tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599152.post9127483105329719381..comments2023-09-02T18:30:14.831-07:00Comments on Dawn Colclasure's Blog: Notes from a book reviewerDawn Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06291423272908722351noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599152.post-13743996417212448692010-04-06T08:33:19.138-07:002010-04-06T08:33:19.138-07:00You're absolutely right, Lillie. It does depen...You're absolutely right, Lillie. It does depend on the kind of book you are writing, and who you are writing it for.<br /><br />When I bought that nonfiction book I mentioned, there was no indication that the ideas in that book stemmed from Buddhist teachings and Eastern philosophy. The title and subtitle did not give any indication of this, nor did the back cover copy. Providing this information would have been helpful and it also would have influenced whether or not I wanted to buy the book. Given that it emphasizes and encourages beliefs which I don't follow, I would rather pass on reviewing the book and now see it as just wasted money.Dawn Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06291423272908722351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599152.post-37425348203391904942010-04-05T14:27:59.207-07:002010-04-05T14:27:59.207-07:00Dawn,
Great advice, but I do have a little differ...Dawn,<br /><br />Great advice, but I do have a little difference of opinion with you in one regard. I agree that authors shouldn't "shove their beliefs down readers' throats." However, I don't object to the writer sharing her beliefs. My Christian faith is so much a part of me that I can't write without my faith coloring what I write. In fact, a number of reviewers have called Dream or Destiny, my romantic mystery, a Christian novel. I didn't write it specifically for the Christian market, but my Christian worldview obviously came through loud and clear. However, I have also had comments from reviewers that the message came through but that it wouldn't offend people with different beliefs. In fact, one of my early readers was a Jewish friend who has a relative who converted to Christianity and tries to convert my friend. My friend has told me several times that she doesn't want to be preached at. So when she offered to read Dream or Destiny, I told her the characters were Christian and followed their beliefs. I didn't want to offend her. She said she would read it but stop if she felt she was being preached at. After she finished, she said she didn't mind reading the book at all because while it was obvious the characters believed strongly in their faith, I didn't preach at the readers and try to convert them. There is a fine line and I certainly wouldn't want to shove my beliefs down someone's throat, but I don't think there's anything wrong with writing that reflects the writer's beliefs.<br /><br />Lillie Ammann<br /><a href="http://lillieammann.com/blog" rel="nofollow">A Writer's Words, An Editor's Eye</a>Lillie Ammannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01851121176224654240noreply@blogger.com