Some random thoughts...

[reviews_and_ramblings]

I don't do rates (it's like a statement, I don't do drugs, I don't drink...). I always hate scheme and similar, my Italian teacher in highschool, after fighting for years to force me to plan my writing before starting them, surrendered and let me do as I wanted; I wrote from scratch, I still do, without almost editing it... It's like I'm, you can't change me, and so, how can I summarize what I wrote with a rate?

And above all, I don't believe in rate since they are "cold": I can read a book today, and since I'm in a fool mood, I can hate or love it, and maybe next week I will change my mind. Same as you: a book for me is wonderful since touch something in me, and for you is boring, since that same spot wasn't touched.

I'm not a reviewer, I studied Economics at College, not English or Literature! I'm a reader, and I read what I like, so please, don't take offense if I don't like a book, I believe that I have never said that a book was bad, only maybe that I didn't understand it or that it left me unaffected. And I'm not a writer or an editor, so I'm not nursing the secret idea to publish a book... I have some stories that swirling in my mind, but I'm not good enough to write them, and so they will stay in my mind.

English is not my language, so I can't judge if a book is grammatically good or not, and I don't want to... I write what as a book left me, cold, happy, sad, and I believe that you can understand it from what I write. It's not like I love every book I read, but if I write a post, probably there is something in the book that pushed me to finish it: and since I have in this moment more than 400 books in my reading list, if a book managed to catch my attention for enough time for me to finish it, then it means that I like it. For the "love" verb, the book has to be very good.

Don't try to involve me in fights, I don't like them; and don't believe that I can't fight, I can, but this is my sand box and I do as I want here. But I love confrontation, so don't worry if you want to leave "nasty" comments, if they have a sense, even if bad, probably I will reply to them.

And if you heavily lift from my LiveJournal and take the credit for my work, could at least don't gloat over how good you are? Ask you to at least put a link would be too much... I love when people link me, one of the happiest moment is when I discover that someone notice my little sand box and say something. I don't pretend that you ask me nothing, don't get me wrong, it's part of the pleasure of life, and an happy surprise, when I find something of unexptected, but I hate when something I spent time to prepare get apparently unnoticed to discover that raised a sandstorm somewhere else.

Comments

[laurazel.livejournal.com]

Sei grande, Elisa! <3

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Stamane sentivo che dovevo dire qualcosa...

[laurazel.livejournal.com]

Tesoro qualcuno ti ha detto qualcosa che ti ha spinta a mettere in chiaro il tuo punto di vista? Spero per chiunque sia stato di essere stato gentile e non scortese e villano come temo... è_é

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Mmm non esattamente. Di recente ho avuto una spiacevole conversazione con un autore a cui non era piaciuta un mio post sul suo ultimo libro. Non è che ho scritto che era brutto, solo che si capiva che non mi aveva entusiasmato più di tanto.
Poi c'è un clone in giro che credo stia facendo "sue" le mie idee, ogni volta che dico qualcosa in qualche chat, dopo pochi giorni scopro che c'è un post che "sentenzia" la sua filosia di vita che guarda caso è un po' troppo simile alla mia. Così ho deciso di scrivere qualcosa anche io, sia mai che alla fine viene fuori che sono io il clone...
Ed in generale mi farebbe piacere che la gente mi dicesse le cose, brutte o belle, come ho detto mi piace il confronto.

[byanca-silver.livejournal.com]

Wow, pretty heavy Elisa. I've always found your reviews to be fair. I can't recall ever seeing you be very negative about a book or an author, even when it seems as if you weren't totally blown by a story, you always find something good to point out.
I think its very unfair for an author to get upset or confrontational should a reviewer say that he/she was not impressed about their book. That's the opinion of a reader and as long as the reader isn't being rude or mean, surely it can be seen as what it is..a helpful critique. Ne?
I hope whatever the issue is blows over soon.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Oh, it's not much of an issue, only something that make me sad. And it's only part of the reason why I wrote this post. There are things around that I don't like, but it's how internet work, so I can't do much. But I thought that it was time to write something, even if it can sound heavy. Elisa

[byanca-silver.livejournal.com]

I hope you feel better soon, its also good to let things out at times and express yourself.
Please don't let other people bring you down too much.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

It's part of the reason why I have a LJ, to let thing gone in the journal and out of me ;-) Elisa

[zoenichols.livejournal.com]

Anything you say about anything I write is greatly appreciated, linked to and then loved to death.

*hugs* The internet sucks, sweet thing but you always make me smile :)

I hope whatever is putting a cloud on you goes away and SOON.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Thanks Zoe, it's for people like you that I'm still around. And I'm still around since luckily there are more people like out there then the one that cloud my day. Elisa

[alex-beecroft.livejournal.com]

Oh dear! I don't know what's happened, but by the sound of it, I'm sorry that it has happened to you. All the people I know of think you're a real star, so don't let the occasional idiot get you down!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Actually they are a "collection" of people, but they are still less than the good ones :-) Elisa

[eroticjames.livejournal.com]

>.<

So some special snowflake somewhere ripped you off? And any disussion of a book, good or bad, has the potential to bring sales. You either ignor a less than stellar review or thank the reviewer for at least taking the time.

Sheesh...why does the percieved anonymity of the net turn people into complete social morons?

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I'm quite tired that my reviews were "dismessed" since you can't compare them to other due to the fact that I didn't give a 5 star or something similar.
And I'm quite tired to be "accused" that I write only good reviews... it's not true. If someone read what I write, I say when I don't like something, only that I'm not ripping of the author while doing so.
And I'm quite tired to post things I spent time to prepare (and involving people to do that), only to apparently have them pass unnoticed, when in someone else blog there were ton of comments on it... it happened in the past, so don't try to link it to something recent...

[luscious-words.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear that someone has prompted you to feel the need to write this post. Others have pointed out that even when a story doesn't move/affect you, you do point out something good about it. I have seen that in your reviews.

As for someone lifting part of your review and not crediting it to you, that's just wrong. It's plagiarism, theft. That's YOUR work, your time and energy. I'm sorry you've become a victim of that.

As eroticjames mentioned, the perceived anonymity of the web has turned these people into utter asshats. *sigh*

PS - Thanks for the recommendation to watch Cheeni Kum. I finished watching it last night and really enjoyed it.

[4everinblujeans.livejournal.com]

Many times I read your reviews just to get a feeling about that book so I could decide whether to buy it or not :-)so basicly I'm greatful for it. Furthermore, I believe that this is your journal so you could write what ever you feel ^^

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Thanks Layla. I will not use the word "plagiarism" since for me it's not possible to "copy" a post, and above all, if it's something sporadic, could be really a coincidence. It's when something happen 1, 2, 3 time and from the same person that make me really angry. And above all, I wouldn't care less if it was only me, but when I post about someone else, that maybe is waiting for a response, and that response doesn't arrive, and then I discover that somewhere else they were arguing about it... that is the time when I get very upset. Elisa

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Oh, be sure, I write what I want, but I always try to consider the feelings of other people. So it really upset me when I receive an email complaining for something I think I didn't do, or at least not in the way they imply. Elisa

[lilygcs.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear there are people being nasty and getting you down. I personally love your reviews and I don't feel it's necessary to have a rating.

Please don't let the actions of a few take away from your LJ experience. You're loved and appreciated by many.

Lily :)

[luscious-words.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, multiple times from the same person...that ceases to be coincidence in my opinion. It sounds like some person(s) wanting to stir up drama, which is a shame.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Do you know what is my philosophy? I was there before, of you copy me means that you are not good enough to have your own idea, and so in a way, you are making me a compliment. The thing is that they are quite good in other things, so why they don't stick to them and let me alone? All right, enough with the rant... Elisa

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Thank you Lily, and no, I don't believe that I will take away my LJ... maybe it will change in time, but I love it too much to take it down. Elisa

[luscious-words.livejournal.com]

That is a good philosophy and a good way to look at it. In my humble opinion, you write intelligent and fair reviews. You don't need to have a 'ratings' system. You speak honestly about what you like or don't like, but you are not vicious or cruel. Your words are appreciated in this corner of the world. :)

So I offer you a lovely icon of lovely Desi men in a clinch. :D

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Thank you. And I found that movie you say, Dostana. Sooner or later I will see it. Elisa

[clarelondon.livejournal.com]

Well said!
It's lazy and rude if someone has taken your posting and passed them off as their own - or used them for their own purposes without crediting. Or insulted you and the way you review!!!!

Dammit, the whole point is not that you only give 'good' reviews - it's that your *review* is always good. You always give constructive, enthusiastic feedback, full of the bits you liked and liked not-so-much. That's so much more important than a rating. And for heaven's sake, this is YOUR LJ and YOUR time and love you're giving to these, so YOU call the shots! LOL

Now I'll stop yelling on your LJ and just send *hugs*.