More than Just a Rating discussion
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controversial: How to get the reviews you want.
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Honestly, I think some people are review writers and others just aren't interested. I may be cynical but I have discovered that some folks just enjoy reading for readings sake and could care less about sharing their opinion and (dare I say it aloud) reading the opinion of others. I know many voracious readers in real life, people who read a heck of a lot more than me, and not one of them will cough up a review or even join or use GoodReads for more than cataloging their books. My husband is one of them. I have to beg for comments as he reads his way through my tbr pile. I don't understand it and can't comprehend this thought process but it is what it is.
I agree with BarkLessWagmore, some people like to share reviews and others don't. A lot of people love to join book clubs and discussion groups. Sometimes all a reader will do is give the book a rating..which is fine, it gives me an idea about the book. I started a blog and post my reviews on Goodreads, B&N, Amazon etc. and I agree Cheryl, that feedback of any kind, will get you more reviews. When your life is hectic, it's hard to sit down and write up a review when you feel like no one cares what you think.
It can be hard, it's true. Especially when I'm so behind because of all the books I have already. I like writing reviews but sometimes it can get difficult.
I think that some things we can do to encourage others to review is to make sure that when replying to reviews we promote a positive atmosphere. I think that some people who don't review don't because they're shy and the internet can sometimes be a mean place. If we help make goodreads a safe place to voice your opinion, more people will feel safe reviewing here.
Yeah, I really agree with that Sarah. I can find some good reviews but I can also find some really mean reviews. I can understand why some people are shy about writing reviews.
I have actually asked members of a certain genre community to write reviews because these books are criminally underreviewed, and I have had some serious buyer remorse after buying some books. It didn't really help much.Like you, I 'like' reviews that I felt were helpful, and I try to post comments on reviews when I feel I have something to add to my 'like' or something to address that resonated with me in the review. I try to be very encouraging to my friends who are insecure reviewers. I also friend people who write good reviews that I find helpful, or follow them.
1. I want reviews to be helpful as I decide whether to read the book. That is, I want them to be somewhat specific, somewhat thorough, and I definitely want them to mention if the book is clean or what the 'yuck factor' is.
2. I totally recognize & respect that other people want different kinds of reviews.
3. I totally recognize & respect that writers of reviews have an assortment of their own agendas.
4. I want more reviews, period.
5. I imagine that if I use the 'like' button on a review, and tell the writer why I liked it (eg, thanks for mentioning the gory stuff, I appreciate your help in deciding not to read this), that review-writer might write more, and more of my favored kind of, reviews in the future.
6. There's millions of GR members, and the ones I most want to 'evangelize' to are the ones who are less likely to write reviews, and therefore less likely to get a 'like' from me.
7. The one time a friend of a friend came on and added some neat quick reviews, I told him I was enjoying reading them and I was looking forward to seeing more. Not long after that his participation faded. Possibly coincidence (the reviews were for previous reads that he was just adding en masse), but possibly not.