Armchair BEA ~ Ethics & Non-Fiction

Sharon Lathan

Sharon Lathan is the best-selling author of The Darcy Saga, a ten-volume sequel series to Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

12 COMMENTS
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Kriss @ Cabin Goddess

😀 OMG I keep forgetting about “What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew”! thanks for reminding me. And I love your post! All of your recommendations are great! I agree with Six Wives, it is wonderful. People forget that cookbooks are non-fiction. I read mine, and I love cookbooks with stories in them. Women used to use them as diaries because men would not read them, there are tales to be found! Thanks!

my rant on ethics

Tanya @ Mom's Small Victories

Thanks for the non-fiction recommendations. I have been enjoying more nonfiction lately, most recently The Geography of Bliss: one grump’s search for the happiest places in the world on audiobook. I couldn’t agree more with you on writing tactful and thoughtful reviews.

Katie @ Doing Dewey

The book on the Romanov’s looks fascinating! If you like historical fiction, I would also recommend Six Wives, about Henry the VIII’s wives. It looks like a big book, but was a very quick read it was so much fun 🙂

Melissa

Since you like history, check out The Widow Clicquot – a business biography on the founder of Veuve Clicquot Champagne. Also, the History of the Restaurant is a great book! Both read like historical fiction.

Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know

I agree…too often we see people in general wear their snark as a badge and are really quick to jump on the bus about tearing others down. Not cool!

Sarah Reads Too Much

I think negative reviews are the most difficult to write. I always try to be respectful, not only to the author but to the readers out there who may like something which I didn’t. I mean, who am I to think that everyone out there is absolutely going to agree with me? I always try to find good things about whatever I read, because there is always something good about it. I think some reviewers go for the cheap laughs and forget about how others may be affected.

Dana

“keep in mind that the author of that book is a fellow human being with feelings who, irregardless of whether you liked the book, actually WROTE one and deserves at least a modicum of respect.”

I agree and disagree with this. I was just saying to an author that sent me a review copy that I hated to be negative in a review about a book since *I* certainly can’t write a book. Seems a bit hypocritical. The flip side of that is that anyone can write a book and all themselves an author but that doesn’t mean that the words they wrote are even worth the paper they are printed on. And authors can be just as nasty about bloggers as bloggers can be about authors. Unfortunately, putting a book out into the world opens it to criticism. Doesn’t matter if it is “snarky” or “nice” it is still criticism.

That said, you are completely correct that if EVERYONE would just treat others like they themselves would like to be treated, much of the bad side of blogging – the drama, the plagiarism, the negativity for negativity’s sake, etc. – could be largely avoided.

Wonderful post…very thoughtful!

a barmy bookworm

Great use of the Golden Rule. Should guide us in everything. Works here too. And luuurve Kloester’s “Georgette Heyer’s Regency World”. The last chapter on the Romanovs sounds good. Might give that a go. Thanks! :0)

Michelle @ In Libris Veritas

Great post Sharon. I agree with you, tone matters. I think some people forget that there is a person behind that book, and while they might not be insulting the author directly it still affects them. Your stories are a part of you, it’s your time and effort and most of all it’s your heart. So I think it’s important to try and respect that no matter what rating is given.

Susanne

There are two of your non-fiction books I own, too.
Billy Graham “Just as I am” and “What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew”. And now I think that I should read “All Roads lead toAusten” as well.
It is ever good to read your blogs, they are honest and interessting.

Susanne

Susanne

Michelle, I totally agree with you. There is nothing I could add.

Susanne

12
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x