Book Hatin': when a book just isn't "the one" #amreading
So I thought I'd broach another topic today, mainly because I still feel kind of bad for the review I wrote on Monday. I won't mention the book again, but honestly there were aspects of it that deeply bothered me, to the point that I kind of hated the book (not entirely--I'd be hard pressed to hate any book truly, unless it spewed outright racism or some other form of hatred). There were reasons for it, and I thought about just posting a generally generic review of the book but instead decided to post about my issues with it. Basically I kind of bashed it in a way that I normally never do.
As an author, I've definitely come across reviewers that love to bash books, or just tear them to shreds. Some people seem to get their jollies doing this. Honestly, this is not my style. An author put long and hard hours into that book and I like to respect that. If I really don't care for a title I'll put it aside. Books I've been asked to review are a little harder, as I feel obligated to be honest as well as post, but they're more likely to get a less favorable review if I don't care for them, instead of silence. For the most part though, I don't want to fall into the category of people who take pleasure in slamming a book. I know how much time and effort going into writing and it would seem to go against my general rule to be nice.
Of course, there are always limits to this rule. For one, setting an example where someone's actions in the book detail an action that I find reprehensible, yet the character is excused due to some other factor (true love excusing abuse being one). Anything along these lines makes me cringe and likely to be vocal about it. Books that bore me to death might get a less favorable review. In general though, just because a book isn't one that I fall in love with (it's not my "one" or it doesn't speaks to me) is no reason to be negative. Everyone has different tastes and different books speak to different souls. This is something I sometimes long to point out to reviewers online, of my work or others :)
What about you? What might make you leave a poor review of a book?
As an author, I've definitely come across reviewers that love to bash books, or just tear them to shreds. Some people seem to get their jollies doing this. Honestly, this is not my style. An author put long and hard hours into that book and I like to respect that. If I really don't care for a title I'll put it aside. Books I've been asked to review are a little harder, as I feel obligated to be honest as well as post, but they're more likely to get a less favorable review if I don't care for them, instead of silence. For the most part though, I don't want to fall into the category of people who take pleasure in slamming a book. I know how much time and effort going into writing and it would seem to go against my general rule to be nice.
Of course, there are always limits to this rule. For one, setting an example where someone's actions in the book detail an action that I find reprehensible, yet the character is excused due to some other factor (true love excusing abuse being one). Anything along these lines makes me cringe and likely to be vocal about it. Books that bore me to death might get a less favorable review. In general though, just because a book isn't one that I fall in love with (it's not my "one" or it doesn't speaks to me) is no reason to be negative. Everyone has different tastes and different books speak to different souls. This is something I sometimes long to point out to reviewers online, of my work or others :)
What about you? What might make you leave a poor review of a book?
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