To review or not to review, that's the question

[Miriam]

Do you review the books you read? If you do, does the thought of writing a review make you pay more attention to a book - its story, plot, characterizations, language, etc. – than you might do otherwise? And if you don’t review the books you read, does the idea of reviewing a book spoil the enjoyment of reading it for you? Why you review the books you read or why you don’t, ask Miriam Murcutt and Richard Starks co-authors of the novel, 'In A Town Called Paradox.'

[Jim]

I am an avid reader; however, I only post a rating and review of a book if it has left a notable impression, postiviely or negatively, upon me. To-date, I have posted 148 ratings/reviews on Goodreads. I never post a rating without including a review to provide the reasoning behind the rating score.

It is important that novice authors understand that a rating and/or review is merely the reader's personal, and therefore subjective, opinion. One reader's Best book ever! might very well be another reader's Worst book ever! Therefore, one should not allow a rating and/or review to be a determining factor in one's purchasing decision.

[J.]

I will write a review if the book deserves to be panned. Otherwise it's hit or miss.

This is the reason:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

There is something about having to quote an author's own book to them that puts me off.

[Charissa]

Reviewing a book, for me, is simply a way for me to digest what I've just read. As I'm also a writer, it helps with the creativity as well.

[Lizzie]

What Jim said.

Mostly I only write a review if I am completely impressed or completly annoyed.

[J.D.]

I will write reviews for indie/self-published books I enjoy, because I know how important reviews can be for those authors. If I didn't enjoy an indie/self-published book, I won't write a public review, but I may share my thoughts privately with the author (but only if they want them). Traditionally-published books get star ratings, but not reviews (because let's face it, the biggies don't need me).

[Lizzie]

J.D. wrote: "I will write reviews for indie/self-published books I enjoy, because I know how important reviews can be for those authors. If I didn't enjoy an indie/self-published book, I won't write a public re..."

I always do the stars, mostly so I have a means of remembering my response when I read it.

For independent authors, I do some reviews. Those who have ongoing series, I do not continue to do so past the 1st book, unless there is a reason to do so, or it's an author I communicate with regularly.

[Scout]

I usually decide early on if I want to review a book because it's exceptionally good, and then I pay close attention and mark pages that I want to refer to when I write the review. I hardly ever write a bad review because I stop reading when I realize the book is no good. The exception is when I read something by a popular or favorite author that's really bad. I'll finish the novel in that case and then give my opinion backed up by reasons and examples.

[Paulette]

I fell into the habit of reviewing more as a refresher for myself than anything else, so I don't get books mixed up and remember whether or not I enjoyed them. If I have a good review of a book and I see something new by that author, I am more likely to try the new book.

[Miriam]

Hi Paulette
I find, too, that reviewing a book cements its plot and characters as well as the author, in my mind. It causes me to reflect on what I've just read rather than skipping along to the next book.

[Adrian]

Like some others I tend only to rate/review the books that made an impression (positive or negative) on me.

Frankly, I really enjoy bagging the books I hate. Does that make me a bad person?

[Papaphilly]

I review every book I read. I only give honest reviews. However, I do not bash nor get snotty with a book or an author. No matter how bad a book may be, I try to find positives because it is a work someone put time into and it may not be the book, but the reader only.

I take each and every work seriously and hopefully that comes across in my reviews. I do not nor have ever taken money, nor would I. I also up to this point have never been offered money in any form. Personally, any person that takes money is a cheat as far as I am concerned. It is too easy to give good reviews due to the financial incentive.

I do take solicitations, but only if they catch my attention. I also only read paper (I am a Luddite) and I have tried electric, but it took forever and that is not fair to the author.

[Nick]

I've read thousands, probably tens of thousands, of books. My take is life is too short for it to be worth finishing a book I'm not enjoying.

Hence, I will never end up in the position of giving a book a bad review unless I've been paid to review it (unlikely) or have promised to read it in a swap with the author.

There have been plenty of books, some acknowledged classics, which I have started but not got past the first chapter.

Of the many reasons for reading a book - doing it as a penance is not one which appeals.

[Adrian]

Papaphilly wrote: "However, I do not bash nor get snotty with a book or an author. No matter how bad a book may be, I try to find positives because it is a work someone put time into and it may not be the book, but the reader only."

For the little guys certainly. For the big guys (who ought to be doing better) I'll totally go to town on them if I detect lazy story telling; bad editing; ridiculous scenarios that make no sense within the books own rules; any number of other faults that come together and say: This writer no longer respects his/her readers. It's just about cobbling together a draft and flogging it ASAP.

One of the most appalling examples of this was Inferno by Dan Brown. I really enjoyed his careful crafting of The Da Vinci Code so couldn't believe how badly he let the reader down in Inferno.

[Guy]

J.D. wrote: "I will write reviews for indie/self-published books I enjoy, because I know how important reviews can be for those authors. If I didn't enjoy an indie/self-published book, I won't write a public re..." God bless you JD. Your are correct that indies get overlooked and any good one should be highlighted. From the heart of my fellow authors - Thanks amigo.