Reviews: Always v. Sometimes v. Hardly Ever

[Steph, Serious series addict]

I just finished posting some reviews for recent reads and it got me thinking about ya'll.
So, when it comes to reading and posting reviews, do you:

(A) Always read reviews other GoodReaders have posted (before or after you've read the book?)
(B) Sometimes read reviews (when you're undecided about a possible book choice, etc)
(C) Hardly ever (don't really care either way what other people have to say about the book)

(1) Always post reviews (for every book I read, even if it's only 1-2 lines)
(2) Sometimes post reviews (if I have the spare time or if I really liked/disliked a book)
(3) Hardly ever post reviews (I just rate them and move on ... too much reading to be done)

[Steph, Serious series addict]

I'm a (B1).

I don't always read others' reviews, but when I feel strongly (either good/bad) about a book, I am interested to see what other GRers have had to say about it (after I've read it). I try not to read reviews before reading the book, but occasionally I will and it's lead to some good books I wouldn't have otherwise thought to pick up and read.

I try hard to post a review for every book I read. I usually end up rambling too much, but it helps me to remember what each book was about when reading in a series. That's a help for me, since I'm typically not a big re-reader. I do it more for myself than others, but am happy whenever someone else likes a review I've posted. I hope, if it's a book I've enjoyed, they will enjoy it too. Even though I know everyone has their own tastes and we can't all love the same books.

[Literary Ames]

I'm a (B1) too.

If it's a stand alone or a new series I'm interested in and I'm wondering if a book is worth buying/borrowing I read reviews, otherwise I don't read them until after I've written my review.

Steph, I'm the same as you. I have to write a review for every book now that I read so much more than I used to. When a new book comes out in a series sometimes I find I need a quick recap on how I felt on the last one.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Amy or "Ames" wrote: "I'm a (B1) too.

If it's a stand alone or a new series I'm interested in and I'm wondering if a book is worth buying/borrowing I read reviews, otherwise I don't read them until after I've written ..."

I do that too, when cking to see if it'd be something I might want to buy/borrow. Helps when you have friends with similar taste in books and can ck their reviews.

[Amber]

I would have to say I'm a (B2)
What can I say, other than I'm a (sometimes) kind of girl I hear most call it a slacker but either way I answer to both.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

LOL!

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

I'm a (B3).

Feels almost like a confession. lol.

I'd do more reviews if I was any good at it. I'm not. Always prefer other people's reviews to my own. That's not to say I always agree with others, cause I don't, but I can usually see where they're coming from.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

How long since you last confession..... hehe

I don't really think I'm any good at posting reviews. I ramble on and on so much that people probably don't have to read the book after 'um. But, it's really for me, it helps me to be able to look back at it and refresh my memory on what happened.

[Donna]

Amber wrote: "I would have to say I'm a (B2)
What can I say, other than I'm a (sometimes) kind of girl I hear most call it a slacker but either way I answer to both."

Amber, you've found your soul mate! I'm also a B2 (though verging on an A2 because it's a good way to find other people whose reading taste are similar).

[Carrie]

I can almost say I'm an A1 these days. I can't remember when I haven't looked up reviews before I read a book, even if its just to get an idea of the overall rating. I know there are times when I didn't review a book, although I always rate them. In the past year, I think I've written at least a few sentences about 95% of the books I've read. Mainly I write reviews so I remember how I felt about the book, to prompt my own memory when I go back and look at it. In other words, my reviews are mainly for my own benefit. If someone else reads them, great, if not, no problem!

[Amber]

Donna wrote: "Amber wrote: "I would have to say I'm a (B2)
What can I say, other than I'm a (sometimes) kind of girl I hear most call it a slacker but either way I answer to both."

Amber, you've found your s..."

***Blushing***

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Steph, I like your reviews, I've found quite a few books to add to the tbr tower.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

LOL Sandra, TBR Tower. Thanks :)

[Cheryl]

I would have to say I am a B2. I enjoy reading reviews on books that I am interested in so I know if I will like it. I will sometimes take the time to write a review but not as often as I probably should. Get busy with reading...LOL

[Sashana]

I'm an A(3)...I ALWAYS read the reviews before I buy a book. It gives me an idea/insight to see if I'm really going to enjoy reading it. But I hardly ever write a review because I'm too lazy.

[Shelleyrae]

Im an A1 I guess

I glance at the reviews before I choose a book to buy/read/add to my list to decide if its likely to be something I would like, but I just skim since I hate spoilers and I don't want to go into a book with someone else's expectations.

I always review books I read since I became active at GR - about a year - its hardly literary critque - usually just my own clumsy opinion on what worked for me and what didn't.

I always read through reviews either as I post my review or just after out of interest. I like reading what other people have to say and how similar or dissimilar our opinions are, and sometimes they provide thoughts about things that didn't even occur to me.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Shelleyrae wrote: "and sometimes they provide thoughts about things that didn't even occur to me. ..."

That's something I really like. I make note (most times) of certain things that stood out for me, but I like reading others to see what they picked up on that I missed or liked that I didn't (or visa versa).

[Lizz (Beer, Books and Boos)]

I sometimes do reviews cause sometimes it is hard to me to put what I'm thinking into words.

[[deleted user]]

Wow! So many combinations... I think the best fit is a B2 I read the reveiws of others for two reasons. 1 it is a new author for me and I don't want to feel let down, or 2 This book sucks and I can't get past page 15! I need to read the reviews and if enough people struggled with the book like me I feel justified in drop-kicking the book across the room and starting another.

I reveiw almost as much as I read (I am a slow reader) but I tend to stick to just reveiwing books I am able to be articulate about, if I find that I go one and on and on about a book I will just post the star rating and move on. No sense in confusing a potential new reader. The other time I don't reveiw is if it is a book I have not read in YEARs!

[Patrick]

A3. I always read the reviews out of habit. I don't really write them unless I have something really trong to say

[new_user]

A2. I very frequently read reviews, but I don't always write them. It depends if I have a lot of thoughts or if I think a book needs a review.

[I ♥ Bookie Nookie (bookienookiereviews.blogspot.com)]

I am a B1

I post reviews almost always, but I rarely read reviews before I read the book b/c so many people forget to click the "this has spoilers" button and it really ticks me off if I accidentally read a spoiler. Most of the time, i do go back and read reviews after I read the book.

[Brandi ;)]

I feel a lot like shelleyrae does.
I will skim reviews before I read a book but only if I'm on the fence about it after reading the little synopsis. If none of my friends have the book as too read or reviews for me to skim, then I will venture into the general review pool for a skim or two.
I used to never do reviews, then I joined GR and found i actually enjoy doing them. Only they are all solely baised on my opinion of the book, nothing fancy and I always warn for any kind of spoiler, cause I too hate skimming a review and hitting an unannounced spoiler. I think i also like to do the reviews bc I read so much and it's nice to have the review to look back on.
Then after my review I will go back and fully read what my friends thought if they gave a review or what the groups I've joined thought of the book, just for some fun perspective. I never attack anyone for their opinions cause how boring would this place be if we all agreed. :)

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Well said Brandi!

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Brandi, I'm with you re: "I think i also like to do the reviews bc I read so much and it's nice to have the review to look back on. " I use my reviews as my memory for refreshers when moving onto the next book in a series, since I rarely ever re-read books. And, "how boring would this place be if we all agreed" ... VERY boring indeed! :)