write. What a waste of money. When there are a dozen other reviewers on their staff who probably wouldn't have had this vicious, knee-jerk reaction to the book.

Or, for that matter, to me.

[peacewish]

Argh, can you believe it? The site only gives you the option to 'like' a review, and not the reverse! I guess it's trying to avoid controversy, but it's a bit frustrating that I can't express my opinion on her uninformed opinion. There is an option to comment on her review, I think, but only open to members of the site. I didn't look much further into it, since I doubt you want me to start some kind of flame war (I've played that game; next thing you know she'll be complaining that you sicced your friends on her). I'm not at all happy with what she said or her stupid china doll icon, but rest assured that she wasn't right and your plot is nothing to be ashamed of.

[mdperera]

Yes, the best thing to do with that kind of review is to ignore it (in public, anyway), rather than giving it any kind of response. Hopefully the accurate reviews on that site should present potential readers with another side of the issue.

Thanks again for your support. :)