Book Review Club discussion
How should you write a review?
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I don't think 50K is the legal limit for a novel. I'm fairly certain of this because it would take a worldwide agreement and leaders can't agree on peace, let along what the cut off point is for a novella ;-)I always try to write about the positive in a book. If I have a problem with errors I'd normally drop the author a note as you say we get what we give. I like to call it author karma.
I never understand why people give a recap of the blurb. I've read that I want to know from a review (and I'm speaking as a reader here) of how a book made someone feel.
50K is not the legal limit, Sara, but the minimum. I should have clarify, for a romance novel, because that's the genre I write in and that was what I'd researched. Google it and see. :)
I don't think there is a "right" way to write a review.My view is that, just like authors, reviewers are people too. The fact that someone takes the time to review a book (they've already spent their precious time reading the book) is awesome. And they are only stating their opinion -- an opinion which others (including the author) may or may not agree with. But it's just that: an opinion. I also assume that if an author is putting their work out there, they are soliciting those opinions.
That said, generally, I consider most reviews to be "good" reviews (or done "right"). Someone is telling me their opinion about a book. If the review gets my interest (good or bad), I'll look at other reviews about that same book. If, putting all those reviews together, the book interests me, that book goes on my to-read list. And, just like in real life, I don't always agree with someone's opinion, but hearing that opinion adds to my knowledge.
Unfortunately, I have read some "bad" reviews -- "This book sucks. The author should be embarrassed. It was garbage from beginning to end..." -- but even these make me look at other reviews of the same book so that I can make my own determination. "Wow... That was rude. I wonder what other people said about this book!" I've also seen one-star reviews of a book I gave five stars... and will read again and again. It's all a matter of opinion.
In a way though, I see Ju's side... if someone reads a short story and laments that they wanted more backstory, character development, etc., I would wonder what they expected of such a short work.
On the other hand, when a reviewer is saying "I wish I'd gotten more backstory" or "I wish I'd seen more about this character's background or motivation," maybe they are really being nice rather than saying "the plot was not fleshed out" or "the character was poorly developed." Alternatively, maybe the reader was saying "this was so great, I want more... I wish the author would write another book about these people." We'll never know.
In the end, a review is just (dare I say it again) an opinion. No author out there will please every reader. So, just as I would do if someone expressed their opinion of asparagus with which I did not agree, I would just shrug it off... and cherish those reviews that show a reader's appreciation of the book.
See how we differ. Experience has taught me , never to let a review influence my decision to buy and/or read a book. I just read a book, it had only five stars, but my friend the book had so many problems, I couldn't begin to put it into words. I didn't say anything negative in my review because maybe the other reviewers read a different version. hehehe. I did not, however, throw 5 stars at it. Let me play devil's advocate here. How would you like it if someone read your fantasy book and compared it negatively to j k rowling's book? See how subjective that is. Your poor book never stood a chance, and to write that in a review is not doing the author's work any justice. :)
Ju wrote: "See how we differ. Experience has taught me , never to let a review influence my decision to buy and/or read a book. I just read a book, it had only five stars, but my friend the book had so many p...""Let me play devil's advocate here. How would you like it if someone read your fantasy book and compared it negatively to j k rowling' book?"
Answer: I would think that even a negative review that compares me to an author like that, puts me on the same pedestal as the author.
Think about it. The reviewer compared a self-published author to an author who was published by an publishing house. I would call it same pedestal because the self-published author earned the right to be compared to an author who had gone through so many edits/revisions/ by company people! I mean seriously... just the man power to get those Harry Potter books perfect versus a self-published tight budget.
Even if the review is negative, the self-published author showed the reviewer that his or her book is worthy to be compared to a publishing house's work. Also, though it could be negative, it grabbed the reviewer's attention to write a review.
As Davyne said, that's only one reviewer's point of you and the other reviews could be pretty and shinny. On the other hand, some negative reviews come from jealousy about the author's work. Maybe that reviewer wanted to write that book and got jealous that someone else wrote that book? Also, if someone compares a self-published book to JK Rowling (to stay with the example) even if its negative, it will probably make me read it and I won't care if its a negative review. Is the fantasy book of about wizards and witches? Or is it about elves for instance. Fantasy genre is huge and to be compared to someone makes things interesting.
I see your point, I do. But in my opinion, reviews are just that: subjective.And, frankly, unless I was trying hard to copy J K Rowling with my fantasy book, after reading that review, I would probably think, "Phew! I wasn't trying to write another J K Rowling!"... and would relish the thought that someone who did not like Rowling would read that review and be more interested in reading my fantasy!
That said, I have to admit, I am the kind of person who always finds the silver lining... even if my friends sometimes roll their eyes at me. :)
Davyne wrote: "I see your point, I do. But in my opinion, reviews are just that: subjective.And, frankly, unless I was trying hard to copy J K Rowling with my fantasy book, after reading that review, I would pr..."
You said it perfectly! And so true. Many think that her books got worse and worse. A lot of people didn't like that golden book.... whatever the title is...
I always read the 2 star reviews before parting with cash for a book, but 80% of the time I still buy it. Mostly because that's where you get the weird comparisons or complaints about too much of something the reader doesn't like (which invariably doesn't bother me).Yes it would drive me mad to be compared to something as you suggest, but....you've now got j k rowling as a keyword on your amazon page, so life isn't too bad. I'm afraid I'm a take the stars and run type of girl. Text reviews can be buried once you get enough.
Angelina wrote: "Davyne wrote: "I see your point, I do. But in my opinion, reviews are just that: subjective.And, frankly, unless I was trying hard to copy J K Rowling with my fantasy book, after reading that rev..."
hehehe, that was just a comparison. I've never read JK Rowling. Neither have I seen any of the movies. :)
Sara wrote: "I always read the 2 star reviews before parting with cash for a book, but 80% of the time I still buy it. Mostly because that's where you get the weird comparisons or complaints about too much of s..."I read the blurb and then I buy the book, if I like the blurb. I always read the text review. I can tell if the person actually read the book or read the blurb and someone else's review and wrote his/her. When I read several reviews from an author and there's more about what he/she wanted to see, know about or read, then I don't pay any attention to that person. I could understand if his/her writing was above reproach, but it usually isn't. Experience has taught me, the real good writers don't take the time to write these comments in their reviews. :)
Ju wrote: "Sara wrote: "I always read the 2 star reviews before parting with cash for a book, but 80% of the time I still buy it. Mostly because that's where you get the weird comparisons or complaints about ...""Experience has taught me, the real good writers don't take the time to write these comments in their reviews. :)"
Sorry that sounds a little confusing. Not all reviewers are writers/authors and are just readers, so that's not necessarily separates a good writer from a bad writer.
Ah, readers just read books for enjoyment. They don't sit and write elaborate paragraphs about what they wanted and did not want in a book. They either liked it or they didn't. Those long paragraphs with personal comments are always, always, written by someone who's not just a reader. As an author, I try my best to review as a reader because when I'm reviewing a book that's my role. The author goes out the window. I'm not an editor, evaluator or professional reviewer... I'm just a plain old reader.
Ju wrote: "Ah, readers just read books for enjoyment. They don't sit and write elaborate paragraphs about what they wanted and did not want in a book. They either liked it or they didn't. Those long paragraph..."That may be true, but it's also hard to separate the two. As a self-published author, I can't help but cringe at reading mistakes, seeing bad formatting, or inconsistencies. Sure, I keep those thoughts to myself and not write it in the review- to be nice, but it's hard to not compare own writing to someone else's. Also, if I have contact info of the author who's book I am reading, I would give a private review through email so the author would get more out of me- more thoughts that can help the author grow.
That approach, I believe, is great! That's what I do. I often will not review a book with a lot of grammatical errors, plot holes and bad formatting. Sometimes I tell the author why, sometime, I just plain chicken out and bow out. I was not referring to errors or such when I talked about the long paragraphs.
Ju wrote: "That approach, I believe, is great! That's what I do. I often will not review a book with a lot of grammatical errors, plot holes and bad formatting. Sometimes I tell the author why, sometime, I ju..."yes, I know you weren't talking about errors in long paragraphs. Just added my two cents.
There was only once where I had received a what I call a 'rude' review where the reviewer/author left a negative review that showed me that he/she didn't read my book and has only said negatives. I asked for that review to be taken down because I felt cheated. I felt like the reviewer only did a review to receive credit and not because they finished my book. I'm not naive thinking that all readers will like my work, but I also expect common courtesy in reviews so I understand the frustration at reading mean or negative reviews. I like reading reviews that show negatives and positives. Those reviews explain the ratings and allow me to grow as an author.
If I don't finish a book (which is rare) I don't write a review or a write a review on my blog without giving it a rating but still telling people that they may enjoy the book. That happened to me twice...
That's interesting, Angelina. You just explained something that had been perplexing me for years... Why do people write reviews when even in the reviews they'll admit to not reading the book. So they do it for ratings? Who gives such ratings? WOW!
Ju wrote: "That's interesting, Angelina. You just explained something that had been perplexing me for years... Why do people write reviews when even in the reviews they'll admit to not reading the book. So th..."They have their reasons. Don't know them, but hey. Some probably leave reviews anyway because they want to rise as reviewers on amazon... I don't know. The reviewer didn't admit to not finishing my book, but based on the things that she/he touched based on, I realized that the reviewer didn't read it. It was really obvious so I didn't feel about taking down that review. I asked my friends who read my book to read that review and they said that the reviewer didn't read my book and that it was a rude review so that made me feel better. Reviews are supposed to be honest.
"As a self-published author, I can't help but cringe at reading mistakes, seeing bad formatting, or inconsistencies. "I agree, but until I started writing books I never used to notice, unless it was really obvious.
Sara wrote: ""As a self-published author, I can't help but cringe at reading mistakes, seeing bad formatting, or inconsistencies. "I agree, but until I started writing books I never used to notice, unless it ..."
Right? So true! After I learned from my friends about tenses and editing suggestions, I never noticed errors in books. Now they pop up like crazy.
Ju's Message:
I'm a bit confused why some reviewers always criticize an author by saying:
I wish he/she had said more about this, or written about that or wrote like this other author. That's my friend is petty and childish and you are trying to make that author read your mind. If you wanted it so much, go write it yourself. Review a book on what was given to you, not what's not there and you wish were there. Are there errors, was the plot tight, was it interesting, were the characters well fleshed out, did you enjoy the story, do you believe others might? I'm tired of reading review about what I wish was there or not there. This is not your book. As authors, we get what we give, eventually.
About short stories or novella, most extra information are left out in a novella. It focuses on the main characters. It can't have several characters fleshed out, because then it's no longer a novella and it becomes a full novel, which legally is 50K and above. Don't read a novella and expect every characters to be fleshed out, not going to happen. If the author takes the time to flesh out each character, then it's no longer a novella or novelette, might as well write a full novel and get the price of a novel. :)