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[Permuted Press]

I was browsing through some books on Amazon and I see this review for The Dead by Mark Rogers (1 out of 5 stars)

Almost plagiarized, August 2, 2006
Reviewer:   Catriona Watson "Treena Watson" (Sacramento) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
For a book with such great reviews one would think the publihsers could have avoided naming the book with such a cliche title. First, there's the short story of that name by James Joyce and then there's the controversial rock history by Hank Harrison dealing with the Grateful Dead. Both are named THE DEAD? are there no original thinkers out there?

How absurd is it to accuse a book of being "almost plagiarized" because it shares a title with some other works?  Not to mention the fact that the review says absolutely nothing about the content of the book...

Jacob

[lazy]

I cant believe that someone would give a book a bad review over the name.

The Dead is one of the best horror novels ever written. I've read it countless times and it still gives me chills.

[GothicScrybe]

I was browsing through some books on Amazon and I see this review for The Dead by Mark Rogers (1 out of 5 stars)

Almost plagiarized, August 2, 2006
Reviewer:   Catriona Watson "Treena Watson" (Sacramento) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
For a book with such great reviews one would think the publihsers could have avoided naming the book with such a cliche title. First, there's the short story of that name by James Joyce and then there's the controversial rock history by Hank Harrison dealing with the Grateful Dead. Both are named THE DEAD? are there no original thinkers out there?

How absurd is it to accuse a book of being "almost plagiarized" because it shares a title with some other works?  Not to mention the fact that the review says absolutely nothing about the content of the book...

Jacob

This is one of the things that aggravates me about Amazon's "review" system. They they don't make you purchase books off of their site before you review them, which is both good and bad.

It's good because if someone picks a book up at a yard sale and likes it, they can leave a review. On the other hand, if you have some moron with nothing better to do than trash your reputation they can come and leave a bad review for your book without ever even purchasing it, let alone reading it.

What is especially infuriating is that Amazon claims that they will not allow spurious, libelous and/or damaging reviews to be posted on their site. This "review" is proof positive (as are others that I have seen) that they do not (as they claim to) read reviews before they are posted, they simple post them.

The good thing is, if someone does leave a spurious review you can complain. They will try and get out of removing it (because if they have to remove it that proves that they don't read reviews before posting them and that makes them look bad)  but if you continue to remind them of their own review guidelines and click the "No this did not solve my problem" link, they will send you an apology letter and remove the review.

[ZombieDiva]

True, but turn it around. I've also seen books that were really terrible, but because they recieved good reviews by their respective fanboys, they somehow stay on top. I'm not naming names tho...

[GothicScrybe]

True, but turn it around. I've also seen books that were really terrible, but because they recieved good reviews by their respective fanboys, they somehow stay on top. I'm not naming names tho...

Right, that goes back to my point of people should have to purchase the book from the site to leave a review.

That may be unfair to your "Jane Doe Daily" who buys the book at a used bookstore or a yard sale, but that is still the only fair way to do it for all involved, from the authors to the readers.

[Stephen Blundell]

I agree ... I purchased a Cinema 4D (CGI) book and it was coping a ton of bad reviews, and when I searched other CGI review sites, they gave it an excellent review ... so I took the chance and bought it and man was I pleased with my buy.  Its been the best reading companion ever (it goes with me nearly everywhere (nearly). 

Its a shame that there are so many people who enjoy flaming their opinions everywhere, but I guess something means a little different to each individual, but it still doesn't excuse people who do comparisons on a books title alone (which is so sad).

[GothicScrybe]

I agree ... I purchased a Cinema 4D (CGI) book and it was coping a ton of bad reviews, and when I searched other CGI review sites, they gave it an excellent review ... so I took the chance and bought it and man was I pleased with my buy.  Its been the best reading companion ever (it goes with me nearly everywhere (nearly). 

Its a shame that there are so many people who enjoy flaming their opinions everywhere, but I guess something means a little different to each individual, but it still doesn't excuse people who do comparisons on a books title alone (which is so sad).

Exactly. In my opinion, and I remind people of this when they submit reviews of anything from movies to books, for my magazine that I don't want reviews written as a personal opinion. I want reviews that state actual information.

In my opinion the following is not helpful:

1. This book was boring. Okay...why was it boring?

2. The character in this book were stupid. - Okay, why were they stupid?

These are helpful, in my opinion:

1. The dateline was off, still a good read, but the datelines needed closer scrutiny

2. There are a lot of technical errors in this story and some spelling issues but that does not affect that storyline at all and it was a good read raegradless, just a little painful due to the technical stuff. But if you like a story that keeps you turning pages, then I suggest it.

3. The characters in this story were underdeveloped (or undeveloped at all) and therefore the book didn't make a lot of sense.

In my opinon, while the truth might bruise one's ego, if it is helpful then it should be taken as such. But unprofessional slander is useless and should not be allowed on any website or in any magazine.

That's just me though...

[Stephen Blundell]

Too true ... I use to work on a freepress magazine and I was asked to do a review on "Barbwire" (GROAN!).  Which, I really stepped over the line with the review which basically said...

"I would have had more fun putting my fingers into a high speed blender than watching this movie.  And for an artist who really doesn't want to consider using his mouth to draw, this still was a better form of entertainment than seeing Barbwire"

And the review still got printed... but at least I saved someone a fifteen dollars to see that *hIT!

[GothicScrybe]

Too true ... I use to work on a freepress magazine and I was asked to do a review on "Barbwire" (GROAN!).  Which, I really stepped over the line with the review which basically said...

"I would have had more fun putting my fingers into a high speed blender than watching this movie.  And for an artist who really doesn't want to consider using his mouth to draw, this still was a better form of entertainment than seeing Barbwire"

And the review still got printed... but at least I saved someone a fifteen dollars to see that *hIT!

I saw that movie too and um...yeah...

[Bret Jordan]

First off.....Barbwire is a classic! Just kidding. 
It sucked to hell and back. I lost 2 hours of my life. I want them back!

I agree that Amazon should have you purchase the book if you are going to leave a review. I don't think it's too much to ask. That way the critic has made an investment. Hopefully not too many people are crazy enough to purchase a product just to trash the author.

[GothicScrybe]

First off.....Barbwire is a classic! Just kidding. 
It sucked to hell and back. I lost 2 hours of my life. I want them back!

I agree that Amazon should have you purchase the book if you are going to leave a review. I don't think it's too much to ask. That way the critic has made an investment. Hopefully not too many people are crazy enough to purchase a product just to trash the author.

Ha ha..I see your point Bret...but many claim that is how Uwe Boll makes his money on movies. People go to see them just so they can trash them!

I keep reminding people that do that, that while they are trashing his movies he is laughing all the way to the bank. They tend to forget that part...

[Bret Jordan]

I keep reminding people that do that, that while they are trashing his movies he is laughing all the way to the bank. They tend to forget that part...

I didn't have him laughing too hard. He only made 2 or 3 dollars off of me. I rented it. 

If I would have like it I would have probably bought it by now. So.....if he would make better movies I would gladly give him $20.00 instead of $2.00.

What other stuff has he done so that I can stay away from it?

[GothicScrybe]

I keep reminding people that do that, that while they are trashing his movies he is laughing all the way to the bank. They tend to forget that part...

I didn't have him laughing too hard. He only made 2 or 3 dollars off of me. I rented it. 

If I would have like it I would have probably bought it by now. So.....if he would make better movies I would gladly give him $20.00 instead of $2.00.

What other stuff has he done so that I can stay away from it?

Ha ha! You sound like me. That was how I saw House of The Dead, I bought it on clearance at the local video store.

I have heard mixed reviews of Blood Rayne and me personally, I fell asleep during Alone In The Dark it wa so boring.

I kind of liked House of The Dead (but I think Jurgen Prochnow is hot so I have that in my defense as to why I saw it  ) but I haven't seen anything else of his and don't plan to except for In The Name of The King but that is only because it has Jason Statham in it.

Here is the full list of his works:

http://imdb.com/name/nm0093051/

[Bret Jordan]

Ha ha! You sound like me. That was how I saw House of The Dead, I bought it on clearance at the local video store.

I have heard mixed reviews of Blood Rayne and me personally, I fell asleep during Alone In The Dark it wa so boring.

I kind of liked House of The Dead (but I think Jurgen Prochnow is hot so I have that in my defense as to why I saw it  ) but I haven't seen anything else of his and don't plan to except for In The Name of The King but that is only because it has Jason Statham in it.

Here is the full list of his works:

Thanks for the list.

I had mixed feelings about Blood Rayne.

I am going to see In The Name of the King because it's based off of the only video game I have played in years. Dungeon Siege. Looking at computer's all day kinda takes the fun out of most games. 

[GothicScrybe]

Ha ha! You sound like me. That was how I saw House of The Dead, I bought it on clearance at the local video store.

I have heard mixed reviews of Blood Rayne and me personally, I fell asleep during Alone In The Dark it wa so boring.

I kind of liked House of The Dead (but I think Jurgen Prochnow is hot so I have that in my defense as to why I saw it  ) but I haven't seen anything else of his and don't plan to except for In The Name of The King but that is only because it has Jason Statham in it.

Here is the full list of his works:

Thanks for the list.

I had mixed feelings about Blood Rayne.

I am going to see In The Name of the King because it's based off of the only video game I have played in years. Dungeon Siege. Looking at computer's all day kinda takes the fun out of most games. 

I can imagine. As for me, I peaked with the Clive Barker game The Undying (which I admittedly bought only because the brother on the front of the box, Ambrose, was gorgeous beyond words) and other than that I can't even play Mario. When my son was 7 (he's 15 now) he laughed until he cried when I played Mario because I walked two steps and got killed. It's bad when a 7 year old says "Mommy, you suck!"