Pjmcdavid’s review of The Consequence of Anna > Likes and Comments
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Same thoughts
I'm 50 pages in and wondering the same thing. I feel like Amazon catfished me.
I came here to see what people thought as well. It's like a badly written children's story.
Definitely AI. And definitely a catfish by Amazon.
What a bizarre experience reading, then skimming this book. It would have been stronger told in fewer words in general. The language issue is a whole other mark against it. It reads like they wrote a book with very limited vocabulary, then sent it through some kind of AI software. example: she refers to a bookshelf as a place to "garrison some tomes."
This bothered me so much I had to look it up. To nominate a book for a Pulitzer Prize, anyone can submit a book for consideration. The process involves creating an account on the Pulitzer Prize website, completing an online entry form, and submitting the book as a PDF. A nonrefundable entry fee of $75 is also required. Essentially it means nothing to be a nominee.
Hello everyone!
This is Kate Birkin, author of The Consequence of Anna, and I am happy to share that I am very real (just ask my mother lol)! Generally I do not engage in threads like this, but since The Consequence of Anna is so near and dear to my heart, I decided in this case I would. Besides, I love talking about my writing, so I hope you receive this message with the same positivity and grace as I am sending it 😊.
First and foremost, artificial assistance was NOT used by me or anyone else in my team. When I first started this project, such tools were not even available. But now that they are, I have no interest in them, whatsoever. So let me be crystal clear on this . . . The Consequence of Anna is 100% a product of my own creative writing. Every single scene, sentence, and word was written by me, and ONLY me. PERIOD. This is true of all my books, now and forever.
Secondly, the enriched vocabulary that started these erroneous assumptions was intended to create an elegant, "Old World" feel to the story, much the way literature used to be written, with a variety of engaging words and vintage images that I carefully hand selected myself. After all, it did take place 100 years ago, a time when writers used beautiful words unapologetically, as was the norm.
With those two burning questions out of the way, let’s now step into Anna’s madness ...
The amount of effort, dedication, creativity, and attention to detail I put into this project was extreme and prodigious, making it the hardest project I have ever worked on, both physically and emotionally. It took years to complete The Consequence of Anna. I wrote it compulsively, passionately, adoringly, tenderly, with such a gentle hand, taking great, loving care in capturing every detail while staying true to the real-life events that inspired it. I wanted it to live and breathe with a heartbeat of its own, with veins running through its pages. Anna’s story affected me deeply, especially the heartbreaking scenes in the mental hospital, and I vividly remember being moved with intense emotion as I wrote them. And yet, in those moments, in a sort of otherworldly way, I felt Anna’s presence with me as I kept writing deep into the night, sensing she was egging me on. “Go darker,” she would whisper in my ear. “Darker still.”
Anna Shahan suffered from three distinct conditions, all of which the medical field knew little about during her day. When writing her story, much research was done to capture the symptoms and behaviors she manifested, as well as the so-called medical treatments they eventually forced upon her. This was not only a laborious task but a very serious one, as respect and accuracy was paramount, not sensationalism. In meticulous layers, I had to create countless scenarios where a woman suffering from severe mental illness still led a somewhat functional life, with the world around her thriving, healthy, and normal, until she slowly unraveled, spiraling into a complete mental breakdown. This was not an easy feat, constructing multiple realities depending on which personality she had at the moment, and what she was experiencing that no one else could see or understand, all the while interweaving a passionate love triangle.
Now let me tell you a little about myself, since some of you seem to be curious. I have been writing for many, many years, independently and with teams of other writers, on special projects, as a freelancer and ghostwriter, and now on my own as a novelist. I absolutely cherish what I do, and I am honored that my work has been enjoyed by millions of readers internationally. I use my writing for good, to highlight the beauty in the world, to emphasize the healing of broken hearts, the bonds of family and the joys of friendship, and the connection we all have as human beings. This is what inspires me and why I create. And to that end, it is critical for me to note how important the message is behind The Consequence of Anna.
Empathy, kindness, and love, and the truly magnificent power and resilience of the human spirit–these are the things that matter most in this world and to me as a writer. They all played a significant part in Anna Shahan’s story of survival, and are the cornerstone tenets of The Consequence of Anna. So please, let’s not forget that.
In conclusion, I do respect everyone’s opinion on Goodreads, which is a wonderful place for readers to interact and discuss the books they’ve read, and a place where everyone should feel safe in sharing their feedback. That said, there is a fine line between opinions and unfounded assumptions, especially when talking about someone’s life work.
My final thoughts are with little Anna Shahan herself. Vulnerable, endearing, adorable. Neurotic, impossible, needy. But oh, so lovable! In a world where knights in shining armor are few and far between, Anna had to rise from the ashes of her former life and become her own. And that is something everyone can be inspired by. When there is no hero to save you, be your own. What a powerful lesson that is!
I hope this message now puts to rest the questions in this thread about The Consequence of Anna. With open arms, I’m sending everyone my warm regards, and I wish you and your families all the best. Happy reading to you! ❤️❤️❤️
Love,
Kate Birkin
“When I cannot see words curling like rings of smoke round me I am in darkness–I am nothing.”
– Virginia Woolf
The fact that the author is so vehemently going on every single comment to protest the fact that is was not written by AI gives me red flags.
Thou dost protest too much...
Hello Tamara,
Kate Birkin here 😊 . . . I hope all is going well with you. I actually agree with you, too. I’m having to be vocal and defend my writing, and to be honest, I wish I didn’t have to. Creating The Consequence Anna was a lot of work, exhausting work in fact, and to now have to explain the process of writing it is, quite frankly, bizarre to me. Especially since I’m so proud of the book and its success. But I understand that the world is changing, and it has put me in a position to assert my identity and defend my creative abilities. After all, wouldn’t you, too, if your life’s work was being wrongly credited to some new technology?
You know, there’s an incredible message about endurance and survival in The Consequence of Anna, and it’s disheartening for it to be blurred by any negativity, especially inaccurate, if not egregious, assumptions. I would like the highlight to be on that message, that women, or men too for that matter, can survive anything, conquer any obstacle set before them, and not only recover but also succeed and feel whole again, finding that precious happiness we all deserve. Just like Anna did.
I respect your opinion, Tamara, and everyone else’s on Goodreads. I think it’s wonderful that so many readers here have a love for books. But please know that I, too, have a love for books, and a love for organic, creative writing, free of anything artificial. In fact, it’s what fulfills my life.
Warm regards,
Kate Birkin ❤️❤️❤️
I think you missed the point. I found this story remarkable and I loved the Australian words.
The Australian words weren’t my problem. It was the use of obscure words that annoyed me. The formal definition of “masticate” says it’s the same as “chew.” Nevertheless, it sounds slobbery. 😝
I thought some of the vocabulary and colloquial phrases really didn't match the story and the ending went on forever.
Agreed! Soooo long to no avail. Kept reading hoping for a breakthrough moment . About 450 pages in, I actually thought the plot might turn to reveal that the whole story was allusion of sorts. Ending predictable.
PJ, I'm with you! I hadn't thought of AI, but YES. That makes total sense. I also find it hard to believe that this is a Pulitzer nominee and is being made into a movie. Yikes.
I agree it seemed AI had rewritten much of it with the most obscure words possible. Repetitious passeges, and I agree it was't just the Australian that was off.
Hi, Kate Birkin here.
I DO NOT use AI. PERIOD. I shouldn’t have to keep saying it, but I will anyway.
I start all my novels on an old typewriter, as a beloved ritual. After the first three chapters, I transfer over to my laptop. That’s as technical as it gets!
And why would I want to use artificial assistance, anyway? Writing is a pure, unadulterated joy for me, sequestered in my hidey-hole, closed off to the world around me, opening the door to another world born of my own imagination. It’s what I live for.
And I’m not alone. Writers who love writing don’t want anything or anyone else to do it for them. We write because we LOVE it. We live and breathe it. Every waking moment, words and characters are swirling around in our heads like buzzing bees. For me, writing is not only a career but also an obsession, and I write up to 8 hours a day. No assistance, no artificial anything. Just me and my laptop, my vivid imagination, my natural born talent, and my love for wonderful stories.
You’re free to not like my writing, but I will continue to defend it and vehemently oppose any egregious claims that I use AI. The truth is, it took a great deal of research, creative skill, emotional energy, and plain hard work to create The Consequence of Anna, and I am very proud of its success.
To the readers who do enjoy my writing, I thank you very much for your kindness and support.
Much love,
Kate Birkin ❤️❤️❤️
This dialogue between the readers and the author is more entertaining than the book. 😊
@Bjdoocomcast.net
Actually I’d have to disagree with you. I loved this book. It’s outstanding and an example of creative writing at its finest. It’s a book about the deaf, disabled, mental illness, racism, and the heartbroken. Subject matter that rarely gets the spot light or any attention.
This book gave me something no psychiatrist or therapist could which is closure about my own mother who suffered from schizophrenia and multi personality disorder. She also died in a mental institution when I was a young girl.
I remember my mother well. She was beautiful with long curly red hair and bright blue eyes. When she smiled at me I thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world. She had this special quality where she could make you feel so special. So loved. And oh how I loved her.
My mother was a mystery to me and the mystery hurt just as much as her death.
I know different people favor different books, and that’s a given, but for me The Consequence of Anna was brilliant.. Not sure about awards but if there was one to be given this book deserves them all.
Susan and Abby,
Thank you so much for your kind words and support. I am very grateful for readers like you who appreciate the hard work, research, and dedication that I put into The Consequence of Anna.
Sadly, these types of attacks are becoming more prevalent now, with many authors experiencing the same thing. It’s bizarre to have to defend my own work against such ridiculous claims. But The Consequence of Anna is a story very near and dear to my heart, and it’s a shame when some miss the beauty and life’s lessons in the book and instead attack the author.
And Abby, I am so very touched and happy that the book gave you a connection to and closure with your mother. You truly understood its purpose when you said, “It’s a book about the deaf, disabled, mental illness, racism, and the heartbroken. Subject matter that rarely gets the spotlight or any attention.” If only everyone could see that!
Much love to you both,
Kate Birkin ❤️ ❤️
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Dezireen
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I'm 50 pages in and wondering the same thing. I feel like Amazon catfished me.
I came here to see what people thought as well. It's like a badly written children's story.
Definitely AI. And definitely a catfish by Amazon.
What a bizarre experience reading, then skimming this book. It would have been stronger told in fewer words in general. The language issue is a whole other mark against it. It reads like they wrote a book with very limited vocabulary, then sent it through some kind of AI software. example: she refers to a bookshelf as a place to "garrison some tomes."
This bothered me so much I had to look it up. To nominate a book for a Pulitzer Prize, anyone can submit a book for consideration. The process involves creating an account on the Pulitzer Prize website, completing an online entry form, and submitting the book as a PDF. A nonrefundable entry fee of $75 is also required. Essentially it means nothing to be a nominee.
Hello everyone!This is Kate Birkin, author of The Consequence of Anna, and I am happy to share that I am very real (just ask my mother lol)! Generally I do not engage in threads like this, but since The Consequence of Anna is so near and dear to my heart, I decided in this case I would. Besides, I love talking about my writing, so I hope you receive this message with the same positivity and grace as I am sending it 😊.
First and foremost, artificial assistance was NOT used by me or anyone else in my team. When I first started this project, such tools were not even available. But now that they are, I have no interest in them, whatsoever. So let me be crystal clear on this . . . The Consequence of Anna is 100% a product of my own creative writing. Every single scene, sentence, and word was written by me, and ONLY me. PERIOD. This is true of all my books, now and forever.
Secondly, the enriched vocabulary that started these erroneous assumptions was intended to create an elegant, "Old World" feel to the story, much the way literature used to be written, with a variety of engaging words and vintage images that I carefully hand selected myself. After all, it did take place 100 years ago, a time when writers used beautiful words unapologetically, as was the norm.
With those two burning questions out of the way, let’s now step into Anna’s madness ...
The amount of effort, dedication, creativity, and attention to detail I put into this project was extreme and prodigious, making it the hardest project I have ever worked on, both physically and emotionally. It took years to complete The Consequence of Anna. I wrote it compulsively, passionately, adoringly, tenderly, with such a gentle hand, taking great, loving care in capturing every detail while staying true to the real-life events that inspired it. I wanted it to live and breathe with a heartbeat of its own, with veins running through its pages. Anna’s story affected me deeply, especially the heartbreaking scenes in the mental hospital, and I vividly remember being moved with intense emotion as I wrote them. And yet, in those moments, in a sort of otherworldly way, I felt Anna’s presence with me as I kept writing deep into the night, sensing she was egging me on. “Go darker,” she would whisper in my ear. “Darker still.”
Anna Shahan suffered from three distinct conditions, all of which the medical field knew little about during her day. When writing her story, much research was done to capture the symptoms and behaviors she manifested, as well as the so-called medical treatments they eventually forced upon her. This was not only a laborious task but a very serious one, as respect and accuracy was paramount, not sensationalism. In meticulous layers, I had to create countless scenarios where a woman suffering from severe mental illness still led a somewhat functional life, with the world around her thriving, healthy, and normal, until she slowly unraveled, spiraling into a complete mental breakdown. This was not an easy feat, constructing multiple realities depending on which personality she had at the moment, and what she was experiencing that no one else could see or understand, all the while interweaving a passionate love triangle.
Now let me tell you a little about myself, since some of you seem to be curious. I have been writing for many, many years, independently and with teams of other writers, on special projects, as a freelancer and ghostwriter, and now on my own as a novelist. I absolutely cherish what I do, and I am honored that my work has been enjoyed by millions of readers internationally. I use my writing for good, to highlight the beauty in the world, to emphasize the healing of broken hearts, the bonds of family and the joys of friendship, and the connection we all have as human beings. This is what inspires me and why I create. And to that end, it is critical for me to note how important the message is behind The Consequence of Anna.
Empathy, kindness, and love, and the truly magnificent power and resilience of the human spirit–these are the things that matter most in this world and to me as a writer. They all played a significant part in Anna Shahan’s story of survival, and are the cornerstone tenets of The Consequence of Anna. So please, let’s not forget that.
In conclusion, I do respect everyone’s opinion on Goodreads, which is a wonderful place for readers to interact and discuss the books they’ve read, and a place where everyone should feel safe in sharing their feedback. That said, there is a fine line between opinions and unfounded assumptions, especially when talking about someone’s life work.
My final thoughts are with little Anna Shahan herself. Vulnerable, endearing, adorable. Neurotic, impossible, needy. But oh, so lovable! In a world where knights in shining armor are few and far between, Anna had to rise from the ashes of her former life and become her own. And that is something everyone can be inspired by. When there is no hero to save you, be your own. What a powerful lesson that is!
I hope this message now puts to rest the questions in this thread about The Consequence of Anna. With open arms, I’m sending everyone my warm regards, and I wish you and your families all the best. Happy reading to you! ❤️❤️❤️
Love,
Kate Birkin
“When I cannot see words curling like rings of smoke round me I am in darkness–I am nothing.”
– Virginia Woolf
The fact that the author is so vehemently going on every single comment to protest the fact that is was not written by AI gives me red flags.Thou dost protest too much...
Hello Tamara,Kate Birkin here 😊 . . . I hope all is going well with you. I actually agree with you, too. I’m having to be vocal and defend my writing, and to be honest, I wish I didn’t have to. Creating The Consequence Anna was a lot of work, exhausting work in fact, and to now have to explain the process of writing it is, quite frankly, bizarre to me. Especially since I’m so proud of the book and its success. But I understand that the world is changing, and it has put me in a position to assert my identity and defend my creative abilities. After all, wouldn’t you, too, if your life’s work was being wrongly credited to some new technology?
You know, there’s an incredible message about endurance and survival in The Consequence of Anna, and it’s disheartening for it to be blurred by any negativity, especially inaccurate, if not egregious, assumptions. I would like the highlight to be on that message, that women, or men too for that matter, can survive anything, conquer any obstacle set before them, and not only recover but also succeed and feel whole again, finding that precious happiness we all deserve. Just like Anna did.
I respect your opinion, Tamara, and everyone else’s on Goodreads. I think it’s wonderful that so many readers here have a love for books. But please know that I, too, have a love for books, and a love for organic, creative writing, free of anything artificial. In fact, it’s what fulfills my life.
Warm regards,
Kate Birkin ❤️❤️❤️
I think you missed the point. I found this story remarkable and I loved the Australian words.
The Australian words weren’t my problem. It was the use of obscure words that annoyed me. The formal definition of “masticate” says it’s the same as “chew.” Nevertheless, it sounds slobbery. 😝
I thought some of the vocabulary and colloquial phrases really didn't match the story and the ending went on forever.
Agreed! Soooo long to no avail. Kept reading hoping for a breakthrough moment . About 450 pages in, I actually thought the plot might turn to reveal that the whole story was allusion of sorts. Ending predictable.
PJ, I'm with you! I hadn't thought of AI, but YES. That makes total sense. I also find it hard to believe that this is a Pulitzer nominee and is being made into a movie. Yikes.
I agree it seemed AI had rewritten much of it with the most obscure words possible. Repetitious passeges, and I agree it was't just the Australian that was off.
Hi, Kate Birkin here.I DO NOT use AI. PERIOD. I shouldn’t have to keep saying it, but I will anyway.
I start all my novels on an old typewriter, as a beloved ritual. After the first three chapters, I transfer over to my laptop. That’s as technical as it gets!
And why would I want to use artificial assistance, anyway? Writing is a pure, unadulterated joy for me, sequestered in my hidey-hole, closed off to the world around me, opening the door to another world born of my own imagination. It’s what I live for.
And I’m not alone. Writers who love writing don’t want anything or anyone else to do it for them. We write because we LOVE it. We live and breathe it. Every waking moment, words and characters are swirling around in our heads like buzzing bees. For me, writing is not only a career but also an obsession, and I write up to 8 hours a day. No assistance, no artificial anything. Just me and my laptop, my vivid imagination, my natural born talent, and my love for wonderful stories.
You’re free to not like my writing, but I will continue to defend it and vehemently oppose any egregious claims that I use AI. The truth is, it took a great deal of research, creative skill, emotional energy, and plain hard work to create The Consequence of Anna, and I am very proud of its success.
To the readers who do enjoy my writing, I thank you very much for your kindness and support.
Much love,
Kate Birkin ❤️❤️❤️
This dialogue between the readers and the author is more entertaining than the book. 😊
@Bjdoocomcast.netActually I’d have to disagree with you. I loved this book. It’s outstanding and an example of creative writing at its finest. It’s a book about the deaf, disabled, mental illness, racism, and the heartbroken. Subject matter that rarely gets the spot light or any attention.
This book gave me something no psychiatrist or therapist could which is closure about my own mother who suffered from schizophrenia and multi personality disorder. She also died in a mental institution when I was a young girl.
I remember my mother well. She was beautiful with long curly red hair and bright blue eyes. When she smiled at me I thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world. She had this special quality where she could make you feel so special. So loved. And oh how I loved her.
My mother was a mystery to me and the mystery hurt just as much as her death.
I know different people favor different books, and that’s a given, but for me The Consequence of Anna was brilliant.. Not sure about awards but if there was one to be given this book deserves them all.
Susan and Abby,Thank you so much for your kind words and support. I am very grateful for readers like you who appreciate the hard work, research, and dedication that I put into The Consequence of Anna.
Sadly, these types of attacks are becoming more prevalent now, with many authors experiencing the same thing. It’s bizarre to have to defend my own work against such ridiculous claims. But The Consequence of Anna is a story very near and dear to my heart, and it’s a shame when some miss the beauty and life’s lessons in the book and instead attack the author.
And Abby, I am so very touched and happy that the book gave you a connection to and closure with your mother. You truly understood its purpose when you said, “It’s a book about the deaf, disabled, mental illness, racism, and the heartbroken. Subject matter that rarely gets the spotlight or any attention.” If only everyone could see that!
Much love to you both,
Kate Birkin ❤️ ❤️
