Is It Cruel to Give Your Book to a Friend?

Wonder why you give your book 
to your friend, 

 and he or she never 
gets back to you 

or gives you non-feedback?

Look at it from their side:

Aren’t novels all about pleasure? 

And so the deeper the friendship the harder you may find it to begin your friend’s book—

the potential for disappointment enhanced by each heightening degree of affection. 

That stifled inner voice makes another declaration:

 “If I never read it, I'll never be put into a position of having to lie or write something that will hurt my friend. ”


Then, there are the words of Jesus:

 "Truly I tell you," he continued, "no prophet is accepted in his hometown."


When those who know you read your book, they do not read your prose; 

they see the person whom they believe they know.

They also "hear" your voice when they read the dialogue.


Who believes their friend Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt?  

They find it hard to reconcile their image of you to the drama inside your novel.

It comes off unrealistic to them even if to a stranger it would be riveting.


That leads us to critique partners:

Sometimes the longer they know you, the less helpful their advice becomes.

They no longer see your prose as it is but as it was.  

You are no longer a stranger to whom they can be objective.


Finding the right critique partner is as hard as finding the right spouse. 

 And look at the divorce rates these days.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR FRIENDS 

AND YOUR BOOKS?