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Utter Nonsense

Discussion in 'Snippets of Life (Non-Fiction)' started by sln, Aug 8, 2021.

  1. sln

    sln Platinum IL'ite

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    UTTER NONSENSE
    This is the title of a review on the Kindle edition of my book 'Eagles Don’t Miss!' Having shared a few delightful comments on my book in IL it is only fair that I share the comments of a lone antagonist. The comment reads as follows:
    “Boring ,nothing new, old recycled stories. No genuine reviews, I really wonder what the other 12 people who have reviewed as 5 stars see in this book. Please don’t waste your money on this”.
    The commentator has given a single star rating as a lower option is not available on Amazon.
    I did a Sherlock Holmes out of curiosity and my amateurish deduction powers led to the following conclusions.
    This is not a woman’s language and a man is hiding behind a skirt as 'Tara' to post the comment. He is not a verified purchaser and must be one of those who revel in trying to find fault and criticize.
    He has not read the book as a genuine reader would have taken one or two chapters and torn them to pieces for outmoded ideas and irrelevant suggestions.
    He is familiar with my blogs as he refers to old recycled ideas.
    Youngsters would have used more colourful and forceful language.
    Advising people not to waste their resources buying my book shows a concern for saving money that is certainly a sign of ageing.
    He genuinely believes that he has been created by God to correct the ills of the world.
    How is it?[Rajnikant style]
    In the process he has elevated me to the elite group of P.G.Wodehouse,Enid Blyton and closer home, Chetan Bhagat for the brickbats they received about their creations.
    Nevertheless, my passion and love for writing will endure beyond these brickbats. I invite readers who prefer a paperback version of my book to let me know through private message.
    The paperback edition is available at a cost of Rs.249/-
    Villains make life interesting!
     
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  2. Thyagarajan

    Thyagarajan IL Hall of Fame

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    Dear @sln,
    I am sad to note that your book drawn criticism on line by a stranger who seemed to have hidden behind the name Tara. But it is satisfying that you had reasonably enviable ratings from other five or six reviewers.

    Forget about this jealous cat and you have rightly hit Tara here who seemed to have not read the book at all or could not find answers to his or her problems in the book in question.

    It is but natural for authors to get peeved when criticism is not robust & especially when it is not from right quarters.

    I do remember the times when Narayanamoorthy faced criticism when his IPO. For Infosys failed to garner 100 % subscription and underwriters bore the deficit. But his enemies or antagonists or adversaries all taken aback when his stature risen to international acclaim. The stock finally listed even in USA.
    Regards.
     
    Last edited: Aug 8, 2021
  3. sln

    sln Platinum IL'ite

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    Dear Thygarajan,
    Thanks for your consolation message. I am not at all affected by the criticism butIT only provided cannon fodder for my inquisitiveness on human behaviour. I enjoy humour and try to find humour in every situation. Kannadasan wrote "sirithu vazavendum, pirar sirika vazndhidadhey".I have a number of people who hold a grudge against me for valid reasons like not given a promotion, getting sacked etc. They are perfectly entitled for the grudge. There are also people who cannot tolerate your dressing well or taken care of very well by children or your capacity for repartees. Surprisingly a miniscule minority don't like you for unknown reasons. They love criticizing others and enjoy the attention they generate by negative publicity. I can assure you that the family members will have a difficult time with this man.
    This episode provided me an opportunity to invigourate my investigative skills which have rusted after retirement.
    I look at IL as an extended family and therefore I don't hesitate sharing the good,bad and the ugly in the forum.
    Regards.SLN
     
  4. Hopikrishnan

    Hopikrishnan Platinum IL'ite

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    Amazon reviews ? Haha... they are not to be taken seriously. Both too good or too bad.

    Tara is a common enough name in the Sikh community for a man. Google Tara Singh, and I bet you'll come up with the famous Tara's. Tara Kaur would be very unusual in the East, whereas not so in the west: probably a child of a Sikh-Irish couple.
     
    Last edited: Aug 9, 2021
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  5. sln

    sln Platinum IL'ite

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    Thanks. I have not taken the review seriously as you would have noticed from my response. I was not aware of the hybrid factor in the name Tara .My niece who is in the US also goes by the name Tara. The review was done in India and by a person who has gone through my earlier blogs. This much I am sure of. Yesterday a boy studying in 5th standard in a reputed international school discussed two articles with me freely and explained why he liked them. I was amazed at his understanding and the ease with which he discussed the issues. Thank God that he had not read my blogs. A sour note now and and then helps to keep us grounded to different shades of opinion about us.
    Regards
    SLN
     
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  6. sln

    sln Platinum IL'ite

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    Thanks. I have not taken the review seriously as you would have noticed from my response. I was not aware of the hybrid factor in the name Tara .My niece who is in the US also goes by the name Tara. The review was done in India and by a person who has gone through my earlier blogs. This much I am sure of. Yesterday a boy studying in 5th standard in a reputed international school discussed two articles with me freely and explained why he liked them. I was amazed at his understanding and the ease with which he discussed the issues. Thank God that he had not read my blogs. A sour note now and and then helps to keep us grounded to different shades of opinion about us.
    Regards
    SLN
     
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  7. jayasala42

    jayasala42 IL Hall of Fame

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    Destructive criticism is defined as criticism performed with the intention to harm someone, derogate and destroy someone's creation, prestige, reputation and self-esteem. It's meant to ridicule, cause harm, damage, destroy and bring the person down.

    I am reminded of our college days when there were competitions to write destructive criticism alone and also for critical appreciations. Those younger days,just to win competition we took prejudiced opinion about the language, matter,grammar, characterisation and ethics etc etc.The great Shakespeare was torn to pieces by us.

    After winning the prize for critical appreciation, I repented very much for having harmed the unknown author wantonly.That was a majaa in those days.
    We analysed sentence by sentence, word by word ,letter by letter with a fault finding lens.
    .We also were taught about the psychology of authors facing destructive criticism and about the art of facing criticism,which is an unavoidable feature in literary field.
    Your mail took my memories back to 1957, lovely college days where we enjoyed all types of appreciations and criticisms.Our essays also were put to great tasks which we swallowed and accepted.
    Age has taught more lessons. Now we read, enjoy and learn.Criticism has vanished once for all.

    Jayasala 42
     
  8. sln

    sln Platinum IL'ite

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    Thanks for your enlightening and exhaustive analysis of destructive criticism .I studied in a tamil medium Municipal High School till SSLC[11th standard]. I was exposed to English as a serious and enjoyable subject in Intermediate by Pro.Ramaswamy in Vivekananda college in 1952-54.That is when reading substituted all other form of Entertainment. English was not a subject in the professional course in subsequent years.
    You hit the nail on the head when you said :
    "We analysed sentence by sentence, word by word ,letter by letter with a fault finding lens.
    We also were taught about the psychology of authors facing destructive criticism and about the art of facing criticism,which is an unavoidable feature in literary field."
    In the particular case under discussion it appears that the purpose was not to discuss the merits and demerits of the book by analysing a couple of chapters but to demolish the individual's efforts. The perpetrator obviously underestimated the resilience of a man who has survived eighty four summers and winters. It is said that people who weigh the fault of others should not put their thumb on the scale.
    It is always a pleasure to present my case before an intellectual.
    Regards
    SLN
     
  9. sln

    sln Platinum IL'ite

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    I am happy to share the review of my book ''Eagles don't miss '' from a lady by name UMA KUMAR FROM PALGHAT.
    '' I received your book. Iread it.
    It was a wonderful book. The best was that it made pleasant reading from page 1 to the end.
    The words used were simple and easy to follow. No complicated words.
    The humour was very good and I kept smiling for every page read.
    The selection of font was really good. I did not have strain my eyes too much.
    Overall it made a wonderful reading and I enjoyed every bit of it"
    Thanks & regards
    Uma.
    UNPRETENTIOUS FB STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART.I salute Uma Madam.
    According to her, her father is reading the book now. There was another FB from a lady called Aruna which says, she and her husband finished reading it and now their daughter studying in tenth standard is reading it. The book will then be passed on to her FIL,75,A retired professor.This means that there is something in the book for each age group. What more does an amateur author want.
    SLN
     
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  10. Thyagarajan

    Thyagarajan IL Hall of Fame

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    Heart warming indeed.
    Regards.
     

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