Roxana Robinson on Literally Booked's Review of 'Cost'

Hey all,

Roxana Robinson, author of Cost, posted on here - she read my review! (I'll paste it below, since she didn't post the comment on my actual review, but put it on the announcement for February's book.) Unfortunately, she's surprisingly upset that I wasn't as complimentary as she would have liked. She points out that Jack is introduced early on in the book, which is true, but I stand by my original statement that his actual story line and major participation does not begin until much later, and the book would have benefited from his introduction earlier as a first-person participant. I appreciate that she read the review, and am sorry that I didn't like it as much as she would have wanted, but not everyone will like everything. In fact, I did finish the review by saying that it was a good read once the pace picked up, and that people should go to the library to get it. I almost always go to the library first, and then buy later. I think it's nice that some authors are concerned that every likes their books, even when they have received acclaim from major publications. However, just because I don't like one book as much as another doesn't mean that I don't understand it, just that I didn't enjoy it as much. All reviewers are readers, and all readers are potential reviewers, so insinuating that I am not a valuable critic, or that I'm less then intelligent, simply because my website isn't a major publication, should either mean that my opinion is less valid, and therefore be discounted entirely and not such a source of upset to an author whose work I don't rave about, or that my opinion is just as valid as everyone else's, and should therefore be respected, as those of the several people who also reviewed this novel on Amazon and agreed with many of the things I mentioned in my review.

Roxanne, in case you happen to troll the internet looking for mentions of your book again (this is the only way I can think of that you happened upon my site), Chantal wasn't looking for Cost, she was looking for The Next Thing On My List, which was last month's book club selection. I am always careful to post links to Amazon for every book I mention on here, so everyone who read my review of your novel will be able to order it by clicking onto the link. Thanks for coming by, and if I read another of your books, I'll email to let you know what I think.

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Astarte:
Just to set the record straight on my book, Cost, which you trashed last month, here are a few facts: Jack is introduced in the first chapter. His drug problem is introduced early, and his heroin addiction is announced by Stephen on page 94.

As to the rest of your comments, you might be interested in reading reviews of the book by real critics in The New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune, People, Down East magazine and many other publications.
All of these reviewers understood the book and what it was about.
It was an Editors' Choice at the New York Times, named one of the 10 Best Books of the Year at the Washington Post, one of the Twelve Best Books of the Year by the Wall Street Journal, and one of the Best Books of the Year at the Seattle Tribune and the Chicago Tribune.

Chantal, you ought to be able to order the book at any bookstore. If not, Amazon will get it to you.

Roxana Robinson

January 19, 2009 9:45 AM