Amazon Review Breakdown

[Melonie]

You know whose questions they ask when you write a review for Amazon US? Was the plot (predictable) (some twists) (Crazy out of control wild ride)? Were the characters....

Is there a way to see the results of the answers to those questions on our own books? Like maybe a graph or something?

Thanks.

[Dwayne, Head of Lettuce]

This is information that, as far as I know, Amazon doesn't share with anyone. It's my guess that it's there to help develop their search function and make it easier for readers to find the kind of books they're looking for.

[Dawn]

I review and I've never been asked that about a book.

[Melonie]

Dawn, do you review on Amazon US?

[Melonie]

I was thinking the same thing, Dwayne. Thanks

[Dawn]

Yes

[Denae]

It seems like I get asked that only about certain books. I haven't figured out the pattern, though. Is it trad published books? No. Is it books that have been out for a while? No. Maybe it's books that have a higher sales rank? I don't even know if reviewers get asked that about my books.

Have you noticed a pattern about which books do and don't generate those questions for their reviews?

[Marie Silk]

Hm, I haven't seen those specific questions, but I review a lot of books and usually see "how was the writing" (good, poor etc.) "was there any sex" (mild, explicit etc.) "was there any violence".

I agree that it would be useful to see the answers to these or any of the other questions that Amazon dreams up!

[Eliza]

I've noticed the questions the last few times I reviewed books on Amazon, which has been in the last couple weeks. I like them and I'm more concerned with seeing the results of this as a reader more than a writer. I don’t personally like to read books with explicit sex, language, and violence, so to know if a book has that before I buy it would be wonderful. As an author, I already know what’s in my book so I’m not too concerned about what the results are. Since they haven’t shared the results with us authors as of yet, I’m thinking they’re doing this for the buyers/readers.

[G.G.]

I have had the plot question asked almost every time I review a book. I only read indies so it's not trad pub exclusive for sure.
Some books I have a question or two, others I have around 5.

But no, I have never seen the results anywhere.

[Carole]

I've had the questions as well. I read both traditional and indie and have answered those questions on both. I was wondering where the information would show up.

[Anna]

I've had the same thoughts as you all have but also I wondered if they were testing if people had actually read the books or were just leaving reviews. I think, so far, it only happens on .com

[Melonie]

Yes. only on .com. But with indie and trad books for me. And for me, it is every .com review I leave. Grrrrr. Who can know and understand the ways of the mighty Zon?

[Alexis]

I never get those questions on Amazon.com. Weird

[Carole]

I think Anna is right. I think it's to see whether you read the book- or it could be a way for them to see who to market it to the right readers.

[Anna]

Knowing the mighty Zon (but not very well!) it's probably all of these ideas and more!

[M.J.]

It's probably just some way to gather more data on consumers masquerading as a "legit check" for reviewers. I lump Amazon in with Facebook, Twitter, Google, and all the others. Without getting into conspiracy theories or a right to privacy discussion, I believe they're all after as much data as they can gather. In the end it equals more revenue for them.

[Christina]

I've only ever seen this pop up once and it was when I happened to be on an actual computer instead of a mobile device, so it might simply be the platform. Or it's something they are beta testing, like when they briefly showed where people gave a star rating without reviews (you can still rate a book without reviewing, but it does not show on the product page anymore).

Keep in mind that Amazon is a business. A big business at that and any data collected to increase the scope of their business is laid out in their terms of use, which also states what they will share with partners, investors, affiliates, etc.

[Amie]

I've answered them too, and you're right, sometimes they don't come up and sometimes they do. I'll start paying attention to trends in the books that seem to get the more focused review.

[G.G.]

The two questions I hate the most are Is there any violence in the book? I mean...define violence? A guy hitting another one? A man killing someone? I am only sure when the act is described from a to z with details...for the rest, i usually skip the question. (My review still get posted.
The other question i hate is the mood. Some books really don't have a defined fine. Or aren't simply one from beginning to end. I often skip that one too.

I'm thinking for some questions it might have something to do with popularity. A good way to do a survey and find out what people read the most. Such as preference for plot development as opposed to character development. If you give a 5 star to the book and only a one-dimentional characters, they'll see that for that person, the plot was more important, or vice versa. Or maybe it's all in my mind. :P

[Annie]

I read a super in-depth article about this but can't find it now *sobs* Anyhoo, it said that Amazon uses this to make recommendations to customers. Like if someone purchases a ton of books with a high level of violence or whatever, eh?

Makes sense to me. But who knows? LOL

EDIT: Not typing English. Sorry haha!

[G.G.]

Joed wrote: "I'd like to be able to post my own questions. . .
Hmm on second thought, my readership is low enough. My questions could scare off the only two guys who ever read my stuff.
I changed my mind, I'l..."

LOL ok.. well now I guess I will have to answer SOME VIOLENCE even if I read a kiddy book lol tks for the 'clarifications'. :P

[E.P.]

I always get those questions when I post a review on Amazon.com (not the other Amazons), but I don't answer them. You can post the review anyway. Or rather, first I have to answer the question about how many twists the plot has, and once I answer that, a bunch more questions pop up, along with a text box for the actual review. I skip all the other questions and go straight to the text box, and my reviews always post.