Recently I saw a woman standing in line at the supermarket.
She had one item – a bottle of milk. Our supermarket does not have any express
lanes. She was third in line. The couple directly in front of her had a trolley
filled with groceries. They looked at the woman and her bottle of milk several
times and I expected they would do as my husband or I would have done in that
position and let her go before them. Not
so. When the person in front of them finished they placed all their items on
the conveyer belt, ignoring the woman and her one item. To say my husband and I
were flabbergasted was an understatement. Both of us could not believe people
could be so inconsiderate to keep her waiting for the next ten minutes while
their accumulations of groceries went through. What in the world has happened
to common courtesy? It seems common courtesy is a disappearing commodity in our
world.
It’s not much different in the world of writers and
readers. The reality is not everyone is
going to like a book. This results in some books being given 4 or 5 stars while
the same book by another person can be given 1 or 2 stars. If writing a
negative review, the reviewer needs to say why the book does not work for them.
Often the very things one reader may object vigorously to in a book may not worry another reader at all. Bad
language and sex scenes are just two that come to mind. Of course I’ve seen
other people say when a book doesn’t have these things that the writer is not
living in the real b world by not portraying them. Again, it is a difference of
world view, of beliefs and of opinion.
A while ago I started to read a book and was turned off by excessive
language and explicit sexual scenes. I
gave up on it. Other times I have been persisted to read the book, skimming
over bits, because the rest of the story was so good. As a courtesy to others
who may wish to read the book, when I have written the review I have usually
commented on those aspects that I had trouble with. That way if someone is not comfortable with such
things they know and may choose not to read the book.
Another book I started, bored me because of the way it was written.
To me it was a book where nothing happened. Yet other people have enjoyed this
book. I made my comments about why I gave up reading it and gave my reasons but
was attacked by someone online because their opinion was not the same.
We all have different ideas of what constitutes a good book
and what is acceptable to us. I gently explained to the person that we were
probably at a different stage in life with different expectations and interests.
When she persisted in telling me I was wrong and attacked me, I
withdrew, not my review, but withdrew from making any more comments.
Often when I have written a review that it is negative I
have said it is a personal reaction and others may like the book. It just
wasn’t for me.
It reminded me of someone I knew who hated living on the
coast. She preferred living inland with rolling hills. I live near the sea and
feel blessed by God to be able to do so. I never ever expected such a thing
would eventuate. I have lived inland but
much prefer living on the coast. She is happier going for a walk in bushland. I
love going for walk by the bay near our home.
Different people with different ideas. We accept that we are different. It doesn’t
mean her view is right and mine is wrong .It doesn’t mean I am right and she is
wrong either. It’s just different views. It doesn’t mean we can’t be friends
because our ideas are different. Sometimes it’s those very differences that
enhance our friendships and other relationships. Think how boring it would be
if we were all the same? The thing is to allow other readers and writers the
courtesy of having different opinions just as we do with our friends. It’s just
common courtesy.
Over the years Dale has written fiction, poetry, children’s
fiction, bible studies and Sunday school lessons. More information about Dale
can be found at www.daleharcombe.com
or on her Write and Read with Dale blog http://www.livejournal.com/users/orangedale/
