Author Alice Hoffman Criticizes Book Critic on Twitter

Posted on June 29, 2009

The L.A. Times Jacket Copy reports that author Alice Hoffman used her Twitter account to vent her frustrations about a review of her book, The Story Sisters, in the Boston Globe. Alice Hoffman felt the critic's review gave away too much of the plot from her novel.

But the vitriol Hoffman used to express her dissatisfaction was extreme. "Roberta Silman in the Boston Globe is a moron," one tweet began. "Now any idiot can be a critic," stated another.
At first, Hoffman defended her right to express herself any way she wanted. "Girls are taught to be gracious and keep their mouths shut. We don't have to," she wrote, and then continued a minute later: "And we writers don't have to say nothing when someone tries to destroy us."
That's not all: Hoffman tweeted Silman's phone number and e-mail address, encouraging readers to "Tell her what u think of snarky critics."

It's probably going too far to tweet the book critic's home phone number but the email is there in the review.

Jacket Copy says Alice Hoffman's Twitter account (which was @AliceHof) has been deleted. Alice Hoffman left the following formal statement through her publicist.

I feel this whole situation has been completely blown out of proportion. Of course I was dismayed by Roberta Silman's review which gave away the plot of the novel, and in the heat of the moment I responded strongly and I wish I hadn't. I'm sorry if I offended anyone. Reviewers are entitled to their opinions and that's the name of the game in publishing. I hope my readers understand that I didn't mean to hurt anyone and I'm truly sorry if I did.
Best,
Alice Hoffman