Saturday, August 18, 2007
Crab Theory Rears Its Ugly Head Again
A first-time deaf author gets crab - dragged by another deaf person....again. We could do well without this kind of thing, thank you, Allison Kaftan. That was not merely a book critique but a harsh squash on Egbert's endeavor as an author simply because he bypassed the publishing house route. So, Allison, can you rise to the challenge and write a bestseller?? Can you rise to the challenge of finding just how tricky it is to write a novel?? It is quite easy to throw critique when you have never penned a novel yourself. You may be a strong reader but would you be as polished a writer as you are a reader?? I know with certainty that it is much more arduous to write than it is to read!!
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32 comments:
Yeah, I was appalled when I read DeafDC blog with Allison's entry. She could have been more constructive in her criticism. Instead, she just threw insults and put down the book and indirectly at John Egbert.
I agree, we do better without that kind of thing.
What Allison did was not crab theory. She gave a realistic review of a poorly written novel that happened to be written by a deaf person. A novel that is full of typos and grammatical errors, with poorly developed characters to boot comes across as amateurish at best, no matter who wrote it. There are no reasonable excuses. There are plenty of books published by writers who do not have English as a first language, and they are not filled with grammatical errors. They would never get published, if they were. Should we cheer the book just because the author happens to be deaf? Yes, if the book deserves it. No, if it does not. Many deaf people have commented on how crushed they felt when well-meaning speech therapists told them how good their speech was, only to go out into the hearing world and realize that most people couldn't understand them. Is this type of "encouragement" better when it comes from other deaf people? Should we tell him the book is wonderful, even when it's not? I think not. There are plenty of ways for someone who is serious about writing to improve. They all take work. Maybe Egbert is willing, maybe not. There are writing courses at local colleges, community colleges, and even couses offered by local school districts. There are writing groups offered sometimes by bookstores, where people interesting in writing get together and critique each other's writing. Sometimes the comments are painful, as Egbert is learning. But, if he wants to really improve, then he has some serious work to do, and has to drop the defensive attitude. Perhaps his second effort will be better. This first effort leaves much to be desired, and and people who deny it are just fooling themselves, and the writer.
Since when it has to be done? Hearies do that route, too, much like Egbert does.
I've seen the clumsy books with lousy English but still enjoyable as long as it is understood.
Allison is doing a big ignorance of a service. Obviously she never saw any of the books written by children or youth, much less reading the book written by that lady who was living in a residential school for development-disabled in Iowa.
Hi Cy,
Good that you are baaaack!
I tried in vain to click
the link "Allison Kaftan",
but I kept receiving an
error message, "Internet
Cannot Display...." My
I.E. is 7.1 Version.
Q,
You said it - CONSTRUCTIVE criticism! Anonymous, that is what I am referring to. Allison failed to offer what is positive or good about the book and offer what could be improved. Instead, she harshly destroyed the book. "6 pages and I wanted to throw the book in the trash." That is NOT constructive criticism, folks.
She could instead say, "After 6 pages, I came to realize the book is not at its best. What it could use is deeper character developments and services of the editing process at a publishing house. It is much more enjoyable to read a book that is not rife with grammatical errors. It may be that a publishing house services cost money but they sell his book in much more quantity so it would turn in more profits than losing money on the service."
This is pretty much the review she should have written. That was not what she wrote.
Yes, book reviews are routinely done but in much more professional manner than Allison Kaftan had. I'd like to hear what is good about the book as well as knowing that the book could use a publishing house services. Grammatical errors does not change the value or reading worthiness of a book - it is the substance of the book that sells.
Stephen King writes in a weird fashion and his grammar is rather simple and yet he is a bestselling author. John Grisham specializes in legal drama and his grammar is also simple, yet his books manage to find their way into movie theaters. Their characters development are also rather superficial and simplistic...One doesnt need to write fancy English or psychoanalysis on characters to sell a book.
Neither Stephen King nor John Grisham were English majors. They used publishing house editors.
You're comparing Egbert's book to something written by a child or something written by someone who is developmentally disabled? Wow -- that's really flattering! Allison was reviewing a book written by a supposedly capable adult, and not a child. The expectations are different. Part of being an adult is being able to accept criticism. If he can't then he should only make copies of his books for those who wish to delude themselves into thinking that the work is good. Actually, Allison was doing him a favor. A book so poorly written would never be reviewed by any major publication.
Jean,
Sorry my link didnt work on your server. I guess you can scroll down on deafread to DeafDC blog and find the post Allison wrote - her name is headlined.
Here are some comments from a few of the
folks who’ve read my book, “MindField”:
Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed Mindfield. The story is a compelling tale that puts a unique spin on terrorism. It really made me think about what would happen should a large part of the population go suddenly deaf and how everyone would react to this situation.
Most of the entertainmnet we see or read regarding deaf people shows them as token handicapped characters. By contrast, your book portrays deaf people as sensitive heroes that are not handicapped at all! I hope many people get a chance to read Mindfield, because the story really brings to light the way the hearing world views deaf culture.
Eric Rankin, Writer
My name is Julie Storck and I am a student at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, as well as a tutor for the American Sign Language department there. I recently read the MindField and would like to encourage others to take the time to do the same. MindField enlightens the world of Deaf and hearing culture without any “preachy” undertones.
I like that the author chose to write a fictional book to express his views. It allows the reader to truly become engaged in the subject. One doesn’t even realize that they are learning while they enjoy reading this novel.
I think the best part of this book is that it allows the reader to question his or her current way of thinking. A hearing reader may begin to realize how much hearing individuals and organizations rely on hearing. As many individuals in this book become deaf questions start to arise such as “how would I feel if I was deaf?”, “would I be limited?”, “how would I communicate with family and friends?”, “how would I want others to treat and view me?”. I think these are all important questions so that one may come to a better understanding and respect for Deaf culture.
MindField also displays some of the techniques hearing individuals use to “improve” deaf people. American Sign Language, although becoming more popular, was often shunned and oral education and other “cures” pressed upon individuals. Even in times of emergency when much of the population in this book was becoming deaf, no deaf individuals were included in the “recovery process”. What a perfect resource…left untouched. Issues like this are addressed indirectly throughout the story.
MindField is filled with suspense and enjoyment while still addressing an important issue. Enjoy!
Julie Storck
I just finished your book and I loved it. Thank you so much for the book, I will give it to my wife to read next.
Kirk Boyer
What a great story it turned out to be! CONGRATS. We will need to continue to find ways to broaden this project so we have hundreds of you around the U.S. Thank you very much!
Larry Bos
John Egbert’s MindField is a must read novel. Some of the best and boldest writing about what if our nation turned deaf? Hilarious and relevant, full of political games and yet passionately honest, this book represents the best of contemporary Deaf literature.
I sat on the edge of my chair, immersing myself in everything in it. All roads in this book lead to The White House where they get educated about the language and culture of the Deaf, namely, American Sign Language, and its communication antitheses. Imagine listening to this media presentation: “Most of you are newly deaf.”
From Audism to Oralism, John Egbert introduces numerous stereotypical terms not found in contemporary dictionaries and encyclopedia. No one’s ever written this way about the real Deaf world before. Maybe it was because no one’s ever understood.
Carl Schroeder, Owner of Kalalau’s Korner
Hi - I got your autographed book as a Christmas gift from my parents, Bonnie Jo and Steve Gemmill. Just wanted to drop you a note to let you know I really enjoyed your book. Just finished it this morning. Grin. Hope you will write more of the same - I’m a sucker for conspiracy theories.
Stevie Naeyaert
Read my MindField book and have your own unbiased review or comment.
John Egbert
Thanks for the post of your readers' book reviews! Can I copy and paste it onto my front page blog? To level the field with Allison Kaftan.
I read the review, and I thought it was harsh - but if it was her honest review, does it have to be adjusted because Egbert was deaf?
I have never like harshly critical public reviews of anything. It's like attacking a person to attack something they put so much time into.
Her comments might have been more useful had she offered to help him by editing the second edition, probably what I would have done, but really - that's not what review is about.
I almost wonder whether you are doing the same thing to her?
Cy,
The reader's testimonials was in my website for the world to see. You may do anything with it.
John
Bill,
To quote Amy Cohen Efron who commented on the DeafDC blog's entry on Allison's post, "Tone it down." Ditto.
Basically that is the message I am trying to convey. Just tone it down and offer constructive criticism.
To quote my husband, Allison invested so much emotion into her book review that it was so lengthy and boring thus her message became weak and faded out. This is the case in point...her entry on Minefield book review reflected her potential as an author and I'd say she flopped.
As to your inquire whether I was basically also crab-dragging Allison...perhaps so. I am cheering on John Egbert for him to reach the rim of the pail while dragging down the likes of Allison. If that is any good at all?? Should I cheer every member of the deaf community regardless?
Cy,
I enjoyed your vlip (short for video clip) and your good intentions behind it.
I do agree with you that Allison went too far. Why waste our time focusing on negativity? She should focus on something that she loves then she can write something about it.
Out of curiosity, has Allison Kaftan done a book review on Tom Bertling's books? Four Gallaudet researchers and I were asked to review his book, "A Sacrifice to Deaf Culture" (1994). When he learned that we were about to write a paper on his book, he recanted his story without any explanation. Because of no progress, the public school teacher advised Bertling's mother to transfer Tom to a residential school for the deaf. In the book, Bertling expresses his bitterness about the transfer. He is an advocate of CI and has endorsed Dr. Balkany for CI in some deaf children, and, in turn, Dr. Balkany has endorsed Bertling's subsequent book whose title has escaped me at the moment.
Rene,
I second. One should look at
ideas, not at grammar.
Cy, you got it right. But again, knowing Ali for some number of years -- it is typical of her to do that.
But you got it right. She could have done much better than that.
R-
Jean,
I confess I am not familiar with Tom Bertling or Dr Balkany. I've heard Bertling's name on occasion. Would you care to elaborate?
Because there are so few deaf authors like you said, there is more room for critiques of this nature to address mechanical errors and flow of story confusion, even though the book was self-published. It's a start, and John Egbert did welcome critiques from all over, sending books to bloggers. I'm not sure if Allison was summoned to critique the book, but there are certain guidelines critics follow to address certain areas. I agree that mechanical errors should be overlooked and to focus on the story itself, how the diction and delivery serve the reader, but Egbert did welcome this himself, spreading word out about his book on his own. I don't think it's crab theory. In fact, I think Allison is actually doing us all a favor - raising the bar?
What bothers me the most this critic understood what the story is about instead attacks the writer's on silly Spoken English's "'s," "," ";" which is so irrelevant. The story is the message. It's like signing the story and that critic interrupts to say to this Deaf writer "You did not say "and" or "however" while everyone in the room gives her an evil eye.
Maybe it is the critics intend to divide deaf from Deaf. Why? Look what happened after the AG Bell demonstrations and this critic was ready to put a Deaf man down in disguise pretending to be a literally critic. Deaf Americans will remember this critic who will pay for this one day. Revenge is BEST when served cold.
Todos, what Ali did was not to raise the bar. She did it to spit at John. Let's face the reality: You don't know who she is. I do. I deal with her for about 5 years. She is manipulative and cunning when she wanted to.
Often, she would think that she's the best writer. Whenever someone beats her, she went nuts.
But that is so HER. So after reading few paragraphs, I see Ali's true snake coming out. I stopped reading it. It was not a good review. It was such a malicious review.
John Egbert is not perfect. I already mentioned it on my blog. I already explained that there is a room to improve. But what Ali did was malicious.
R-
In Addition...
This critic teaches English at Gallaudet University. This is not the kind of attitude we want from a teacher who thinks they are better than Deaf people.
What Gallaudet needs to do is give this critic a pink slip that says "Termination with cause." This will help Gallaudet move to the next level.
Anonymous,
My! She teaches at Gallaudet?? Not a good role model.
Todos,
Ridor and I don't always see eye to eye but this time I have to agree with him...Allison is not raising the bar but being malicious.
ok, guys! I guess everyone needs to have a nice critic. :-)
Todos,
A critic does not have to sugarcoat but s/he can "thumb-down" a book constructively rather than putting down the author or the book, deflating the self-esteem of the author, belittling or poohing the worthiness of the book...you get the idea.
We get the idea that the book is rife with grammatical and typo errors, perhaps lack in character development, and one says it is predictable, perhaps because she is deaf herself and probably had heard of the plot before. These are not a put-down but facts in aconstructive way. The upside of the book is it is unique to the mainstream soceity, offers a perspective from the other side of the coin, and an insight into the facet of the author himself.
A nice critic, I think, is an oxymoron! :)
Anonymous:
Those who criticise deaf people's
English have no business to teach
at Gallaudet! Or at any schoolfor the deaf, for that matter.
We, deaf people, wanted to fire Truman Stelle, a professor of English because he had a vast and
huge audacity to proclaim that
deaf-born people cannot write a
correct sentence.
Ironic as it may sound, Stelle
failed his dissertation in English not only once but TWICE!
What a joy when he decided to
retire early. Good riddance,
Truman Stelle!
Back to square one, I find it
utterly disbelievable that Allison Kaftan, a critic of Egbert's work, has criticised
Egbert's work. She should have been fired at the spot if untenured!
(shaking head, in disbelief)
To Anonynous at 10:52 AM:
Having investigated on
www.gallaudet. edu, I could
find no name Allison Kaftan
as a member of the English
Department.
Jean,
Thank you for doing some checking. I confess I should have done that when this person informed me Kaftan teaches at Gallaudet. Does Gallaudet list all faculty? She may be an associate or something which may be why she is not listed?
Anyone who personally knows Allison? So far, I know Ridor does. Let's see if he comes back and reads about Allison's status at Gallaudet.
I looked up Gallaudet website. I found Allison Kaftan's name under awards she won for writing on Women's Studies under Government and History. She does not appear to be on faculty and the website only lists faculty including associate professors but it does not list staff members which Allison may be. Her husband, if I am correct, is Chris Heuer, and he is on faculty at Gallaudet in the English department. Gallaudet departments do have staff working with faculty but they are not listed on the directory.
So, it is not certain whether Allison teaches at Gallaudet.
Christopher Kaftan is her husband (see their pix on DeafDC).
Jean
Oops. I thought I saw this info somewhere that a Chris Heuer was her husband....Guess I was mistaken.
Jean Boutcher said:
". . . Four Gallaudet researchers and I were asked to review his [Tom Bertling's] book, "A Sacrifice to Deaf Culture" (1994). When he learned that we were about to write a paper on his book, he recanted his story without any explanation. . . ."
Care to back this comment up with some evidence? According to Mr. Bertling, he has never recanted anything, anywhere to anybody having anything to do with any of the 6 books his works appears in.
There is no news report ANYWHERE on the net of Mr. Bertling recanting something in his books. In fact the ONLY person making the claim is YOU.
This squarely places the burden on you, Jean Boutcher, to provide evidence to support this statement you have made here and elsewhere on the net.
I might remind readers that Jean Boutcher has made a number of HUGE factual errors in the past regarding Mr. Bertling, including which deaf school he attended and and a reference to an incorrect "alma mater" regarding his "Statesman Journal" [Salem, Oregon] letter.
With elementary factual blunders like these, we should be very skeptical of claims from Jean Boutcher.
Thank you for your time.
Oh, yeah, books should mainly be judged on contents. Excellent English prose means nothing if the author has nothing to say.
Remember that people with poor English skills may have a compelling story that needs to be told -- sometimes known by only those poor English skills.
Mainstream media is mostly disinterested in deafness-related material (no money to be made), so if a deafness-related book publishes a book via the roundabout way, a bit of leeway should be given.
(PS: Deaf writers: Hire a copy editor. But if you can't create compelling content, nothing will make the book readable.)
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