Ok, I've been reading through some readers' reviews in Goodreads lately, and I have to say, the state of them is appalling! Why do readers put authors down so viciously? Are they jealous? Do they not know a good book when they see one? Do they not know how to search for and appreciate the good things in a book? Fine, it may not be for them, but don't read the first 50 pages and say 'This book is a piece of crap.' Do they not realise that writers learn as they go? Obviously not. Give us writers some credit people! I'd like to see you try and write a novel and get it published!
Ugh.
Angry ...
How does it make you feel when you see people flippantly criticising authors when they clearly have no idea what they are talking about?
For the most part I've found that when someone gives a really bad review to a book, they tend to do that to all books they read. They don't seem to like anything.
ReplyDeleteEven if a book has a bad review, I'll check it out anyway. Just because that person didn't like it doesn't mean I won't.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
I won't read drivel like that, in fact I don't pay much attention to reviews anyway. I pretty much have enjoyed ALMOST every book I've ever read, so I'm not too worried about it.
ReplyDeletePeople who give those kind of reviews are petty and jealous in my view.
I've noticed the same thing. I can't imagine only reading the first few pages of a book and giving up on it. Besides I always look for the positive, I don't like putting other authors down...like you said writing is hard work!
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said. Even when I start a book that I'm not enjoying, I need to finish it. A certain book may not appeal to me but I definitely appreciate the work that went into it.
ReplyDeleteAs you so rightly say Jealousy plays a big part in a review.
ReplyDeleteI have read some reviews and have come across not a pleaseant read.
Yvonne.
Yes, I think jealousy and wanting to sound like a person knows more than they do are motivating factors.
ReplyDeleteI do admit there have been books that I started but were so distasteful that I did not want to invest any more time with--but I would not post a review on a 1/2 read book.
I've been on Goodreads for a while. What bother me about it is the brevity of so many of the reviews but even worse, the number that just provide a star rating and nothing more. That's really not very helpful. These days I post all my book reviews on my own site and just put brief notes and links on my Goodreads entries.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Slamdunk who said "wanting to sound like a person knows more than they do." It takes skill to write an intelligent review. I won't write one unless it can be fairly intelligent, which is why sometimes I'll simply give a star rating and not a review.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI'm of the opinion bad reviews often draw more eyes and likely more interest!
So, I guess a negative can create positive backlash in that people lok more closely at a bad-mouthed product out o curiosity: like reading an excerpt and deciding for themselves if its crap or chocolate. ;)
best
F
I've trudged through some books that I didn't enjoy to see why they worked and I've also put down books that I didn't like because I figured life is too short to force myself to read something I dread.
ReplyDeleteYet, I don't feel it right to post nasty reviews on books, but maybe I feel that way because I'm a writer. Readers may have a different way to express how they feel about books, which is also why, when (grins) I'm published, I'm going hire a review screener. And yes, I totally made up that title :)
Amen! I tend not to pay attention to reviews because I know how subjective art can be, but as a writer, I know the impact a negative review can have. Not cool. There are gentler ways to say things.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I think Amazon and Goodreads reviews are safe places for people to take out their life's frustrations on undeserving people. The Internet feels anonymous, but let's face it, words are words and they have the power to hurt us deeply. Yes, everyone can have an opinion, but we should weild it safely!
ReplyDeleteI try not to give bad reviews of anyone's books. Sure, I'll mention things I don't like about them, but I also put emphasis on the thinks I DID like.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, thanks for stopping by my blog. I'm completely and utterly envious of your living in Greece -- I've always wanted to go!
It does always shock me how vicious people can be - but then reading is such an intensely personal art, just like writing. Because I've had moments where a book has just LET. ME. ALL. THE. WAY. DOWN. and it's disappointing. Of course, I don't rip anyone's work to shreds when I get disappointed either, so there's that...
ReplyDeleteThere was a beginning chapter quote about this in Noah Lukemans "First Five Pages".
ReplyDeleteIt said basically that when you review/critique a painting, you don't do it by painting. Same goes for art, theater, you name it.
However, you critique/review books by writing. And it's doubtful that person giving you the review doesn't strive to be that published author. After all, a journalist doesn't want to staya journalist forever, right? (I'm paraphasing here..lol).
So they rip you down and sometimes back up. But remember...everything's subjective.
Make sense? Maybe I should come back after I've got the book in hand and do a direct quote. ;-)
~JD
I hate when people criticize literature. I don't know about books today, I guess everyone likes what they like but never should a person attack the writer themselves and never should they say they hate a book without really reading it.
ReplyDeleteCD
Mean-spirited people drive me batty. I don't understand them at all. It must give them a powerful rush I guess - not my kind of thing.
ReplyDeleteWhen a person viciously brings down another's book, you can surmise that that person is jealous that they are not published and/or a snob of the highest order. Sure, some books are... weaker than others, but there's got to be some redeeming value somewhere in all those pages! They made it to print, did they not?
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I'm digging your blog. Or, as the Japanese say, your brog. ;]
I haven't jumped into Goodreads quite yet but whenever I type in 'best YA book' just looking for something good to read, its just 'the usual subjects'. I dunno whose doing the critiquing but I certaingly don't rely on GR to pick a book to buy. I'm gonna stick to blogger reviews. At least I know the reviewer is a fellow writer and knows what they're talking about.
ReplyDeleteI view book reviews as I do movie reviews - general opinions that aren't necessarily mine.
ReplyDeleteSome people just see the world in extremes - it either rocks or it sucks. And that's sad, because they miss out on so much with that view.
I've yet to really sink my teeth into Goodreads but I have read some of the reviews that people put up there and it drives me crazy! I don't understand where people get off uselessly critiquing someone elses work just because they can. Writing a book takes a lot of time, effort, and a piece of a person.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, even if you HATED a book, you shouldn't bash it needlessly like that. To be cliche... if you've nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all!
I figure everyone has a unique perspective. Anyone can judge a book or piece of art and see something different. They might not like it. I just don’t think people should be cruel or mean. It’s pointless and not helpful to anyone and hurtful to the author (or painter) who spent time creating something they felt was special. And anyone whose taken time to create gets points.
ReplyDeleteI don't think there is any need to be cruel or tear apart a book just because they feel like it.
ReplyDeleteOpinions can be expressed without being malicious.
I did not read any comments so I have no idea if I'm on the same page as any of these amazing peeps. But...I was reading Nathan Bransford's post the other day about this exact subject. Simply put: anyone who has been pubbed-up, their words put between a hardcover and sold online or in a store deserves respect for their accomplishment. Period. You don't have to like their work or agree with them, but respect is a must.
ReplyDeleteSame thing happens in the film and TV biz. I think people who don't actually do the think they're reviewing have no idea how much goes into it. And how easy it is to go awry...even with the best intentions and copious talent...
ReplyDeleteIt hurts to see someone's work trashed. This is why I can't watch that singing show where the mean guy completely decimates hopeful entrants. Its painful to see. Criticize the book, not the author.
ReplyDeleteI don't read many book reviews, so I don't know exactly what kind of thing you're talking about. I don't think it's right (that is, socially correct) to trash someone because you didn't like their book.
ReplyDeleteHowever, if you are putting your work out publicly you have to expect that kind of thing. It's just part of the biz.
I will say that I can understand someone who paid $20 or more for a book, particularly one by their favorite author, being a bit jammed up if it miserably fails to live up to expectations. It seems that many writers with contracts for series kind of fizzle out after a while. I can't say I blame them... the pressure of constantly producing something new with the same main characters and situation must be horribly tedious.
I hope I have the chance to find out one day, though. ;-)
Yes they are jealous and small minded. I do not always enjoy a book, but should I review it I find the strong points and share them. It is not my job to stop people buying books, but just to share my opinion as I saw it.
ReplyDeleteTo knock a book is dangerous for the author and their future. All books written by the individual are different. Some people think they sound clever if they leave snarky reviews.
I think certain people will criticise everything no matter what. Jealous sons of biatches:)
ReplyDeletePeople who write reviews such as you mentioned believe the world revolves around them. They don't consider the fact that somebody else might find the book a masterpiece. The quote "not my cup of tea" has no meaning for them. I give those type of reviews zero weight!!
ReplyDeleteIt really bothers me when people write reviews that not only criticize the book but also seem to attack the author. I have a family member (by marriage) as a Goodreads friend who rarely seems to say something nice in a review. One time she even wrote about a book that she thought was "stupid" and then she recommended it to me because she thought I would like it. I wasn't sure what to feel about that.
ReplyDeleteOh, my gosh! his is even worse guys. Read this about a book I'm really looking forward to reading:
ReplyDelete"The Slap (The Crap?) is an attrocious piece of writing, created purely to provide mass appeal with very little intellectual merit. The quality of writing is simplistic, vulgar, patchy, and in places offensive. But let us not dwell on the good points for too long"
Crikey! Who do these dipshits think they are? God? Did they ever think that perhaps the whole PURPOSE of the book is to be simplistic, vulgar, patchy, and in places offensive? He's an Australian author of Greek descent, so of course he's going to have a 'different' style. LOL. This is nuts ...