Your source for romantic fantasy on the web
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"Why I Hate Harriet Klausner"-Jess G.
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Yes, I know "hate" is such a strong word. How could I hate someone so much that I've never met? Especially when you consider that this person is one of the main reasons I started this site. Well, I don't hate her like I hate a particularly nasty ex-boyfriend or "House of Wax," but I definitely have some nasty feelings towards this so-called "speed reader." Or maybe I just hate the fact that publishers and other folks actually believe one word that comes out of her mouth. For those of you who don't know who Harriet Klausner is, she's the #1 reviewer on amazon.com, among other things. So many authors feel so good about themselves when the day their book comes out, there's already a shining review for them! Forget the fact that many of the names are misspelled, or that the plot outline doesn't hit the mark- that's ok, they liked your book! Yeah, well, that's because she didn't read it, and she's only doing it in the first place because she's a P.R. whore. Yes, you heard me right. She's full of it (I'm saying that as nicely as possible). I'm sorry, but there is no way possible that you could even read 3 fantasy novels a day (only one of the many genres she reads, and three book reviews in a day is a SMALL number for her, but lets give her the benefit of the doubt). I read very fast, for real. Maybe if I have nothing else to do in a day, wake up at 7 am and go to bed at 1am, its possible I might get 2 1/2 (smaller) books read. But this woman claims to be a "speed-reader." Hmm. If you look at the dates, she'll have up to 15 book reviews in one day. Right. Ok, lets give her the benefit of the doubt again. Even if she actually is reading all those books, as many of you know you have to read fantasy books carefully or you'll miss quite a bit. Its obvious she does miss quite a bit, if you've read any of the books she's reviewed, then saw what she had to say. But on top of that, if you are speed-reading and only taking in part of the information, why should anyone listen to your judgment? You're obviously not gleaning everything from them, not only missing good parts but a majority of the flaws as well. And that leads me to my final point- generally when a person reads even 20 books in a certain genre, they'll learn what separates the good in the bad. By the time they've read 50 books, they've at least read a few bad novels. Oh, but not Harriet Klausner. Everything is so "extraordinary" and "fantastic." I have never ever seen her give anything less than 4 stars. She can't use that she's easy to please either, because I know plenty of people like that and they still at least find one thing they can't stand. Lets take Cecilia Dart-Thornton's "The Iron Tree" as a fabulous example: out of 11 reviews (including myself), only two people gave it over two stars. Yep, you guessed it, she gave it FIVE stars, and called it "extraordinary epic fantasy." I dare you to read that book and tell me it doesn't deserve anything more than two stars. I'm not exactly sure what she actually does with these books. I know other people aren't writing for her, because it all sounds like the same crap. We've already established she actually isn't reading them, for sure. I'm thinking the publishers have a hand in this (and if any of you are reading this, step away slowly from Klausner, because I know too many people are not fooled by her). I think what irritates me most is the amount of people she is misleading, and the possibility that publishers might have a hand in this. The fact that her reviews are getting published in books horrifies me. Maybe you don't feel as strongly as I do, or maybe you've never heard of her (in which case I'm hoping I've educated you). I'm not saying "and this is why you should come here," because there is a wealth of other excellent reviewing sites out there. I'm just saying don't go to any that have "Harriet Klausner" in them. 6/23/05 |