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

[kiernankelly.livejournal.com]

Elisa,

Yours was the first review I ever received -- I believe it was for Riding Heartbreak Road -- and is responsible for encouraging me to continue writing. Ever since that first review, I've always treasured your opinion.

You're always honest in your reviews, which is something I appreciate, and is often missing in other review sites. As you said, you don't care about the technical aspects of the writing, only about the story and how it affects you, and that, in the end, is what the writer strives for -- to tell the story.

You also happen to be one of the sweetest people I've ever had the pleasure of communicating with!

Plagiarism is the worst sort of theft; our words are expressions of our thoughts and feelings, and one of the few things that we, as individuals, can truly claim as our own. To have them stolen is a travesty.

I also wish to commend you on your graciousness. You've stated your feelings on the matter clear and precisely, while refraining from the bitch-slapping session many other people would've engaged in.

I stand with all your other supporters, ready to kick the butt of anyone who would dare claim your work as theirs.

There's only one Elisa, and you're her.

Kiernan

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Thank you Kiernan. Yes, Riding Heartbreak Road was the first book I read by you and I still remember it with pleasure. My only regret is that I grew with my LJ and if I re-read my initial posts, I realize that they are not good enough, so a lot of good book, the ones that got me hooked, unfortunately haven't so nice post on my LJ. Maybe sooner or later I will rewrite some of them. Elisa