Quoting a mixed review as positive publicity?
June 2, 2015 1:46 PM Subscribe
My first novel is coming out in a few months, and as it's a small press, I'll mostly be doing my own P.R. for it. I got a mixed review from Kirkus, and I'd love to quote one of the positive bits in promotional materials, but is that dishonest when their overall takeaway wasn't completely positive?
The review wasn't a pan, it seemed mostly straightforward, calling attention to both positive and negative aspects. The end sentence was a pretty good summation of the overall review: "A novel with a madcap premise and appealing characters that does not quite fulfill its comedic promise." I know movie posters often take the first half of a sentence like that, and leave off the negative, and that's considered acceptable. I also think that's pushing it further than I'm willing to do (or am I being too scrupulous here?). But is it worthwhile for me to quote another piece of the review which praises aspects of the novel, or is that still making it seem like the review was an endorsement when it wasn't?
The review wasn't a pan, it seemed mostly straightforward, calling attention to both positive and negative aspects. The end sentence was a pretty good summation of the overall review: "A novel with a madcap premise and appealing characters that does not quite fulfill its comedic promise." I know movie posters often take the first half of a sentence like that, and leave off the negative, and that's considered acceptable. I also think that's pushing it further than I'm willing to do (or am I being too scrupulous here?). But is it worthwhile for me to quote another piece of the review which praises aspects of the novel, or is that still making it seem like the review was an endorsement when it wasn't?
Best answer: If there was a part they liked, what's wrong with saying that someone liked just that one part? It was still a part they liked, right?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:51 PM on June 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:51 PM on June 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Congratulations on your review! I peeked at it, if that's okay, and I would do something like this:
"[yourname]'s characters are both endearing and funny... Delightfully zany." - Kirkus Reviews
posted by dywypi at 1:54 PM on June 2, 2015 [6 favorites]
"[yourname]'s characters are both endearing and funny... Delightfully zany." - Kirkus Reviews
posted by dywypi at 1:54 PM on June 2, 2015 [6 favorites]
Best answer: This is literally how ever quotation from every review throughout history has worked (except the tiny tiny minority of cases where the review is unabashedly positive).
As long as they didn't say "It would be great to throw this novel in the ocean where it would be devoured by seals" and you're not quoting "great ... novel!", you're totally fine.
posted by drjimmy11 at 2:15 PM on June 2, 2015 [24 favorites]
As long as they didn't say "It would be great to throw this novel in the ocean where it would be devoured by seals" and you're not quoting "great ... novel!", you're totally fine.
posted by drjimmy11 at 2:15 PM on June 2, 2015 [24 favorites]
Best answer: IAALibrarian. IANYL, this is exactly how it works and you should totally do this. Congrats.
posted by jessamyn at 2:21 PM on June 2, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by jessamyn at 2:21 PM on June 2, 2015 [5 favorites]
Best answer: When my husband's book came out to, yes, mixed reviews they were spun in the most delightful way. It was comedic, to me. But it probably helped the (dismal, pre-Internet days sales!).
This is how the industry works, and if you don't have a team to spin it as my husband did, just go for it yourself! Congrats and good luck.
posted by littlewater at 3:05 PM on June 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
This is how the industry works, and if you don't have a team to spin it as my husband did, just go for it yourself! Congrats and good luck.
posted by littlewater at 3:05 PM on June 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Congratulations! I agree with others here, nothing wrong with just quoting the positive parts. Definitely go with dywypi's suggestion, as well as "A novel with a madcap premise and appealing characters..." Fabulous!
posted by msbubbaclees at 3:16 PM on June 2, 2015
posted by msbubbaclees at 3:16 PM on June 2, 2015
Best answer: Totally play up the positive! It will get people interested in what you do, definitely. Congrats!
posted by InterestedInKnowing at 5:06 PM on June 2, 2015
posted by InterestedInKnowing at 5:06 PM on June 2, 2015
Best answer: Just Nthing that this is not egregiously dishonest, it is simply how things are done in promotion. You're in the clear. Congrats and good luck!
posted by Andrhia at 6:24 PM on June 2, 2015
posted by Andrhia at 6:24 PM on June 2, 2015
Response by poster: Thanks for the head-straightening. Best answers all around!
posted by Mchelly at 7:55 PM on June 2, 2015
posted by Mchelly at 7:55 PM on June 2, 2015
Best answer: As a former critic, what I'd say is that as long as you can find a whole line that's positive, use that. If you have to do any fancy ellipsis work, it's pretty obvious hackery.
(I'll also say that the folks who impressed me the most were the ones that highlighted mixed reviews in their press packs because they made me want to find out if the other critics were right or wrong about a broader variety of topics.)
posted by klangklangston at 12:09 AM on June 3, 2015
(I'll also say that the folks who impressed me the most were the ones that highlighted mixed reviews in their press packs because they made me want to find out if the other critics were right or wrong about a broader variety of topics.)
posted by klangklangston at 12:09 AM on June 3, 2015
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posted by alms at 1:51 PM on June 2, 2015 [3 favorites]