Here’s something I maybe shouldn’t admit: when I scheduled a blog-tour stop at Fiction Vixen, the idea was that my guest post here would coincide with a review of my book.
But the reviewer to whom A Lady Awakened was assigned didn’t like it, didn’t finish it, and opted not to write a review. (Cue Homer Simpson: D’oh!)
The Fiction Vixens let me know of this (with impeccable tact & graciousness, let me add) in case I wanted to cancel my blog-tour guest post under the possibly awkward circumstances. And I did feel a bit awkward, and did consider canceling. That seemed cowardly in the end, though, so here I am, talking about non-glowing reviews.
My debut novel has been blessed with some very good reviews in some prominent places. But the Fiction Vixen reviewer is hardly alone: a quick look at Amazon or Goodreads will show plenty of readers for whom A Lady Awakened just did not work. (And presumably there are plenty more readers out there on whom the book didn’t make enough of an impression to move them to write a review.)
I happen to think all those responses are equally valid and “right,” even where they contradict each other. Reading is a subjective experience: one reader’s lyrical prose is another’s self-indulgent plot slowdown. (Reading romance is extra-subjective, because of our disparate notions of what constitutes a resonant, authentic love story. Some readers can’t buy a Happily Ever After with an aggressively alpha hero. For other readers, only an alpha will do.)
So I suspect we’ve all had the experience of reading a well-reviewed book – or watching a popular movie or TV show – and thinking, “Did I miss something? Are we talking about the same book?” And in honor of unenthusiastic reviews and dissenting opinions, I’d love to hear your examples of books, movies, and TV shows on which you felt out of step with popular sentiment. Glee? It’s a Wonderful Life? The Catcher in the Rye? (You can’t see it but I raised my hand for two of those.)
I’ll give away a copy of A Lady Awakened to one commenter, with full sanction to love it, hate it, or anything in between.
Giveaway is open to everyone. You have until January 9 to enter, winner announced soon after. Good luck!!
A Lady Awakened
December 27th 2011 by Bantam
Series
GoodReads Reviews
Amazon || Barnes & Noble
Just wanted to say that I’ve already purchased this book and am looking forward to it. Reading is very subjective – I’ve loved books other did not and haven’t cared for very popular books. Often books with very different reactions from readers try something new and that is a good thing. This book is next up for me – my tbr pile is obnoxious – so before too long I’ll have my own opinion on it, but I’m impressed with your courage Ms. Grant. For myself the glowing reviews elsewhere encouraged me to give your book a try. Best of luck to you! Or should I say – I hope you find your readership.
Well, Cecelia, you’re post definitely got my attention.
I like you already. You’re a little ballsy, and you don’t shy away from negativity. That’s awesome! As a writer, it’s hard to hear someone say they can’t finish your work, but inevitably, it will happen. But you’ve got the perfect attitude.
I agree that writing is subjective, and that’s one of the things I love about it. There’s something out there for everyone, so I take the negative reviews with a grain of salt these days. What intrigues me about this book is that I keep seeing the comment that people have never seen a hero/heroine like this. That alone has made me very interested to read this.
The fact that a good friend of mine emailed me at 2:33am this morning after finishing it just to tell me that it it was “Soooo good” and that the character development was fantastic pretty much convinced me. This is definitely in one of the top spots on my TBR list.
I was just glancing at some of my fave books on Goodreads the other day, and I was a little surprised to discover they weren’t rated as highly as I thought they should be! We all need different things from our reading experience, and sometimes those expectations are not met, for a lot of reasons.
I am intrigued by this book, as well as the wide range of responses it is getting, so I’ve added it to my Goodreads TBR shelf. I’m looking forward to reading it, and discovering which camp I will end up in.
I love reading books that evoke polarizing reactions.
I just never really got the appeal of Harry Potter. Is that blasphemy?
I am nearly done with the book and am LOVING it so far! Great writing, characters and plot. It’s been a page-turner for me because the emotional stakes are so very high. I think it’s a great book (and now I am going to go finish it — can’t wait!)
I can relate to the person that cancelled the review. I won a book in someone’s giveaway one time and of course, every book I win, I review. The author was even kind enough to send me the entire series in sequence if I like the books and I gladly accepted her offer. Unfortunately, the book was so painful for me to read, maybe it was just a genre that didn’t fit my age group? I decided not to finish the book and send a courtesy email to the author about it. I never got a response. I know rejection is not always easy to take, but I hope she doesn’t hate me.
As for your reaction, it’s quite admirable. I love how positive you are
Thank you for continuing to write even when there are negative feedback out there.
email: cruz042 at cougars.csusm.edu
Congratulations on the new release. I was lucky to win an ARC and enjoyed the book. I did find Martha a bit cold and rigid, but the story was interesting and Theo was a terrific hero. I was wondering if you had considered giving Martha more of a backstory. I felt that something more than just an unhappy marriage must have made Martha so wary. If more were shown of her upbringing, perhaps it would have fully explained the adult she became. Thanks for an interesting book.
Kim, I’m not a huge fan of backstory as a reader (I like to have some things left vague), so I wasn’t very explicit about Martha’s upbringing. But other readers besides you have said they would have liked a little more accounting for the kind of personality she had. It’s definitely something I’ll be more mindful of in future books.
All right – prepare to be appalled. I am a romance writer and I just don’t love Pride and Prejudice. I don’t.
Cecilia – I adored your book and I would take great solace in the fact that you’ve written a book people either love or hate. That’s exciting.
I agree that reading is subjective. Every time someone tells me they love Nicholas Sparks, I cringe. I’ve never seen the appeal. Or the sitcom “The Office.” I’ve watched it and I keep waiting for it to tickle my funny bone. Not yet.
Congratulations on your debut, Cecilia!
Sometimes I think there’s probably something wrong with a book if everyone likes it.
What makes a book interesting and different can also provoke strong reactions, and there are a lot of areas that some people aren’t going to like, but are interesting to explore. Books that appeal to everyone are sometimes written to the lowest common denominator, and that excludes a lot (in everything from subject matter to prose).
When I first discovered the internet (early 90s), I found a mailing list where we discussed romance novels. After a while, I realized there were two roughly distinct groups, who tended to like different sets of authors. If someone from one group recommended a book, I’d take a look. From the other group, not so much. And that made it pretty clear to me that I couldn’t trust raves (or negative reviews) without any context. The best, most well thought out rave review wouldn’t help if that author’s voice didn’t sing for me. And I can’t know that without knowing more about the reviewer.
Another thing we decided was that some of that context had to include negative reviews. We had to know what people liked and disliked to figure out if we could trust them. If someone dislikes your favorite books, run away.
So now I’m much more careful to wait and see what people who at least cross my tastes in their likes have to say.
There are some favored historical romance writers whom I don’t read. Some I read early on, when there wasn’t as much choice (and they offered something better than what was available at the time). Some are newer authors. I might even be able to see the appeal.
I’m thinking also of a debut book that received a rave (pre-internet, so this was in Romantic Times). I found it in the library, started it, and returned it unfinished. I have since read other books by the author, even liked them, but she never became a favorite of mine. The book I did not finish? Irish Thoroughbred by Nora Roberts.
You DNF’d Nora Roberts! Well, now I’m going to go look for Irish Thoroughbred.
Years later, I heard that Nora was very heavily edited because her writing wasn’t yet up to par. I compared a later book that I did like with an earlier one, and noticed a real difference. So, for me, I’m blaming the prose (even though I didn’t realize at the time). Prose is more important to me than to some other readers; I sometimes stumble over it. Hmm, in my own writing, too.
I’ve heard good things about your prose!
Congratulations on the new release!
Reading is very subjective, and I have to admit that there have been times I’ve wondered how certain books became popular or why they continue in their popularity. For me, there are a couple of books that just screamed “failure” to me but they are considered classics – The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald, or “Wicked” by Gregory Maguire. On the movie front, I can’t figure out why the “Shrek” movies are so popular, I watched the first one and really didn’t like it and then just shook my head when the sequels came out. The same for “Pulp Fiction”, I just didn’t get the enthusiasm over it.
I have to say you’ve got a good attitude about the whole thing though.
Thanks for the giveaway!
I read The Great Gatsby in high school and I remember almost nothing about it, though I’m willing to bet that’s more my fault than the book’s.
And ooh, I did not care for the one Shrek movie I saw (Shrek 2). It just seemed like one snarky knowing reference after the next, without any actual story content! Drove me up the wall.
Have not seen Pulp Fiction. I suppose I should, one of these days, so I can see whether I’m an outlier on that as well.
Congratulations on your first release Cecilia! And good for you for having a thick skin.
It’s funny; I was talking to someone on Twitter the other day about how I find myself much more tolerant of varying reactions to my own book than to other people’s books that I love!
sarac, yes, it is blasphemy for you to dislike Harry Potter. Now you go back and re-read those books until you learn how to like them!
Molly O’Keefe, I don’t even know what to say to you about Pride and Prejudice. Is there someone I can write to at RWA about having your membership revoked?
Marnee Bailey, you might not be watching the right seasons of The Office. I find the first couple-three seasons pretty funny, but then it kind of tails off.
So here’s an out-of-step opinion that I’m slightly ashamed of: I can’t get into Adele. In principle, I thoroughly approve of her – serious singer-songwriter, not trying to sell her sexuality or look like every other super-skinny popstar – but I have yet to find any song of hers compelling. If one pop station on my car radio is playing Adele and the other is playing Ke$ha, I will listen to Ke$ha.
I don’t pay a lot of attention to reviews. I like to judge a book for myself.
Others have said it but I’ll still repeat it, I’m very impressed with how you are handling the negative review and the situation you have found yourself in.
I can list a lot of things that I just don’t get, Eat Pray Love, Titanic, The Office, Glee, most of Steven King, and everything I have ever read by Anne Rice.
The good thing about a bad review is that you know you struck an emotion with the reader. There is emotion involved in the things we love and hate. IMO that is so much better than the books which are just OK and totally forgettable.
Oh, my gosh, Titanic! Right there with you. I think I’d gnashed away all the enamel on my teeth by the time that movie ended.
Which I guess proves your point that on some level the movie succeeded, because it struck an emotion with me!
And I’m another one who just doesn’t get Glee. I’ve tried to watch it a couple times but I’ve never been able to get invested in any of the characters.
It’s sure that reading is subjectif and i really appreciate your reaction. i would be very happy to discover your book.
thanks you for this opportunity ( and opening it worldwide)
all the best
I have read some negative reviews about your book, and I am thinking, those will be reasons for me to like the book. A different heroine, she stands by her convictions. So yes, I would love to win and read it.
And there are plenty of much louded books I do not like: the Jaz Parks novels, the Moonlight series by Nancy Gideon, and there are more and more. Otherwise, books I love (like Lynn Viehl) are a miss with others.
auriansbooks at gmail dot com
Kudos to you for keeping your blog post here. Just because it was not liked by the reviewer doesn’t mean lots of FV followers would feel the same. I appreciate all kinds of reviews when thinking of purchasing a book, and there have been books with reviews from reviewers that did not like the book but that I ended up loving. I always try keep that on mind when writing a review, that things that bother me in a book someone else will love.
I feel that way about the Twilight series, just can’t get the hype. Maybe because it’s YA, or maybe the characters just don’t grab me, who knows.
Your book is still in my TBR list! Can’t wait to get around to reading it!
Ahh, Twilight. Lots of people will agree with you there. I think what bugs me most about Twilight is hearing it described as a romance.
Because in my definition, a romance is about the journey of falling in love, and the Twilight books really spend very little time on that. They meet, and bam, he knows she’s the one because she’s got that special-smelling blood, and she falls for him because he’s gorgeous and mysteriously otherworldly, and then the real action of the story is how they face the threats from other vampires, figure out how to have a future together, etc.
I have two teenage daughters who don’t like those books, too – but we get a kick out of going to see the movies. The latest one had a kind-of-epic scene with talking CGI wolves.
Yes! I agree it doesn’t qualify as a romance for me, I need the journey to love not just poof there it is. CGI wolves, makes me want to check out the movies just to see that!
Congratulations on your debut…and for being brave enough to point directly to a bad review. Yes, reading is very subjective but the buzz around this book has been pretty exciting. I love the premise so I do look forward to reading “A Lady Awakened.” Good luck! (Although, I don’t think you’ll need it!)
Thanks, Diana. And really, every book gets bad reviews! I suppose that having gotten some awfully good ones gives me some insulation from the discomfort of the bad ones (if my book were getting 100% bad reviews, I might be hiding under the covers now), and allows me to have some perspective.
And I truly do believe the negative reviews are just as “right” as the positive ones. Every time I’ve read one, I’ve nodded along and thought, “Yeah, that’s a good point. I knew I didn’t quite nail that ending,” or whatever.
I’m impressed you decided to still write your guess post. I’m sure it’s difficult when you know someone doesn’t like your book. But I’m sure it will happen again.
Not every book is for everyone. Sometimes it’s more about the expectations…someone tell you that tv show is amazing and you think it will be the best but when you watch it it’s just ok. It happened to me with Glee, a friend practically obliged me to watch it with her and I didn’t know how to tell her it wasn’t my thing. All that singing ….
Anyway, I’d love to read you book. I’m into historical romance right now
Yes, I’ve had that happen too, where I might have liked something perfectly well but by the time I see it/read it, it’s been so hyped up that I can’t help being underwhelmed.
Another “Glee” holdout! For me it’s not the singing, because I love old Hollywood & Broadway musicals; it’s just… actually I need to think a little bit more about why exactly that show falls so flat for me. Subject of an eventual blog post, maybe!
Honestly I do go a little by what reviews say… But like I said more than one review, or even 2. I like to check out what both sides think and why some reviewed in the middle. But all it really takes is 1 person to really like the book for me to give it a try =)
There are always going to be those people who wanted a book to go in a different direction and not like the book because of it… But those people need to realize that writers do not choose how a book will end or the direction and it’s not right for wanna be back seat writers (so made that up =D ) to put in their 2 cents.The muse chooses what will happen.
I really wish I had the imagination and the skill to write, but I wouldn’t be able to hold my tongue in situations like this. I love reading your books, and know that your readers will love your books either way
Emily T
I’m glad to hear you say that because I, too, put a lot of stock in reviews. There’ve definitely been some well reviewed books that haven’t worked for me, but for the most part, if a reviewer I usually agree with loves a book, or if there’s just a general trend of enthusiastic reviews, that’s a signal to me that I’ll want to check it out.
As to muses, I’m not sure I have one, or if I do, she’s easily overruled. It’s definitely me who chooses how the book will end
AWESOME blog ~~ and SO totally true! One of the books I love most on my keeper shelf is Whitney, My Love ~ and I’m always shocked when it gets blasted and bad reviews, lol. Yet I still love it! And I’ve learned over the years there a few people who read like I do and enjoy the same types of books I do so I take their reviews to heart ~ others I tend to skim for book info, and disregard opinion because I’ve just found that there are SO many books and so many different tastes no way are they all going to be the same as mine.
Congrats on your new release, and on a winner blog post!!
Is there any romance out there that divides readers so dramatically as Whitney, My Love? I haven’t read it, and after reading blogger AnimeJune’s review of it last year, made up my mind that I never would… but there is so much love for it out there, alongside the hate, that probably one of these days I’m going to have to pick it up.
Melissa, I agree with you. I loved Whitney, My Love, so much so that I even purchased it again when Judith McNaught republished the book after softening the crop scene (the primary scene that so many readers and reviewers hated in the book, along with the way the characters seemed to form incorrect conclusions about each other without attempting to validate them). But I liked the hero and heroine so much, that I was perfectly willing to go along for the ride. The re-edited version worked, in its way, but I still like the original better. Hmm, guess that says something about me, doesn’t it? Sigh.
I’ve experienced this a lot and try not to let a negative review affect my decision of whether to read a book or watch a movie, etc. I try to seek out more reviews just to see if maybe this person was in the minority, then if the book or movie still sounds good to me, I’ll check it out anyway. One movie that I just didn’t get was Chariots of Fire. After it won the Oscar in 1981, I made sure to see it, and it wasn’t a winner for me at all.
I’m looking forward to reading A Lady Awakened and making up my own mind.
Barbed1951 at aol dot com
Barbara, you are killing me. How does someone not like Chariots of Fire? Seriously, every time I hear someone say that Reds should have won that Oscar, or maybe Raiders of the Lost Ark (and make no mistake, I love Raiders of the Lost Ark), it is like a dagger to my sports-loving, British-period-drama-loving soul.
(Especially because, objectively, I can see their point. But my love for Chariots of Fire does not answer to objectivity.)
Hi Celia! Great interview – I think you’re an awesome writer and I wouldn’t let a few bad comments put a damper on your congrats!!!! I’ve heard nothing but good about this book, and I’m really looking forward to reading it! I love the covers of your books. I just love reading them.The covers and titles alone would induce me to buy both, but the storyline makes them at the top of my to buy list. I can’t wiat to read Martha and Theo’s story.
klmc_37@yahoo.com
My covers are gorgeous, aren’t they? One day I’ll have to do an internet-wide search and see if anyone, anywhere, can think of anything bad to say about my covers!
(Okay, the clothes on them aren’t historically accurate, and the Lady Awakened model is wearing makeup. But still! Gorgeous!)
Loved this thoughtful post, Cecilia. I haven’t had a chance to read A Lady Awakened yet, but I’ve read snippets of your writing and adore your voice. So I can’t wait.
A movie that’s almost univerally loved that I just didn’t get? Forrest Gump. I’m still scratching my head over that one.
Thanks, Anne. Forrest Gump is another one I haven’t seen. (I seem to be way behind on movies of the last 20 years or so!) I keep meaning to, though. One of these days for sure.
How very gracious.
I have that out of step feeling fairly often. Loretta Chase’s Your Scandalous Ways didn’t work well for me and I didn’t like Judith Ivory’s Black Silk at all.
I do think I’m likely to enjoy your book however, so please count me in.
hankts AT internode DOT on DOT net
Hmm, Black Silk. I might agree with you. There was so much I admired in Ivory’s writing as I read that book, but the characters never quite won me over for some reason.
I think I liked Your Scandalous Ways better than you did, though not as much as Mr. Impossible. One of these days I’m sure Loretta Chase is going to write a book I like as much as Mr. Impossible – it just hasn’t happened yet.
Black Silk just wasn’t romantic enough for me and I was bored thru most of it.
Usually I love Loretta Chase but YSWwas a bit meh for me. I much preferred Don’t Tempt Me. Which reminds me, Silk is for Seduction is still on my tbr…
I’ve seen “Glee” only twice and I remember loathing “The Catcher in the Rye.”. On the other hand, I adore George Bailey. To each his or her own, right? I’ve already read and loved your book, so no need to enter me in the giveaway.
Now, I’m okay with Catcher in the Rye, but in that Wonderful Life scene where George Bailey is losing it, yelling at his little daughter for playing the piano, telling off that teacher on the phone, etc., I am silently yelling at Mary to grab the kids and get the heck out of there.
That scene just makes me feel so horrible and anxious inside that I can’t be happy about all the redemption stuff afterward. I also hate the fact that Mary’s fate in Parallel George-Bailey-less Life is to be a spinster librarian, and we’re obviously supposed to think that’s some kind of pitiable lesser existence.
But definitely to each her own! One of my daughters agrees wholeheartedly with you about Catcher in the Rye, and my husband always tears up at the end of It’s a Wonderful Life.
Hi Cecilia, I have to agree with everybody else and say how much I admire you for opening up about the bad review you got. I, myself, really don’t pay much attention to bad reviews. I like to make up my own mind and decide if I like a book or not.
I have to be honest though, last year I read “Taken By the Prince” by Christina Dodd which had received good reviews. To my disappointment, I didn’t enjoy the story at all, in fact, I never even finished the book. It’s not often that this happens to me. So, it just goes to show that even if a book has received good reviews, it doesn’t always work for everybody. As the saying goes, “you can please some of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time”.
Hang in there Cecilia and keep up at what you’re doing.
I would love to win this book and make my own mind up. Thanks for this opportunity.
dpd333 (at) aol dot com
I’m surprised by all these people who don’t pay attention to reviews! I definitely pay attention to bad reviews, even though sometimes they just inspire me to read the book
Thanks for the comment!
The one that comes to mind first would have to be The Da Vinci Code. I had read the book about four months before the movie came out and was so disappointed that so much of the important details where left out. To get the full effect of the book small detail should have been included in the movie.
But like movies, when it comes to books I’ll make up my own mind. There have been plenty of times me and some friends do not see eye to eye on certain books. But I have been able to convert a few opinons by having them read more than the first few chapters. If you can read past chapter four and give the book a chance to plead its case, if its a good book, your sold.
rainie72(at)gmail(dot)com
The Da Vinci Code: another gaping hole in my cultural literacy. Have not read the book or seen the movie, though the book, at least, sounds like something I might enjoy.
Oh, and personally I hate it when friends don’t like books I liked. In theory, I believe differing opinions are the spice of life and all that, but in practice, I always end up feeling like I didn’t know the person as well as I thought I did. Hate that.
I like Regencies that break the mold so I’ve been looking forward to reading A Lady Awakened. The bad reviews aren’t putting me off at all. I follow lots of book blogs and there are very few that I agree with consistently. We all have such different tastes. One book this year that I just couldn’t connect with was The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. Yet it has ended up on many top 10 lists. Another one that my book club picked that I hated was Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts – 540 Amazon reviews, 384 of them 5 stars, but if I hadn’t been reading it for book club it would have been a wall banger at about page 50 (instead, I soldiered on for about 250 pages before I finally gave up – it’s 1,000 or so pages long LOL).
Best wishes with the book.
I can’t believe you even tried to read a 1,000-page book. Heck, I can’t believe a 1,000-page book even got published! I’ve never heard of Shantaram so now I’m going to have to go look it up.
I don’t know if I should say this, but anything on Oprah’s Book list is a signal to me to stay away. It’s not probably not 100% true, but I’ve tried enough of them & not enjoyed them that now I don’t want to spend my time on them. And that’s very disappointing since I really love all other things Oprah.
sallans d at yahoo dot com
I love that you love Oprah, but don’t like her taste in books! Usually the Oprah’s-book-club doubters are people who have it in for Oprah to begin with.
I would have to see a list of her book-club picks to decide whether I agree with you. I know one of her earlier picks was a book I’d liked – Jane Hamilton’s The Book of Ruth. I remember one day picking up a NY Times and seeing it way up on the bestseller list. The book was years old by this point, and I was thinking, “Huh? Why the heck would this be a bestseller now… Wait a minute, I bet Oprah picked it for her book club!” And sure enough, that was the case.
I did review a couple of books in 2011 for book tours that I was less than enthusiastic about. Even if I didn’t enjoy the book, I always try to write something positive about it and try to write my review with finesse. On both occasions, I contacted the tour host in advance of my tour stop and explained my position and said I would send her the review to see whether she wanted to keep me in the tour. They both were pleased with my “negative” review and my stop stayed in the tour.
It may be difficult for an author to read a negative review, but as a blogger, I also wanted to convey that it is really hard to WRITE a negative review…at least it is for me!
Thanks for the giveaway!
darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com
That’s so conscientious of you. If I were a reviewer, I’m not sure I’d even try to find something positive to say about every book. Because I think a reviewer’s target audience is really other readers, who want to know whether the book is worth their time/money. Making your review useful to authors (by use of constructive criticism, for example), is just a bonus.
I would love a chance to read this one, as you are a new to me author!! Thanks for the chance.
I really appreciated reading the honesty in your post and your graciousness in accepting the ‘non-review’. I definitely agree that reading is subjective – that’s why (imo) there are so many different genres and sub-genres. I try not to read reviews before I’ve read the book because I don’t want to be influenced either way (I buy based on the author & blurb). And there have been times that I’ve read reviews after I’ve finished a book and wondered ‘if I’d read the same book’. Even though I am not a reviewer for a blog, I try to write a review for the books I read. I agonize over them, especially if it wasn’t a book I enjoyed.
BTW – A Lady Awakened has a gorgeous cover.
kacbooks(at)hotmail(dot)com
I agonize over writing reviews too, even though I only bother to do it for books I liked a whole lot. It’s a really difficult thing to do well, and I have a ton of respect for people who do it.
I heard good things about this book and would love to read it. It sounds very good. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
I love —love it/hate it books. I am sometimes surprised that I will love a book and tell someone about it, they read it and say…ewww how could you like that! Or vice versa. I’m amazed at the way books effect each of us differently.
I would love to read this and it’s already on my wish list. I just can’t afford new books right now.
musicalfrog at comcast.net
Okay I know I may be somewhat alone on this, but I don’t understand the appeal of The Office. The few times I have watched it, I am like huh? that was dumb…Huh? Anyway, Thanks for the opportunity with the giveaway!
You’re the third person in this thread to not like The Office! It’s lost a lot of its appeal to me, but I find some of the earlier episodes hilarious. I had no idea there were so many people for whom it didn’t work!
That’s really brave to continue with the blog post… it’s actually got me more intrigued now to read the book since it was DNF’d by the reviewer assigned, so in a way maybe this was a good thing. I already had it on my wishlist and I’ll admit that it was the cover that really grabbed my attention, but I might just have move this one up the pile:) It’s great the reviewer was honest enough to say they didn’t like and own that and it’s great that you decided to post on the blog anyway and own that! I’m sure you know in your career you’re bound to get a negative review now and then.
yadkny@hotmail.com
Yes, if you go into writing determined to have 100% of readers love (or even like) your book, you’ll be in for a lot of disappointment.
And don’t give me too much credit for bravery – it’s not that hard to face a bad review when you’ve also got people like Smart Bitch Sarah saying your book is the best romance she read all year
I really do not follow reviews of books or movies. I usually love what professional critics do not like and vise versa. I am glad that you addressed the review views and how different they can be. I go for entertainment…something to distract and engage my mind outside of my everyday life. Happily ever after? You bet!
I wish you continued success!
Thanks, Phoenix. There are definitely a lot of not-very-well-reviewed movies that do well at the box office, so there must be a lot of people who don’t take their cues from professional critics.
You’ve courage and grace to be here with us instead of canceling! When I’m published I’ll take this as behavior to try to follow
Confession: I,too, do not understand the Potter hype – it’s cute, I guess. I just don’t ‘do’ kids books. Twilight? Holy cow – what drivel! Again, though, a kids book – just so poorly written. Potter was well written – for it’s target audience.
My peeve lately – Julie Ann Long – especially ‘what i did for a duke’ absolute, total, literal wall-banger for me. And the smattering of like minded reviews I’ve read always at least concede that it’s well written. GAH! I thought it horrible writing! Ugh.
I’m glad of so many review sites on the internet – as someone else mentioned what one reviewer did not like may clue me into what I would like. For instance, if a book is too ‘traditional’ or conventional for the reviewer might actually be up my alley (although I like a good twist). Just as the few negative reviews I’ve posted here & there I hope will save some people annoyance & time and others will say ‘score! I’m buying it now!’ Goes both ways.
I bought your book yesterday & am eager to begin – after perusing it I believe I’ll like it quite a bit. I’m looking forward to your next already, too!
Oh, now, I happen to love Julie Anne Long, and it’s precisely because of her prose, as opposed to plot or characters. What I Did for a Duke wasn’t my favorite of hers, but it was nowhere near wallbanging territory.
But vive la difference, as they say. The lack of consensus about what constitutes good writing is part of what keeps writing interesting, in my opinion!
What a thoughtful and gracious response, Cecilia. Like many of the other commenters, I can say that your wonderful response to what might have been an awkward situation has elevated you in my eyes.
Book reviews, as you say, are utterly subjective, and what works for someone may not work for someone else. I’ll often find myself defending a book that everyone loathes, or struggling to finish a book that many others adore. What matters, though, is that your books find the audience that are right for them–not the audience that doesn’t appreciate your work.
Good point! For career-sustainability purposes, you obviously want to appeal to a broad readership. But personally, I find it most gratifying when I hear from individual readers who say, not just, “This was an enjoyable book,” but “This was a different kind of book, and I’ve been waiting for a book like this.”
Finding the audience for whom you wrote the book is thrilling, regardless of that audience’s size.
It’s not the kind of book I read but as reactions to negative or refusal to review opinions go, you Madam, are a class act. I wish you every success in your life and writing career.
Thanks. Thanks especially for commenting when it’s not the kind of book you read!
All books have mixed reviews and I think that’s very healthy. I don’t mind and won’t shy away from a book if the storyline interests me. I know with every story some will find it more appealing than others
Part of the reason I want to read A Lady Awakened is because I do read and enjoy historical romances and like to discover new authors.
I agree that reading romances is subjective. Each person reading a book has a different history and life, different things are going on with their lives, their moods vary, etc. I know just myself the mood that I am in will effect how I feel about the book I am reading. There are times when reading something that I know I would generally love just kind-of leaves me flat, even if the characters and story are well written. I will generally stop reading this and come back to it later.
I would like to read your book. I enjoy historicals and love finding new authors to read.
I’d love to read A LADY AWAKENED & decide for myself. Reading is very subjective. I have read books that others have raved about & did not get it & Vice Versa.
I have to say I applaud your strength & honesty.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
you make it internationa giveaway, that is really great, Cecilia, share on my facebook
Hi Cecilia ! I am totally hooked with what you said in this review . It is true that no matter what we did there will always be negative comments come upon us. Nevertheless we have to move forward and be brave to face the reality. Congrats for your books n wish you all the best. Aretha zhen , aretha_zhen@yahoo.com
Hi Cecilia ! I am totally hooked with what you said in this review . It is true that no matter what we did there will always be negative comments come upon us. Nevertheless we have to move forward and be brave to face the reality. Congrats for your books n wish you all the best!
Hi Cecilia. Congratulations on the new release. I totally agree what you said in review, that reading romances is subjective. There are sometimes i like this book, but the other said they don’t like it. Not every book is for everyone. Thak you for this giveaway and make international.
I knot it’s shocking but I’m not a big fan of books by Nora Roberts. I love reading contemporaries but her books just don’t interest me for some reason. They feel kind of boring to me.
Thank you for the international giveaway!
Another Nora Roberts non-fan! Is this where I should admit I have yet to read any of her books? I love every interview with her that I read, and I think she’s a righteous warrior for the romance genre… but my romance reading list is so heavily weighted toward recently-written historicals that she just hasn’t made it on there yet. Must fix that in 2012.
I’ve never been able to get into Catcher in the Rye. I almost didn’t finish Robin Owens first Heart Mate book, but everyone loved it, so I persevered. I’m glad I did. The later books are excellent, but that first one definitely needed some work!
Your book sounds fascinating, but I can definitely see where that premise is going to turn some people off. But that’s why the phrase “your mileage may vary” has become such a cliche. Everyone’s taste is different!
Marlene
I loved Catcher in the Rye when I read it as a teenager. However my teenage daughter found it tedious and full of careless misogyny when she read it a few years back. So that’s something I’ll have to re-read and see if it holds up.
I have never read any of your books but would love the chance to sample this one & prove the blog person wrong, thank you
I have heard so many good things about this book!!! I would love to win it!
Thanks for the giveaway!!!
I admid not yet read you book, maybe soon
I will find your book and read its
And thank for the giveaway
I admid not yet read you book, maybe soon
I will find your book and read its
And thank for the giveaway
You are completely right that not everyone will like a book. I am very impressed with the way you have handled that ‘awkward’ situation. I will be offering your post to authors I work with as an example of how to react if ever they come across a similar situation!
By the way, I hope that “It’s a Wonderful Life” was the one you didn’t raise your hand for. I love that movie! I have to say that the end of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy is the book I can’t seem to get into.
Wow… I am so impressed by your classy and wonderful post!! You showed such grace and poise and good humor about the situation. I have heard such wonderful reviews about this book from other reviewers/blogs, I had it on the top of my wishlist and I really want to read it now more than ever
I couldn’t get into or really liked the Girl with Dragon Tattoo Series. I read all 3 books and it just wasn’t for me. I’m not planning on seeing the movie and I’m thinking of giving away my copies (which for me is very rare, I hoard books!)
Thanks again for the fantastic post. Congrats on your new release and good luck for the future!!!
Cecilia–Congratulations on your wonderful attitude. You must have a very thick skin to go with it! I’ve seen lots of on-line reviews of your book–all positive. I’m really looking forward to reading it. Thanks for visiting at Fiction Vixen.
Hi Cecilia, this is an awesome giveaway and I’d like to share it to my friends on my twitter.
About you question, well…maybe this is a little bit shocking but I’m not a big fan of Sandra Brown, especially her romance books. All of my reader friends love her books, only me who doesn’t. I don’t know how to tell, but her romance books, it’s just not get in to me.
And The Office…sorry to say, but I just don’t understand why we should watching that.
Congratulations on your book! Reading, like everything else, is always subjective. I take all opinions, even supposedly popular ones, into consideration, but always make my own decision.
I have seen a lot of great buzz about this book, so of course I’m anxious to read it!
I tend to look at reviews with a grain of salt. I read constantly and find very few people who agree with me on everything I read. Reading and enjoying is subjective. As a teacher, my kids don’t like what I like and I don’t like what they like. Just keep writing for you, that is the key!
Ms. Grant, the people who raised you must be very proud. One sees on various websites lists of Authors Acting Badly. Perhaps we need to start a list of Authors Acting Like Grownups.
I enjoyed ALA immensely and I’m looking forward to your next book. (You need not enter my name in the giveaway – I have my copy.)
I don’t care for Gone With the Wind. There’s not one character in the book that I liked. I’ve never seen the movie, either. And in complete inconsistency, I don’t find any of the Nora Roberts romances memorable or remarkable, but I enjoy the In Death series by J.D. Robb, or I have until lately when there’s been a downturn in quality.
Best wishes for your continued success