how not to flinch
It's hard to write a negative review. For me at least, it's very hard because I see the author in front of me with every word I put down. Do I want to slap that person in the face? Rarely do I feel so strongly about a book that I am really angry at the author, but it happens. (You want an example? Bret Easton Ellis. I could gladly beat the guy up, if you'd hold him down for me.)
And then I still would have trouble writing a truly honest, negative review, because if there's one thing that's sure as little green apples, it's Payback in Review Land. So I'm a coward. So sue me.
Beth is not a coward. Beth is so incredibly courageous, I am in awe. She has reviewed the most recent book in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, called A Breath of Snow and Ashes. And she hated it.
I haven't read the book. I don't think I ever will, though often I read a book after a scathing review just to see if the reviewer was being fair. But this unflinching review is very detailed and very convincing. It also makes me sad, because like Beth I loved the first three books in this series, and it's hard to see something like this happen.
I'm sad, but mostly right now I'm hoping that somebody will be honest enough to stop me before I ever got to the point of writing a book that could result in a review like this.
Also, I don't think I'll ever have the courage to ask Beth what she thinks of one of my novels. Love the girl for her honesty and courage, but really. I'm shaking in my boots at the very idea.