09 Wednesday May 2018
Posted in Uncategorized
This is one of those bizarre stories that will have you thinking “Wait. What?” Mischenko has started an excellent discussion on whether it’s fair to rate an author’s books 1 star without having read them, instead basing it solely on the author’s behavior. What do you think?
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The Journey Home
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By Hook Or By Book 
Got to read it. Simple as that. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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That’s basically the way I feel Pete, no matter how horrible an author is behaving. Leave a comment by all means, or in this case sign the MoveOn petition to cancel her idiotic trademark.To me though, giving a rating to a book you haven’t read sets a bad precedent.
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Yep it’s the same with movies theatre every type of art form, you have to experience first before making an opinion!
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I’ve actually read 5 of her books and changed my rating on them because I’m so appalled by what she’s doing. But I only did it to the ones I’ve read. She’s ruining her career and reputation on her own. She’s got one hell of an ego.
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If you’ve read the books Sheri, I think you have every right to change your rating. As far as her actions go, I have no idea what she was thinking but I believe she’s kissed her career goodbye.
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I had read this on her blog….. people should not rate the book without reading it….. but I understand what went down regarding this controversy…. the author was nasty ! ! !
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I understand both sides. I just personally believe in rating an actual book unless you’ve read it. That’s why I signed the MoveOn petition to cancel her trademark.
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I am with you Kim. Don’t rate if you don’t read whatever the author’s behavior. And I already signed the petition days ago.
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That’s great Sophie. I can’t believe I didn’t hear about this until yesterday.🤦🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️
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I don’t believe you should rate a book or movie without completely reading/watching it. I also get upset when I read comments listed as reviews. Reviews are in-depth writtwn opinion that describe what worked and didn’t work in a book or movie, how it can can be improved, and how it impacted you, the reader. That’s why it’s imperative to finish the entire book or film prior to reviewing it. It’s unfair to everyone who worked on that project not to do so.
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I agree TW. I don’t have a problem leaving a comment on a discussion thread that’s already started.
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:O Have I read that right, is someone trying to trademark a word?
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Yes. Yes you did. Google #cockygate.
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Lol your post prompted me to go read the tale at Guardian newspapers, is this author insane? Threatening fellow authors with legal action is absolute madness! I agree with you, she’s killing her career people hate witnessing greed hubris and selfishness.
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I have no idea what she was thinking!🤷🏻♀️
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Does that mean WordPress posts as well?
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I’m not sure what you mean?
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😀 Neither am I? It must have been late.
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🤣
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Great post and thanks for bringing this crazy issue to my attention. It’s fascinating and a little disturbing to think anyone would approve a trademark over Cocky???? Please keep blogging about this issue…be interesting to see what happens…
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Thanks to Mishenko for her post!😊
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I went over and read her great post too….I agree that you need to have read the book to write a review…
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This is such a thought provoking topic. As Mischenko said, this has also come up with previous authors as well.
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It comes down to trademarking a word that is in common use – for me cocky is short for cockatoo…so is she going to trademark the Australian usage of that? Where does it stop?
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I’ve been reading so much on trademarks the last few hours my head is spinning! It’s a lot more complicated than I thought. Still, I don’t think it will be long before hers is canceled. Sadly she’s already been successful in bullying some authors into changing their titles.
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You must read it. Why would you even bother wasting your own time giving a rating if you haven’t read it?!
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That’s the way I feel Aria. There are other ways to express your opinion over an author’s behavior.
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I’ve seen users on Goodreads that rate all 1s or all 5s and doesn’t really look like they actually read but run around and click, that’s even worse than throwing a temper tantrum and rating because of something an author did instead of the actual product. If I didn’t like an author’s actions I just wouldn’t bother ever having anything to do with them again though. *shrug*
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I agree Carrie. Leave a comment in a discussion thread, boycott the author, or in this case sign the MoveOn petition to have the trademark canceled.
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Now rating when I don’t finish is a whole other debate too. I choose to rate something I can’t even bring myself to make it all the way for my own personal tally because to me that’s the pure definition of a 1 star even if other’s love it and it may have picked up.
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I agree. I’ve rated books 1vstar that I couldn’t bring myself to finish no matter how hard I try.
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This is the debate I thought of at first glance on this post. Some people get so offended at those that rate DNFs too but I always give them a good amount before I would ever consider ditching.
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This sounds really bizarre, Kim. Surely you must read the book before you can make and informed assessment. Going over to finish reading …
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I think people are frustrated and angry (understandably so) over the actions of this author and they’re trying to send her a message that what she’s done is unacceptable. The problem for me is that I think rating a book poorly without having read it sets such a bad precedent.
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Well, I want to go on my typical rant on this subject…. but, I will follow the link and rant on THEIR blog for a change! Lol!!! Follow, if you dare!! ;p
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Rant away!
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It’s not right to give a rating unless you’ve actually read the book. I think the purpose of a review should be to give an honest, objective opinion about what you like and/or don’t like about a book. Personal attacks don’t really accomplish anything.There is a place to speak up if someone is behaving badly, and it’s okay to choose not to read someone’s books, but that is another issue and should be kept separate from the book. Some of the reviewers on Goodreads and Twitter (and Amazon too) can be nasty and negative by the way but that’s my opinion and a topic for another post.
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I agree with everything you’ve said Michelle.
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I think it’s absurd when people rate/review books without reading them! I have to admit that I am pretty bad about keeping my Goodreads updated like I should but I always read the books! Great share, Kim!😚💖
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Yeah. There are other ways of expressing displeasure over an author’s actions.
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I agree.👍
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Before I read Mischenko’s post my firm stance was that you can’t rate a book unless you have made a solid attempt to finish it. But after reading the post I am not so set on my thought. She just had to bring up #cockygate and now I want to go rate Feleena’s books a 1 haha (but I won’t because I still think it is wrong!)
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It’s tempting, but I agree it’s wrong. I’d encourage everyone to sign the MoveOn petition instead to cancel her trademark.
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I signed it! Thats a good alternative 😀
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👍🏻👍🏻
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Definitely got to read it. We’re reviewing a book not the person!
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That’s what I’m thinking Lashaan.
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I agree with most, if not all, the comments above. I know i’m not good at writing reviews, but if i rate a book, it’s because i read it. +, if i happen to pick up a book i dislike, i put it aside without finishing it, and i simply don’t rate it. There’s no need to torture myself with something i didnt enjoy, and other readers probably found the book interesting.Now, the trademark thing, i admit i’m not sure if i should laugh or not… it’ll depend how much serious it gets.
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I have rated the few books I just couldn’t finish mainly because I push myself to get through at least 50% of the book in question. A book has to be pretty awful for me to not finish it. As far as this particular controversy, what makes me angry is that not only was she granted a copyright for a word that is commonly used, but she managed to bully some authors into changing their books that featured the same word in their titles. This includes people whose books were published before hers! That said, I would never give a rating to a book that I hadn’t even picked up.
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Well, what goes around, comes around. Eventually this will all come back to bite her…. and yet, outrage and negative publicity is only making her more famous, no matter the rating.
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This is an excellent piece that raises many questions.
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Well that is just stupid, how can you rate something if you’ve not read it.
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I understand people’s frustration and them wanting to send a message, but I don’t think this is the right way.
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See, I get why people 1 Star authors who behave badly. And ironically I’m grateful when I go on Goodreads and see a “review” giving me the facts so I can decide not to read their books….like what’s going on with Faleena Hopkins….although I learned about that via Twitter. BUT at the same point I don’t think it’s fair to rate a book you haven’t read. So you know what I do? I created an exclusive shelf on Goodreads….like Read, Currently Reading & To-Read…..and called it Authors Behaving Badly. I mark usually their most popular book with that and then I know to never pick up a book by that author.
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Ooh! I like that idea for a shelf Jen. I’ll have to check it out.😁
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I agree, I don’t think books should be rated if you haven’t read them. It’s okay not to read an author because of circumstances, but don’t rate if you don’t read.
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Exactly!
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