Naomi Bellina
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Reviews: We love em, we hate em, we read em

8/20/2012

19 Comments

 
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To start my post on reviews, let me first say how thankful I am to live in this place and time. I can write a review! I can express my opinions freely, I can agree or disagree with someone, I'm allowed to say what I want. That's a treasure beyond measure and I try to remember how blessed I am to have this freedom. Now then, on with the post!

Until I started writing, I didn't think much about reviews. I was happy to have them available when I went to make a purchase on sites like Amazon, where I can find real people, sharing their thoughts and opinions. Now, after much research and reading, and sometimes learning the hard way, I have a slightly different outlook.  I've discovered, to my dismay, not all the people writing those reviews are real consumers. Some of the glowing ones are planted, from the author, or the company that makes the product. Some of the nasty ones are from people with a grudge, or competitors, who didn't even read the book or use the item. It's a shame to think this type of behavior exists, but it does, so now I read reviews with a more practiced eye.

The basics I want to see in a book review are comments about the tone of the story and the important plot points. Is the mood light or somber? Is there a mystery, a lot of action? Scary stuff, or levity?  I like for the reviewer to write a short summation, then tell me what they think.  The best reviews are ones that give me a favorite line or two, and tell me something the reviewer particularly enjoyed about the book.

One thing I don't like in romance stories is overly lengthy sex scenes. I like a slow, sensuous build-up, then a moderate amount of descriptive sex. When I'm writing a review, I will make a note if the lovin' seems to drag on too long, but I make sure to mention that this is my opinion.  Some people enjoy pages and pages of steamy sex, so they will absolutely adore this section of the story. My preference is also for shorter reads. I tend to lose interest if a book rolls on too long. I also don't care for romances about babies, but they're popular with many. Half of you are nodding along with me, and the other half disagrees with everything I said. That's the beauty of living in a free country; to each their own.

Here's a sensitive question I still struggle with. Should a reviewer post a really bad review? Remember what mom said, if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. Part of me believes, if a reviewer doesn't enjoy the book, they should simply stop reading it. A horrible review can bring an author to tears. As a reader, however, I like to know if a book stinks, and as we're told over and over, it takes a thick skin to be a writer.  I've read that many best-selling books receive an equal number of one and five stars, and that's what I've come to realize about reviews. They're opinions. What thrills one person may bore the next, so I try to base my book-buying decisions on a compilation of the reviews I read.

Do you have an opinion about reviews? Thank you for reading mine. Hop over to the next site on the list below, and see what others think.

19 Comments
Susan link
8/20/2012 01:37:38 am

I agree with you on the ratings. A bad review doesn't necessarily mean the book was bad, it just means that particular person didn't care for it. I am more likely to read a book with a good mix of ratings than one that has all 5 or 4 stars. Thanks.

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Naomi Bellina
8/20/2012 05:59:29 am

Nice to know others think that way also, Susan.

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Paloma Beck link
8/20/2012 05:05:50 am

All I ask in a bad review is to say "why". Nothing is worse than a review that only says "book was awful" with no qualifiers. How is that helpful? To the author or potential readers?

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Naomi Bellina
8/20/2012 06:02:17 am

Absolutely, Paloma! If the person leaving the review can't say why they didn't like it, they shouldn't write one at all. It hurts the author and doesn't help a reader. I think most writers want to know what people dislike about their book. Constructive criticism is helpful.

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Livia @ Butterfly-o-Meter Books link
8/20/2012 06:14:38 am

I have to tell you that the only "bad" reviews to me are those that say either just "This is fabulous!" or "This sucks!" - that's not a review, that's a hit and run, lol. Reviews can be more or less favorable to the book or author, but I don't think they're 'bad' either way, you know what I mean?

Of course, if instead of talking about the book they begin to attack the author personally and be nasty towards them, then it's something I don't personally condone or partake in - the same goes for authors going off on reviewers for odd reasons like having an opinion. But saying I didn't have any chemistry with a book is not a bad review, it's a honest one if I didn't like the book. As long as I explain what didn't work for me, and make sure to having thought about it before putting it all down on paper or post, I see that as a good review, meaning it's honest and thought out if not thoughtful.

Loved reading your thoughts.



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Naomi Bellina
8/20/2012 06:43:11 am

Excellent point, Livia. Going back to the thought on opinions, not everyone is going to like a book. An honest review that points out what the reviewer didn't like would actually be useful feedback for the writer. I know I've read a review or two that made me think, and gave me helpful tips on my writing. Readers can use those reviews also, because they might enjoy exactly what the reviewer didn't!

Thanks for all the comments!

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Brunette Librarian link
8/20/2012 08:02:40 am

One of the other blog hosts today mentioned you can be critical and not hurtful when posting a negative review. I personally like reading negative reviews sometimes - I dont' always agree with them but I do like reading the other persons ideas and why they think that way.

<a href="http://brunettelibrarian.blogspot.com/"> The Brunette Librarian Blog </a>

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Naomi Bellina
8/20/2012 01:25:10 pm

It's intersting to hear a variety of opinions. Too often, we only listen to the ones we agree with!

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ELF link
8/20/2012 08:48:57 am

I read and review a lot of books and it takes me the longest time to write a review for a book that I didn't like because I struggle about being negative over something that is not to my tastes. Occasionally, I feel that the author really needs to work on technique or editing but I have found that those people are often the least receptive to any comments. I often find that those books that I really like receive very low scores from other readers and vice versa so there definitely is something out there for everyone.

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Naomi Bellina
8/20/2012 01:27:25 pm

Keep putting out comments anyway! Smart writers will listen to them and learn. So glad there are so many books, something for everyone.

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Rhonda D
8/20/2012 09:08:08 am

I so totally agree. It's very hard for me to publish a bad review. I will post a good review (4 or 5 stars) quickly, but i hardly ever publish anything less.

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Naomi Bellina
8/20/2012 01:29:11 pm

You're a kind soul, Rhonda. Again, I'm torn about this subject. It's great to read all these comments!

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Cara Marsi link
8/20/2012 10:23:53 am

Interesting post. Like you, Naomi, I believed all reviews were written in good faith by people who'd read the books. Lately I've learned some stellar reviews can be plants and some particularly nasty ones are done by people with an agenda. If a reviewer didn't like a book but posts a well-thought out review stating why she didn't like it, then I'll consider that review when deciding to purchase the book. Too many reviews are personal attacks against the author and have nothing substanstial to say about the book. I don't pay attention to those reviews when considering a book. I won't post a review for anything under 3 stars. That's just me.

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Naomi Bellina
8/20/2012 01:31:25 pm

Weren't you crushed when you realized the review system wasn't totally honest? I believe there are actually companies that pay people to leave bad reveiws. Shameful!

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Cara Marsi link
8/20/2012 04:17:37 pm

I was crushed. I have a hard time believing some people can be so mean.

Donna Brown link
8/20/2012 11:15:31 am

It's a really good question about the bad reviews. Up to now, I haven't really done many 1* or 2* reviews because if I'm disliking the book so much, I'll just stop reading and I don't review DNF books. That has rarely happened - normally I've been able to choose books quite well so they are at least a 3*. I know some people think that not positive negative reviews doesn't make you a 'proper' review. Well, so be it. My blog is my pleasure. If use a vast amount of my limited free time on it - I know it's the same for every blogger. Why should I force myself to do something that I don't want to do?

Great post!

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Naomi Bellina
8/20/2012 01:32:59 pm

Amen! Life is too short to read books you don't like. I had a reviewer return a book because she didn't like it, and I appreciate that.

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Lynn A. Reynolds link
8/20/2012 02:18:21 pm

This has been a great learning experience for me. I also do book reviews. It's been interesting to see all the different point of views. I would so do this type of hop again. Thank you for a great post.
Lynn

Reply
Naomi Bellina
8/20/2012 03:15:54 pm

Don't you love when learning is fun? I hope we do this type of hop again, too.

Reply



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