Kim Paffenroth's Page on his zombie-related fiction and non-fiction
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Worse Review of Orpheus and the Pearl!
Not nearly as detailed as the other, and really rather nasty throughout, but it's nice to have a little something sitting around to bolster one's humility from time to time!
Still, you can take some solace in that it doesn’t seem too professional to follow a review with a discussion of how best to burn the book. And this oddmonster person’s minions are just following blindly, after all. And they do say no publicity is bad publicity (whoever they are).
Hello, by the way… I found your blog through interest in The World is Dead.
Meh, it did make me think I probably had a lot worse sentences somewhere, if someone would really poke around. But again - not looking to debate critics: his/her opinion is duly noted, and I'll try to do better next time.
When I read the review, I did think, "Wow...that was pretty mean." I mean, yeah, I've been cutting in some reviews I've done, with books that have really disappointed me. but I've also been lot more detailed in what I found disappointing. This guy seemed to be randomly looking for stuff to rip. Sure, the sentence he mentioned ran on a bit, but there wasn't anything wrong with it. In context, it was probably fine.
As for the whole idea that you must hate women because the narrator treats his zombie wife like a child...um...what? Dude, it's a novel not an autobiography. And she's a zombie. Usually, writers use them for target practice. Treating one with affection is actually a huge step up.
I also didn't care for the fawning responses to the review. One of the things I don't like about livejournal discussions is that they so often turn into mobs with pitchforks against a harmless target (even here, we're all basically agreeing with the OP). But that guy clearly likes to hear that he's special. A lot. That didn't give me much respect for his review above and beyond my other complaints about it.
Location: Cornwall on Hudson, New York, United States
I am a professor of religious studies, and the author of several books on the Bible and theology. I grew up in New York, Virginia, and New Mexico. I attended St. John's College, Annapolis, MD (BA, 1988), Harvard Divinity School (MTS, 1990), and the University of Notre Dame (PhD, 1995). I live in upstate New York with my wife and two wonderful kids.
Starting in 2006, I had one of those strange midlife things, and turned my analysis towards horror films and literature. I have written
Gospel of the Living Dead: George Romero's Visions of Hell on Earth (Baylor, 2006) - WINNER, 2006 Bram Stoker Award;
Dying to Live: A Novel of Life among the Undead (Permuted Press, 2007);
Orpheus and the Pearl(Magus Press, 2008); and
Dying to Live: Life Sentence(Permuted Press, 2008).
7 Comments:
Commiserations!
Still, you can take some solace in that it doesn’t seem too professional to follow a review with a discussion of how best to burn the book. And this oddmonster person’s minions are just following blindly, after all. And they do say no publicity is bad publicity (whoever they are).
Hello, by the way… I found your blog through interest in The World is Dead.
Steve
www.stevenpirie.com
Hey, everyone's entitled to their opinion. I just try to roll with it.
This is true. And without doubt you've a healthy attitude...
steve
www.stevenpirie.com
Meh, it did make me think I probably had a lot worse sentences somewhere, if someone would really poke around. But again - not looking to debate critics: his/her opinion is duly noted, and I'll try to do better next time.
When I read the review, I did think, "Wow...that was pretty mean." I mean, yeah, I've been cutting in some reviews I've done, with books that have really disappointed me. but I've also been lot more detailed in what I found disappointing. This guy seemed to be randomly looking for stuff to rip. Sure, the sentence he mentioned ran on a bit, but there wasn't anything wrong with it. In context, it was probably fine.
As for the whole idea that you must hate women because the narrator treats his zombie wife like a child...um...what? Dude, it's a novel not an autobiography. And she's a zombie. Usually, writers use them for target practice. Treating one with affection is actually a huge step up.
I also didn't care for the fawning responses to the review. One of the things I don't like about livejournal discussions is that they so often turn into mobs with pitchforks against a harmless target (even here, we're all basically agreeing with the OP). But that guy clearly likes to hear that he's special. A lot. That didn't give me much respect for his review above and beyond my other complaints about it.
I sent in a review to the HFR; soon as it's posted, I will make sure to send you a link.
-- C.
Thanks Christine! I mean, posting to bad reviews is fun, but posting to a good one would be nice, too!
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home