Ok so I’m not commenting on Shiver because as yet I also haven’t read it, but yes let us agree about the right to say what you think about a book without people calling it a rant. All reviews are expressions of your opinion on a book, often in context of the larger book world and backed up by the content you find in a book, filtered through your own experiences. As long as you can support your argument, you get to have that opinion. If you can’t support that argument then you have to make it very clear it’s a personal feeling that comes from something outside the text, but again you get to have that opinion. I’m so sick and tired of hearing people say ‘I believe in free speech but…’

Point 4 (I think) of that rebuttal about how the commentors should be showing solidarity with the writer because they are aspiring/writers bugs me. Writers are also readers, if anything great writers are actually the very best kind of critical readers, they’re allowed to say what they think about books publically. They can’t go off on personal attacks and personally I think it’s kind of trashy to talk about someones book if you are in direct ‘competition’ with them (say you’re up for the same award, or your books are very, very similar) but they can say what they like. They are not politicians they do not have to um and ah and avoid expressing an opinion, it’s just not required.

As for ‘the author puts her work out there she doesn’t need defending’ I think that’s true. If you have a different opinion on Shiver y’know prove it by reference to the text, don’t crowd round the author unless you’re their personal friend (personal friends get to say all those people are jack asses whatever happens). It must be hard having produced this paper baby to have it hit hard, but as author after author has said reviews are not for authors, many authors won’t even read them, they’re to guide the reader and if we start ignoring what we think is wrong or bad then we may as well all stop reviewing because we’re not serving our small audiences what they come for.

All I will say is that it drives me crazy when people can’t voice an opinion without getting freaked out! Debating with a person is fine, but freaking out is just pointless and childish!

The person who said the comments on that post are like Lord of the Flies is spot on. Seriously, WTF. “Personal attacks”? “Rant”? “Bitter diatribe”?!

Meanwhile, I’m adding that blog to my reader.

I’m not too familiar with the YA blogging community, but something I notice even in my usual haunts is that if someone says something negative, or perceived as negative, people seem to zoom in on it and ignore the rest. If I mention a problem I had with a book that I overall enjoyed, quite a few people seem to be left with the impression that I’m saying the book totally sucked. If this frustrates me, I can’t imagine how *you* feel.

Another worrisome thing are posts/comments that imply or outright say that an analysis of larger issues is beyond the point of reviewing. I get that people look for different things in their books, and that not everyone is into analysing a story’s social implications. And that’s fine – to each their own and all that. As long, that is, as nobody acts as if those of us who LIKE that kind of stuff are doin it rong.

I enjoyed Shiver but the Rejectionist has a right to their opinion. And honestly, the Rejectionist is one opinion over many. I don’ think Maggie is hurting over this review.

I’m also surprised over the backlash over Stephenie Meyer, treating her like she is the Satan of all authors ever! Can we say jealousy? She wrote a series of books that make people want to read. Good for her!

I remember some close blogging buds not liking Shiver at all. I decided to give the book a go. I enjoyed it more than my friends while still having some big issues. I may not agree with some of the language the Rejectionist used, but they stated what they thought with conviction and passion. I didn’t see Grace, in Shier, as an enfeebled heroine, but I have been lamenting this phenomenon in other YA titles. So, I do know where the Rejectionist is coming from.