Book Reviews ~ The Good, Bad & Ugly

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

As I once mentioned on another discussion thread (to see it, go here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... ) review are a mixed bag.

Both for the reviewer, the reader, and the author.

This is a place to discuss the ups and downs of reviews.

I wanted to start this discussion off, but saying that I - as a reviewer - think that people need to keep in mind, when they read reviews, that reviews are the reviewers own opinion. And that they have a right to their own opinion.

A review is a review. We reviewers can post it up, and you're free to read it...or not to.

And normally this works out fine. But sometimes it gets ugly. I know from firsthand experience that it's normally not the authors who respond negatively to reviews, but the readers. I've had readers complain that my review 'ruined the story' for them. All I have to say to that is:
1.) Don't read a review of a book you haven't read if the review begins with SPOILERS AHEAD
and
2.) No one forced you to read that review. You could have walked away.

That's just one side of the big world of reviews. What are your stories? What are your opinions? Let us know!

[Zohal, Co-Moderator]

Great idea to discuss!

I often have a problem with certain authors who harass a reader/ reviewer of their book because they gave it a 1 star and didn't enjoy it. This personally aggravates me because authors need to know that everyone is different and not everyone will like a book. Even books with heaps of hype have people who have read it but didn't like it.

This also goes for readers of reviews. I feel like some can be very close-minded when it comes to negative reviews and automatically hate the reviewer.

Everyone is entitled to their own personal opinion.

I also don't like reviewers who harass authors by calling them narcisstic names.

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

@Isabelle: you have brought up some great points. I agree with the whole 1-star thing, as well as the harassment issue. Respect needs to work both ways. You can critique a book, but you need to still keep in mind that a person wrote this - a person with feelings, and who put a lot of effort into said book. True, you don't have to like it. You can give some constructive criticism and feedback. But don't get personal and/ nasty.

[[deleted user]]

This is totally irrelevant but I find it rather annoying that GR only counts 1 star reviewers as people who disliked the book. Everyone else who ranked it 2 stars or up liked it according to GR.

Example: Twilight.

According to GR, only 12% of those who have added the book dislike it despite the majority of readers ranking it as either 1 2 or 3 stars.

I remember there was a really good example of this but I can't remember what book it wasw. *pout*

Also, authors. Some authors really bug me. Like there are some authors who will go crazy if you rank their book with anything below four stars. :/

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

@Inno: ugh, the rating system.

Is it picky of me to say that I wish you could choose to rate something (e.g.) '4 and a half' stars, or '2 and a half'? I mean, there were times that I liked a book, but wouldn't want to rate it 4/5 stars. The rating system should be a little more accurate. I can dislike some parts of a book, and rate it 2/3 stars. The numbers 2 and up don't = automatic 'liking' of a book.

I can understand an author being disappointed/upset with a bad rating. I mean - shoot, I get upset when I get bad test results. Their books are their babies, so to speak! They're proud of them. But going psycho over a bad review - and confronting the reviewer about it - isn't cool at all. People will have their opinions. It's called free will.

[Janis Kay]

I agree. I would like a '.5 rating system' so I don't have to explicitly say so in my review lol

Regarding bad reviews, I even apologize to those reading it because I don't want to be called out for just being a 'hater'. I make a point to be concise and objective, so it doesn't sound like I hated the book. I rarely use 'hate' to describe anything since it's so strong...and just insensitive.

Thankfully, I haven't been 'chosen' by an author as a scapegoat for his/her issues with the bad reviews and I hope that continues.

[[deleted user]]

ERMAGOSH YES.

But apparently they have a .5 system on GR and apparently it got too complicated. Erm......... EYEROLLLLLLLLL.

I'm gonna be brutally honest. I tend avoid authors with a history of psycho-ness towards reviewers.... On GR anyway....................

[Janis Kay]

I just happened to watch a video on Youtube in which this author is discussing Booktube, but tags on in the middle that reviewing "[crappy] books" is "just not classy" because all books are difficult to write. He also doesn't understand why we would waste our time reviewing said [crappy] book...

I wasn't about to tell him that while I appreciate the efforts put into creating a story, if I don't like it, I can't keep that inside. I need to share with ppl how I feel and if certain parties are not happy with that, I'm sorry it's called free speech. I'm entitled to my opinion. I think the bad reviews are really for other readers (mostly) since we're the ones who read/look for them. Right?

[L]

Book reviews are subjective and it is important to concider when reading one that you may not always agree with those opinions expressed.

If for instance i dislike certain aspects of a book, then i will state my reasons why and back up all points made. Likewise this is the case in regards to aspects of books that i like.

What i dislike are those reviews in which bad language and unecessary vulgarity is used to express such hatred against a book. One may really dislike something and not wish to read it again as it isn't to their taste, but anything of the extreme is just too much.

[[deleted user]]

^^ So true. The bad reviews are generally the most honest.... Fans tend to overlook flaws....

[Olivia]

Same.

[[deleted user]]

Exactly. Bad reviews don't overlook the flaws a fan would - But some bad reviews overexaggerate sometimes....

[Zohal, Co-Moderator]

I've heard a lot of people say that reviews should not be opinionated, and that if they are they end up becoming an 'opinion piece' rather than a 'critical review.'

What do you guys think? I for one do not agree.

[[deleted user]]

Critical reviews? If people wanted to read a critical review, they'd check the newspapers. PErsonally, I see GR reviews as a place to rant and rave and fangirl and grumble about books.

Note: There are some really good reviews out there and I'm friends here on GR with some amazzzzzzzzzzziiiinggggg critical reviewers, but I dunno. Critical reviews are always laced with bits and pieces of opinion anyway, aren't they?

[Zohal, Co-Moderator]

^exactly what I've been thinking.

Which is why I get irritated when people make such statements.