tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13263155.post6308828337744676794..comments2023-10-15T10:55:42.537-05:00Comments on This That and the Other Thing: Writing Negative ReviewsRAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04102249990885174107noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13263155.post-49367660538500996132011-04-04T16:45:09.737-05:002011-04-04T16:45:09.737-05:00I agree with Kathleen. If I'm going to spend ...I agree with Kathleen. If I'm going to spend time and money on a book I want to know that what I'm getting is worth it. I think it's important to be honest when reviewing. I have read blogs that never have a negative thing to say about a book and I think c'mon, not all books are fantastic. It makes me not trust their reviews as much because I don't know whether the book was good or they just don't want to offend the author.Angiehttp://bybookorbycrook.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13263155.post-16511488014982478222011-04-03T08:22:28.496-05:002011-04-03T08:22:28.496-05:00I agree with Kathleen and Holly. It's unrealis...I agree with Kathleen and Holly. It's unrealistic for authors to expect all positive reviews and honest reviews are important. As a reader, I want a balanced perspective of book reviews before buying or reading a book. <br /><br />One of the reasons I like reading your reviews is because of your Catholic perspective. Keep up the good work!Carol@simple_catholichttp://www.simplecatholicliving.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13263155.post-62683823498081072912011-04-02T20:51:56.808-05:002011-04-02T20:51:56.808-05:00I think that honesty in reviewing is important. Be...I think that honesty in reviewing is important. Being honest means that occasionally, even often, a reviewer will not like a particular book. I don't absolutely love every book I read. Some I like more than others, several I've absolutely hated, and some I don't finish. I'm not the only person who does this. I also think it's important to not be mean in our effort to be honest. Simply not liking an author's book isn't being mean, and a negative review can certainly be tempered with positive aspects.<br /><br />I think it's completely unrealistic for an author to think that every single reader will love and adore their book they way they do. Readers respond differently to each book because all of our perspectives are different. My response to Inconceivable was different than yours. Our reviews are different and I think they just make for a richer perspective for someone else who is looking into the book.<br /><br />I've had people tell me that it was my negative review that finally got them to actually read a book. I know that I appreciate honest, negative reviews because I think it gives a more realistic, accurate view of a book, rather than only seeing raving reviews and 4 and 5 stars.<br /><br />Great post, Ruth!Holly (2 Kids and Tired)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13075380878850295214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13263155.post-79401797375952078582011-04-02T19:23:22.145-05:002011-04-02T19:23:22.145-05:00You guys have a different perspective on this, as ...You guys have a different perspective on this, as "professional" book reviewers. As far as I'm concerned (as a reader, but also as an author), before I buy a book I want to know what I'm going to find. I don't want to waste time & money on something that's going to rub me the wrong way. So the negative reviews are important, too. If there are only positive reviews out there, how would we ever believe something actually *was* worth reading, and it wasn't all PR garbage? That's why I subscribe to Ruth's blog, b/c she doesn't pull her punches. And yes, Ruth, I think your readers *do* think much like you.Kathleen@so much to sayhttp://www.kathleenbasi.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13263155.post-26547489699426764952011-04-02T17:13:28.430-05:002011-04-02T17:13:28.430-05:00Thanks, that reply actually helped a lot. Sometim...Thanks, that reply actually helped a lot. Sometimes it's hard to see things unless someone puts them into perspective.<br /><br />Now I understand your point.<br /><br />It would be difficult but I guess I'd have to not write the review. I wouldn't be able to trust myself to be unbiased.Gavin Bollardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13833941398375568706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13263155.post-74708357648857705482011-04-02T16:33:46.269-05:002011-04-02T16:33:46.269-05:00What if the thesis of the book was that Aspergers ...What if the thesis of the book was that Aspergers was a made up condition and that all those folks who say they have it need to do is grow up and be responsible? <br /><br />Honestly, I put the disclosure in the review because I do think my beliefs about IVF may have colored my view about the book, but much as I disagree with Islam, I think I could enjoy a book about a women who converts to Islam, if it is written more about the positives of Islam than about the negatives of Christianity. <br /><br />I enjoyed the first part of Inconceivable; my main complaint with the book (as opposed to the behavior that led to the book) was that it was self-absorbed--what was ok at the beginning of the book (after all, it's a memoir)just got to be too much me, me, me by the end.RAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04102249990885174107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13263155.post-65526705557441332152011-04-02T16:17:17.630-05:002011-04-02T16:17:17.630-05:00Luckily, I've never had to write a negative re...Luckily, I've never had to write a negative review for a book I've been given (though some books impressed me less than others). <br /><br />I did write a negative review for Jodi Picoult's House Rules but that wasn't a requested review. It was a purchase.<br /><br />I hope I never get a book where I can't see any merit but then I know that I could always refuse to review something.<br /><br />On reading your negative review, I'm surprised. It's not about the story or the writing style but simply the fact that you disagreed with the material.<br /><br />I don't think that's fair to the author.<br /><br />If someone handed me a book on Islam and Aspergers, (because I only do on-topic reviews - ie: Aspergers). I wouldn't automatically diss the book simply because it wasn't something I believe in.<br /><br />That simply wouldn't be fair.Gavin Bollardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13833941398375568706noreply@blogger.com