Comments on: My Horrible New York Times Review http://www.thenervousbreakdown.com/rdomingue/2009/11/my-horrible-new-york-times-review/ This is the podcast station for TheNervousBreakdown.com, an online culture magazine featuring authors and artists from around the world. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 22:20:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Ronlyn Domingue http://www.thenervousbreakdown.com/rdomingue/2009/11/my-horrible-new-york-times-review/#comment-49083 Ronlyn Domingue Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:43:15 +0000 http://next.thenervousbreakdown.com/?p=15512#comment-49083 Isn't it kind of twisted how we go back to those things that cause such agony? Before I finally made peace with the NYT review, if I even THOUGHT about it, I'd get angry and discouraged. Although I have to admit, I bet I'll always remember the opening line. What if you took those positive reviews and stacked them on top of the unflattering one? That way, when the compulsion strikes again (and it will, won't it?), the first thing you'll see is appreciation for your work. Congratulations that novel's success! As a reviewer and an author, now you know both sides. That's not a bad place to be. :) Isn’t it kind of twisted how we go back to those things that cause such agony? Before I finally made peace with the NYT review, if I even THOUGHT about it, I’d get angry and discouraged. Although I have to admit, I bet I’ll always remember the opening line.

What if you took those positive reviews and stacked them on top of the unflattering one? That way, when the compulsion strikes again (and it will, won’t it?), the first thing you’ll see is appreciation for your work. Congratulations that novel’s success!

As a reviewer and an author, now you know both sides. That’s not a bad place to be. :)

]]> By: Caron Eastgate Dann http://www.thenervousbreakdown.com/rdomingue/2009/11/my-horrible-new-york-times-review/#comment-49013 Caron Eastgate Dann Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:44:20 +0000 http://next.thenervousbreakdown.com/?p=15512#comment-49013 I completely identified with your column. Ten years after getting a bad review for my first novel (in the very publication I was working for at the time, no less - the shame, the shame), it still hurts. The reviewer used the word 'embarrassing', amongst others, but that's the one that I can never forget. On the other hand, others have said The Occidentals (Caron Eastgate James, 1999) is one of the best books they've ever read and they couldn't put it down. It got translated to German and has sold a total of 25,000 copies. Still, that awful review sticks in my mind and in a bottom drawer. Sometimes, I'm drawn to it (about every 3 years) and read it, incredulously, again. Similar things happen to friends of mine in other arts. One is an actor who I, of course, thought was brilliant in a recent play in New Zealand, to which I travelled from Australia to see. However, the major arts publication in that country gave her a caning. I guess this is payback to artists for being able to work in a field they love and for finding true happiness in their work, when most people are just plugging away in jobs they hate. Ironically, 20 years ago, I worked as a book and theatre reviewer for a major New Zealand newspaper. Perhaps I am getting my just desserts. I completely identified with your column. Ten years after getting a bad review for my first novel (in the very publication I was working for at the time, no less - the shame, the shame), it still hurts. The reviewer used the word ‘embarrassing’, amongst others, but that’s the one that I can never forget. On the other hand, others have said The Occidentals (Caron Eastgate James, 1999) is one of the best books they’ve ever read and they couldn’t put it down. It got translated to German and has sold a total of 25,000 copies. Still, that awful review sticks in my mind and in a bottom drawer. Sometimes, I’m drawn to it (about every 3 years) and read it, incredulously, again.

Similar things happen to friends of mine in other arts. One is an actor who I, of course, thought was brilliant in a recent play in New Zealand, to which I travelled from Australia to see. However, the major arts publication in that country gave her a caning. I guess this is payback to artists for being able to work in a field they love and for finding true happiness in their work, when most people are just plugging away in jobs they hate.

Ironically, 20 years ago, I worked as a book and theatre reviewer for a major New Zealand newspaper. Perhaps I am getting my just desserts.

]]> By: Ronlyn Domingue http://www.thenervousbreakdown.com/rdomingue/2009/11/my-horrible-new-york-times-review/#comment-43329 Ronlyn Domingue Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:58:20 +0000 http://next.thenervousbreakdown.com/?p=15512#comment-43329 You're the first person to tell me you got MERCY because of the bad review. Guess there IS no such thing as bad publicity. And I am glad you loved it. When I first signed with my agent, she said that she never pushes her clients to write their second books. She finds the pressure is often great to hurry up and do something else, and that writer ends up with a sophomore flop. MERCY took me four years to complete. This one is now at three years and a few weeks. It's a much more challenging book than the first. All I can do is hope it'll be worth the wait, for readers and for me. (And believe me, I want to be done!!!) You’re the first person to tell me you got MERCY because of the bad review. Guess there IS no such thing as bad publicity. And I am glad you loved it.

When I first signed with my agent, she said that she never pushes her clients to write their second books. She finds the pressure is often great to hurry up and do something else, and that writer ends up with a sophomore flop. MERCY took me four years to complete. This one is now at three years and a few weeks. It’s a much more challenging book than the first. All I can do is hope it’ll be worth the wait, for readers and for me. (And believe me, I want to be done!!!)

]]> By: JoAnn Danielson http://www.thenervousbreakdown.com/rdomingue/2009/11/my-horrible-new-york-times-review/#comment-43278 JoAnn Danielson Fri, 15 Jan 2010 02:28:36 +0000 http://next.thenervousbreakdown.com/?p=15512#comment-43278 There's no such thing as a bad NYT review. Even a bad one sells books. I read it myself and was intrigued by the subject matter. I then went and bought the book. By the way-I loved it. Everyone knows book and movie reviewers tend to be a snotty lot. Those who can, write. Those that can't, write reviews for the NYT. By the way, what books has that reviewer ever written? All I can say is hurry up and finish your next book. Authors who write terrific first novels and then take forever to write a second one are a pain in the butt. There’s no such thing as a bad NYT review. Even a bad one sells books. I read it myself and was intrigued by the subject matter. I then went and bought the book. By the way-I loved it. Everyone knows book and movie reviewers tend to be a snotty lot. Those who can, write. Those that can’t, write reviews for the NYT. By the way, what books has that reviewer ever written?

All I can say is hurry up and finish your next book. Authors who write terrific first novels and then take forever to write a second one are a pain in the butt.

]]> By: Do Not Threaten to Report Your Negative Reviewers to the FBI, Or On Dealing With Criticism | Lit Drift: Storytelling in the 21st Century http://www.thenervousbreakdown.com/rdomingue/2009/11/my-horrible-new-york-times-review/#comment-40647 Do Not Threaten to Report Your Negative Reviewers to the FBI, Or On Dealing With Criticism | Lit Drift: Storytelling in the 21st Century Tue, 29 Dec 2009 18:58:26 +0000 http://next.thenervousbreakdown.com/?p=15512#comment-40647 [...] on a life of its own, distinct from its creator. But sometimes it can be a struggle to accept this. In a recent essay on The Nervous Breakdown, author Ronlyn Dominigue eloquently describes such a struggle after receiving a nasty review of her [...] [...] on a life of its own, distinct from its creator. But sometimes it can be a struggle to accept this. In a recent essay on The Nervous Breakdown, author Ronlyn Dominigue eloquently describes such a struggle after receiving a nasty review of her [...]

]]> By: Links: What’s Good for the Country « Mark Athitakis’ American Fiction Notes http://www.thenervousbreakdown.com/rdomingue/2009/11/my-horrible-new-york-times-review/#comment-36994 Links: What’s Good for the Country « Mark Athitakis’ American Fiction Notes Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:01:00 +0000 http://next.thenervousbreakdown.com/?p=15512#comment-36994 [...] the meantime, the Times keeps on crushing the will of debut [...] [...] the meantime, the Times keeps on crushing the will of debut [...]

]]> By: Occupational hazard … | Agência de Notícias da Livraria 30PorCento (Blog) http://www.thenervousbreakdown.com/rdomingue/2009/11/my-horrible-new-york-times-review/#comment-36362 Occupational hazard … | Agência de Notícias da Livraria 30PorCento (Blog) Wed, 02 Dec 2009 03:07:11 +0000 http://next.thenervousbreakdown.com/?p=15512#comment-36362 [...] Books, Inq. — The Epilogue … My Horrible New York Times Review. (Hat tip, Lee Lowe.) This seems as healthy a way of dealing with this sort of thing as any other. [...] [...] Books, Inq. — The Epilogue … My Horrible New York Times Review. (Hat tip, Lee Lowe.) This seems as healthy a way of dealing with this sort of thing as any other. [...]

]]> By: Occupational hazard … | Agência de Notícias da Livraria 30PorCento (Blog) http://www.thenervousbreakdown.com/rdomingue/2009/11/my-horrible-new-york-times-review/#comment-36358 Occupational hazard … | Agência de Notícias da Livraria 30PorCento (Blog) Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:56:37 +0000 http://next.thenervousbreakdown.com/?p=15512#comment-36358 [...] My Horrible New York Times Review. (Hat tip, Lee Lowe.) This seems as healthy a way of dealing with this sort of thing as any other. [...] [...] My Horrible New York Times Review. (Hat tip, Lee Lowe.) This seems as healthy a way of dealing with this sort of thing as any other. [...]

]]> By: Bart King http://www.thenervousbreakdown.com/rdomingue/2009/11/my-horrible-new-york-times-review/#comment-36096 Bart King Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:46:43 +0000 http://next.thenervousbreakdown.com/?p=15512#comment-36096 Yeah, being subjected to micro-literary criticism (on the molecular tweet level) was a sobering prospect! Yeah, being subjected to micro-literary criticism (on the molecular tweet level) was a sobering prospect!

]]> By: Ronlyn Domingue http://www.thenervousbreakdown.com/rdomingue/2009/11/my-horrible-new-york-times-review/#comment-35743 Ronlyn Domingue Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:35:14 +0000 http://next.thenervousbreakdown.com/?p=15512#comment-35743 I can totally live with MERCY being less well-known but well-loved. :) All the best with your writing. You never know where the effort will lead. Thanks for checking in. I promise--I'm working. Novel #2 is a handful.... I can totally live with MERCY being less well-known but well-loved. :)
All the best with your writing. You never know where the effort will lead.
Thanks for checking in. I promise–I’m working. Novel #2 is a handful….

]]> By: Ronlyn Domingue http://www.thenervousbreakdown.com/rdomingue/2009/11/my-horrible-new-york-times-review/#comment-35742 Ronlyn Domingue Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:32:32 +0000 http://next.thenervousbreakdown.com/?p=15512#comment-35742 I laughed out loud at your comment about "what's so horrible." Choice! Wow, who would slam a tweet?! My blood went a bit cold when I read there are now itty-bitty reviews. *shudder* I laughed out loud at your comment about “what’s so horrible.” Choice!
Wow, who would slam a tweet?! My blood went a bit cold when I read there are now itty-bitty reviews. *shudder*

]]> By: Madeline Hayes http://www.thenervousbreakdown.com/rdomingue/2009/11/my-horrible-new-york-times-review/#comment-35741 Madeline Hayes Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:12:20 +0000 http://next.thenervousbreakdown.com/?p=15512#comment-35741 I didn't read the NYT's review at its publication, nor now. I think "The Mercy of Thin Air" was a beautiful book. In fact, I do a little writing myself, and I have often thought that it is much like the stories and memoirs I write. I often mention it as one of my all time favorite "little" books (and by little, I mean less well known). I admit to having lived in New Orleans (Garden District) and attending Tulane---so maybe that goes to explaining my love of the book. I also have a thing about reading and writing ghost stories in a similar fashion. Still, I think it was a captivating and original love story. I check your page every so often, waiting /hoping for your next book. I didn’t read the NYT’s review at its publication, nor now. I think “The Mercy of Thin Air” was a beautiful book. In fact, I do a little writing myself, and I have often thought that it is much like the stories and memoirs I write.

I often mention it as one of my all time favorite “little” books (and by little, I mean less well known). I admit to having lived in New Orleans (Garden District) and attending Tulane—so maybe that goes to explaining my love of the book. I also have a thing about reading and writing ghost stories in a similar fashion. Still, I think it was a captivating and original love story.

I check your page every so often, waiting /hoping for your next book.

]]> By: Bart King http://www.thenervousbreakdown.com/rdomingue/2009/11/my-horrible-new-york-times-review/#comment-35585 Bart King Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:24:06 +0000 http://next.thenervousbreakdown.com/?p=15512#comment-35585 That's a bad review, but it's so bad, it nearly intrigues the reader to see what's so horrible. On a smaller scale, one of my tweets got a bad review: http://www.oregonlive.com/books/index.ssf/2009/11/the_tweet_as_literature.html That’s a bad review, but it’s so bad, it nearly intrigues the reader to see what’s so horrible.

On a smaller scale, one of my tweets got a bad review: http://www.oregonlive.com/books/index.ssf/2009/11/the_tweet_as_literature.html

]]> By: Ronlyn Domingue http://www.thenervousbreakdown.com/rdomingue/2009/11/my-horrible-new-york-times-review/#comment-35117 Ronlyn Domingue Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:02:46 +0000 http://next.thenervousbreakdown.com/?p=15512#comment-35117 Dear Gloria: Thanks for your note. I am perhaps more emboldened now to do what I love (even when I hate it) after this experience. Novel #2 is coming, in its own time. Thanks for waiting. :) Dear Gloria: Thanks for your note. I am perhaps more emboldened now to do what I love (even when I hate it) after this experience. Novel #2 is coming, in its own time. Thanks for waiting. :)

]]> By: Gloria http://www.thenervousbreakdown.com/rdomingue/2009/11/my-horrible-new-york-times-review/#comment-35024 Gloria Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:48:09 +0000 http://next.thenervousbreakdown.com/?p=15512#comment-35024 I couldn't read this review...I have been so excited to read another book written by...I think you & your book are absolutely WONDERFUL...you have a rare talent your book pulled me in...I loved it...so please don't ever stop doing what you love...for I want to read it...Thank you...Gloria Hugs I couldn’t read this review…I have been so excited to read another book written by…I think you & your book are absolutely WONDERFUL…you have a rare talent your book pulled me in…I loved it…so please don’t ever stop doing what you love…for I want to read it…Thank you…Gloria Hugs

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