Real Reader!

Stepping to the stage is: Crystal

Real Reader!

Thanks to social media, readers and authors who do not reside in the same zip codes are able to connect and share much quicker now than ever. Where readers used to have to wait until their favorite authors came to their cities or nearby locales, with Facebook, Twitter, and other cyber entities, readers are only a click away from the inside stuff. While you and that author may become friendly, share laughs, and even stand on the same sides of certain discussions, when you review their work and it doesn’t sway the way they wanted, you may just be... irrelevant.

Say what now? You’re confused because your author friend knows that you’re an opinionated person who doesn’t mind standing alone, especially when the book’s integrity is called into question. So why, after reviewing their book, do they all of a sudden feel as if you are no longer the person they thought you were? Interesting.

Don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. There are some very special authors who are able to handle your truth. They ask the tough questions and truly want to fix what’s wrong so they can mature in their craft. They are both thankful and grateful for your time and assessments. And when asked, you can truly tell another reader that that author is someone worth reading. Then there are the others, the cyber thugs, dusting off a space on their FB wall and Twitter feeds with attacks against you. Everyone has a right to their opinion, right? Then why is okay for authors to feel they can find solace in attacking a person because their opinion of their book is not what they wanted? See what your form of honesty gets you?

Have you ever stared at an inbox message filled with rage, after reading an email filled with praise from the very same author? I have.  If you’re like me, you’re probably wondering if they’re bipolar, right? The jury is still out. When did being honest make you a hater? I get it; not everyone is going to like, love, agree with or even at times understand you. But to say that because I didn't like a book, that I must not have read it. Seriously? Or to say because I only focused on one specific thing, I couldn’t have read the book. Then there are the authors that haven’t had their books edited, they KNOW they didn’t have their books edited, and they get mad when my review reflects such. How is that the reader’s fault? When I go to McDonald’s I don’t want to hear that Ronald couldn’t afford to pay Mayor McCheese, so Quarter Pounders are no longer on the menu. If you can’t afford to pay an editor and you’re serious about pursuing your dream, then perhaps you should look into finding another job to finance your dreams. Is that so unimaginable? Then let’s not forget the authors whose book is so profound that apparently my limited education couldn’t grasp it. No, it’s not them and their book; it’s me and my lack of education. If I couldn’t follow the multiple plots and overabundance of characters, that’s my problem again, right? I mean, I can’t ask the author, the person who wrote the book in the first place, to shoulder the blame. Can I? Why shouldn’t the blame be on you, the author? It’s your job is to keep me, the reader and paying consumer, intrigued, entertained, and page flipping. Since you failed to hold my attention, aren’t YOU the real hater? Sounds stupid doesn’t it? Imagine how I feel.

Other people’s opinions do matter. Perhaps it's not the opinion you'd hoped for when asking me to read your book, but my opinion will hopefully help you to see what's needed to get you to the next step if writing is truly for you. Or, you can continue to believe that I'm a hater, without putting any thought to what I've said and stick to the readers that only sing your praise. Sure, that won't get tiring (insert sarcasm). Their way doesn’t demand you to challenge yourself to be better. Besides, any reader who LOVES every single book they’ve ever read is suspect. And let’s keep it real, they don’t have any real value for you; they’re simply trying to be friends with everyone. That’s not a reader, that’s a groupie.

Reading consists of comprehension. As a reader, I read things, and even if I am in disagreement with the characters’ actions, afraid of what is to come, if well written, I can’t wait to flip that page. Now readers are dealing with the same unoriginal story lines that lack a plot or depth. Character development is left on the first page next to the character’s overly detailed physical description, if at all. Every single chick is of mixed breed with the best cooch in town. It's like the book game has hit the spin cycle and whack is the new 5-star rating. If that’s the author you’re looking to be, then I’m definitely not the reader you want to meet.

You don’t have to like me, but you will respect that my opinion is unbiased and your friendship is unnecessary. I read because I love it. But when I find that authors are abusing my first love, READING, it’s personal for me. So call me a hater, if that makes you feel better. Look at the people singing your praises, now back to me, now back to your fans, now back to me... I’m a REAL READER!

In the cyber world I'm Nardsbaby (a combination of hubby's name and what he call me) I'm a Queen married to my real life King, with three royal heirs - two princes, and one princess.  Our kingdom is located in the hood on the West Side of Chi~town.  I'm the co-founder of OOSA Online Book Club.  

I don’t just enjoy reading; it’s my first true love. If you follow my reading lists you'll see that I'm the ultimate contradiction. I am a child of God who believes in love with happily ever after, and my heart is open to that misunderstood gangster, as long as it’s well written.