Here we are again...

[reviews_and_ramblings]

... but this time, sincerely, I didn't care much and I have a reason for that. I read a book from a newbie author, Atom Heart John Beloved by Luke Hartwell. I think I was the first to review it, and since I have the referrals link report, I know people went on the Amazon website and bought the book after reading my review. I was happy of that, actually more than one people did that, and if you consider that I cannot check all link, then I think even more than those I saw bought it. Very very happy for this new author, it's always a joy to see a new attempt being successful.

And then today I received a notification from Amazon someone left a comment on the review on their website. I was happy and clicked to read the comment (I love comment)... this is it:

"Due to a complete disregard for proofing, or perhaps just bad grammatical skills, this review makes little or no sense.

Why bother posting a review if no one can understand it?" (http://www.amazon.com/review/R1QQV3WJ3XH910/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=1478142928&linkCode=&nodeID=&tag=)

it was a bummer. I even re-read the review to understand if it was really so bad, and sincerely, I don't think so. My first reaction was to blame myself, but then, just second away, I thought, go to hell you and your hateful comment, you are not even worth a second thought. And I posted a reply:

"Apparently you are 1 out of 5 who cannot understand this review, and btw, since I also posted this on my website, and I have the referrals links report, I also know that people bought the book AFTER reading this same review. So yes, I think my "bother" in posting this review was worth the result. And BTW how many languages do you speak? Because, obviously English is not my mother tongue, but I can write good enough to have people giving me a positive vote, while probably you don't speak and write in Italian, am I wrong?"

Comments

[hpstrangelove.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you stood up for yourself. I have struggled all my life to learn Spanish and still, no go. What's worse is the fact that everyone assumes because I have dark skin, dark hair, and live in Texas that I speak Spanish (my father is of Mexican descent, but my mother is Anglo and we did not grow up speaking Spanish in our house).

I have nothing but admiration for anyone who learns more than one language, and especially if the second language is English!

Oh - I forgot to add - I'm one of those who bought this book because of your review. I have found so many great m/m books because of you. I don't have the time to go out and search for them on my own. I'd say 90% of the m/m books I buy are because of your reviews (the other 10% are from knowing the authors personally via reading their fanfiction here on LJ).

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

thank you for your kind words. In a way, while reading a novel, I already knew who of my friends will be interested in that one, and yes, I was pretty sure this one would have intrigued you. Did you read it? how was it?

[hpstrangelove.livejournal.com]

Sadly, I have not had time. My RL job has gone from 60 hours a week to almost 80 hours, and my son just started back to school today which means the little free time I had will now be spent helping with homework.

Most of my 'reading' right now is via audiobooks. If I read a book these days, it's a computer manual or documentation on the next new system I have to bring on-line. At least I love my job; I can't imagine putting this many hours in on something I didn't have a passion for.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I hope (for you) you will have time soon ;-) I well understand how the hours seem to fly.