tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post2781538694781179575..comments2024-03-08T04:06:53.808-06:00Comments on The New Dork Review of Books: How I Became A Famous Novelist: Literary Con JobGreg Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122230426442946518noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-14453382906642188842013-09-08T20:04:10.146-05:002013-09-08T20:04:10.146-05:00It was a cute book, but should have been a short s...It was a cute book, but should have been a short story. I lost interest quickly and quit reading it.Janitorial Services Dallashttp://janitorialservicesdallastx.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-62128477859166980972011-06-22T12:15:06.082-05:002011-06-22T12:15:06.082-05:00Stopping by from Cym Lowell's Book Party.
NEW...Stopping by from Cym Lowell's Book Party.<br /><br />NEW FOLLOWER.<br /><br />Love your blog.<br /><br />Elizabeth<br /><br />http://silversolara.blogspot.comElizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01522861943931628690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-77124426745211074302011-06-16T01:28:04.261-05:002011-06-16T01:28:04.261-05:00I love giving the publishing industry a hard time ...I love giving the publishing industry a hard time (big fan of THIEVES OF MANHATTAN), I've heard supes-fun things about this one, it'll go on my Leaning-Tower-of-Pisa like TBR pile.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-91804517414474580632011-06-11T09:03:42.359-05:002011-06-11T09:03:42.359-05:00Fun, interesting review Greg. Probably won't r...Fun, interesting review Greg. Probably won't read the book, but glad to read this.the Apehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14060965283007759623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-36172913340712375832011-06-10T15:41:39.162-05:002011-06-10T15:41:39.162-05:00@Pete - I don't think I've ever read anyth...@Pete - I don't think I've ever read anything with a more cynical character than Pete Tarslaw is. Most people won't like him, but I kinda did!<br /><br />@Red - Based on some of your reviews and your taste, I think you'd really like this - the first half of it, at least.<br /><br />@Brenna - Yeah, the second half seemed a lot more rushed and a lot less clever than the first. But overall, I still really enjoyed it. Thanks again for pointing it out!<br /><br />@Man - It's good - give it a try!<br /><br />@n.piper - If you say so. ;) The motivations of Pete in this novel were fully selfish - nothing the least bit artistic about it.<br /><br />@Amy - I don't think it's a matter of publishers not knowing what's good and not, I think it's a matter of them being waaaay too concerned with what will sell and what won't. Obviously, what's good and what will sell are often two very different things. And I do think it's a positive thing to read (or have the right to read) bad books - you gotta read the bad to be able to better appreciate the good!Greg Zimmermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08122230426442946518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-80081019205336579812011-06-10T07:41:24.508-05:002011-06-10T07:41:24.508-05:00Do you think it's something we should be conce...Do you think it's something we should be concerned about that publishing houses don't know (or care) what consists of a good book anymore? Or do you think it's a positive thing that we even have the right to read mediocre and bad novels?<br /><br />I could both ways on the argument, but I do think it's a travesty that many readers can't seem to recognize when they're reading a bad novel (regardless of enjoyment factor).Amy L. Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09953500367235770069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-28589158201052625712011-06-10T01:40:09.611-05:002011-06-10T01:40:09.611-05:00I always think about the actual agenda that people...I always think about the actual agenda that people/artists have, and more often than not, it can be traced back to some desire for security,self-preservation & the avoidance of pain. Not an absolute dichotomy by any means, but I guess the human condition is a sort of battle between selfless and selfish action. Even seemingly selfless actions can have hidden (even from the person enacting them) selfish agendas. On the other hand there is the ability of people simply to be and do without too much thought whatsoever, making their actions almost accidental and ineligible for true criticism. Very interesting stuff.n.piperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07456409924219236234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-18440499187702714082011-06-09T16:22:57.133-05:002011-06-09T16:22:57.133-05:00Thanks Greg, I was wondering about this one.
http...Thanks Greg, I was wondering about this one.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ManOfLaBook.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.ManOfLaBook.com</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-19187433626612659272011-06-09T14:42:27.416-05:002011-06-09T14:42:27.416-05:00Great review, Greg. I'm so glad you enjoyed th...Great review, Greg. I'm so glad you enjoyed this one. I knew you would. <br /><br />I'm a little relieved that you pointed out the second half of the novel wasn't as good as the first. I read the first in one sitting before bed one night - and stayed up a little later than normal to read more - then read the second half over the next few days. I thought I was overlooking some of the jokes he made over the first half just because I didn't read it all at once. It almost felt like something was missing compared to the second. Now I know that wasn't the case.Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10780185535345559390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-3095065829462833842011-06-09T12:34:49.938-05:002011-06-09T12:34:49.938-05:00I just added this to my TBR list. I wanted to read...I just added this to my TBR list. I wanted to read this even before your review and this review just makes it clear I need to get to it soonRedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16456600806188531803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060047013304842896.post-91965114537767596362011-06-09T12:07:28.435-05:002011-06-09T12:07:28.435-05:00That's a great review and this book looks hila...That's a great review and this book looks hilarious. I'm a very big fan of cynical humor (so far, I've found Chuck Palahnuik's Pygmy to be the sharpest and funniest of this kind of book) so I'll be looking for a copy of this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com