How do you prepare for a first review? It's nightmarish: one stranger, the keeper of literature. Friends have advice: don't read reviews. But when all is said and done, you wanna read. You're a writer and this is all part of it.
Dianne says, "this is not West's voice in this, his first book. For the moment it is hidden beneath a strained, self-conscious attempt to be awfully clever". Strained? Not nice, Dianne!
I remember old people always saying, "Don't be clever", like it was the worst thing. Such strange advice. Like being directed down a dead-end street.
I'm still kinda thrilled; I got reviewed in The Age. Someone called me clever! (Sort of).
So - what do you do after your first review? Step one: recruit mates to tell you how wrong wrong wrong Dianne Dempsey really is. (I'm below in pink)...
That's what friends are for. Blogging helps too. And yes, of course, if it was a nice review I'd be dining out with Dianne for months. We'd be besties by now.
But you can judge for yourself!
Buy the book and see! From Dianne's hometown in Melbourne at The Paperback Bookshop. Or pick up a copy at the ABC Shop. Also try Abbey's Bookshop online. And there's Dymocks, too. In Sydney, head to Gleebooks.
And then email Dianne with your thoughts, she'll love it.
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7 comments:
settle down james, you know you over-write...
Thanks Marc, for being such a loyal, loving brother :)
I think it's a bit rough to say it's not your own voice. Reviewers get paid to draw conclusions beyond the scopes of the books they read and this comment is just a bit odd.
And don't worry, I think you're clever too (not just Mum and Dad), and not in a strained self-conscious way. Well, a blog post about a review is by definition self-conscious, but not in the book.
Unfortunately I can't see the review online yet. In the meantime, vent yourself by digging down her reviews and flaming on her message boards - emailing is so 1999.
If you're looking for a positive review, you need go no further than Google, which in my toolbar is autocompleting as I type in Beijing with "Beijing Blur". That means plenty of people are looking it up and its one of the top searches with Beijing in it, and that's the best review you can get! I'm finishing the book tonight.
PS You got rid of those warts years ago didn't you?
If I only ever listened to Margaret I would only ever see the very worst films on offer...
Every reviewer has a taste, yours was not befitting of this wizened old crone, but at least you got a review!
Keep trucking young man, this will all be a 'blur' in no time ;) and the first of many reviews if not publications.
Don't worry little one, it's still early days so don't let this small distraction ruin your mood. Rant if you may, but keep it in moderation, no one wants to be called a whinger!
Good luck
Stuff that! Rant/whinge away! Why have a blog otherwise? Good on you james for sharing the warts. x
You know i heard that Dianne actually meant to write a "trained attempt", not a "strained attempt".
One small typo, such devastating results. The Age should really hire more careful editors.
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