How do you write your book reviews?

[[deleted user]]

Melodie wrote: "For me, if I rate a book 3-stars it's generally pretty so-so. Lots of people won't rate a book 5-stars unless they think it's "great literature" or the next "great American novel". I don't agree ..."
I agree completely to your reasoning for five stars!

[❂ Murder by Death]

Susan wrote: "Recently, a few mystery writers got into a discussion about reviews after a new author received several reviews which appeared to contradict each other. Some said, for example, they knew immediate..."

I think you're right - if you read a lot of mysteries, you're probably going to pick up on clues, plot devices, characterisations, etc. quicker than someone who has only read a handful. I think, too, everybody has a varying level of reading comprehension; some people absorb the broad strokes, while others might absorb more of the details, making clues stand out more clearly. I absorb just about everything I read, but only about 70% of what I hear. I have never yet guessed the murderer in an audiobook. :)

[Karen]

❂ Jennifer (reviews on BookLikes) wrote: "I (speaking only for myself, of course) do not rate books or write reviews for the sake of the authors. I view writing my reviews as having a chat with friends - what would I say to them if they asked me what I thought after reading a book?

I try to always write thoughtful comments on characters, setting and plot. I always include what I did like, as well as if I didn't like something. I try to include examples if I can (quotes, etc.).

But sometimes, I just don't like a book and I can't say why. Sometimes I finish a book and the best I've got is "meh". When that happens, that's what I'm going to end up saying in my review, and I'm not going to fret about whether or not it's helpful to the author. ..."


Hi, Jennifer! Thanks for the great comments.

I think the fact that you try to write thoughtful comments about your reviews means that they will be helpful to someone, whether it's the author, narrator, or potential buyer. I also really appreciate your respectful approach. If everyone wrote reviews with the same care that you wrote your response here in this forum, authors and narrators would be overjoyed!

In fact, that's the reason I stand by my remark that the review should offer constructive criticism. Whether a reviewer is writing from the heights of wild enthusiasm or from the abyss of negativity, what's the point of writing a review if a person can't say what s/he liked or didn't like about the book? Writing "I liked/didn't like it but don't know why" is not a review; it's an opinion.

Even in a discussion with one's friends, just saying "I liked or didn't like it" wouldn't be enough. Someone who might be interested in the book would almost certainly ask what about it did you like/not like.

Every author and narrator is looking to improve our art with each new offering. We look at reviews for trends, both good and bad.

I'm not trying to tell anybody to write any certain thing or certain way. When you have the courage to put your art out in the world, you know you will get a mix of reactions to it in the reviews. Even the 1-line opinions of "loved it" or "hated it" are valuable because your art made somebody feel something, which is really the point behind creating it.

Thanks for the great discussion!


Cordially,
Karen Commins

[Luffy Sempai]

❂ Jennifer (reviews on BookLikes) wrote: "some people absorb the broad strokes, while others might absorb more of the details, making clues stand out more clearly."

I'm definitely among those people who get only the broad strokes, I just read a book once and move on. I never re read or do research on an author or their time and culture.

But I do enjoy the books that I rate 4 or 5 stars. These are special. Books matter to me because both movies and music have failed me. Books are all I have left.

I review books without nuance and in a way that liberating. I review all genres equally and books that appeal or bring a lot of fun and satisfaction to me are rewarded with a gushing review. Sometimes I'm inspired by the experience and sometimes I suck at reviewing.

My earliest reviews are my best because now I'm so cautious in case I repeat myself. But back when I joined up to 2013 my reviews are good. I sometimes read one of them and go "wow, did I write that?" I love reviewing books even though I'm pretty much hit and miss.

[Polenth]

For any type of book, I will judge it by how well it fits the type of book it's supposed to be. If it's been misrepresented, I will comment on that, and it might stop me finishing it. So I won't be concerned about a horror novel having graphic violence, but it's a negative if a cozy mystery does the same. It bothers me when a book is pushed as being something it's not for sales (like calling it a cozy, giving it a cute cover, but not being a cozy inside). Other readers ought to know that before they consider buying it.

General stuff like whether I enjoyed it will be the same across genres.

[Luffy Sempai]

Polenth wrote: "So I won't be concerned about a horror novel having graphic violence, but it's a negative if a cozy mystery does the same. It bothers me when a book is pushed as being something it's not for sales (like calling it a cozy, giving it a cute cover, but not being a cozy inside). Other readers ought to know that before they consider buying it."

Well said Polenth. I like my cozy mysteries pristine and devoid of too much edgy material.

[Susan]

I rate books by how I feel about them as I read them and at the end. I agree with some of the others where some elements, such as graphic violence, would have a different response from me in a cozy than in another genre.

I also try to avoid rehashing and/or copying the plot summary in my reviews. I find it annoying when people do that; I can look up the plot summary on the same webpage as I found the review itself. I would rather know the person's opinion about the book than have to re-read the summary that was provided on the book (and the webpage) so I stick to that.

[Luffy Sempai]

Susan wrote: "I also try to avoid rehashing and/or copying the plot summary in my reviews."

I also do that, although I don't get irritated with reviews that do do it. Mainly cos I rarely read reviews.

[Dhfan4life]

I review all genres the same pretty much. If the story moved me enough to say something. Then I will write a review. And if it doesn't then I won't. But really has to be something to get me to wanting to spend some extra time talking about it.

[Tracy]

Many of my cozies are similar, but I try to mention the characters names and something that was special or different about the book, without giving away the best parts

[Kim]

I try to write reviews thinking of what I would like to read about a book before spending money or time getting the book. Put me in the camp of being annoyed when someone talks about one thing and gives no details, like "I don't like adultery/homosexuals/period language/something offensive so this book was horrible!" and leaves it at that, or gives it five stars because of the movie.

Most of books I read are reviewed in the same way. I make my base star rating based on if I like it, so something I hated or quit would be 1 star and if I would rave about it to a stranger in a bookstore it would get 5 stars. Then I add or dock a star for my enjoyment of the writing itself. I have been known to quit a book because an author misused commas or made more egregious grammar errors. When I talk about the book and its contents I try to be concise and stick to key points: characters, story, and writing. I add in the mystery and if I figured out what was going to happen when it makes sense. When appropriate I will also argue some points made in a book, mainly in nonfiction but if a fiction author is making a point that is readily evident I will talk about that too.

I just try to give anyone browsing reviews a good snapshot of a book. I love GoodReads and recommend it for readers I know because of good reviewers.