Perhaps I am the oldest naive reader in the room, but...who writes critical reviews that attack an author, not the work? Is this within the context/platform of the work in question?
Hi, Jim! I'm referring to social reviews, which, if you take some time to read reviews of well-read novels or memoirs on Amazon that touch on social issues, for instance, I can guarantee you'll find personal attacks and content attacks that do not focus on the writing/cadence/plot. I've personally had a few instances in which someone reaches out via a personal/threatening or sexualized message. I've been told I won't live long if I kept talking the way I was one time (that was in reference to a political stance). And such things have shown up in reviews and have occurred through my website. I've been on the receiving end of less threatening but personal attacks on Goodreads, and Facebook (on my wall) over the years. Definitely do not see personal attacks on legitimate review sites I read, though I'm currently co-working on a project that analyzes the way women writers are reviewed here and in Canada.
Perhaps I am the oldest naive reader in the room, but...who writes critical reviews that attack an author, not the work? Is this within the context/platform of the work in question?
Hi, Jim! I'm referring to social reviews, which, if you take some time to read reviews of well-read novels or memoirs on Amazon that touch on social issues, for instance, I can guarantee you'll find personal attacks and content attacks that do not focus on the writing/cadence/plot. I've personally had a few instances in which someone reaches out via a personal/threatening or sexualized message. I've been told I won't live long if I kept talking the way I was one time (that was in reference to a political stance). And such things have shown up in reviews and have occurred through my website. I've been on the receiving end of less threatening but personal attacks on Goodreads, and Facebook (on my wall) over the years. Definitely do not see personal attacks on legitimate review sites I read, though I'm currently co-working on a project that analyzes the way women writers are reviewed here and in Canada.
I also want to add that there are some very big-name authors whose political stances impact the way people review their works to their own echo chambers, but it can also look like armchair diagnoses of the author or simple political responses. Just as a quick example: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R3053SN4IL8CV0/ref=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=1982102314 or https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/RNUL5R1U5HYQ9/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B01NBMFT0I
Are the author and work, in fact, separate at all? That might be a separate post.