I’m feeling a little frustrated today, & that’s after feeling a little frustrated last week, too. The thing is, criticism is always hard to take. What I’ve found has been happening is that people who like the book tend to tell me, or tell their friends – which I totally appreciate – but the people who, for whatever reason, were disappointed with the book(s), put up reviews on message boards and of course, on amazon.com.
Today someone named “Doctor Bob” in Texas decided to slam both books and gave both one star. And you know, if he hated them because the books sucked, I’d actually be okay with that. But his comments reveal that his expectations of the books had nothing whatsoever to do with what the books actually claim to be and are. For She’s Not the Man I Married, he writes, “This title should have been “All About Me” instead of her husband,” which just kind of kills me, since I figured the “MY LIFE with a transgender husband” in the subtitle might indicate that the book is about me, & my perspective on living with someone trans.
But it’s his review of My Husband Betty that really kills me:
“Boring attempt at being a therapist quoting real professionals and sharing exactly nothing about Betty other than very superficial descriptions. No pictures or real personal feelings from Betty, except a vapid paragraph at the end. “
So apparently the “MY husband Betty” also failed to explain to this careless reader that the book wasn’t supposed to have ‘real personal feelings from Betty.’ If that were the case, Betty would have written the book, say, and it would have a title something more like “My Life as Betty.”
Anyway. Criticism from smart folks can be hard to take; writers are famously insecure (and often simultaneously arrogant). But good criticism can help you learn something about writing, sometimes. But criticism from people who are too damned obnoxious to bother reading the title, the blurbs, & the book descriptions, and instead criticize it for not being the book it never claimed to be, is probably the most frustrating thing in the world. I wonder sometimes if they should, perhaps, read more slowly & carefully, & post comments on amazon.com a little less.
Hey Dr. Bob, here’s another “vapid” thought from Betty: Go fuck yourself. And while you’re at it, try reading for comprehension rather than for stuff to jerk off to. That’s my wannabe therapist take.
Adolescent, I know. But hey, I’m vapid!
point me tward Dr. Bob, I have a lot of pent up aggression to send someplace
Poop on him anyway, what does he know ????
I’ve gone and posted a review.
thanks, all. of course now i’m dying to read your full review, richard!
The fact that this fucknipple gave “Timeline” 4 stars says everything you need to know about his credibility.
I’m sorry, Helen. You’ve written a wonderful & honest book, a rarity these days, I think.
ROFL, Truff.
What a jackass!
Oh…dear…maybe I should share the mixed review that came out in the Gay People’s Chronicle ahead of your visit here!
Diane
First off, telling this guy to go fu-k himself seems a bit closed minded. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and if we stifle his speech, there are people out there who are more than willing to stifle ours.
Second, I’m kind of insulted. There have been a whole slew of people here who think pretty highly of you, and like the book very much. Since when does Dr. Bob’s opinion rate higher than ours. Personally, I’d trust our opinion over his. After all, wasn’t Dr. Bob the “quack” veterinarian who worked with Ms. Piggy on Veterinarians Hospital on the Muppet Show?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9N0DrRS7d4s
http://youtube.com/watch?v=NmQZR7iV0vY
Christine
well he DID call betty vapid, first.
christine, dr. bob’s comments don’t rate more highly than anyone’s, except that they do at amazon.com, now that he’s posted.
I’m just saying that our favorite author should not feel “down” for more than five seconds. There are more positive opinions than negative at this point.
MHO.
Christine
P.S. So he called her vapid. Anyone who hangs around here long enough knows that vapid is so far off the mark, it isn’t funny. Crazy? Maybe. Wild? Maybe too. Vapid? Forgettaboutit!
I really would not worry. Here’s what he said about a new book about Sassoon-
“This is probably the most boring, worst book I have ever read. It is filled with miniscule details which are of no interest and devoid of his romances, affairs, and real personality.”
He’s a sour crummy little armchair pundit and probably an anal retentive.
Ne worries pas!
As my therapist said to me somewhat incredulously, “What, you expected everyone to like it?” When you put your creative efforts out there, you have to realistically expect that some will like it and some won’t. Personally, I can’t stand Shakespeare, Hemingway or Ayn Rand, but that never seems to put a dent in their steller reputations.
Buck up, kid, you can’t take it personally…….unless you expected everyone to like it. Personally, I thought both were compelling and extremely well written.