Timewaster's Guide Archive
Local Authors => Matthew Buckley => Topic started by: Firemeboy on June 20, 2005, 11:49:14 AM
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My first unofficial review comes from a fellow author on another web site...
You can read the review here. (http://chickenarmpits.blogspot.com/2005/06/my-first-review.html).
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That's great! That's what you want to hear--that the people who actually read it like your book. Congrats! ;D
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So, I'm in a book store up in Logan, and they had an LDS section 'top seven' section. I'm not sure why it wasn't top ten, or top five. Anyway, my book was sitting on this shelf between numbers 3 and 4. This surprised me because I've been watching as I go to the Seagull and I haven't even cracked the top ten.
So, I couldn't help it and asked the clerk. "Is this book really doing that well?"
She looked a little embarrassed and said, "Well, actually those numbers don't really mean anything. We just put the new stuff there..."
I thought it was quite funny...
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heheheheh. Yeah, that is funny.
You caught them in their lie
LIES I TELL YOU!
sort of like when I type "lol"
I'm not usually laughing out loud.
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I am. At you. ;)
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aw, you're just saying that because all the girls do.
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That's great! I wish the New York Times list didn't feel like the same thing sometimes....
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It feels like lies?
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Yeah. Dave, in his class, made us feel very suspicious of the NYT list. You see, they don't have access to actual sales numbers. So, they just kind of choose which books they thing will--or sometimes should--be bestsellers that week. They do send out some polls to ask booksellers, but they're things like "If this list is wrong, let us know."
It sounds more nefarious than it is. The truth is that they just have had to guess because there hasn't--until recently--been a good way to track book sales. (Because of the return policy, among other things.) Plus, they sell to a certain audience, and they want to show that audience the kinds of books that audience would be interested in. (Or, in other words, show that audience which books they should be reading so that they can look good in their social circles.)
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A self-fulfilling book list. If you keep a book on the NYT best sellers list for long enough, it will eventually sell a lot of books.
Interesting, I had no idea that was the case.
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Always suspect everybody.
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Always suspect everybody.
Advice from someone in the secret society that chooses what books are bestsellers.
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Here's one that got posted to the AML (Association for Mormon Letters) email list.
Review
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Title: Chickens in the Headlights
Author: Matthew Buckley
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Genre: Fiction
Year Published: 2005
Number of Pages: 206
Binding: Quality paperback
ISBN: 1-59156-852-8
Price: $14.95
Reviewed by Jeffrey Needle
The subtitle of the book gives you an idea of what's coming -- "A funny thing happened on the way to growing up." Growing up indeed.
The main character of this amusing story is Matthew Buckley. The author's name is Matthew Buckley. Hmmmm, you think there's a connection? Could this be autobiographical? It's never made quite clear that the events described in this book actually happened to Buckley. Frankly, I hope they did. The story's just too good to be made up. (The author's note indicates that Matthew the author grew up with eleven siblings, including one girl, different from the Matthew character in the book.)
Matthew is one of seven boys in the Buckley family. They live in Utah on what ought to be a farm, but isn't. Growing vegetables isn't a talent any of them seems to have. Mom and Dad are good parents, but they have their hands full with this bunch of rowdies. Every day seems to be filled with feeding, changing, washing, and conflict resolution. Mom's a real champ.
Dad, on the other hand, comes across as a rather nerdy type -- he's a scientist with NASA, has a plastic pocket protector and everything else that just shouts "square." He tells jokes that no one laughs at but himself. But he's a loving father, and a good provider for his family.
One summer Dad makes a grand announcement -- the children have been wanting actual animals to care for, other than their old dog. Dad decides to erect a coop of sorts and obtains several dozen chickens and two goats. And so the nightmare begins.
Ever try telling a goat to do something it didn't want to do? Ever try reaching under a chicken to get its eggs? And have you ever chased a chicken around the yard until you could catch it and return it to its coop?
If so, then you'll identify with the travails of these brothers.
The children, and indeed the parents, learn there's more to keeping up with livestock than they had originally thought. In chapter after chapter, the interaction among the kids, and between the kids and the animals, is just hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud!
Having grown up in New York City, I had no basis for identifying with these kids. But I did grow up with two brothers, and I know how difficult it was for our parents to keep us under control. I simply can't imagine what it would be like to raise seven boys!
Some of the comments from the boys seem a bit bizarre -- they appear to be inordinately interested in things adults find, well, yucky. From what I can learn from my neighbors, this is very realistic.
From the outset, Buckley carries the story very well, taking us through the last days of the school year, summer vacation and the annual visit to grandma's house in California (another hilarious episode), and finally the adoption of the chickens and the mules. And sprinkled throughout are bits of folksy wisdom, all leading to a marvelous conclusion.
This is great summer reading, something that can be shared with the kids.
What a wonderful read. This is light, easy reading, intended mainly to amuse, and secondarily to instruct. I really enjoyed this book, and hope that Buckley will continue writing.
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Jeff Needle
Association for Mormon Letters
[email protected]
[email protected]
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Thanks, Skar!
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FLAWLESS VICTORY![/size]
:)
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Another Review (http://www.ldsfiles.com/features/feature?id=1459_0_14_0_C)...
There have been a lot of LDS reviews, but I was wondering why there haven't been any other religions review it. Then I came across this (http://www.glpics.com/firemeboy/chickens1.jpg).
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What the . . .? You gotta explain that one.
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You'll notice the top of the sign says "www.churchsigngenerator.com"
Explained? hmmmm?
That one should have gone in the cool stuff found on the internet thread for sure. Well... in addition to here.
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Another review (http://www.meridianmagazine.com/books/050725novels.html)...
I'm doing my last books signings this week. I'll be down in Utah County this Saturday.
30-Jul - American Fork- Seagull 10:30a-12p
30-Jul - North Orem - Seagull 12:30p-2p
30-Jul - South Orem - Seagull 3p-4:30p
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I'll be sure to drop by and say hello.
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Your last book signings? :'(
Sad. I wanted to come to at least one, but I've been out of town whenever they were near me.
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I just found out about 5 minutes ago that I may be signing at education week... I'll post here if I am for sure.
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Yep. I will be there. I'll be at the BYU bookstore on August 16 from 2pm-4pm, and then at the South Orem Seagull Book Store on August 18th, from 5:30-7:30.
Maybe I'll run into Brandon again.
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The Magazine LDS Living apparently ran something about my book in this month's (or bi-month's, as the case may be) issue. I don't subscribe, and can't find a copy, so I don't know if that is a good thing or a bad thing.
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My parents get that mag. I'll try to get it tonight and read it for you.
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You shuold read it to him over the phone. Yeah?
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Nope. I don't *do* that
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"I really found," *heavy breathing* "Buckleys potty humor" *more heavy breathing * "quite offensive"... *burp*
I could record it and post the audio file to my blog as an official review.
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you could, if you weren't the lyingest liar who ever lied a lying lie!
Oh, and I didn't have time to go get the magazine, but unless something happens, I definitely will tonight.
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ok, LDS Living magazine has a section at the back for reviews of stuff like books, CDs, DVDs, etc (Muppet Show season 1 is featured this month, I am *so* there).
Anyway, there are 2 types of reviews there. THe "long ones" (about 6" of text) and the short ones, two paragraph dealies that get boxed out. Chicken got the short dealy, but it's on the front page of the section, so easily found, and it's very positive. Here's the text:
For the Buckleys, a household of rambunctuous boys all under the age of eleven, days are filled with a lot of running, yelling, food, wrestling, and burping. Every night culminates in an epic bed-time battle. What are a mother and father to do?
If you've ever spent any time around boys, this hilarious and touching story will have you laughing 'til it hurts and fondly remembering some of your own childhood adventures.
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Thanks e...
So about just what they put in the catalog, but I guess any face time is good face time.
Well, except for that shot of me coming out of hooters holding my book in my hand. That was bad face time.