Posted on 12/16/2006 4:24:23 PM PST by LibWhacker
A book reviewer on a Swedish newspaper has got himself into hot water for writing a review of a book that has not been written. To make matters worse, Kristian Lundberg claimed the book's plot was "predictable" and said the characterisations were one-dimensional.
Lundberg made the comments in Helsingborgs Daglad, in an article about recently published thrillers, reports Dagens Nyheter. Among those he reviewed were Britt-Marie Mattsson's novel 'Fruktans Makt' (The Power of Fear).
Unfortunately for Lundberg, while the book had been advertised in publisher Piratförlaget's autumn catalogue, Mattsson never actually got round to writing it.
The newspaper has made an "unreserved apology" to Mattsson. Lundberg's apology was more qualified. He told Svensk Bokhandel magazine that he had "got worked up in advance about Britt-Marie Mattsson because I detest her so very greatly. But let's hope the book is published so I get the chance to say it for real."
Mattsson has not yet made her views on the subject known. But Piratförlaget's spokesman Mattias Boström said it confirmed what they'd suspected about reviewers.
"We've known for a long time that reviewers skim-read books, but know we know what really happens," he told Dagens Nyheter.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
Thought this was about O.J.'s "If I Did It"
Liberals do this all the time. If a book or movie is by a conservative, why bother to read or watch it, just trash it.
He doesn't sound the least bit embarrassed at being caught out. Let's hope that he doesn't get the chance to lie about any other books. He sounds a lot like certain network news people.
The author should create a character named "Kristian Lundberg" and be sure to make all kinds of nasty things happen to him.
Good. But the reviewer violated the basic rules: he should have praised the book graphics [especially if there is none], and have ended up with the phrase "well, even the less literate and worse stuff has been published". Under these conditions the review, even of a nonexistent book, becomes foolproof, for then the onus is shifted on the writer - to produce [and get published] the absolutely least literate and worst book ever, just to prove the reviewer wrong. And although many writers are unsparing of themselves in this quest, the success in it is very much elusive.
Fake but accurate.
LOL
Har! This sounds like something you would expect from the New York Times.
Maybe Dan Rather helped him write his review.
Well this sounds like an Associated Press, Reuters or New York Times moment.
Jason Blair is back in "service" I know, but this seems to be another fine mess they have gotten into.
Here's a NY Times story for you, Lancey:
Those who have seen the 1983 movie "A Christmas Story" know Jean Shepherd as the voice of Ralph Parker as an adult. Others who grew up in the New York Metropolitan area during the 50's, 60's and 70's may recall the nightly radio show he did on WOR 710AM five nights a week for forty-five minutes and the two-hour Saturday night "Live at the Limelight" shows.
SNIP
But it was in 1956 that Shep drew attention by having his "Night People" followers go into book stores all over the city asking for the book called "I Libertine" The book ultimately made the New York Times Best Seller List before ever being printed [or written]. At this point he worked with Ted Sturgeon and Ballantine Books, to come up with the story and write the book.
SNIP
Another stunt he liked to pull, was the hurling of invectives. He would instruct his listeners to place their radios in the open window of their house and turn the volume way up. He would then yell over the radio things like, "You filthy pragmatists, I'm going to get you!"
SNIP
Ted Sturgeon (Splend is a many Lovered Thing) bump! I miss him and the other greats of sf that I grew up reading, Poul Andersen (Nicholas van Rjiin), Kornbluth (Marching Morons), Laumer (Retief), and so on, ad astra!
So much for the European press!
I remember such a moment but with a twist.
When David Schippers' book "Sellout" was published the MSM employees received it warmly. It had been described as critical of Republicans vis-à-vis the impeachment and Senate trial of BJ.
The MSM employees assumed that it concurred with their opinions and favorable mini-reviews appeared on the wire and in "news"papers. Even the ultra-liberal, "9/11 was partly our fault" Sacramento Bee Ess carried a favorable AP story. The "reviewers" projected their opinions of the Republicans' "mistreatment" of Clinton, as I remember it.
Then one of the MSM employees read some of the book. End of the MSM's association with long-time Chicago Democrat Mr. David Schippers. "Sippers? Who? Oh! Him. That nasty bigot."
I have been searching for that for the last 5 years. What is the actual title of the work?
The reviewer has a future with CBS now that Dan Blather is gone!
NYT would nominate him for a Pulitzer. But the guy is a Swede. Give him a Nobel For Literature.
yitbos
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