I stumbled across a You Tube review of my second volume of essays, He Who Types Between the Rows 2: Horror Drive-In Will Never Die. It wasn't an entirely positive review, but it wasn't entirely negative either. The reviewer liked a lot of things about both of my books, and he took me up on some of my recommendations.
He had some criticisms as well. They didn't bother me at all. As a reviewer I am uncomfortable about replying to someone's honest feelings about my writing. His points, however, are valid ones. I bet others who have read the books have thought the same things. I've heard some very similar feedback. Hell, some of it has occurred to me.
It isn't my intention to debate the individual who did the review. He is obviously intelligent and passionate. I do, however, feel the need to address the points.
1: I can be a pretentious snob.
Yes. Yes, I can be. I've heard it many times before, and I happily accept the distinction.
How can one not be a snob, is my question? Unless you are a numbie who swallows every show, song, or book the corporations and influencers foist upon you, you will be considered a snob by some. Who doesn't want to see the horror fiction genre held to higher standards?
I began reading this stuff with writers like Peter Straub, Ramsey Cambell, Thomas Tessier, T.E.D. Klein, and other genuine masters. I know most who toil at the trade cannot live up to those standards, and I don't expect them to. I do enjoy modest, pulpy horror now and again. I still prefer to seek out the best the field has to offer, rather than scrape the chum.
2: How can I hold such high standards for books, but praise so many admittedly bad drive-in movies?
Good question, and it's one I've considered before. The reviewer speculated that the time spent on a movie is significantly less than on a book, so I might be more lenient. I don't think that's the case. I'll pan a novella I can read in an hour as soon as a long book.
I believe it's in how I approach the material. Drive-In movies, or B-Films, or exploitation pictures if you prefer, work for me on an emotional, visceral level. They hit my gut more than my brain. Reading is a much more intellectual pursuit for me. Two vastly different mediums, two different reactions.
3: I spend a lot of time and energy in nostalgic recollections of things past.
Guilty. I look back at the innocence of my youth with infinite fondness and longing. I can't get back the untarnished rapture I felt when I was reading and watching horror in my twenties.
I was a discriminating reader even then. These Paperbacks from Hell everyone loves so much these days? Zebra titles and things? I wouldn't have touched them with a ten foot pole.
My readers tell me they love the romantic way I portray the past. It's pretty much my stock in trade. I do and will continue to review recent publications, but my horror heart lies in the past.
4: I hate ebooks.
I like to think distaste is a better word. Reading is a passion for me, and doing so with a book simply feels right. Reading on a piece of plastic seems artificial.
I begrudge no one their ebooks. At least not anymore. At one time I was kind of a crusader for the hard-printed word. I love my Kindle readers. If the gadgets get people reading and buying books, I am thrilled.
5: I have a blanket hatred of superhero movies.
Yeah. I can be pretty douchey about it. Again, I think I hate the effect the trend has had on our culture and cinema in general more than the actual features. Their influence is everywhere. I even think the It movies and the Pet Sematary remake were made to look like a Marvel property.
I've only seen a few of the Marvel movies. The Toby McGuire Spiderman, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men. They aren't for me. The scenes I've caught of the others are unvaryingly ugly to me. I really do hate movies that are made on computers.
Point taken, though. I shouldn't waste my energy pissing on everyone's parade. I've stated my position and I'll try to refrain from repeating it in the future.
6: "GET OFF MY LAWN" I seem like the kind of guy who dislikes the young generation.
I'll have you know we have a Little Free Library in our yard and we keep dinosaur and fairy figurines there for children. They spend time in our yard and I've never once ran them off.
I'm honestly not upset at all about the negative aspects of the review. I took them in the same spirit I give criticism. I greatly appreciate the review and the four stars he gave the second volume.
Written by Mark Sieber
He had some criticisms as well. They didn't bother me at all. As a reviewer I am uncomfortable about replying to someone's honest feelings about my writing. His points, however, are valid ones. I bet others who have read the books have thought the same things. I've heard some very similar feedback. Hell, some of it has occurred to me.
It isn't my intention to debate the individual who did the review. He is obviously intelligent and passionate. I do, however, feel the need to address the points.
1: I can be a pretentious snob.
Yes. Yes, I can be. I've heard it many times before, and I happily accept the distinction.
How can one not be a snob, is my question? Unless you are a numbie who swallows every show, song, or book the corporations and influencers foist upon you, you will be considered a snob by some. Who doesn't want to see the horror fiction genre held to higher standards?
I began reading this stuff with writers like Peter Straub, Ramsey Cambell, Thomas Tessier, T.E.D. Klein, and other genuine masters. I know most who toil at the trade cannot live up to those standards, and I don't expect them to. I do enjoy modest, pulpy horror now and again. I still prefer to seek out the best the field has to offer, rather than scrape the chum.
2: How can I hold such high standards for books, but praise so many admittedly bad drive-in movies?
Good question, and it's one I've considered before. The reviewer speculated that the time spent on a movie is significantly less than on a book, so I might be more lenient. I don't think that's the case. I'll pan a novella I can read in an hour as soon as a long book.
I believe it's in how I approach the material. Drive-In movies, or B-Films, or exploitation pictures if you prefer, work for me on an emotional, visceral level. They hit my gut more than my brain. Reading is a much more intellectual pursuit for me. Two vastly different mediums, two different reactions.
3: I spend a lot of time and energy in nostalgic recollections of things past.
Guilty. I look back at the innocence of my youth with infinite fondness and longing. I can't get back the untarnished rapture I felt when I was reading and watching horror in my twenties.
I was a discriminating reader even then. These Paperbacks from Hell everyone loves so much these days? Zebra titles and things? I wouldn't have touched them with a ten foot pole.
My readers tell me they love the romantic way I portray the past. It's pretty much my stock in trade. I do and will continue to review recent publications, but my horror heart lies in the past.
4: I hate ebooks.
I like to think distaste is a better word. Reading is a passion for me, and doing so with a book simply feels right. Reading on a piece of plastic seems artificial.
I begrudge no one their ebooks. At least not anymore. At one time I was kind of a crusader for the hard-printed word. I love my Kindle readers. If the gadgets get people reading and buying books, I am thrilled.
5: I have a blanket hatred of superhero movies.
Yeah. I can be pretty douchey about it. Again, I think I hate the effect the trend has had on our culture and cinema in general more than the actual features. Their influence is everywhere. I even think the It movies and the Pet Sematary remake were made to look like a Marvel property.
I've only seen a few of the Marvel movies. The Toby McGuire Spiderman, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men. They aren't for me. The scenes I've caught of the others are unvaryingly ugly to me. I really do hate movies that are made on computers.
Point taken, though. I shouldn't waste my energy pissing on everyone's parade. I've stated my position and I'll try to refrain from repeating it in the future.
6: "GET OFF MY LAWN" I seem like the kind of guy who dislikes the young generation.
I'll have you know we have a Little Free Library in our yard and we keep dinosaur and fairy figurines there for children. They spend time in our yard and I've never once ran them off.
I'm honestly not upset at all about the negative aspects of the review. I took them in the same spirit I give criticism. I greatly appreciate the review and the four stars he gave the second volume.
Written by Mark Sieber
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