All Amazon reviews are bogus

[Elaine]

Well all my reviews both on Amazon and Goodreads are genuine! As for being well written, well that is open to debate, I suspect they are probably some of the worst written reviews out there. I don't even know how to gush properly. Having said that, I haven't had a university education and I am not a writer. My only credentials are that I like to read books, and pass on my opinions about them to other readers like me. I will say if there is something about a book that I don't like however, especially if there is something really, really silly in a plot - a couple that sspring to mind are the one where a woman in an American novel got totally ratarsed on shandy. Any Brit will tell you that just isn't possible. The other one was where someone moved into a cottage that had been empty for 50 years and all it needed as a good clean. Things like that, that really irritate me, will always get mentioned.

[Nigel]

Elaine,I feel the same about my approach. We can compete over that 'worst written' title some other time.
Did you ever drink that pop shandy? I tried some a while ago; not bad (though I was a little wobbly after the 150th can).

[Elaine]

Lol shandy pop is what I used to give the kids when they wanted to be 'grown ups'

[Nigel]

I'll keep that in the 'good parenting tips' pile. Tonight I'm hosting child no.2's birthday (and sleeping in the shed as part of the deal while they have the tent in the garden). I'm serving Dandelion And Burdock. Yum.

[Elaine]

Thats the spirit! Hubby has spent many a night in the tent in the garden with the kids over the years. On the plus side, its nice when they think that sort of thing is the coolest party, much better than having to shell out more and more money each year to hire out the best ballpits and best entertainments, just to keep up with what all the other kids do for their parties. Three or four paddling pools in the garden made an awesome party for ours one year.

[Jason]

most people make up their minds about reviews, or take the book at face value.
I have 11 Reviews for The Angel Committee only one is three star the rest are four or five, its a result. The genuine reviews are the ones marked verified purchised.

[A.L.]

Without a doubt there are some bogus reviews but certainly not all. Reviews vary widely and some are more informative than others. They are, of course, an opinion and that opinion may be at odds with the viewer. Given enough time and reviews a wide selection will appear. Look at any well known book, even works by Shakespeare will have those who love and those who hate it.
If you don't rate the reviews there is a simple solution - don't read them and draw your own conclusions.

[Vala]

Saying "all" reviews are bogus would be too far to go.

Some writers do "buy" reviews. I would never do that, even if I did have the money (which I don't!). These sites "sell" reviews but they don't promise glowing reviews. So basically what they're asking for is payment to support the website and its owner, and maybe compensation for the reviewer's time.

Is that really any different than a Hollywood studio giving free screenings for film critics who are paid by magazines, newspapers or online sites to write reviews? Most moviegoers respect the opinions of movie critics, even when they don't agree with them, and those critics *are paid* to do what they do and they see the movies for free.

Also, it's not that hard to tell when someone posts a review of a book s/he hasn't read, is it? I once did a favor for a friend of a friend who asked how he could repay me. I told him "buy a copy of my book and, if you'd like, write an honest review." He bought a copy but his review, (all three lines of it!), showed he probably hadn't even read the blurb, much less the book. His most glowing praise was that it cost less than a gallon of petrol. Seriously?

Some writers would like to delete the bad reviews, of course, but given the choice, I think we'd rather be able to delete the obviously stupid ones from people who hadn't bothered to actually READ the book!

[Michelle]

I write a lot of reviews simply because I love giving my $.02. So, no, not all reviews are bogus. It is kind of sad, though, to think that formerly good review sources (*cough*Kirkus Reviews *cough*) can now be bought.

I look for commonalities among reviews to see if there's a trend for a certain book. I also like to follow particular reviewers.

[P.D.R.]

I've enjoyed reading this thread. Lots to think about, and thank you, readers, for your strongly expressed points of view.

I think the hardest thing to remember is that reviews are personal opinions and should clearly be so. Disliking a book for its content does not mean the book is badly written, or that others will not enjoy it. That goes for writing style and characters too. I try to remember that when searching for new books to read.

I am a writer and I review. I don't pay or get paid for reviews, except keeping the book of course. I now refuse to add stars unless I loved the book and can happily give it 4 or 5 stars.
Why?
Well for Indie writers one of the best ways to sell their books is through the email newsletters which go out to their reader members. As the email list makers only want professional looking and produced Indie books they usually ask that writers may only submit their book if it has 8/10/15/20 4 and 5 star reviews.

See the problem?

I may dislike a book but it is my personal opinion and others may like it. If I give it one star that will affect the writer's rating and hir ability to sell it on those valuable to sales email newsletters.

So I will review a book and express my personal opinion but not rank it with stars unless it is a favourite. I wish Goodreads had a personal star system which did not become attached to the book and author.