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What's A Nice Way To Give A Bad Review?
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Tricky topic which is why I avoided it lolMost people don't finish books they hated that much. And those who do, have no problems being downright bitchy about it, I've found.
For myself, I'm able to pinpoint exactly why I didn't like a book overall. If I leave a review, I keep it brief, pinpoint the problem for me, and leave it at that.
I think the key to any decent bad review is a critical perspective and a professional demeanor. Nobody gets anything out of "This book was so boring; it sucked so hard." Try to point out what the author did well first (if anything), and then go into what in the book didn't work for you in a clinical way.
I agree with Lily and Patrick. Another way is also to couch the review in what didn't work for you personally; it's clear that you're giving a subjective opinion, which everyone has a right to. Stating something like "Personally, I found this book very boring. Unfortunately, it just didn't capture my interest" is much different than "This book is very boring and really uninteresting."
I also think that vague good reviews are almost as bad as vague bad reviews. "I really enjoyed this!" without any further explanation is probably nice for the author, but doesn't give any real information on what was done well so the person can keep doing it.
No writer wants to hear anything but praise. At the same time, no reader wants to read a bad book. If a writer can't endure a reader politely hating what you've written, that "writer" will return to fantasy football with his tail between his legs.
Fantasy football is a terrible fate... ;)I think Amy makes an interesting point. Vague good reviews can be just as bad as the worse bad review. So, I say, the same principle applies. Get straight to the point, wether for good or bad.
I agree, specificity is the key to a good review, whether that review is bad or good.If your work is read by a large group of people some people are going to hate it. You can't avoid that. It is impossible to write a book that appeals to every person on the planet. There are people who don't like Harry Potter, The Grapes of Wrath, The Shining, etc...
Of course, the amount of people who loves those books greatly outweigh the amount who don't like them and that's why those books are so successful.
So every writer expects bad reviews from time to time. If you tell me you hated the book, I'm just going to chalk that up as not being able to please everyone. If, however, you are specific as to your reasons, I will probably give that some thought and re-read some parts of my book and see if I agree.
I think the key is to be honest. If you didn't like it, like others explained, just saying 'it sucks' doesn't help anybody, not even the readers since people don't all have the same taste. So be specific about what you dislike/hate. Also, unless you absolutely hated everything, a critic is always easier to take if you can add in a thing or two that you found worthy. It's like taking medicine, you 'mask' it with something that taste 'better'.
In other words, the book could be full of clichés, written badly, jumps pov and tenses, yet it still can be a great idea for a story. It could have potential if there were not so many typos etc.
You didn't like the story? Maybe you liked a character, or the way the book was written.
Of course, sometimes you just don't like anything at all, and I guess that's when it's the hardest to review.
If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. If you are giving a negative then say what you liked and didn't like. Heck, if you say it was to gory that might well be a positive for someone else.
be technical as possible and explain *why* you didnt like the book. i've gotten vague negative reviews lately that made me want to punch them in the neck.
KP, the reviews aren't real. Repeat. It's not real...
Lily wrote: "KP, the reviews aren't real. Repeat. It's not real..."lolz that's what i told mr tom collins. :)
G.G. wrote: " a critic is always easier to take if you can add in a thing or two that you found worthy. It's like taking medicine, you 'mask' it with something that taste 'better'. ..."I like that, G.G.
Here's the thing: I agree with your assessment when it comes to writers that I generally like. But occasionally one stumbles across a book that is so bad, so offensively amateur, that it is insulting to the reader. One of the downsides of the advent of self publishing is that a great deal of terrifically bad writing is brought to the fore.I have very little time or patience for the post modern notion that because something is "honest" then it automatically has intrinsic worth. (Ironic because I'm a post-modernist at heart!) If this were true, then every pink unicorn notebook that has been filled with the scribbling of a heartbroken and angsty teen would be critically acclaimed. There is all sorts of honest writing that is, quite honestly, dreck.
So I don't hold back in those reviews. When something shows a contempt for the craft, or shows by its sheer disregard for the rules of technique that it holds a low opinion of the reader, then I let the writer know.
I certainly do not subscribe to the "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all" rule. Even for my own work, my best growth occurred when I took a ferocious beating by an editor or agent.
And this is why I avoided the topic before...The topic question is, what's a nice way to give a bad review?
Sure, we all have different opinions. And yes, I have personlly seen such crap out there that I was actually offended. But, I've seen just as much crap in traditionally published books as I've seen in indie books. Same shit, different pile.
I do not, however, advocate or support the notion that anyone would deserve a verbal beating just because they wrote crap. Just like a woman does not deserve to be raped for walking into a bar.
In my honest opinion, it comes down to basic respect. If respect can't be given toward the author, then respect yourself. If I was put in the position of agreeing to read and review, say, a story that advocates the KKK, I would politely and respectfully tell them to kindly go fuck themselves.
:)
Um.. okay. I have no idea what to make of that. I assume you are being ironic and hyperbolic to achieve some desired effect, but the fact that you equate writing a harsh review to raping a woman because she "walked into a bar" I find utterly, utterly offensive.
And then you contradict yourself by saying you dont believe in bad reviews but you would respectfully tell someone to eff off?
I think im going to politely remove my self from this thread. Im clearly misunderstanding you.
Take it to a private message if you want.
Not sure if anyone wants to pick up the thread after that, but I think what Lily was saying was indeed hyperbolic to make a point. And I think she makes a good point.Normally, in most social circles, context is everything, and online reviews are no different. The question we should ask ourselves is, "Who am I to pass judgment in this particular context? Did the person ask me to? Do I have expertise in this area? Will my review add something to some discussion here?"
I also think that assuming someone has "disregard" for the reader because they write badly is maybe pushing things a bit far.
We should always assume that writers, no matter how bad their writing is, are acting in good faith. That's the problem and struggle involved in being nice while giving a bad review; you want to be constructive yet acknowledge that your fellow human has made a very big effort in putting him or herself out there, which is more than a lot of people do.
There's also a big difference in excoriating a professional author who gets paid a lot of money and doing so to someone who charges next to nothing or nothing for a book.
Basically, yes. :)I just didn't like how the thread was being derailed into a moral debate about "playing nice."
The question is simple, how to handle a bad review nicely. If anyone's answer is, they wouldn't, well, that has nothing to do with Tabitha's fair question. Nor do I feel anyone should feel like they're doing something wrong by handling bad reviews nicely.
It is a choice, reviews, being nice, diplomacy, objective criticism, all these things are a choice. Conversely, verbal abuse, bashing authors, self-entitlement as if anyone owes anyone else somthing, is also a choice. I don't support the latter choice, but I also don't have control over the entire internet, and it's not up to me. Regardless of any of that, it's just not the topic.
I think that was nicely said Lily. :) I agree completely. Just because you didn't like something is no reason to basically bully the author. I simply stop reading if I don't like something but it has to be really bad for me to give a non favorable review. The last time I did I said I liked the premise but the book became to religious for me to continue. I didn't think that was too harsh.
Although this is off topic, I will say it's a proven fact that giving badly written books attention, only makes it worse. Bad publicity is better than no publicity. So, basing reviews have the opposite effect, and tends to make a book more popular. The worse thing anyone could do to an author is no reviews at all.Back on topic, I do similar remarks as Amanda. Too heavy on exhibition for my taste. Pacing was too slow for me. Etc, etc. Of course, everyone can phrse things in their own way.
So true. I've actually bought books before because of all the bad reviews. I usually like the books too!
Interesting thread. The comments about being specific and polite are right on, as are the suggestions to find something positive to say, if possible. I too have bought books (and movies) based on bad reviews that were specific enough for me to think - that's sound interesting or that sounds fun.
When I get reviews like that I take comfort in that thought along with a strong G&T (that is Sir Juniper, he's good friends with Mr. Tom Collins and Mr. Jack Daniels).
The suggestion that it is responsible behavior to 'flame' someone, highlights a problem not unique to book reviews. Somehow, it has become okay to dump all over folks in the meanest way possible. What's up with that?
Infighting. I do what I can to moderate and keep that infighting to a minimum. As for the rest of the internet... well, even I'm on my own.
Lily wrote: "Infighting. I do what I can to moderate and keep that infighting to a minimum. As for the rest of the internet... well, even I'm on my own."That's why I'm focusing on progamming games for the time being and putting my books on the back burner (I need the money!). I'm still publishing, but I can't afford to market these books. Given how lately I've been running into folks pouring on the haterade thick is seriously starting to make me doubt my skills as a writer (please, please, please let it be a bad transit!). I need a floodlight for all this shade I'm getting, ech.
I was asked to review a novella recently, and the formatting was really bad. It all ran together, so I had a hard time parsing the dialogue. I was using an epub addition. Before I said anything to scathing, I checked the amazon preview - it was fine. So I sent the author a pm on the epub issue and left formatting out of the review.
A lot of things can go wrong behind the scenes. Like EG, I'll investigate first before assuming the worse, then save my review writing for actual reviews.
I think of a negative review as a logical argument. I state my premise: the book had the following shortcomings (no nastiness, no self-indulgence in bitchy cleverness). Then I list my supporting arguments in favor of that premise, including examples. I make it clear that these are things that bothered me personally, and that perhaps some readers will not mind these features of the book. My goal isn't to be harmful, but helpful. A reader wants to know why a book got a two star. I usually find something good in a book that gets a two-star or I would not have bought it in the first place, so I mention that. It might be a good plot in a book that needed more editing, or great main character lost in a messy plot, but so far I've never given a one-star. That's the book I wouldn't finish.
I dunno. I just don't. However, when indie authors submit to me for review, I lay out all my own dirty laundry very VERY clearly on my blog. You submit to me, you submit your book to those EXTREMELY specific guidelines. If you don't like the guidelines, you'd better not submit. I judge a book not just by it's overarching content, but how hard it was for me to read. Did I have to waddle around re-reading and using the search function? You can be sure I'll mention it.I think being upfront gives the author an idea what to expect if they are ASKING you for the review. Now, if it's an established author who you BEGGED for a copy to review, hey, that's a whole other bag of worms. Do worms come in bags?
Or if you PAID for the book, then it was your money, your opinion. Period.
E.G. wrote: "I was asked to review a novella recently, and the formatting was really bad. It all ran together, so I had a hard time parsing the dialogue. I was using an epub addition. Before I said anything ..."If the R2R version is messed up I can kind of understand it but formating problems with the actual book on Amazon are the authors responsibility to check.
A guy who recently posted about his book going live on the kindle boards and didn't check before going offline for the working week. He'd accidentally uploaded the completely wrong file and no one could get through to tell him. :-(
E.G. wrote: "I was asked to review a novella recently, and the formatting was really bad. It all ran together, so I had a hard time parsing the dialogue. I was using an epub addition. Before I said anything ..."I actually emailed an author and got an updated edition. Glad I did because it got way better from that point on. He got himself half a star back. :)
Mod
Your not going to be able to please everyone and your not going to enjoy every book you read, that's just the way it is. The best thing you can do if you didn't like a book is one of three things, one, if you told the author you agreed to read their book and review it and they are awaiting it and you did not like it, perhaps write them a message thanking them. Ask or warn them that while you did not like the book you did enjoy some parts or tell just thank them and tell them why you did not like and and offer advice. Two, don't review it at all. The whole if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all is probably the best way to go especially if you truly have nothing good to say about the book. Three, you didn't like the book so there is no need to write four to five paragraphs on why,, your basically calling out the author and humiliating them, there is no need for this. Keep it to a few sentences explaining what you did not like and if you liked anything at all definitely put that in there too.
I have seen trolls here on GR who aside from bashing authors in threads, make it their mission to let authors know that they hate your books. I have seen 1 star books with five paragraph reviews going into detail how much they hated it and how bad the author is. I personally think this is inappropriate. Don't make an author look bad, reach out to them if you can, don't bash them, especially if it's clearly obvious that their still new to this.
Personal experience: The first book I ever won in a giveaway here on Goodreads was a book called, The Sugar Frosted Nutsack by Mark Laymon. I entered to win it for my cousin and when I did win it I had no intention on reading it. Well curious got the best of me and I started reading it. I was shocked and appalled and could not read the book. It was so bad that after just 15 pages I said no more and gave it to my cousin first chance I got. I however, wrote a very rude and epic review which is still up today and just go and check it out, it's bad lol. I believe the author has a big enough fan base and other solid work to where he can take it, he can take what i said about the book and not care. I don't do this anymore and if a book is that bad I just won't review it or to that degree.
I also read a book called, The Reconstruction Descending which I got from the author in a ARR. I was looking forward to reading it as the first story wasn't bad but I was like ehh..as I kept reading I realized all the stories were blah to me. I did not like the book but did enjoy some parts which I explained in my review which to this thread is again a nice way to write a bad review. I expressed what I did not like but I also equaled that with what I enjoyed which mean the book wasn't a total loss.
I'd agree, try and find something you did like - maybe the lead character was enchanting or whatever. If you can't then be polite. That said people review how they review.Not everyone likes a book, bad reviews are going to happen and the next person might love it.
Personally I rarely finish books I don't like, some do.
I don't personally support reviews over formating. I review the story, not the author, or the format. There's a million things that can go wrong with a digital format. Sometimes it really isn't obvious. Sometimes the author honestly doesn't know their book's format got messed up somehow, somewhere down the line. I reserve that kind of thing for a PM.If it's a book from a traditionally published author, I contact the retailer demanding to know why they sold me a crap product. Retailers share a huge portion of responsibility.
Hahaha that is a good point. Trad pubbed doesn't always mean a quality product.
There has been times...I sit down and have a talk with the retailer :)
Lol, I'm so used to reading paperbacks, I wouldn't even know what's bad e-formatting and what's not. I just assumed that the conversion programs took care of all that (says the resident rookie).Digression aside, this has been a stimulating conversation :0)
For me, a book is a package deal: formatting, editing, plot, characterization, etc. I know this isn't a widely held belief here. However, in a world of relatively snobby bloggers and readers, I'd say I am pretty dang kind. Heheh Relatively speaking again.I'm Indie myself. When I was out there trying to solicit reviews for my own book, I found the anti-Indie sentiment is alive and loud. If we aren't honest with each other, the atmosphere will never change. And I've seen the great, good, and what we refuse to talk about.
That's why I chose to review Indie books for my own site. To offer them honest reviews that can help them.
Anywaaaaay, I think it was Justin who said it best. If I can't finish a book I've been sent to review, I will email them to tell them and not dnf them or one star them.
Again, this really only applies to Indies 'cause there's enough junk out there discouraging us. If you paid the price for a big six book and your review is review number 240,548...is it really gonna affect their fanbase? Nah.
In general with the internet, people sometimes hide behind relative anonymity and say things they would never say to someone's face. I think even if a review is negative, you can always phrase it in a constructive, civil way...maybe just imagine what you would and would not say to someone's face. I think if a book were truly slapped together maybe saying something like, "This work could benefit from additional drafting" would convey that without being unduly harsh.
I'd like to add time. Sometimes I have to take the time to really pinpoint what I feel the issue might be in a book. I've noticed reviews on GR that seem obvious to me were rushed. Read (skim) book, bang out a few words on keyboard, post review. Well, that's not really a review. Take your time.
I keep bad reviews brief for the most part, but I do express why my rating is so low. Once I did reiterate, however, that one particular book was very popular and enjoyed by a lot of others, just not me. I encouraged people not to let my review hinder them from reading the book for themselves. I would never outright bash an author's work, especially since I am one. I know how hard it is to write a book!
Me, I always feel uncomfortable, especially if it's an author whom I usually enjoy. But, at the same time, I want to give honest reviews; otherwise, what's the point.
So, thoughts anyone?