tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209220937063434171.post2204653986354777909..comments2023-07-26T05:48:07.472-04:00Comments on Papa Pat Rambles: When Good Authors Get Bad Reviews: Cedar Sanderson's "Snow In Her Eyes"Habakkuk21http://www.blogger.com/profile/11928724752057162332noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209220937063434171.post-56847773028687760072017-08-05T11:37:43.333-04:002017-08-05T11:37:43.333-04:00Your response helps me to clarify something in my ...Your response helps me to clarify something in my own mind about my own 'No women, no kids' philosophy: it's because I'm a sissy. <br />I have no problem with being a sissy, or with being called a sissy; I've paid my dues, and earned the right to the title. I'm just squeamish. I likely miss some good literature that way, but it DOES keep me safe from the extremes you describe.<br />It also gives me the forum to say that this was NOT a pointless death; it was, in fact, absolutely necessary to the plot. The 'WHY' of Olivia's death, and the reason she was found outside, provide the ONLY clue as to the rest of the story. <br />So, if you have KU, please read the work. If you don't have KU, and have an extra $1.99, read the work. <br />This author DOES care about her responsibilities!<br />Habakkuk21https://www.blogger.com/profile/11928724752057162332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209220937063434171.post-7293266597885630122017-08-05T10:02:29.310-04:002017-08-05T10:02:29.310-04:00There are a few books I've read where I have a...There are a few books I've read where I have a similar reaction, but I think my ethics about it are a little different. For example, Larry McMurtry creates a really interesting teenage girl, and then just kills her in a meaningless fight and it has no resonance in the story at all.<br /><br />And my language betrays why that pisses me off: "he creates her". The author is the god of his creation, and he is responsible for life and death. It's true that the innocent die -- that is the reality we live in. But if you're going to kill the innocent as an author, there should be better reasons than that. There had better be a point to it.<br /><br />The death of the child that you describe wouldn't offend me in principle, since I presume that haunts the protagonist and motivates a solution (guessing -- I haven't read the book). But a meaningless death (from a fictional perspective), one that serves no purpose at all other than a nod to chaos, a character that simply vanishes and no one is affected... well, that's too close to sadism for me: "watch me build this interesting person and then destroy him, just because I can."<br /><br />I don't like the horror genre much, either, though I'm OK with grim, dark stuff -- the horror genre doesn't care enough about the god-like responsibilities of an author for my taste, while in the equally bloody grim stuff, at least the deaths/pain matter to someone.Karen Myershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06154929987998815506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209220937063434171.post-3160325585892164182017-08-04T16:40:21.357-04:002017-08-04T16:40:21.357-04:00I think I can understand. The story is good, but ...I think I can understand. The story is good, but the context of that one scene hurts so much you cannot enjoy the rest of the story. <br /><br />There is a short story that I read 17 years ago that I almost threw the book across the room. The author of the story, whose title escapes me, killed the main character's cat. In my mind that was a needless death of an innocent creature. It ruined what was, otherwise, a decent story.<br /><br />For me, it comes down to when I read the scene do I think "aww, what a shame", and move on or does it stick a knife in my heart.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209220937063434171.post-62151276561422044052017-08-04T16:27:54.513-04:002017-08-04T16:27:54.513-04:00You raise interesting issues.
If it's the fro...You raise interesting issues. <br />If it's the frozen body of an adult, I'd give the book 5 stars, because the mechanics of the detective story are flawless, and all the OTHER stuff I said were excellent in the book. HOWEVER!!!!! The book doesn't have the punch if it's not that sweet innocent little girl on the cover who lies there on the path.<br />On May 23, I gave 'Codename Winterborn' by Declan Finn two stars because he killed the new bride of the protagonist on their honeymoon. It's the context that's important with adults, I think. <br />And I SWEATED this review; in fact, I postponed a review of Lawdog Files, AND reading of the Golden Horde, to contemplate what I was going to say; so, I can pretty much guarantee that the once scene, plus the fact that it's the LEAD scene, is why I hated the book (which is what 1 star means).<br />On the other hand, on January 23, I gave 'The Midnight Sea' a 4 star rating, even though I hated the characters in the book. I explained in that review that the characters were the ancestors of the people who tried to kill my son in Afghanistan four years ago, and I hated them all and wanted them dead. (My son, by the way, carries no such bitterness, even though he remains 100% medically disabled.)<br />It's not just pain; I reviewed 'Survivors' by Holly Chism on April 18, gave it 5 stars, and it's got the most traumatic stories I've ever read, I think; but they ARE written from the point of view of a survivor.<br />So, a couple of things: 1. I'm not always consistent, but I try to be equitable. 2. It is my hope that I expressed my admiration of the way she told the story, and that it might generate enough buzz to jack up her sales.<br />I do know that so far this post has been viewed 155 times, and that is unusually high for my blog. So, maybe the sales numbers will compensate her for the fact that she pressed one of my buttons.<br />If I failed to address something, feel free.<br />Habakkuk21https://www.blogger.com/profile/11928724752057162332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209220937063434171.post-57215167163792573452017-08-04T15:30:45.601-04:002017-08-04T15:30:45.601-04:00I share your attitudes toward gore and sex; but yo...I share your attitudes toward gore and sex; but you already know that.<br /><br />I don't read authors who pander - there are plenty of other books I haven't gotten around to yet. <br /><br />And there are plenty of ways to describe the horrible things which happen in life without the graphic details - and I think they work better than shock tactics. On me, anyway.ABEhrhardthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17211038591900883672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1209220937063434171.post-69291574780517234402017-08-04T14:47:27.864-04:002017-08-04T14:47:27.864-04:00What would you have given the book if Cedar had us...What would you have given the book if Cedar had used an adult instead of child in the opening? I'm curious to know how much that one scene impacted your score. <br /><br />What about a young woman? <br />Roughly what age does the character cease to be a child and thus cause a negative reaction when harmed? <br />Is it harming the character or the death that provokes the reaction? <br /><br />I am not trying to start a debate, I am genuinely interested. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com