August 24, 2007
REVIEWS
I’m not posting this just for the sake of having something to blog about today (though there is that, lol). 
I’m hoping that whoever you are—author, reader, or both—you’ll take a moment to respond to the question. It’s something I’ve wondered about for quite some time, and I’d really like to get some feedback on it (and it might aid another author or two).
What’s your position on book reviews? Do you read them? Do you actively search them out? Do they affect your reading or buying habits? Do you find yourself getting bored if you visit an author’s site and you think there are too many reviews featured there?
If you don’t read them…why not? And would you think it strange if an author made note of a negative or lukewarm review as well as the favorable ones, or is selective promo the way to go?
Thanks, your opinions would be much appreciated! 
I read book reviews, especially when purchasing online. They do affect my decision to purchase but word-of-mouth works even better.
When I read a bad review I many times feel that the reader is insane and ignore it. But if the reader sounds normal, I consider it.
I think a handful of good book reviews are great on an author’s site because other readers want to know how people responded to your writing.
I have noticed other authors pile a ton of good reviews after a bad one, call out their reinforcements but don’t bring anymore attention to it. My suggestion is…bury it and move on.
Hugs, JJ….Raine sent me over.
A wild love to Raine whom I adore!!!
The only reviews I read are those of people I know just to give them a thumbs up or boost depending on the review.
well that’s not entirely true, if say on amazon there is no synopsis of the book and someone left reviews, I will read it to see if the book is subject matter I want to read, I don’t tend to take their good or bad to heart.
Now my reviews, I totally take them personally
I read them occasionally, but I prefer to happen upon them - I don’t go looking.
Sometimes I buy the book.
Strikes me as proper and natural that a writer should post links/quotes to/from reviews of their work.
Bad or good - it all depends on the tone of the recipient. A constant “I am sooo great” is as off-putting as the “they didn’t get it” posture.
Don’t think a writer is obligated to post negative reviews ( full disclosure is required only in court), but a poor one along with a majority of good ones implies a forthright honesty.
JJ, how did you know I was hoping to drag…er, lure more people in here?
Thanks for you input, always value your opinion.
Adore you right back.
Dennie, good idea–reading them to check out the subject matter.
As to taking them personally…it is kinda hard to remain unaffected by them, isn’t it?
Strikes me as proper and natural that a writer should post links/quotes to/from reviews of their work.
Thanks for your opinion, Bernita.
Truth be told, I’d honestly been considering not posting references to reviews of my books in the future. I think it may have been because, when I first started out, I went a little overboard with them. I was SO thrilled to be published at all, I went a bit crazy about it and, looking back, it seems like almost every third post was a reference to a review—ack!
But your points are quite valid.
I read reviews, but I go for an overall consensus. There has to be several bad ones before I’d avoid buying a book. This rarely happens. As for posting things on your site, I’d stick with the positive ones. If the negative ones are out there, so be it, but you don’t have to promote them. ;)
Well, I do go to review sites, or reader blogs, so I guess I seek them out. But it doesn’t matter to me whether the reader/reviewer loved/hated the book, I’m more interested in ‘why’ they loved/hated the book and the synopsis. One woman’s treasue is another woman’s wallbanger, etc.
I think you should absolutely link post about the good reviews. Leave the bad reviews where they lie. If you feel self concious about posting about reviews (and really you shouldn’t.) , you can always mix it up. Post about several of them in one post, or you can do a special section in your sidebar with links to the reviews and periodically tell peeps to check it out, it’s been updated. etc.
As for posting things on your site, I’d stick with the positive ones. If the negative ones are out there, so be it, but you don’t have to promote them.
To be honest, that idea nagged at me at first, Jordan. I’ve never gotten a REALLY bad review (okay, not yet), but wondered if it’d be hypocritical of me to post one without mentioning the other…
Jaq, I had considered having links on the sidebar, or a separate page for them—good idea. Very wary about getting into the ‘overkill’ area.
Thanks, everyone for your thoughts. Interesting, the different ways people approach these things.
Okay, I’m the exception, but I’ll still answer your question. Do I read reviews/do I seek them out? I order all materials for the dayjob in three catagories: children’s, young adult, and adult.. I read tons of reviews: Booklist, Library Journal, VOYA, Publishers Weekly, Ingram’s catalogs… and for work, frankly if the book doesn’t grab me quickly, or I think it won’t fit in the collection I don’t but it. As for my own buying, sometimes I’ll remember reading about a book when ordering for work, and if I still remember it at B&N I’ll buy it. Otherwise I rely on word of mouth, I’ve got several friends (and now blog buddies) whose opinions I trust. As for posting negative reviews, I’d say leave them be.
So you order books for your job based on reviews, Ann? Then they carry a lot of weight…
Thanks for the feedback, hon!
Sometimes the reviews themselves sell the books, other times it’s just a matter of knowing what has come out lately (current books on test prep books, or legal issues or medicine).