Twitter, unchained

By Mark Shanahan & Meredith Goldstein
Globe Staff
Local author Alice Hoffman, best known for film-adapted novel “Practical Magic,’’ has taken down the angry Twitter posts she wrote about a Globe freelance critic who recently reviewed her new book, “The Story Sisters,’’ less favorably than Hoffman would have liked.
Hoffman called critic Roberta Silman a “moron’’ and said, via Twitter, “Now any idiot can be a critic. Writers used to review writers. My second novel was reviewed by [Anne ] Tyler. So who is Roberta Silman?’’ To answer Hoffman’s question, Silman has published a collection of short stories, three novels, and she’s shopping a forth. Her first short story was published in the New Yorker in 1973.
Silman told us that she was surprised by Hoffman’s reaction to her review, mainly because it wasn’t very negative. “She called me a moron, which my children are going to love,’’ Silman said. “I can’t even say I was upset. I was more amused than upset.’’ Silman said that despite Hoffman’s Twitter callout to fellow writers to bash Silman for the review, she’s received only notes of support from other scribes.
Hoffman, who declined to be interviewed about the Twittergate, did send us a statement. “. . . in the heat of the moment I responded strongly and wish I hadn’t. I’m sorry if I offended anyone,’’ the statement said. “Reviewers are entitled to their opinions - that’s the name of the game in publishing. I hope my readers understand that I certainly didn’t mean to hurt anyone and I’m truly sorry if I did.’’ For the record, Silman is not on Twitter.