tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413956056720605439.post7873500377800614150..comments2023-12-19T04:47:36.037-08:00Comments on Wringing out Words: Book Reviews - How not to be a JerkShannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16847466837385726846noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413956056720605439.post-39651426291549650522011-09-24T14:59:42.717-07:002011-09-24T14:59:42.717-07:00Coming in fifth commenting on this post, I'm a...Coming in fifth commenting on this post, I'm at a huge disadvantage as so many other people made great points with which I agree. So I'll just say that this post was very timely and relevant for me. Kudos.Jonathan D Allenhttp://jonathandallen.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413956056720605439.post-52684179894176962872011-09-21T15:54:55.891-07:002011-09-21T15:54:55.891-07:00Clive, great blog. I've skimmed over many revi...Clive, great blog. I've skimmed over many reviews on Amazon, the really bad ones, where there was nothing constructive about them, and I have to ask myself, so what's the motivation behind this bad review? I agree with you about Gossip, and saying bad things about people/authors, people glom on to the bad. They sit up and take notice. So don't do it. <br /><br />One of my favorite authors had a new book out a few years ago. The reviews were scathing. But I read it anyway. The editing was horrible, I think the process was skipped. But I still loved the story, and it didn't stop me from reading her next novels. And I certainly didn't trash her in a review. And I'm still glad I read her book.<br /><br />And as far as the good reviews, I look at the first few lines only. I don't read the really long wordy reviews. So make the first few paragraphs count, I tend to skip reviews that start out, this was a great book. I've seen it too often. Say why it was a great book.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15263589172193528778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413956056720605439.post-26068595438245065982011-09-20T22:47:31.202-07:002011-09-20T22:47:31.202-07:00Many great points in this one. Thanks for sharing...Many great points in this one. Thanks for sharing. We've been hit by the negative comment, fortunately it isn't the first one up. I think of it as a 'rite of passage', look at us we are really authors, we have both negative and positive comments. As I review books, I will try to be a little more descriptive of why I like something. My big fear is giving too much of the book away.Lynn Hallbrookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07404690660463373150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413956056720605439.post-12702978636595861022011-09-20T14:46:42.150-07:002011-09-20T14:46:42.150-07:00I tend to be really easy when it comes to writing ...I tend to be really easy when it comes to writing a review. If I really liked the book - in my review it becomes -I loved it!! Never thought that it might hurt the author. From now on, I will back it up, as you suggested, with the reasons why I thought it was so good. And, I won't be so wary about giving a book a four star review and give a good honest reason in the beginning what I liked about it and nothing about why it only got a four star. Thanks for making these points, Clive. <br />And...I'm sorry about that rotten review - guess I was having a bad day!!! <br /><br />Kidding - I'm kidding!Mimi Barbourhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00542349311785494020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6413956056720605439.post-3059147437363123392011-09-20T14:15:45.809-07:002011-09-20T14:15:45.809-07:00I give that guest blog half a star.
Just kidding...I give that guest blog half a star. <br /><br />Just kidding. Thanks very much, Clive for that info. And how right you are when you mention how powerful a negative can be, regardless the number of positives that outweigh it.<br />I think that reviewing should be like critiquing - go for the gold - at least tell us what works and then offer a suggestion of how to remedy something - if, and only if, it really needs it.Jimhttp://rabbihawkins.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com