Creative Reviews discussion
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What type of reviews do you like to read?
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Shorter, no excerpts, personal opinions, I hate reading LONG reviews
Some days I feel like I spend more time reading reviews than I do actually reading books!
BarkLessWagMore wrote: "Some days I feel like I spend more time reading reviews than I do actually reading books!"Me too! I try and keep mine short. Long ones make me skip right on past.
BarkLessWagMore wrote: "Some days I feel like I spend more time reading reviews than I do actually reading books!"Me too!
I just like thoughtful reviews. Long or short, just show me why I might or might not like the book without giving away too much.
We have some excellent reviewers in this group that are able to do just that over and over again.
Splitter
Oh spoiler reviews....or not even spoilers really, the blow-by-blow retelling of the story. Drives me mad, I don't want to know everything that happens!
i enjoy reading one-star reviews just for fun, especially the ones that say, "if i could give this zero stars, i would". i find it endlessly hilarious how pissed off some people get - sarcasm like acid - hair-pulling frustration - the long ones especially. great fun!!
am i sick?
ps: i'm rebelling against capital letters today. they think they're all that just cuz they get to start sentences - so arrogant.
Suki, I will admit to enjoying some of the arguments I see on Amazon reviews lol. They can get nasty!Splitter
C.S. Splitter wrote: "Suki, I will admit to enjoying some of the arguments I see on Amazon reviews lol. They can get nasty!Splitter"
i know! i love it when someone hates a book so much they have to kill something to ease the pressure.
Suki wrote: "C.S. Splitter wrote: "Suki, I will admit to enjoying some of the arguments I see on Amazon reviews lol. They can get nasty!Splitter"
i know! i love it when someone hates a book so much they hav..."
Maybe that's the secret reason I read all those one-star reviews ;)
They're one of my guilty pleasures too. It amazes and amuses me how heated up some people get about a book.
I always wonder why they kept reading something they hated with a passion. Just put it away and pick something you actually like....
Haha, that's a good point, Kat. I have a favorite 'rant' reviewer, who writes the most scathing reviews you'll ever read. I read all her one-star reviews, and I often wonder why she bothers to read the whole book. Maybe just to get more ammunition! I do always get frustrated with people who rant about a book and then say, "But I'm going to read the entire 7-book series because now that I've started reading them I have to see what happens." If it's good enough to spend your money on that many books, there must be something good about them!
I usually read a few 1-star and a few 5-star reviews to get a sense of the things I might like and dislike about a book. I write long reviews, but that's because I'm a very verbose person! I'm a stream-of-consciousness type reviewer. Once I've said all I have to say, I try to stop writing. :)
Lena wrote: "Haha, that's a good point, Kat. I have a favorite 'rant' reviewer, who writes the most scathing reviews you'll ever read. I read all her one-star reviews, and I often wonder why she bothers to read..."When I find a ranter I also check out their other reviews just to see if they can actually find something positive to say!
Honestly, I think some reviewers enjoy despising books just for something to do.
I hate plot summaries. Sometimes you have to give your review a little context, but if I'm reading your review I've probably already checked the official plot summary so unless that book is not-as-advertised don't bother
Kat wrote: "Lena wrote: "Haha, that's a good point, Kat. I have a favorite 'rant' reviewer, who writes the most scathing reviews you'll ever read. I read all her one-star reviews, and I often wonder why she bo..."I'm one of those people. Sorry to say but I dislike DNF-ing a book. I try not to, ever optimistically thinking that a book will get better at the end. A few of the times, I am rewarded, the other times... depressingly not so.
No, it doesn't necessarily mean that there must be something good about those bad books that we keep buying them. It just mean we're so OCD that we must know how the story end because some people can't leave things unfinished. Or we keep getting fooled by other people who are continuously raving about the book and peer pressuring us into reading it and liking it. After all, there must something with me if the majority likes a book and I don't — heretic me for being a minority. =/
Kat wrote: "Honestly, I think some reviewers enjoy despising books just for something to do."
I disagree. =) Reading a book is time-consuming, writing a review is time-consuming — hours and hours. I don't believe people are intentionally reading bad books and writing a bunch of negative reviews about those books. If they did, it would be awfully masochistic of them. And in this economy... can they really afford the spare time do so?
I am ever hesitant to attack or judge someone's review because, hey, it's an opinion. I might be arguing on how green is the best color ever in the entire world because it's my favorite color.
I hate Twilight, yes I read the entire series. But am I going to tell people off for liking it? No. I might just subtly show them better vampire stories, but that's it. I love Harry Potter, but my closest book friend doesn't — she even DNF the first book. Am I going to tell her off for not liking the series? No.
Pardon me if I giving off a rather "woah, ranting lunatic" vibe, but it always hurt me when I feel like I have to defend my book taste and habit. It's the same deal with people who look down on others for reading romance. Or maybe I'm just stupid and I don't know there is a hierarchy of genre and a certain correct way to read and review. *shrug* It's possible.
As for me and my preference of reviews, I prefer reviews with spoilers. You know how some people are against any sort of spoilers and hate reviewers with a passion for posting spoilers, whether intentionally or incidentally? Yeah.. well, I'm the opposite. I'm the pro-spoiler extremist.
I hate surprises. Nothing pisses me off to find out a book uses a certain trope that I abhor with all of my heart. Cheating in romance, TSTL heroines, etc. I like to know what I'm getting ahead and steel myself for the worst if I decide to risk myself reading the book.
I also like it when reviews post animated GIFs, because they're so hilarious. And most of the time, they are often more enjoyable to read than the actual book the review is reviewing about. Here's a review about the The Wise Man's Fear: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... — OMFG, LMAO here.
Kat wrote: "I always wonder why they kept reading something they hated with a passion. Just put it away and pick something you actually like...."Several authors that are in my 10 top favorites were authors that I did not like in the first stages of the book, or book series, and then suddenly, I saw the light, and ended up loving them. If there's something I like in the book, I'll hang in there and see if it gets better. I'd rather suffer than possibly passing on some good books and experiences.
If at the end, it's horrible, I'm talking one-star worthy, there is the temptation to yell at the world, and since no one I know reads and so won't understand my melodrama, I'll write a review. Reading a book is so time-consuming and a lot of times, costs money, so I do feel like I should get something of quality of it.
I hate reading reviews before I read a book, (or even after), because I live in constant fear of spoilers. I don't even read the author summary. I read the first two sentences, then skim the middle, and get opinions from GRs friends to see if maybe I'll like it.
Okay, maybe I need to clarify my position just a little more here :)I'm talking about the ranting 'I threw this book so hard against the wall I had to call in a plasterer; I hated this book so much that by the end I had to run down fifteen flights of stairs to throw it in the bin and shouted 'take that you horrible piece of trash'; I burned it in my kitchen sink' type of reviews.
I too have read series that I didn't really click with at the start but ended up really enjoying.
My point is that I want to read a constructive negative review - and I definitely don't want everyone to love every book - how would I choose what to read otherwise?
Experiment - I could count my DNF's on one hand - and just because it's a DNF doesn't mean I won't one day go back and try reading it again, when I'm in a different state of mind.
I'd need several hands to count my DNFs. I don't want to create a shelf for them. It's embarassing to be a quitter. :D I'm getting better at finishing though.I read a lot of genres, and am always trying something new, so that's my excuse.
I hated a book so much one time that I threw it away. I didn't even want to donate it, because I didn't want anyone burdended with it. I understand that type of rage. But I do try to be constructive. But if there are already several reviews saying the same thing, sometime I don't waste time restating it.
Experiment wrote: "Kat wrote: "Lena wrote: "Haha, that's a good point, Kat. I have a favorite 'rant' reviewer, who writes the most scathing reviews you'll ever read. I read all her one-star reviews, and I often wonde..."that has to the one of the most entertaining reviews i've ever seen - brilliant. i'm almost done with The Name of the Wind - can't wait to read the second in the series - especially after seeing this review. Hilarious - thanks for posting.
Damali wrote: "I'd need several hands to count my DNFs. I don't want to create a shelf for them. It's embarassing to be a quitter. :D I'm getting better at finishing though.I read a lot of genres, and am always..."
Damali you inspired me to delete my DNF shelf (it held a grand total of 1!). Not because I'm not a quitter (I'm very fickle!), but because as I said earlier, just because I couldn't finish it the first time doesn't mean I won't give it another bash.
Kat wrote: "Damali wrote: "I'd need several hands to count my DNFs. I don't want to create a shelf for them. It's embarassing to be a quitter. :D I'm getting better at finishing though.I read a lot of genres..."
LOL! You're such a show off, Kat! I had a few bookshelves in my apartment dedicated to my DNFs and they were right by the front door, so I had to slink past them every day! The guilt was so bad that I started using my back door. I've since donated them to to the library, and I feel so much better. :)
In my defense, most of those books were romance novels diguised as YA or urban fantasy. Had I known, I would not have tried to read them. :)
The only epic fantasy book I've ever stopped reading is...The Name of the Wind.
Damali wrote: "I didn't even want to donate it, because I didn't want anyone burdended with it."I would give it to my enemies. =D
Suki wrote: "Experiment wrote: "Kat wrote: "Lena wrote: "Haha, that's a good point, Kat. I have a favorite 'rant' reviewer, who writes the most scathing reviews you'll ever read. I read all her one-star reviews..."
I know! It's funny, right? LMAO. Not all negative reviews are so negative, sometime they're a comedy.
Kat wrote: "Damali wrote: "I'd need several hands to count my DNFs. I don't want to create a shelf for them. It's embarassing to be a quitter. :D I'm getting better at finishing though.
I read a lot of genres..."
TBH, I got a lot of DNF books but I don't shelf them on GR... why? I mean, I think it's fine to DNF a book on GR and 1 star that crap. But why don't I do it myself?
It's because of this, I agree with you on this point: "just because I couldn't finish it the first time doesn't mean I won't give it another bash." DNF-ing a book on GR seems so final, like I never going to read it again. Because of me and my stupid pseudo-OCD, I hate leaving a book unfinished. Heck, if I die I probably end up becoming a ghost due to unfinished business because I didn't finish my books. Ugg.
Damali wrote: "Kat wrote: "Damali wrote: "I'd need several hands to count my DNFs. I don't want to create a shelf for them. It's embarassing to be a quitter. :D I'm getting better at finishing though.I read a l..."
It's much easier to ignore a e-book....oh it disappeared from kindle/sony/cybook - just like it never existed!
Anyone seen the Mr Men reviews on Amazon? V Amusing...
Experiment - what happens in GR stays in GR, or in that box under the bed that was all just a bad dream!
Damali wrote: "In my defense, most of those books were romance novels diguised as YA or urban fantasy. Had I known, I would not have tried to read them. :)The only epic fantasy book I've ever stopped reading is...The Name of the Wind. "
OMFG, I hate that so much, especially the romance disguised as YA. Seriously, I'm not even a girl, but does every single teen girl need a guy to complete them? I love romance as the next person, but I find co-dependency (unless it's a BDSM thing) really unhealthy. Okay, shutting up now before I off on another crazy cat lady rant.
I don't know why I continued with the Kingkiller series... I felt very much like a zombie reading that series. I like long books, but those books were unbearably long. =/
Experiment, I didn't hate anyone that much to give the book to. :)I've decided it's not fair to one-star a book that I didnt't finish, so I took down some of my one-stars, like The Help. I know I still have a few on the shelf that I didn't finish, but I plan to take them down. So that's even more motivation for me to finish a book.
I've deleted a few ebooks permanently. It had to be done. :)
*off topic* Zombie? Did someone say zombie?
Experiment wrote: "Damali wrote: "In my defense, most of those books were romance novels diguised as YA or urban fantasy. Had I known, I would not have tried to read them. :)The only epic fantasy book I've ever sto..."
I love long books, too, but I need something to work with. I find the writing in Name of the Wind to be very erratic and dry. But that's just my opinion. I might have to finish it one day, so I can have a spotless epic fantasy record. I'll audiobook it. :)
Kat wrote: "*off topic* Zombie? Did someone say zombie?"What is up with your zombie obsession? LOL! You read like four zombie books a day.
Damali wrote: "Kat wrote: "*off topic* Zombie? Did someone say zombie?"What is up with your zombie obsession? LOL! You read like four zombie books a day."
Brains?
No I don't only read zombie books, honestly!
Totally agree, Isa. Then the review becomes more like Cliff's Notes. Why would a reader even pick up the book if they pretty much know the major plot lines?Isa wrote: "I hate plot summaries. Sometimes you have to give your review a little context, but if I'm reading your review I've probably already checked the official plot summary so unless that book is not-as-..."
Harriet wrote: "Totally agree, Isa. Then the review becomes more like Cliff's Notes. Why would a reader even pick up the book if they pretty much know the major plot lines?"I still would. =P I'm probably the only one here who would wiki a movie for its plot summary before I watch the movie at the theater... ^_^"
I suppose you don't like surprises, Experiment, although no matter how much you know about a book's plot, there's still the writing to experience. The same with a movie. All the plot lines won't show the acting and visuals. So there are still some surprises for a well-informed you!
Formulaic and objective, meaning the standard type review which contains an opening paragraph, a plot summary and closing thoughts. A just the facts maam type of review ala Harriet Klausner minus the glaring plot errors and nonsensical sentences.
Stream of Consciousness type where the reviewer will write on an off-the-cuff review that really gets their point across and discusses what worked and what didn't, often adding in very little plot detail.
Short, long? Intelligent and serious or funny and/or personal?
I'm finding myself enjoying shorter reviews that do not go over the plot point by point and give me a reason to pick up the book (or not). I like reviews that give me a sense of the person behind the review, a bit of their personality. I hate to admit this but my eyes start glazing over if I see a review that contains more than four paragraphs. Which is quite funny to me because I have a tendency to get long-winded.
So what do the rest of you prefer? Authors? Readers? Bueller?