Susan Hill's blog :: HOW NOT TO DO IT - OTHER STUDENTS PLEASE TAKE NOTE

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HOW NOT TO DO IT - OTHER STUDENTS PLEASE TAKE NOTE

by Susan Hill on Tue 06 May 2008 18:11 BST | Permanent Link

Here is an e-mail I received today, with my reply. I have to reply on here as the hotmail address given does not, of course, work any longer. It is so easy to hide behind anonymity and a hastily contrived temporary e-mail address. Easy and dishonourable.

Country = United Kingdom
Address =
Postcode =
Notes = King of the castle is the worst book EVER! i have yet to meet someone who actually liked reading it (and yes you may say that people have told u they like it ... but i mean actual real people, not just figments of your imagination!). It is an incredibley depressing book and a complete waste of time.

I do not mind in the least that you do not like the book and that you want to let off steam by saying so. I do mind the rudeness. You are welcome to say you didn`t enjoy it. You are not welcome to imply that I would lie. I know many young people who have not liked it. I also know hundreds who write to me to say that they do. I receive around 30 e-mails a day about this and others of my books so I can assure you that I receive a wide range of opinions. But I am not in the business of trying to prove or disprove anything to you. I would, however, like to teach you some good manners.

I will put up your e-mail on my website. It gets a lot of traffic. There may be some replies up there in time.

I won`t, of course, put up your name - not just because I never do but because you have not had the guts to give it.

It is easy to fire off a cross e-mail and I have a very thick skin. But think twice before you speak to any other author - or indeed, any other human being - in this way.

Good wishes

Susan Hill

Posted to:

Comments

Re: HOW NOT TO DO IT - OTHER STUDENTS PLEASE TAKE NOTE

by leatherdykeuk on Tue 06 May 2008 19:49 BST | Profile | Permanent Link

What a shame. He'll cringe in a year or two when he learns a little more.

Re: Re: HOW NOT TO DO IT - OTHER STUDENTS PLEASE TAKE NOTE

by ALJ on Wed 07 May 2008 00:22 BST | Profile | Permanent Link

Perhaps, with any luck, s/he will be wincing with embarrassment NOW, having read that reply....but I somehow doubt it.

Re: HOW NOT TO DO IT - OTHER STUDENTS PLEASE TAKE NOTE

by Bela on Wed 07 May 2008 02:02 BST | Profile | Permanent Link

What about removing someone's comment *after* using the info it contains, and passing it off as your own? Isn't *that* rude?

What about biting someone's head off because you think they did something wrong, when in fact they were following *your* instructions? Isn't that rude?

Re: HOW NOT TO DO IT - OTHER STUDENTS PLEASE TAKE NOTE

by Miss Schlegel on Wed 07 May 2008 03:52 BST | Profile | Permanent Link

For the record, King of the Castle was one of the books I enjoyed most in childhood. I started following this blog after trying to track it down as an adult.

What a startling lack of imagination, to believe that just because you don't like something, no one else does either.

Re: HOW NOT TO DO IT - OTHER STUDENTS PLEASE TAKE NOTE

by Vanessa on Wed 07 May 2008 08:45 BST | Profile | Permanent Link

Good for you. Just because you encourage students to contact you with questions or comments that does not invite anonymous (as you say the Hotmail address is no longer working) abuse. They should be grateful you're willing to help them. Could have done with Chaucer answering a few of my questions when I was doiung my O level.

Re: HOW NOT TO DO IT - OTHER STUDENTS PLEASE TAKE NOTE

by Sally Zigmond on Wed 07 May 2008 09:29 BST | Profile | Permanent Link

Yes, it's rude. Of course, it is. But please give some slack to a very young person who lacks what age and experience has given us. None of us knows what prompted it. Haven't we all done or said something we bitterly regret the moment we've done or said it? And we're adults. We should lead by example. We shouldn't flaunt our superiority.

Re: Re: HOW NOT TO DO IT - OTHER STUDENTS PLEASE TAKE NOTE

by Susan S. on Wed 07 May 2008 15:01 BST | Profile | Permanent Link

I think it may, in fact, be an act of kindness to respond, as Susan does, to this anonymous email. If no one speaks plainly of courtesy and consideration to young people they are unlikely ever to acquire those qualities which will stand them in good stead throughout their lives. Leading by example is all very well, but often articulating certain principles is vital. And clearly no amount of 'example' will reach the sender of the anonymous nastiness.

Re: HOW NOT TO DO IT - OTHER STUDENTS PLEASE TAKE NOTE

by Naomi Mott on Wed 07 May 2008 13:58 BST | Profile | Permanent Link

A good book is something that invokes a strong response, be it love or hate; a bad book invokes nothing more than irritable boredom. The fact that the reader reacted so strongly to it that they felt compelled to write in and express an opinion, (albeit as the sort of poorly worded temper-tantrum that teenagers are so famous for), does it credit. Hopefully, the reader will be a little more eloquent when they come to write their essay.

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