I think it really cathartic to reply to the ‘Robins’ of this world and by not pressing that send button you saved yourself from falling into a trap of having to justify your writing. So, well done you and no you weren’t harsh in the least 😊
Completely reasonable and justified response, but also sensible not to engage with him and send it. He was probably hoping for a full on rant response.
There is so much vitriol, lies and general unpleasantness in these days of social media and I often find myself shouting at my phone "what is wrong with people?!".
P.S. I love all your books.
P.P.S. I don't usually bother doing reviews, good or bad, but think I will start doing the good ones. Give some joy, be kind.
As ever, brilliant writing! I must say though that I actually wish you’d sent it, though probably best not too.
Further to the ridiculous comment he made regarding how little he read before giving up, I’d have missed out on many a fabulous book had I so little stamina. Ignore him. The rest of us would never give up on you. On that note, I’m off to reread those opening pages!
I applaud you for not going all-out Hoon on his arse! What a rude individual, regardless of whether he'd read 20 pages, 200 pages or the whole book.
I have to admit to doing that on social media... write a response to some cockwomble who deserves to be tarred and feathered but then realise I'd be banned for life if I sent it.
My immediate thought was “fuckin’ brilliant!”, followed by roaring laughter. You should set that as the standard reply to bell-ends that think the anonymity of the Internet gives them the right to be as rude as they want.
I think it's a perfect response and just a small part of me wishes you had sent it or maybe another version in the words of Hoon! But, of course, you were wise not to and hopefully just writing it made you feel a little bit better. Keep up the fantastic work, Barry. Maybe you could include a vile character in the next Heather Filson book and name him Robin!
I think you’ve shown remarkable tolerance in not going straight for the jugular on the basis that the book was totally dismissed after reading only 20 pages. Perhaps that’s partly down to my determination to always finish a book once I’ve started (which does have its downside as I discovered after starting “Moby Dick”).
I agree with everything that you wrote in your unsent reply and also with all of the comments above mine thus far! People who don’t like things should in fact just do an online review and get over it.
My husband listens to your Logan books and loves them but he didn’t like the Filson character so just bypassed the first Logan book she was in. I told him “do what you want to do, you’re entitled to your opinion”. I on the other hand knew there was a reason she was how she was and went on to listen to the Heather Filson series, which I have to say, explain a lot about her. So I want to say “well done and keep on keeping on”!
Barry I wish you were king! It would be fantastic if there were more people like you around. Rational, reasonable and honest. There’s so many of us love your work and have watched you grow in your latest career. Good luck and many blessings.
Utterly and completely justified. Think you should get it printed on A3 sized gilded paper and have it hand delivered by an angry scottish woman. So, I'd be up for that.
Love your reply... brilliant as always. Although I beg to differ with your reasoning on one particular point. Robin, I feel, would be that sort of petty seaslug type of prick who actually would write to the poor checkout person to complain!!!.
A well-deserved response. Personally, I think you were right not to click 'send' as that is probably what Robin was hoping for. If he's part of this substack group, I hope he's brave enough to type an apology ... it's possible that he too was having a bad day
I think this - you should have sent it to him! What a brilliant response!
It amazes me that people feel the need to do this to anyone - to message someone specifically to tell them that they don't like something that person has created.
How can you decide whether you like a book or not after just 20 pages? To say that they'll never read anything you write ever again is utterly ridiculous, and all I can say about that is, that it is their loss.
I think it really cathartic to reply to the ‘Robins’ of this world and by not pressing that send button you saved yourself from falling into a trap of having to justify your writing. So, well done you and no you weren’t harsh in the least 😊
Completely reasonable and justified response, but also sensible not to engage with him and send it. He was probably hoping for a full on rant response.
There is so much vitriol, lies and general unpleasantness in these days of social media and I often find myself shouting at my phone "what is wrong with people?!".
P.S. I love all your books.
P.P.S. I don't usually bother doing reviews, good or bad, but think I will start doing the good ones. Give some joy, be kind.
As ever, brilliant writing! I must say though that I actually wish you’d sent it, though probably best not too.
Further to the ridiculous comment he made regarding how little he read before giving up, I’d have missed out on many a fabulous book had I so little stamina. Ignore him. The rest of us would never give up on you. On that note, I’m off to reread those opening pages!
I applaud you for not going all-out Hoon on his arse! What a rude individual, regardless of whether he'd read 20 pages, 200 pages or the whole book.
I have to admit to doing that on social media... write a response to some cockwomble who deserves to be tarred and feathered but then realise I'd be banned for life if I sent it.
It takes nothing to #bekind...
My immediate thought was “fuckin’ brilliant!”, followed by roaring laughter. You should set that as the standard reply to bell-ends that think the anonymity of the Internet gives them the right to be as rude as they want.
Spot on response 👏
P.S my dog agrees with the above!
I think it's a perfect response and just a small part of me wishes you had sent it or maybe another version in the words of Hoon! But, of course, you were wise not to and hopefully just writing it made you feel a little bit better. Keep up the fantastic work, Barry. Maybe you could include a vile character in the next Heather Filson book and name him Robin!
I think you’ve shown remarkable tolerance in not going straight for the jugular on the basis that the book was totally dismissed after reading only 20 pages. Perhaps that’s partly down to my determination to always finish a book once I’ve started (which does have its downside as I discovered after starting “Moby Dick”).
Absolutely perfect 👌
I agree with another comment on here… wish you had gone full Hoon on him!
I agree with everything that you wrote in your unsent reply and also with all of the comments above mine thus far! People who don’t like things should in fact just do an online review and get over it.
My husband listens to your Logan books and loves them but he didn’t like the Filson character so just bypassed the first Logan book she was in. I told him “do what you want to do, you’re entitled to your opinion”. I on the other hand knew there was a reason she was how she was and went on to listen to the Heather Filson series, which I have to say, explain a lot about her. So I want to say “well done and keep on keeping on”!
Barry I wish you were king! It would be fantastic if there were more people like you around. Rational, reasonable and honest. There’s so many of us love your work and have watched you grow in your latest career. Good luck and many blessings.
Utterly and completely justified. Think you should get it printed on A3 sized gilded paper and have it hand delivered by an angry scottish woman. So, I'd be up for that.
Love your reply... brilliant as always. Although I beg to differ with your reasoning on one particular point. Robin, I feel, would be that sort of petty seaslug type of prick who actually would write to the poor checkout person to complain!!!.
A well-deserved response. Personally, I think you were right not to click 'send' as that is probably what Robin was hoping for. If he's part of this substack group, I hope he's brave enough to type an apology ... it's possible that he too was having a bad day
I think this - you should have sent it to him! What a brilliant response!
It amazes me that people feel the need to do this to anyone - to message someone specifically to tell them that they don't like something that person has created.
How can you decide whether you like a book or not after just 20 pages? To say that they'll never read anything you write ever again is utterly ridiculous, and all I can say about that is, that it is their loss.