Comments on: 2 book reviews: knitting

By: brickgrrl

brickgrrl — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 19:58:04 +0000

Gentle Readers, pardon the saucy observation here, but thanks to my occupation {graphic designer} I can’t help noticing the typography on “Knitting Rules”. I wonder if the Yarn Harlot purposely meant for the exclamation point to fall where it does on the page layout. Misfortune or sense of humor? Further, in typography, the exclamation point is known as a “bang”. Yes, I’m a twelve-year-old designer, to be exact. {I’m sure that none of this typographic “hooha” is a surprise to Kathreen. Design manager!}

As for the reviews, I think Kathreen did a wonderful job in her critique. Sometimes a well-written book review can be more satisfying than the book itself. Thanks much!

By: filambulle

filambulle — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 10:02:49 +0000

Well this review is certainly not all positive for the books. And that is great, as you tell the pros and cons of the book quite clearly, I think (the second book here is in my thought).
I love reading books reviews, and yours are great. Keep doing the good job, and accept positive and negative critisms as what they are – just one single person point of view at that moment.
Jeanie has been interested enough to tell her mind. Her critic has been a wonderfull occasion for us to tell you WE like your reviews, and for you to explain a little bit how you write them i think that this is great too.
Thank you

By: admin

admin — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 06:14:32 +0000

when I review a book, I look at it from various angles. design, layout, writing style, content. If I don’t personally like the book I try to look at it from another persons perspective – would this book be suitable for beginners, or as a source of inspiration.

If the book has some great features but is not up to scratch in some ways then I say that too. However I am not going to burn a book for not being everything for everyone, and I am not going to criticise a book harshly on one point when it may have other points in its favour. In this way perhaps I am diplomatic.

The aim of my reviews is to give readers a balanced view and a chance to see if this book might be suitable for them – if it is modern funky and hip I will say so, if it simple and basic and functional I say so, if it old fashioned or has a particular style I say all of those things so that the reader can decide for themselves if this is a book they might want to own.

I am sorry if my reviews are not helpful to everyone, I hope that some people get something out of them and that others can appreciate them for what they are.

By: thuy

thuy — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 05:50:28 +0000

kudos to jennie for speaking her mind. it seems that if a comment isn’t gushing or back-patting, then it’s unwelcome. no progress comes of this.

correction: vietnamese rice paddies.

By: juliastitches

juliastitches — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 03:46:53 +0000

Hi admin. I have re read your great reviews and I’d say that they have healthy doses of praise and also constructive criticism. Perhaps the author has a charming writing style where even a negative criticism sounds great. Personally I think that this is a great skill to have-to be diplomatic. From my point of view they are not just summaries. It is a real skill reviewing books.
I think that the book reviews are excellent and well measured.
Thanks for writing them.
Cheers, Julia.

By: admin

admin — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 20:35:53 +0000

am I really praising all the books? is that what I am doing in this situation or the last? did you actually read the reviews?

By: jennie

jennie — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 18:13:38 +0000

I have read a few of your reviews, and just wondered, shouldn’t they be called something like, summaries? None of the reviews say anything negative, it’s just praising all the books that are “reviewed.” It kind of defeats the purpose for me. Just what I think! Thanks.

By: chelle

chelle — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 01:59:27 +0000

I think I am as addicted to reading and writing about knitting as much as I am to Knitting!
Thanks for the reviews!