Again, the time I spend varies greatly. An hour per review, plus or minus 15 minutes would likely be the norm. Sometimes significantly more. Sometimes significantly less. I type slowly, and since I belong to certain online reader/author lists that strongly discourage “spoilers” in reviews, I am extremely careful to keep plot details out of my reviews. I try to give a potential reader a taste for a book without ruining any element of that book for any reader. Two weeks ago, I received a phone call from a former student who is now serving in military intelligence in Europe who purchased a contemporary history book based on my rec. I was pleasantly surprised, but I still, even on the phone, refused to “spoil” that book for that soldier. I did suggest to my former student that he stay in Europe to read it and out of Asia where it may be more dangerous.
Those recent additions to some of my reviews are exactly that–a response. It is also an explanation. I know many professional newspaper and magazine critics who freely, over drinks or dinner, say about the same thing. They have too little time and space to pan bad books. They only have time to call attention to good ones. Additionally, I don’t feel a need to knock anyone. I try to never say anything negative about anyone. Life is difficult enough for most people I know without other people knocking them down. I will never write a negative review about any book. I’ll say nothing. I’ll simply maintain my silence. I have the same rule regarding people.
Life is too short (I am too busy) to dwell on negatives. I would wish that my work (and me, for that matter) would be loved by everyone, but I realize that such is an impossible dream. I know I’ve done nothing to “trick” anyone in any way. Realistically, I don’t let negative comments bother me. I’ve taught high school in a rural barrio for nearly a quarter of a century. I’ve dealt with some really serious problems and situations. I faced down child abusers, corrupt politicos, drug dealers, gangs, economic injustice and incompetent bureaucrats. No one’s words can hurt someone with my background. Guns and knives can bother me on occasion. Never words.
