There's some strange goings-on over in the Reader Reviews for Andrew Davidson's The Gargoyle, released today and well-reviewed at The Washington Post Book World.A few of the comments posted in response to a negative review by "Jack Straw," who some speculate is actually Andrew Davidson himself:
I held out my hands, Steffan, as you lit the match.
Now I'm strung out, broke and tired, like a butterfly on fire.
Couldn't find God in a world of Amazon reviews, couldn't find Satan in a house on fire.
Edited: Be sure to check out Andrew Davidson's comment to this post.
5 comments:
Because I loved The Gargoyle and I've corresponded with Davidson I really, really don't want to believe that it was him. If it wasn't, however, it is definitely someone who has read his book, because that sure sounds like his style to me.
Hi Gwen and Jen,
A friend sent me the link to this blog entry, and I feel that I needed to comment on it myself. One of the problems with the internet is that we're all faceless on it, and it is difficult for anyone to know for sure who is who. But I am Andrew Davidson, the real one, and if you would like to check this fact, feel free to send me an email to verify it at: andrew@thegargoyle.com. I know it's not exactly the same as showing your ID at the door, but it's the best that I can do.
I agree that these are some strange goings-on in the Amazon reviews. By the time that I visited the site, some of the comments from "Jack Straw" had already been deleted, so I don't know exactly how they all read.
I would like to state, categorically, that Jack Straw is not me.
The only public comment I have ever made on a review was in response to the review that ran in Entertainment Weekly. That comment can be found on this blog entry (comment #9):
http://literatehousewife.wordpress.com/2008/08/01/ew-slams-andrew-davidson-and-the-gargoyle/
As my comment illustrates, I hope, I do not have any problem with negative reviews. I fully and freely admit that they're painful to read, but I would never attack a reviewer on the basis of his or her opinion. I learned in elementary school that opinions are not wrong, and it has always been *my opinion* that that lesson was correct.
I do have an Amazon profile, by the way, and in my entire Amazon history, I have only posted one review (of a CD by a Swedish singer named Rebecka Tonqvist). My amazon profile can be found here:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A39TMI32I85FHF/ref=cm_cr_dp_pdp
I have posted more about this in the Amazon discussion that is linked in the article. Please feel free to visit it for more information - including the fact that while most of the comments were posted by Jack Straw, I was in an airplane flying from Winnipeg to San Francisco, on a flight arranged for me by my publishers.
Sincerely,
Andrew Davidson
Writer of the Gargoyle
Gwen,
Thank you for facilitating this issue and putting to rest the foolish actions of "Jack Straw".
Mr. Davidson has responded and done so with great kindness and patience, which is a testament to his personality.
I wish him all the success with 'Gargoyle'.
Steffan Piper
Andrew -
He had your style down pretty well, but I'm so glad that you've confirmed my initial beliefs that it couldn't possibly be you.
Congrats on your amazing book!
Andrew,
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and clear up the Amazon.com review issue. It's a shame that this "Jack Straw" character is out there putting you into this difficult position. Perhaps he's jealous of your success. Congratulations on The Gargoyle. I look forward to reading (and reviewing) the book.
Gwen Dawson
Editor, Literary License
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