tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post6896256659644163778..comments2024-03-14T04:35:06.209+13:00Comments on Beattie's Book Blog - unofficial homepage of the New Zealand book community: Beattie's Book Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01505389626725979100noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-84609781507644254892016-01-28T17:35:22.281+13:002016-01-28T17:35:22.281+13:00For the record, Warwick Roger was never the founde...For the record, Warwick Roger was never the founder of the Metro magazine.He was Metro's first editor. I should know because I along with Bruce Palmer and Clive Curry founded both Metro, North and South and More Magazines. Warwick Roger never had a penny at risk.<br /><br />Mick Mason<br />NelsonMick Masonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-73279584383271922772009-04-06T15:47:00.000+12:002009-04-06T15:47:00.000+12:00I totally agree with you about Warwick Roger. His ...I totally agree with you about Warwick Roger. His reviews are not worth reading. Another great NZ author to add to your list is Ruth Pettis.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-79871615065892687642007-08-31T21:31:00.000+12:002007-08-31T21:31:00.000+12:00What do we make of this bloke then?http://nzbookmo...What do we make of this bloke then?<BR/>http://nzbookmonth.co.nz/blogs/spiro_zavos/archive/2007/06/19/1218.aspx<BR/><BR/>Equally sad?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-29956564500036507122007-08-31T14:26:00.000+12:002007-08-31T14:26:00.000+12:00You know what’s interesting about his comment – he...You know what’s interesting about his comment – he says he bridles every time a book lands on his desk. That is, he’s predisposed to dislike it, taking against it before he’s even read it. He hates the very notion that New Zealand writers are publishing books!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-28493424308090502702007-08-31T14:24:00.000+12:002007-08-31T14:24:00.000+12:00Thanks Minor Key.Just for the record the finalists...Thanks Minor Key.<BR/>Just for the record the finalists in the Best review Pages section of the Montana NZ Book Awards were The Listener, Metro, and Sunday Star Times.<BR/>You make the point about the laziness of his reviews.You may be interested to know that I have received over 40 e-mails on the subject of WR's reviewing since I posted the item yesterday and 11 of them refer to his laziness in reviewing.Beattie's Book Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01505389626725979100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-76886819538890350332007-08-31T13:35:00.000+12:002007-08-31T13:35:00.000+12:00Graham, I couldn't agree more with this post. Work...Graham, I couldn't agree more with this post. Working as a publicist for a publisher over the last few years, I have dreaded reading his NZ fiction reviews. Besides being facile and unnecessarily cruel, they are extremely lazy. I am astounded that North and South are nominated for Best Review Pages at the Montanas each year (this year even instead of the Dominion Post), as their local book reviews destroy any credibility for me. I support reviewers critcising fiction in a constructive and intelligent way - I think this is necessary for our industry - but he should leave this to Paula Morris and David Eggleton etc. His bitterness has no place here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-44605773019665100502007-08-30T17:34:00.000+12:002007-08-30T17:34:00.000+12:00Thanks for this piece by Martin Edmond. MOST inter...Thanks for this piece by Martin Edmond. MOST interesting.Beattie's Book Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01505389626725979100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-55445628903618908052007-08-30T17:23:00.000+12:002007-08-30T17:23:00.000+12:00Critics of Warwick Roger might be interested in th...Critics of Warwick Roger might be interested in this post:<BR/><BR/>http://lucaantara.blogspot.com/2007/08/warwick-roger.html<BR/><BR/>by NZ writer Martin EdmondAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-27799855965030019572007-08-30T15:34:00.000+12:002007-08-30T15:34:00.000+12:00I was amazed that his tawdry piece about paul holm...I was amazed that his tawdry piece about paul holmes in a previous edition was published. Pathetic schoolboy nastiness, or some kind of in-joke between the two of them? I don't know. Don't care either. Either way it was crap. Wouldn't read his stuff anymore either.<BR/>LeeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-72573304825833096142007-08-30T15:12:00.000+12:002007-08-30T15:12:00.000+12:00I did see it and thought it was unprofessional for...I did see it and thought it was unprofessional for a reviewer, not true and rather nasty.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-67560847193342928242007-08-30T15:11:00.000+12:002007-08-30T15:11:00.000+12:00So glad that you responded to this. It’s a pity mo...So glad that you responded to this. It’s a pity more people haven’t.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-65487407387088537052007-08-30T15:10:00.000+12:002007-08-30T15:10:00.000+12:00I have been inundated with names of authors I had ...I have been inundated with names of authors I had omitted which doesn't surprise me. Three names that have been mentioned by three or more individuals are Philip Temple, Barbara Anderson and James McNeish whom I am happy to add to my list.Beattie's Book Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01505389626725979100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-37835052507658265982007-08-30T14:43:00.000+12:002007-08-30T14:43:00.000+12:00Graham, I did see his comments. I usually pick up ...Graham, I did see his comments. I usually pick up N& Sth and read it standing in the supermarket, chortling at Roger's horrid<BR/>acid take on things. His review of Shonagh Koea's memoir was typical. Nine eighths of the book was dyspeptic in the extreme. It came as a complete surprise<BR/>that he actually enjoyed the book at the very end of the piece. <BR/>It's a strange business. NZ film used to be despiced in the local marketplace. The words 'NZ film' were actually seen as a giant turn off for the local audience.<BR/>That has now changed. International success meant local audiences began to 'like' local films. <BR/>But it seems there is still a time lag with NZ fiction. But all it needs is one significant international hit and everybody local falls into line.<BR/>Maybe the Jones boy will do it with 'Mr Pip'.<BR/>It's one of the things with post-colonialism that international appreciation seems to be the avenue through which locals discover their own country.<BR/>Sad but true.<BR/>I think Warwick Roger's strength lies in nonfiction. Possibly he should hand fiction over to someone who actually relishes the beast.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36622997.post-48179337559486316282007-08-30T11:23:00.000+12:002007-08-30T11:23:00.000+12:00He's a bitter, grumpy old man. I don't even bother...He's a bitter, grumpy old man. I don't even bother reading anything he writes anymore....it's not worth the paper it's written on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com