FOR READERS
Today’s reader topic comes from QSFer Ryane Chatman:
Have you ever liked/disliked a book, and then casually looked through the reviews and wondered if you read the same book as everyone else?
Writers: This is a reader chat – you are welcome to join it, but please do not reference your own works directly. Thanks!
I did leave a review like that a few times. I’m a part of an arc program, so I’m obligated to leave an honest review, but there are times I’d rather not. It’s not my intention to harm an author because I really know how much effort is put in one full length novel, but on other hand I’m obligated to potential readers to state my honest opinion. Not on only one occasion I was attacked by a posse of author’s fan girls, and not for a one or two star rewievs. It was for a three and in one case for a four star review. In this case even said author joined in – bruised ego, I guess. At this point I must say that my reviews are never mean or downgrading. I just state what I liked and what could be maybe done differently to make a better reading experience. I’m in love with books since the early age of 6, and that was 50 years ago and I read approx 3 full length novels a week (sleep is overrated, by the way) so I’m really grateful to all those creative people out there who make my life better every day. I love to be lost in their worlds and make them mine, so I’ve joined some arc progames to discover some new promising writers, but now I’m reconsidering my decision. An arc program is a really good way for a new unknown author to become more recognizable, but there’s a trap in it for potential readers, and in consequence also for authors, because most of the reviewers feel obligated to leave a stellar review just because they got to read it for free, or in some cases they are friends with an author on social media. So if you want to read an honest review, for example on Amazon just search for verified purchases or go to Goodreads.
Thank you for the question by the way. This topic has been bugging me for some time and there’s much more to be said, but I’ll leave it at that.
Have a great day!
I have to say this is the reason I never read reviews,nor base what I buy on them.
When I have looked at reviews in the past, I have wondered if I read the same book so I no longer look.
Lots of times it was just a different takeaway and personal preference, like I am not a fan of humour. I’ll read it but it isn’t my cup of tea. There are a few times I have seen a review and I have even gone back and reread the book and still didn’t find what was mentioned.