Reviews must be quite a source of anxiety for writers. I am always anxious when I submit a piece of
work for my OU tutor to mark. Will she
think it’s any good? What grades will I
get? How long will the list of
improvements be? Of course it’s her job
to do that and I am lucky to have a very supportive tutor. It’s easy to crush the spirit and I can
imagine that the fear of a negative response can put the bravest of us off putting our work out there. Of course
that’s part of the joy of writing; sharing our stories and so we must be
brave and let people read them.
I have quite recently joined the reader review panel for
lovereading.co.uk. As a reader what do you think makes a helpful review? A review shouldn't be a critique, but it should give you an insight into the story without giving anything away. Reviews can give us a few clues but I really don't think you can know if you're going to enjoy a book until you actually pick it up and begin to read. We all experience books differently you see. The journey is as individual as our
fingerprints.
My second review for Lovereading is for the wonderful Elijah’s Mermaid by Essie Fox. 'Elijah's Mermaid merges the worlds of Victorian art and literature with a far more sinister demi-mode. At the heart of this darkly sensual tale is an artist who becomes obsessed with painting his muse as a mermaid or nymph - an obsession that leads to tragic results...' www.essiefox.com.
I of course loved it and so you can read my review by following the link
below.
This edition is due to be published in May and I thoroughly recommend it. Essie really brings the story alive and it stays with you long after you finish reading the final page. I can imagine wanting to read it again and again. This is Essie's second novel. Her first novel The Somnambulist was chosen by Channel 4's TV Book Club. I haven't read it yet but it is definitely on my must read list.
Please do let me know what you think of my blog or tell me if you enjoyed Elijah's Mermaid as much as I did. I'd love to read your comments.
For more information on Essie Fox visit her website at www.essiefox.com or check out her excellent blog www.virtualvictorian.blogspot.co.uk .
For more information on Essie Fox visit her website at www.essiefox.com or check out her excellent blog www.virtualvictorian.blogspot.co.uk .
