I heard about these snacks on Pioneer Woman’s site. She’d said that Stacy’s Pita Chips were delicious. I thought they’d probably be good, but not THIS good. OMG! These things are heavenly. I’m totally addicted.
Often Every once in a while you see authors do things that make you wince on their behalf. I totally understand where this author is coming from. I truly feel for her and I mean that genuinely. I just don’t think her response to this review is the answer, even though there are many things about the review that are NOT right. The biggie being that the reviewer didn’t read the whole book or even most of it before reviewing said book. Not sure how you do that? (Scratches head.) Given that’s the case, I suppose I should also be embarrassed for the reviewer, too. 
I did not however think the reviewer attacked the author. Could she have been a little bit more diplomatic given she didn’t read the whole book? Absolutely. Did she say anything personal about the author? Not that I could see. She just didn’t dig the book. It sucks, but it happens.
I’ve read many reviews for my books that irritated the hell out of me. The ones with misinformation are the hardest to overlook, but there just comes a time when as a writer you have to let it all go. The funny thing about the review was I actually read it (before the author responded), then went and looked at how many other reviews the reviewer had written. There were not many and only a few were rated high–none of which were books as I recall. As soon as I saw that, I didn’t give the review much credence. I think people are savy enough to not base their decisions on one person’s opinion.
What do you think? Should an author defend their work if they believe they’ve been wronged? Do reviewers have carte blanche when it comes to writing incomplete reviews?
I liked the author’s rebuttal. In hinting she knew the identity of the reader she went a little askew (even if she’s right). From the reader’s view I could understand buying a book, thinking it sucked after the first fifty pages, and wanting to let the author know. I would have saved the comments for a personal e-mail to the author rather than do a hit piece on Amazon. It seems the reader wanted to provoke the author publicly and it worked, which I think was your point. It probably would have been better for the author to let it slide, but a reader review like that can cost her a lot of money if left unanswered.
by BernardL July 3rd, 2009 at 8:06 amSo, better avoid Stacy’s Pita chips if I want to achieve my fitness goal for the year?
An author responding to a poor review never makes the author look good. Yes, it’s annoying when they are wrong, when they say things happened that didn’t (will I ever forget the review that called Wolf in Cheap Clothing a Christmas story?), but I really believe the whole Law of Attraction thing about drawing attention to what you want to be the focus. Do you want people focusing on somebody’s error-riddled review? Or your book? Decide, and focus on that.
I truly don’t understand the authors who draw so much attention to the bad review that hordes of people who would never have noticed it otherwise go read it.
by Charli July 3rd, 2009 at 8:33 amI gotta go with Charli. It sucks for the author but they had this discussion on twitter yesterday (LOL) and my comment was, what works for some won’t work for others so explaining yourself (what you were trying to achieve etc) is useless. Is best to take it all in stride and keep that old chin up! If however it WAS personal by someone she knew, mabye she should have just contacted amazon. That said, it didn’t SOUND personal *shrugs* just my 2 cents.
Have a happy fourth doll!
by Amie July 3rd, 2009 at 12:58 pmBad reviews mean nothing to me. I read it, then forget about it.
Yes, it sucks if they got info wrong or misinfo, but that’s the way it happens sometimes. A review is an opinion, nothing more. And everyone is entitled to express that opinion even if you think it’s full of crap.
by Vivi Anna July 3rd, 2009 at 3:13 pmBernard, The problem is no matter how she answers she comes off looking bad. Obviously, if this is a disguised personal attack, then that’s a completely different animal. I would’ve still sent a private note. The thing is if it is a personal shot disguised as a review, then Karma is going to bite the reviewer in the arse because she states that she’s a writer in the comments.
by Jordan Summers July 3rd, 2009 at 8:21 pmCharli, They aren’t too bad calorie wise, but they are definitely addictive. YUM!
Therein lies the biggest problem with responding. I admit I have commented on a couple of sites, but one was just to tell the readers there wasn’t a rape in my book. (It was stated that there was.) The other was just to thank the reviewer who savaged my book for taking the time to review it.
*ggg*
by Jordan Summers July 3rd, 2009 at 8:32 pmAmie, Thanks! Hope you have a good fourth, too.
I think ignoring it would’ve been the best course. The numbers on Amazon are good, so the book is selling. She should’ve just waited until a few more came in. That bad one would’ve been buried quickly. And yes, I know it might have affected a few sales, but not many. As for it being a personal attack, it didn’t read that way to me. She posted again stating she won’t sit by quietly when she reads a review that she thinks sounds like an attack. I wish her well. It’s going to be a rough road. Of course, if she knows this girl personally, then there may be history there we don’t know about. Shrug.
by Jordan Summers July 3rd, 2009 at 8:40 pmVivi, That’s how I feel. I’m sure I’d be bummed if the first review of any of my books was a clunker, but then I’d let it go. The bottom line is you can’t buy into either kind.
by Jordan Summers July 3rd, 2009 at 8:41 pm