tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3704532387089251856.post2030062520280095424..comments2023-12-22T09:04:09.898-08:00Comments on Six Boxes of Books: Negative reviews, and Catching FireWendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11690852339559706714noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3704532387089251856.post-39795197659729011752009-09-22T12:08:02.782-07:002009-09-22T12:08:02.782-07:00Wendy, I think Catching Fire suffered in the way t...Wendy, I think Catching Fire suffered in the way that many middles do, especially middle books in a Trilogy. It even has a name, Middle Sag or mid-story sag. Playwrights tear their hair over the Second Act. Writers look for that extra clothesline pole to hold things up and keep them going. That being said, I enjoyed it for what it was and am looking forward to see how she manages to end her story. Or will it go to 4 books like Rick Riordan's Percy and the Olympians series? wendie old (one of the other Wendies)Wendie Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05720582855824814088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3704532387089251856.post-55924678924794332542009-09-07T18:22:07.477-07:002009-09-07T18:22:07.477-07:00I do write, and gladly read, negative reviews, and...I do write, and gladly read, negative reviews, and it's because one of my main interests in books blogs is in understanding more about how stories are constructed. Hearing someone articulate why something doesn't work for them, or trying to do it myself -- which is often HARD -- is usually very informative for me.Elizabethhttp://underagereading.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3704532387089251856.post-23474852319170405552009-09-03T07:59:57.510-07:002009-09-03T07:59:57.510-07:00I would love to read a less than gushing review of...I would love to read a less than gushing review of Catching Fire. I'll still read the book, but I like to see both positive and negative reviews of books. I think a balance of viewpoints is important.SuziQoregonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15552565982732943323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3704532387089251856.post-31158290374694356722009-09-03T07:02:24.844-07:002009-09-03T07:02:24.844-07:00I agree with everyone who has posted so far -- and...I agree with everyone who has posted so far -- and with you! Negative reviews are very important. As long as they're done constructively -- which, of course, yours would be! :) -- I actually... <i>enjoy</i> reading them! I feel kind of bad admitting that, but it's true. Some books are just horrible and deserve criticism, if only to save other innocents from stumbling across them.<br /><br />Regarding <i>Catching Fire</i>, I just finished it last night... and I have to say that while I definitely enjoyed it and can't wait to read the next one, it didn't capture me the way <i>The Hunger Games</i> did. Still, I stayed up until the middle of the night reading to finish it, so... I guess that says something right there!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3704532387089251856.post-80904959236352072392009-09-03T06:54:41.310-07:002009-09-03T06:54:41.310-07:00I think you should go ahead and post a review for ...I think you should go ahead and post a review for Catching Fire. Less than positive reviews are important, as it gets a little boring when every review for every book on every blog is a glowing one. Different people have different tastes, and it makes for good discussions.<br /><br />I've noticed that I find myself returning to blogs with negative as well as positive reviews more often, as I seem to trust their opinions a little more for some reason. Maybe because they're not afraid to post what they really think? <br /><br />Great discussion topic! Thanks!Alexia561https://www.blogger.com/profile/10797515620050469395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3704532387089251856.post-88695710089507089582009-09-03T00:09:03.207-07:002009-09-03T00:09:03.207-07:00I would love to read your CF review, as every revi...I would love to read your CF review, as every review I have seen so far has raved about it.<br /><br />I loved The Hunger Games, but am currently half way through CF and am very disappointed. It is beginning to pick up, but I don't know what I'll think by the end. <br /><br />I think negative reviews are very important. As long as the reason for disliking the book is explained well then people are able to make up their own mind about whether to read it or not.<br /><br />I look forward to reading your review. My (possibly negative) review will be posted some time next week.Jackie (Farm Lane Books)http://www.farmlanebooks.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3704532387089251856.post-50478379782352964672009-09-02T22:37:49.090-07:002009-09-02T22:37:49.090-07:00I'd like to read your review of CF. I am a bi...I'd like to read your review of CF. I am a big fan of EW, and of Jennifer Reese in particular, so even though I enjoyed CF very much, I am not going to say she should be fired just because she only mildly liked CF. It's not like she trashed it and gave it an F for no reason. What does annoy me is how major publications have to compare every YA book to Twilight. But hey...that could just be an editorial demand since EW seems to be all Twilight all the time these days.Lenore Appelhanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16664671644163369772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3704532387089251856.post-4061012230344248192009-09-02T22:34:26.218-07:002009-09-02T22:34:26.218-07:00I'd like to read your review. Well, maybe not ...I'd like to read your review. Well, maybe not "like," but I'd be interested. I'm sorry you didn't like Catching Fire; I thought it worked pretty well--although (and I didn't say this in my review, which hasn't been tweaked yet), I can see the third book tipping my opinion of the trilogy in the opposite direction. It had better be a really good, thoroughly thought-out book. <br /><br />But my inner teen self has thoroughly enjoyed both books so far.Jenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07832420356107544084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3704532387089251856.post-22624388529249646592009-09-01T10:18:21.580-07:002009-09-01T10:18:21.580-07:00I'd also be interested in your review, though ...I'd also be interested in your review, though of course I'm going to read <i>Catching Fire</i> anyway. <br /><br />When I used to post my book reviews on my blog (before I found GoodReads), I once savaged a (really awful) book and got a whiny, defensive and angry response from the author, who reposted my review on his personal website and asked for rebuttals from his friends. Another time I panned a book and the author responded snarkily. I think those sorts of authorial responses made me less willing to write negative reviews for awhile, but I'm feeling more confident again.<br /><br />As far as <i>...And Ladies of the Club</i>, well, I learned a lot from our discussions of it. It's impossible for me to lose myself in it quite the way I used to- but I remain convinced that it is an important and valuable historical novel from the point of view of a provincial little old lady who could easily blend into my family of origin without a ripple. Maybe it's an Ohio thing. I do enjoy going around in circles with you about it because I learn something every revolution. I hope you do too.Melody Marie Murrayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14751943914009310127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3704532387089251856.post-26444997179893403652009-09-01T08:19:14.190-07:002009-09-01T08:19:14.190-07:00Wendy,
I actually would really love to read your ...Wendy,<br /><br />I actually would really love to read your review of Catching Fire. I think the fact that so many loved it makes it all the more important to know why you didn't. I'm sure it would be thoughtful. I've heard from others who were not particularly enthused, but those were real life conversations. From those Newbery reviews I'm sure you'd do justice to this one too.Monica Edingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03924540264341924291noreply@blogger.com