Comments on: Kirkus Reviews (1933-2009) http://www.edrants.com/kirkus-reviews-1933-2009/ a cultural website in ever-shifting standing Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:01:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ed http://www.edrants.com/kirkus-reviews-1933-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-267950 Ed Wed, 29 Jun 2011 22:44:06 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=13570#comment-267950 why not just startup a new reviewer? let me know if you need a reader. why not just startup a new reviewer? let me know if you need a reader.

]]> By: APFOL: December 6-19 « Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog http://www.edrants.com/kirkus-reviews-1933-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-259857 APFOL: December 6-19 « Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog Sun, 20 Dec 2009 20:23:46 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=13570#comment-259857 [...] Kirkus Reviews (1933-2009) : Edward Champion’s Reluctant Habits What will happen now that Kirkus has folded? [...] [...] Kirkus Reviews (1933-2009) : Edward Champion’s Reluctant Habits What will happen now that Kirkus has folded? [...]

]]> By: Interview with Keir Graff : Edward Champion’s Reluctant Habits http://www.edrants.com/kirkus-reviews-1933-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-259723 Interview with Keir Graff : Edward Champion’s Reluctant Habits Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:52:22 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=13570#comment-259723 [...] the wake of Kirkus Review’s folding, I asked Booklist senior editor Keir Graff a few questions on the future of book review [...] [...] the wake of Kirkus Review’s folding, I asked Booklist senior editor Keir Graff a few questions on the future of book review [...]

]]> By: Richard http://www.edrants.com/kirkus-reviews-1933-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-259717 Richard Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:13:50 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=13570#comment-259717 I will miss Kirkus. Over 30 years ago, when I discovered a really bad review of my first book while I was in the Brooklyn Public Library, I was so upset and shaken that I went to bed for the rest of the day. The next day my editor told me he'd tried to shield me from the harsh review so early in the process (pre-pub date), but I told him I wanted to see even bad reviews, and he (and reviewers) obliged. THe Kirkus review of my second book a few years later was, if anything, even nastier, but by then I took it without a problem. And when I got a nice notice from Kirkus Reviews in 1996, it meant a lot more because of the cranky ones. As for Kirkus Discoveries, I used it with my self-published books, and not all the reviews were good at all (though some were). Kirkus taught me to take the good with the bad, and I particularly liked that there was no way for an author to respond to them (something I've always found annoying in the NYTBR) - at least before the age of blogs. I think blogs are great, but for me, being reviewed anonymously by disinterested parties with a gatekeeper editor is always better than getting a rave review from someone who knows the author or who is not really a book person but is happy to get a free book in exchange for a review. And all of us old authors love to tell stories about who got the worst Kirkus review. I will miss Kirkus. Over 30 years ago, when I discovered a really bad review of my first book while I was in the Brooklyn Public Library, I was so upset and shaken that I went to bed for the rest of the day. The next day my editor told me he’d tried to shield me from the harsh review so early in the process (pre-pub date), but I told him I wanted to see even bad reviews, and he (and reviewers) obliged.

THe Kirkus review of my second book a few years later was, if anything, even nastier, but by then I took it without a problem. And when I got a nice notice from Kirkus Reviews in 1996, it meant a lot more because of the cranky ones.

As for Kirkus Discoveries, I used it with my self-published books, and not all the reviews were good at all (though some were). Kirkus taught me to take the good with the bad, and I particularly liked that there was no way for an author to respond to them (something I’ve always found annoying in the NYTBR) – at least before the age of blogs.

I think blogs are great, but for me, being reviewed anonymously by disinterested parties with a gatekeeper editor is always better than getting a rave review from someone who knows the author or who is not really a book person but is happy to get a free book in exchange for a review.

And all of us old authors love to tell stories about who got the worst Kirkus review.

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