Why do travel writers write, if not to sound off about their experiences, in the belief that some of the people in that big wide world out there may find what they read interesting and enriching, perhaps even entertaining? I mean, let's face it, there aren't enough hours in a life for all of us to go everywhere and see everything that there is to see on this rather interesting planet of ours, I'm sure you'd agree. So we the great public content ourselves to taste faraway places and experiences through the writings of others.
I was prompted to write this piece by a particularly scathing review of my second book, Moussaka to My Ears, which has appeared on Amazon a while back. See, I can't quite get my head around where exactly this person's coming from. I don't mind if my work doesn't do it for some readers. That's life after all. But I wonder why some choose to read travel writing at all, when they're going to come up with words like this person has. Not one to shy away from criticism generally, I'll illustrate. To quote, he/she wrote: "…The author managed to bore me senseless in a very short timespan with trips he had made to the computer shop to arguments with airport check in desks, Come on just because you live abroad it doesn't mean the general day to day crap suddenly becomes something of interest…"
Hmm. Do you think he/she perhaps didn't like it then? See, I'm a huge Bill Bryson fan and I don't even feel that I'm worthy to tie his bootlaces, but, but!!! - Bryson writes about precisely the kinds of things that this "reviewer" seems to take exception to. I think that we all have to realise that a travel writer is someone who writes about him or herself. A prerequisite to travel writing is the feeling that you think your audience will want to read about all kinds of trivia. It's the only way to give a really complete picture. Just to make the point, in one of Bryson's books he manages to make me chuckle with an account of ordering a snack in an American diner. The waitress keeps coming and asking him if he's ready to order. Finally, after several such visits to his table, he tells her: "Look, give me some time here. I'm not used to these menus, as I've only just got out of prison."
"Really?" The waitress asks, "What were you in for?" To which BB replies, "I murdered a waitress who hurried me."
Now is that day to day trivia or is that day to day trivia? But maybe Bryson's a lot better than me at the witty stuff, OK. Nevertheless, he's managed to get in a paragraph or two about ordering ham and eggs.
I know that my books will appeal primarily to those who either love Greece, or love travel writing as a genre. But I ask myself when I'm writing, why would I want to read someone else's experiences? The answer is simple. We read other people's experiences...
a) for the reason cited in the opening paragraph above,
b) because we want to learn about places we haven't yet been,
c) because we want to be reminded of somewhere we've been,
d) because we want to know about the trivia of daily life as it is experienced somewhere unfamiliar to us,
e) because the author's writing style entertains us while enabling us to do all of the above.
My erudite critic continues: "I admit I only managed to read a quarter of the way through the book but PLEASE what condescending pompous drivel!
So many observations were made looking from down his nose, how hard it must of been to step over the back packer in his scruffy t shirt at the airport, and how funny it sounds when a German attempts to speak English. Come on Please....pass the sick bucket."
The vast majority of feedback which I receive from those who have read my work suggests that I write in a "self-effacing manner," so quite how I could at the same time be "looking down from my nose" is a mystery to me. As stated above, you have to blow your own trumpet a little bit simply to attempt travel writing, because you hope that others out there will enjoy reading about your experiences. Once again, Bill Bryson's work is full of just such trivia as stepping over backpackers at airports, yet I avidly read anything that he's written that I can get my hands on.
There we are. Mustn't let it get to me. I suppose too that there must be at least one person out there who thinks they'd like the sick bucket passed when reading Bill Bryson. I mean, the law of averages and all that eh?
I was prompted to write this piece by a particularly scathing review of my second book, Moussaka to My Ears, which has appeared on Amazon a while back. See, I can't quite get my head around where exactly this person's coming from. I don't mind if my work doesn't do it for some readers. That's life after all. But I wonder why some choose to read travel writing at all, when they're going to come up with words like this person has. Not one to shy away from criticism generally, I'll illustrate. To quote, he/she wrote: "…The author managed to bore me senseless in a very short timespan with trips he had made to the computer shop to arguments with airport check in desks, Come on just because you live abroad it doesn't mean the general day to day crap suddenly becomes something of interest…"
Hmm. Do you think he/she perhaps didn't like it then? See, I'm a huge Bill Bryson fan and I don't even feel that I'm worthy to tie his bootlaces, but, but!!! - Bryson writes about precisely the kinds of things that this "reviewer" seems to take exception to. I think that we all have to realise that a travel writer is someone who writes about him or herself. A prerequisite to travel writing is the feeling that you think your audience will want to read about all kinds of trivia. It's the only way to give a really complete picture. Just to make the point, in one of Bryson's books he manages to make me chuckle with an account of ordering a snack in an American diner. The waitress keeps coming and asking him if he's ready to order. Finally, after several such visits to his table, he tells her: "Look, give me some time here. I'm not used to these menus, as I've only just got out of prison."
"Really?" The waitress asks, "What were you in for?" To which BB replies, "I murdered a waitress who hurried me."
Now is that day to day trivia or is that day to day trivia? But maybe Bryson's a lot better than me at the witty stuff, OK. Nevertheless, he's managed to get in a paragraph or two about ordering ham and eggs.
I know that my books will appeal primarily to those who either love Greece, or love travel writing as a genre. But I ask myself when I'm writing, why would I want to read someone else's experiences? The answer is simple. We read other people's experiences...
a) for the reason cited in the opening paragraph above,
b) because we want to learn about places we haven't yet been,
c) because we want to be reminded of somewhere we've been,
d) because we want to know about the trivia of daily life as it is experienced somewhere unfamiliar to us,
e) because the author's writing style entertains us while enabling us to do all of the above.
My erudite critic continues: "I admit I only managed to read a quarter of the way through the book but PLEASE what condescending pompous drivel!
So many observations were made looking from down his nose, how hard it must of been to step over the back packer in his scruffy t shirt at the airport, and how funny it sounds when a German attempts to speak English. Come on Please....pass the sick bucket."
The vast majority of feedback which I receive from those who have read my work suggests that I write in a "self-effacing manner," so quite how I could at the same time be "looking down from my nose" is a mystery to me. As stated above, you have to blow your own trumpet a little bit simply to attempt travel writing, because you hope that others out there will enjoy reading about your experiences. Once again, Bill Bryson's work is full of just such trivia as stepping over backpackers at airports, yet I avidly read anything that he's written that I can get my hands on.
There we are. Mustn't let it get to me. I suppose too that there must be at least one person out there who thinks they'd like the sick bucket passed when reading Bill Bryson. I mean, the law of averages and all that eh?
On the bright side John, all the other reviewers gave you 5 stars :)
ReplyDeleteYea, exactly, thanks. I think I only wrote this piece because of the terms the person uses. It made me wonder why he or she reads travel writing at all.
DeleteGood grief, what did the 'guy(?)' expect of travel-based writing? Pseudo-intellectuals should stick to reviewing Shakespeare!
ReplyDeleteVicki
I suppose what I was trying to get at too was the fact that this reviewer seems not to be a very nice person. I mean, if you don't like something, fine. But why use offensive terms to put it down? I wonder actually if they have any friends!!
DeleteJust keep at it John.
ReplyDeleteJohn. Maybe you could include the murder of a book reviewer in your new book
ReplyDeleteNow you're on to something there Trevor. But I suppose you'll be wanting some commission...
DeleteExcellent idea Trevor! Wonder if the 1st 3 letters of that reviewer's name (v i n) are short for vindictive!
ReplyDeleteVicki
Seems to be written by someone who hates Greece and is determined to do everything possibly to deter people from visiting. And isn't it odd that this is the moronic malaka's only review for Amazon? Why pick on this pleasant,quirky ramble around Rhodes? If people hate Greece so much (WHY?), they should go somewhere else - it's a big planet. Or possibly this is a Golden Dawn supporter who just hates ex-pats?
ReplyDeleteIgnore. And visit Rhodes!
Its hard to do John but ignore the reviews. It's just sour grapes from someone who cant be bothered to write something themselves. I had a bad review regarding something that wasnt even in my book!!
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work.
And thank you Colin, for the word "Good" there!!
DeleteAnd indeed the word 'work' as tho' enjoyable to produce, your writings must involve considerable effort!
ReplyDeleteVicki
Well, I do slave away over a hot keyboard, but I don't like to talk about it.
Delete