[Rick Mullin]

Well...c'mon. Apparently Susan reviewed Jehanne's book. Which is great! I don't know how well Susan and Jehanne know each other, but they know each other. Their circles appear to me to be concentric. And they should review each other's books at Amazon.

My book did, in fact, get one Amazon review, a glowing review from a supportive friend who is also a poet and an editor of a journal we like and Quincy Lehr and a guy with a reputation who isn't going to just blow smoke in a public forum. I know of one sale prompted by that review. One is probably it, but that really doesn't matter as much as the review itself, which is much appreciated. It is a discussion of the work. I wish it were part of a conversation--that would be cooler than two sales.

Let's not take ourselves too seriously. An Amazon review, which is not the same thing as a review in a journal, can support a friend and a community of friends. No harm in that. And even a kind review gives a potential reader an idea of what the book is about. We all have reputations to consider, and none of us would just blow smoke in public. Further, no one expects anyone to review everything! Stellar reviews can and should be doled out with discrimination.

Personal note: I accept four star reviews.

RM