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| A mouse photo by coxy |
Mice, given many alternatives, almost always opt for a path that other mice have gone down before. I know this because I read scientific research.* Part of the experiment involved presenting the decision-making mouse with many inviting openings where only one hole had been "seeded" with a mouse turd. The turd-seeded passage was the most popular choice. (I could call them bio-organic communication bundles, because that's what they are. Turd is shorter. If I were more diligent, I could probably turn turd into a meaningful acronym related to communication.)
Few were the out-lier mice who would just shrug their little mousey shoulders and go in any ol' hole.
I don't pretend to be one of those boldly-go-where-no-mouse-has-gone-before mice. I trust the turd myself--particularly when faced with the delightful surplus of books to read, music to hear, films to watch, video games to play, apps to use...all those choices. I read reviews. They help me make my decisions.
That brings me to my new situation. My work is at the receiving end of reviews. They are not always glowing.
Last night I dreamed† that one of my first-year-of-college-housemates had read The Freak Observer and really didn't like it. She had a lot to say. The book is depressing for one thing--and she hates the main character: "She won't change anything. She could at least change her name. Something like Weezie Geazer would be good."
This is a perfectly legitimate review of my book. So are the negative reviews that appear here and there in the waking world. Some mice would not enjoy reading my book; they deserve fair warning.
But other mice will find it delightful. If I'm lucky, those mice will leave a little invitation to other like-minded mice.
For my part, I am committed to spreading some invitations around here and there. It's part of my mousey responsibility.
This is a perfectly legitimate review of my book. So are the negative reviews that appear here and there in the waking world. Some mice would not enjoy reading my book; they deserve fair warning.
But other mice will find it delightful. If I'm lucky, those mice will leave a little invitation to other like-minded mice.
For my part, I am committed to spreading some invitations around here and there. It's part of my mousey responsibility.
*I will not be giving you the citation because I read this a very long time ago. Also, I am not compelled by the ethics of proper behavior at the moment. But I did read it. This I am not making up.
†It was not my only dream of the night. Here are a couple more: 1) An earnest looking boy with a clipboard wants me to sign on with the future wave of Feminism. He says, "We have nine months to recover 270 months of change." 2) I'm hiking when I encounter three gorillas. I have the presence of mind to shake the bushes and hoot at them. Apparently that's the recommended course of action because nothing bad comes of it.
†It was not my only dream of the night. Here are a couple more: 1) An earnest looking boy with a clipboard wants me to sign on with the future wave of Feminism. He says, "We have nine months to recover 270 months of change." 2) I'm hiking when I encounter three gorillas. I have the presence of mind to shake the bushes and hoot at them. Apparently that's the recommended course of action because nothing bad comes of it.
SO what you're saying is those "mice" that read your book and give you a good review are those that boldy-go-where-no-mice have-gone-before? I can live with that. Your book is different, but true to life. Life isn't just a bunch of roses and some people have it way worse than others.
ReplyDeleteLoved the Analogy!
Any reader who takes a chance on a debut author is a go-boldy mouse. Like you, very bold. Without those risk takers and the *ahem* "assessments" they leave behind, a book will never find an audience.
ReplyDeleteThank you Stephanie.
Mice are not very discriminate as to where they leave their turds. Not sure if in Turd we Trust is the right motto.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMichele, But mice *are* very discriminating in their choice of path and portal.
ReplyDeleteNote to self: scatological metaphors must overcome additional barriers to convey message.
Firstly, how could I resist a blog post titled, Mouse Turd Theory of Popularity? The answer is I couldn't.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, I wonder what mice do when confronted with multiple paths, each seeded with little communication bundles? How do they choose which turd to follow? Turd selection, like book selection, is subjective. Not every mouse's turds are to every other mouse's liking.
Wow. That sounds like mouse pop psychology, doesn't it?
Blythe, don't even read those trollish reviews. I know what I'm talking about, and your book is awesome. Really, it's MY subjectivity that matters most. :)
I'd be afraid to read the books that are liked by a person who would give a bad review to The Freak Observer.
ReplyDeleteWhat KLM said. If mice seek out familiar mouse-turdy pathways, surely they prefer some to others if presented with multiple choices. Might they prefer alpha mouse turds that guide them to the superior holes.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read your book yet, but it's among the top ten on my list, and if you could see my list, you'd be impressed. It got bumped up there way back when, when I read that it was short on prom dresses and tall on (I believe) slaughtered chickens. That captured my attention straight off the bat.
Life can be pretty depressing. What we need is books that help us make sense of depressing things and find the funny side of them. I'm guessing yours is that sort of book.