tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117802.post116472848044037329..comments2024-03-09T16:10:28.455+01:00Comments on Shameless Words: Confessions Of A Book ReviewerS. Kearneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03976476273818980832noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117802.post-1164987399017951972006-12-01T16:36:00.000+01:002006-12-01T16:36:00.000+01:00A pleasure, Steerforth, and of course it goes with...A pleasure, Steerforth, and of course it goes without saying that everything is open to debate. I would love to read Ms Cooke's analysis of her choice to do that story. Does she have her own blog? I think she will probably get one soon, after all this reaction she's provoked! She will also probably think of a good pseudonym!S. Kearneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03976476273818980832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117802.post-1164977519365111472006-12-01T13:51:00.000+01:002006-12-01T13:51:00.000+01:00Thanks for your reply about Rachel Cooke. It's giv...Thanks for your reply about Rachel Cooke. It's given me a lot to think about.Steerforthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07627936539372313828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117802.post-1164972336160684072006-12-01T12:25:00.000+01:002006-12-01T12:25:00.000+01:00Maxine,Thank goodness there are still reputable or...Maxine,<BR/>Thank goodness there are still reputable organisations that impose standards and fair play. I think it is inevitable that cracks will appear in any industry that is open to these kinds of influences. People like my friend reconcile themselves with the fact that they are simply earning a living, and the wider questions of ethics should be debated by those pulling the purse strings. I can tell you that the public are also not fools ... and they probably steer clear of reviews written by my friend ... she doesn't care either way.S. Kearneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03976476273818980832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117802.post-1164967264057999022006-12-01T11:01:00.000+01:002006-12-01T11:01:00.000+01:00I've read your post a bit late, Shameless, but I f...I've read your post a bit late, Shameless, but I find it awful -- and I work in the publishing industry (for a science journal). <BR/><BR/>I know that Nature's book reviews are completely uninfluenced by this kind of practice. (Although I think the book review editor and Yale Univeristy press might go out together for lunch once a year!)<BR/><BR/>Nature as a publication prides itself on its editorial independence, to the extent that we don't have an editorial board or affiliation with any "body" or "association". <BR/><BR/>However, I sadly do not have any difficulty believing that the publishing/journalism industry in general is full of "reviewers" like your friend.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117802.post-1164925982570233872006-11-30T23:33:00.000+01:002006-11-30T23:33:00.000+01:00Gosh, Steerforth, where do I begin, and this blog ...Gosh, Steerforth, where do I begin, and this blog is not really supposed to be a news or journalism blog, but seeing as you asked.<BR/>There has been a general unease - even among people I know who work at The Guardian - about the reporter's motives for covering the Texas story.<BR/>If Rachel Cooke in London hadn't shared the same name as the missing woman in Texas - a fact discovered by Googling herself - would the story have been chosen by the Guardian as a feature story for a UK audience? The answer is simply no. The paper doesn't even give that kind of coverage to all of the people genuienly missing in Britain, let alone somewhere else in the world.<BR/>Here we have a reporter getting involved in the news process, putting herself at the centre of things, perhaps even creating the news (when you see that the sub-headline to "sell" the story was the fact that a journalist had tracked down a namesake). I have heard the word narcissistic used in this case. This "personalising" of a tragic news event on the other side of the world has touched a very sensitive nerve in the media. <BR/>The end result may be an interesting story in itself - indeed someone has now been charged with the murder of the young Rachel Cooke in Texas - but the main point of the debate that has taken place in at least two journalism classes that I know of is about the justification for a reporter to cover or investigate one issue over another. What service is being rendered to the public with this news judgement based on a google search of a reporter's own name? <BR/>Atypical is the word to use here. Some might like it, others will think it is tasteless, especially when the Rachel Cooke in the US was the victim of a crime. I'm not necessarily saying it is entirely wrong. It raises eyebrows, concerns and - quite rightly - some serious journalistic debate about news coverage and how news organisations decide what the public should know about. Mrs X and Mr Y in different parts of the UK may very well ask why Rachel Cooke didn't phone them about their missing daughters.S. Kearneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03976476273818980832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117802.post-1164923799841823692006-11-30T22:56:00.000+01:002006-11-30T22:56:00.000+01:00Please tell me more about Rachel Cooke's article b...Please tell me more about Rachel Cooke's article being discussed at journalism classes. I had no idea that it had such an impact!<BR/><BR/>Perahps I liked it because it was so atypical.Steerforthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07627936539372313828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117802.post-1164917845797878942006-11-30T21:17:00.000+01:002006-11-30T21:17:00.000+01:00Steerforth,Thanks for your comments here. The more...Steerforth,<BR/>Thanks for your comments here. The more the merrier, I say. What can I say about you having enjoyed the Texan woman piece? Maybe it's a newsgathering thing, or a journalist's perspective. I know this is discussed at length in some journalism classes, where I've heard the basic reaction is one of horror. I acknowledge though that some readers will have found it interesting. And, yes, I read it with great eyes-open-wide interest! <BR/>You're right about the wining and dining. If I can get away with it to sell my future books! I just won't have the balls to write up a piece in The Observer, saying how pure thou art thee mainstream reviewer. My friend asks for champagne, by the way, at every turn! And I thought that finished after the bubble burst in the 80s!<BR/>I still haven't had the energy to read Paul Auster's The Brooklyn Follies, the book that was reviewed by someone who gave a very helpful plot spoiler. Was it in The Guardian or the New York Times? I am trying to forget the twist, but it's proving harder than I thought. Maybe when I'm 103!S. Kearneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03976476273818980832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117802.post-1164916257718081752006-11-30T20:50:00.000+01:002006-11-30T20:50:00.000+01:00I remember the Rachel Cooke article about the miss...I remember the Rachel Cooke article about the missing Texan woman. Sorry, but I quite enjoyed it. It's a shame that her piece about blogging was a bit of a space filler.<BR/><BR/>You're right about publishers' freebies. It used to be a lot worse (or better depending on your point of view)). When I worked in a London bookshop there seemed to be a launch party every week and I went for months without having to buy a drink. <BR/><BR/>However, can you blame them for doing everything they can to support their authors? Wining and dining a handful of influential people is still a lot cheaper than advertising. <BR/><BR/>I've noticed that once you leave the 0207 telephone area, you become persona non grata. Publishing is not only London-centric, but inner London-centric.<BR/><BR/>As a bookseller, all I can say is that in my experience, no amount of hype or freebies will have the same influence as word-of-mouth recommendation. You can't beat the passion of ordinary readers who love a book so much that they have a missionary zeal to tell everyone about it.<BR/><BR/>I agree with the comment by Shameless about a reviewer giving the ending away. I read a review of Cormac McCarthy's 'The Road' which gave me a pretty clear idea of how the novel would end. Luckily it is such a fantastic book that it doesn't matter, but I would have liked to have had a critical judgement rather than a precis of the narrative.Steerforthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07627936539372313828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117802.post-1164844088786585422006-11-30T00:48:00.000+01:002006-11-30T00:48:00.000+01:00Gav, it is not often that a book review in a newsp...Gav, it is not often that a book review in a newspaper interests me, that it falls at the right time (ie, just before I want to buy a particular book) and that it gives me the information I need. The one time recently that I thought I might benefit from reading one, the darn reviewer bloody well gave the ending away! I could've strangled him!S. Kearneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03976476273818980832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117802.post-1164830545936402002006-11-29T21:02:00.000+01:002006-11-29T21:02:00.000+01:00On a more serious note, reviews in the broadsheets...On a more serious note, reviews in the broadsheets rarely have me typing my credit card number into Amazon - a rare expection is Sarah Crown in the guardian. <BR/><BR/>I'd love to read a review of a book in my circle of interest which rare enough) that actually makes me want to read it rather than leaving me going yes, and! <BR/><BR/>And I think it comes down to space and the level of criticism, which is set to low most of the time. I like reading things that are challenging or flawed but I don't think reviewers are allowed to say such things, are they?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117802.post-1164828614537916182006-11-29T20:30:00.000+01:002006-11-29T20:30:00.000+01:00Welcome TLPW and Gav ... I look forward to browsin...Welcome TLPW and Gav ... I look forward to browsing your blogs. And Gav, I suppose if you liked bull fighting they would take you bull fighting! Any way of getting your fingers to tap what's required! Bubbly and expensive food normally warms up the frostiest of principles!S. Kearneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03976476273818980832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117802.post-1164827068698350562006-11-29T20:04:00.000+01:002006-11-29T20:04:00.000+01:00The thing I don't get is why would you take a revi...The thing I don't get is why would you take a reviewer to lunch? Does it make the book taste better?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117802.post-1164822897299771942006-11-29T18:54:00.000+01:002006-11-29T18:54:00.000+01:00Hello--I've wandered in via The Moon Topples blog ...Hello--I've wandered in via The Moon Topples blog and read about your blogger challenge to post something from the days of old (I haven't yet as I've only just now read it) but I'd like to say thanks for these great posts, they are very thoughtful and thought-provoking--what I look for when I go bloghunting...shall be visiting again soon...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117802.post-1164809051655950612006-11-29T15:04:00.000+01:002006-11-29T15:04:00.000+01:00Thanks Skint, Debi and Cailleach. Yes, I thought t...Thanks Skint, Debi and Cailleach. Yes, I thought the article at the Australian website, Sarsaparilla, was very inspired. Everybody must also read Debi's "history lesson" today! Very clever!S. Kearneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03976476273818980832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117802.post-1164799755741894062006-11-29T12:29:00.000+01:002006-11-29T12:29:00.000+01:00I read the sarsaparilla link, and had a really goo...I read the sarsaparilla link, and had a really good laugh at that one...<BR/><BR/>Thanks for debunking the sacred cow of reviews - most of which I knew already. But you dared and there it is!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117802.post-1164797087229948362006-11-29T11:44:00.000+01:002006-11-29T11:44:00.000+01:00Echoing Skint. Thanks, Shameless ... it's good to...Echoing Skint. Thanks, Shameless ... it's good to share!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117802.post-1164759939034432632006-11-29T01:25:00.000+01:002006-11-29T01:25:00.000+01:00Great post shamelessI'm not shocked either but hea...Great post shameless<BR/><BR/>I'm not shocked either but heartened in a funny kind of way - as long as there's journalists like you around there's still hopeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117802.post-1164745388532199612006-11-28T21:23:00.000+01:002006-11-28T21:23:00.000+01:00And she probably emailed me from the office. Oh we...And she probably emailed me from the office. Oh well. Bring it on. Who's got more to lose!S. Kearneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03976476273818980832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117802.post-1164745224877987372006-11-28T21:20:00.000+01:002006-11-28T21:20:00.000+01:00And this is wonderful ... a piss-take of the Cooke...And this is wonderful ... a piss-take of the Cooke piece. It's called "Deliver us from thinking".<BR/><BR/>http://sarsaparillablog.net/?p=403#more-403S. Kearneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03976476273818980832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117802.post-1164744926877757532006-11-28T21:15:00.000+01:002006-11-28T21:15:00.000+01:00I think there were clues, provided her boss reads ...I think there were clues, provided her boss reads your blog. But nothing conclusive, and I'm certainly not gonna point them out. I'm sure she'll be fine, though, even if outed, because she plays the game.<BR/><BR/>Now I'm off to massage my putrid bitterness into yet another dreary post about exclusion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117802.post-1164743936133303872006-11-28T20:58:00.000+01:002006-11-28T20:58:00.000+01:00I will no doubt be struck down after these revelat...I will no doubt be struck down after these revelations, Moon. Maybe I should make it more favourable! And what if word gets out about who my friend works for. Were there any clues? Yes. Now, there would be some fun.S. Kearneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03976476273818980832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117802.post-1164743515360797892006-11-28T20:51:00.000+01:002006-11-28T20:51:00.000+01:00I used to write music reviews, and the situation i...I used to write music reviews, and the situation is largely the same.<BR/><BR/>I do want to take a moment to be mildly impressed that people can still go all a-flutter about books at all, since the bulk of society seems to be headed away from such pursuits. Sad, sad, sad.<BR/><BR/>Good post, though. I was gonna insert a joke about how you need to rewrite it so that it's more favorable and all, to aid in its eventual publication and not offend our parent corporation, but I'm too tired to be so clever.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117802.post-1164742791185160812006-11-28T20:39:00.000+01:002006-11-28T20:39:00.000+01:00This young woman, Minx, is truly Shameless, but to...This young woman, Minx, is truly Shameless, but to her credit she makes no bones about it and doesn't apologise ... she's milking an industry she knows she can get away with milking. You can't even argue with that kind of shamelessness. She's emailed, by the way, to say that I did a good write up! So, there you are. Anyone looking for a good ghost writer? This hard woman is good!S. Kearneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03976476273818980832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117802.post-1164739904779453602006-11-28T19:51:00.000+01:002006-11-28T19:51:00.000+01:00No surprise when I read that Shameless, not even a...No surprise when I read that Shameless, not even a raised eyebrow - I checked. I am only left with the bitter taste left by people who fail to be true to themselves.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117802.post-1164735536649394822006-11-28T18:38:00.000+01:002006-11-28T18:38:00.000+01:00I hate to be the one to break it to you Pundy ... ...I hate to be the one to break it to you Pundy ... of course, that's not to say that all mainstream review publications function like this. But if there's one, that is enough! My friend takes it in her stride. It pays the bills, she says. She is also a ghost writer, by the way. But that's a whole another appalling story!S. Kearneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03976476273818980832noreply@blogger.com