Russell Kirkpatrick's Journal
Churlishness
23-Feb-2008
I'm constantly amazed by the pettiness, jealousy and sheer bad grace some people exhibit.
New Zealand's foremost opera diva, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, is quoted in today's papers as describing the young Hayley Westenra (who sings light classics) as 'a fake who will not last', who is 'not in my world and never will be.'
'I've had a 40-year career,' she said, 'but these people, two or three years and they're gone.'
This staggers me. What on earth was she thinking? Every professional artist, whether singer, author or painter, can point to someone who has done better with what appears to be less talent. But we keep quiet and get on with it.
Fact is, Hayley Westenra has a very pleasant voice and uses it to sing material far more relevant to the buying public than does Kiri Te Kanawa. Moreover, Westenra pens some of her own songs, unlike the diva. Te Kanawa complains that these young singers haven't been trained - but there's a limited and decining market for the sort of artifice Kiri performs. In her criticism of Westenra she uses the word 'popular' as though it was something to be ashamed of. It's my opinion that there's nothing to be ashamed of in populist art. Why on earth not give people what they enjoy?
Puts me in mind of an unintentionally hilarious email I received yesterday. One of my readers took the time to tell me that my book was 'poorly written, disjointed, childish, and uninteresting', and to 'try harder next time.' What he was saying, in essence, is that the book was not to his taste, but has confused taste with good writing. My book may well not be the best written out there, but judging by the man's email, he's no judge.
Frankly, I write to entertain, not to impress. Kiri Te Kanawa may have trained her voice, but if people would rather listen to Hayley Westenra, that's their prerogative, surely? What I care about is giving readers a good time. If I haven't succeeded, I will indeed try harder. As will Dame Kiri, no doubt.
As for the comments you received Russell, I am once again astounded that people take the time to rubbish authors. This happens a lot as I have learned from various correspondence. If I read something I don't like, well I move on. We all have different taste. To actually pick holes in a book, that lets face it will have been through a series of proof reads and changes and publishers ok to get in print, is amazing? Does he read Mills and Boon??? Oh well let the sales speak for you Russell, I have had more queries about Dark Heart than any of the others so onward and upward......and when you are rubbing shoulders with the elite in the film making world remember me :-)
And that email takes the cake. Firstly, that of all authors he should accuse you of producing "poorly written" books -! I can understand not liking a story, or a style, but with that criticism he shows himself both ignorant and blind. And then to take the trouble to write and say so. Hmm.
I reckon this is a good rule for emailers and bloggers - if you wouldn't say it to someone's face, don't write it. I suspect some people find it so easy to be rude online that they think they should be. They don't see the difference.
Can't say, btw, that I have ever had an email like that from a reader. Yet. For future reference, what's the best answer? Reply politely or ignore?
I am really looking forward to reading book 3.
One wonders what someone who sends emails like this is trying to achieve, apart from the inadvertent betrayal of his own ignorance.
And left it at that. I probably should have ignored it, mind you, but the bare-faced rudeness took my breath away.
I once read a SFF book by a UK author which was set in modern England. I one scene she had schoolboys derriding works by J.K Rowling and Tolkein. Again, jealousy and spite of the success of others.
Russell, I read books for entertainment, escapism and enjoyment and your books deliver these things in spades.
So I say to you, keep writing them and I will keep buying them and to hell with the minority detractors.
My legs have started shivering because I just found out that Dark Heart is coming out soon, I just can't, I just can't, I just can't control my feet.
Path of Revenge is hands down my favourite book, ever.
My mother trained as an opera singer and sung on Dunedin radio in the late 'forties and early 'fifties. I myself trained as a 'boy soprano'(though an inevitable and unfortunate developmental event put paid to that!) I meant what I said about 'artifice'. Opera is a very narrow and artificial art form a million miles removed from the lives of most consumers of music. To argue that Dame Kiri is a 'better' singer than Hayley Westenra is to say that oranges are better than apples. They are better at being oranges, and if you paint an apple orange, it's still an apple.
Hayley Westenra is not an opera singer. I'm certain she doesn't describe herself as one. She does sing arias, along with many other styles. Dame Kiri sings arias far better than Westenra, but Westenra sings opoular music far better than Dame Kiri (her interpretations of 'light' material make me cringe!).
I have no doubt the media has contributed to this unfortunate outburst, but Dame Kiri is media-savvy enough to know to stay away from this sort of comparison.
Linda, go to my news page and listen to my radio interview. I might have mentioned a donkey.