The Book Blogger Cabal
Being the investigative journalist that he is, Ed has uncovered the real story behind the rise of book blogs. This is exctly the kind of real reporting that the MSM is always complaining that blogs don’t do. Will Ed get any credit? Probably not.
All kidding aside, or at least most kidding aside, this whole kerflufle is the height of silliness. Do people really think I take the time to read books and write reviews on this site so I can rake in the tens of dollars that Amazon might send my way? Is this a huge ethical dilemma?! Give me a break.
This is a hobby people! We do it because we enjoy it and have a passion about books. The pressure comes from a desire to write well and successfully communicate not from a desire to up our Amazon affiliate numbers. As every book blogger will tell you, the joy comes from finding good books and telling others about them. The money is so laughably small given the book buying budgets of most folks that I really have a hard time believing it influences anyone.
I really have no idea who this John Freeman is, but he needs to quite taking things so seriously. Any authority a blog develops is based on readers judgment. Amazon links don’t change this basic calculation. Newspapers and magazines don’t have authority because they don’t take money from publishers – obviously they do, even if it doesn’t go directly to the reviewer/writer – but because readers value the writing. Those in the dead tree side of things ought to worry more about getting the best writers and providing the content readers want than about whether blogs have ethical dilemmas because they help sell books.
I am glad John Freeman is happy to welcome fresh help in presenting good books to the public. (He’s not! of course.) But then that’s what your site, Kevin– and too many others–do. And that’s good.
A well read public–a thoughtful public–is a scary idea for many. Especially the academic elite, of whom I assume Mr. Freeman is a member. Your site promotes an important traditional Western value, universal education. Here’s my vote for those ‘obviously compromised!’ ‘amateur’ booklovers who hog the blogosphere. I can freely read and decide, debate with them. They’re the agora, the coffeehouse, the Lyceum.
I’ll be blunt. When I recommend books–as you do here–I always shy away from the big awards, which are the thanks bestowed by the elite to those whom they approve. I sense that kind of arrogance at work in Mr. Freeman’s thinking.
Instead I look to more permanent criteria, as (for children’s books, my interest): does it do good for the child? does the writer care about the child (or is he ripping off another market, aided by callous publishing houses?) is there an ethical structure to the work, and what? (If none or wrong, it’s usually not worth educational time). Does the writer have a worthwhile statement, does he pay dues to the larger traditional literary world? Is there beauty, a fresh look at the world, or understanding of the child.. All the important questions. That no parent should trust the academic or publishing elite to decide.
As for Freeman (whom I know only from this snide article): Those who dwell in glass houses shouldn’t hoist bricks labelled ’selling out.’
Rarity from the Hollow is now for sale by Fatcat Press. It’s received several blurbs, including one by Piers Anthony. Sample text, a promo, and a few of the blurbs are available at http://www.fatcatpress.com.
Thank you,
Robert Eggleton