English readers of this blog will know Vanessa well, the ex-TV chat show hosts who turned to radio and now presents an award winning show in London.
What's she got to do with Provence? Today she was chatting about how authors react to criticism. Philosopher Alain de Botton sent an email to the NY Times telling them to F-off after a dreadful review and Vanessa interviewed him about his decision to vent his anger.
By contrast when my first book Extremely Pale Rose came out, it was hammered by the wine critic of the Sunday Times Joanna Simon who seemed to mistake it for a serious book about wine as opposed to a travel book. At the time I felt like sending her a filthy e-mail and as I explained to Vanessa today on her show I'm still furious whenever I think of the woman. So perhaps Alain was right to get it off his chest, then again as far as I am concerned the Sunday Times is a rag whereas the New York Times which called EPR great fun to read is the choice for more discerning people.
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