In which I read my review of Reader for Hire by Raymond Jean via @Annecdotist

About the author and blogger ...

Anne Goodwin’s drive to understand what makes people tick led to a career in clinical psychology. That same curiosity now powers her fiction.
A prize-winning short-story writer, she has published three novels and a short story collection with small independent press, Inspired Quill. Her debut novel, Sugar and Snails, was shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize.
Away from her desk, Anne guides book-loving walkers through the Derbyshire landscape that inspired Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.
Subscribers to her newsletter can download a free e-book of award-winning short stories.

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In which I read my review of Reader for Hire by Raymond Jean

14/6/2015

10 Comments

A novella about the pleasures of reading aloud and being read to demands a review in the same vein. And an audio review gives me the opportunity to get in some much-needed practice in performance – not to mention the chance for another fiddle with YouTube – in preparation for reading in public from my own novel. My review takes just under eight minutes. However, if you prefer to read it for yourself, you can download a print version below. Your feedback on any aspect of the content or its delivery will be much appreciated.

reader_for_hire_review_download.docx
File Size:	20 kb
File Type:	docx

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10 Comments

Kate Evans

15/6/2015 02:16:43 am

Enjoyed the delivery, Anne, well done, and impressed that you've got the skills to do something like this. I have my presentation on crime writing which I want to edit to put on YouTube and it's still waiting to be done. However, you are spurring me on...

Annecdotist

15/6/2015 05:59:26 am

Thanks, Kate. I haven't yet tried editing – that's the next step on the learning curve – so I'll be interested in how you get on with yours. Otherwise, I haven't found YouTube difficult at all, it just takes a long time to upload.

Kimmie link

15/6/2015 02:39:10 am

Thought provoking...indeed, and that just based on your review. I'm unsure as to whether I want to read this story, or run a mile from it...I think curiosity may dictate the first mentioned.

I really enjoyed your review Anne...well done! x

Annecdotist

15/6/2015 06:01:12 am

Thanks, Kimmie, it's certainly an unusual book, and relatively short, so you don't have to stay long with it if you don't like it. If you do read it, I'd be interested to know what you think.

Charli Mills

18/6/2015 05:47:10 pm

Bravo, Anne! You have great poise and pacing as a reader. What a treat to get to have a live review. The sound on my laptop can get wonky and I had trouble hearing so I read your document as you did and solved the issue that way. A strange read, but a poised delivery of the review.

Annecdotist

19/6/2015 10:44:19 am

Thanks, Charli, are you sure it's all down to your computer, however? It might be that I didn't enunciate as clearly as I ought to. Will bear that in mind next time just in case.

Sarah link

19/6/2015 03:33:41 pm

I love it! This is fantastic. Loved hearing you read. :-) What an intriguing book. Not sure it's one I'll add to my TBR list but thoroughly enjoyed your review.

Annecdotist

22/6/2015 06:09:59 am

Thanks for listening in, Sarah, glad you enjoyed it.

Norah Colvin link

20/6/2015 01:48:19 am

How delightful to listen to you, Anne. I believe videos are all the rage! Well done! I think it's great to have a practice "performing" in preparation of your book launches. I think when you are talking about your own book with the enthusiasm and excitement of its origins you will do very well. My "advice" (for what it may be worth) would be to not be afraid of sounding excited, of making it fun, of telling what you love about it and how much your enjoyed the process, of what inspired you and the parts you think worthy of note. Everyone will come hoping to hear about an exciting new book to read. It will be your job to convince them how good it is! And I'm insure it is. In a performance you almost need to be "larger than life". Send your book onto the top of their TBR piles. No need for humility here.

Annecdotist

22/6/2015 06:14:51 am

Thanks, Norah, I do appreciate your advice, especially when, having seen some of your videos of you in action, I know that you have great skill in putting your point across. Ali Bacon said on Twitter something similar in relation to this reading being clear but not very well modulated – something for me to think about, although it might sound fairly bland because I wasn't particularly excited about this book. But having watched other local authors talking about their work recently, I totally agree about the need to put the excitement into your voice. It does feel a bit risky – a bit like acting – but I think at least if I've got in my head what I'm aiming for, which you describe so well in your comment, I might at least be going in the right direction.

About the author and blogger ...

In which I read my review of Reader for Hire by Raymond Jean

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