February 21, 2008
Book Reviews And You
I just finished a book that got trashed by a reviewer. The woman hated the plot, the writing, the characters … hell, she even hated the cover.
But guess what? I **loved** it. So given the sharp differences in our perspectives, it makes me wonder about the other books I may have passed on because of a sour review. That’s why I think it’s very important to analyze a reviewer’s past reviews, just to see what he/she likes. Agents do it all the time with publishers. If your agent knows Editor A hates Beta heroes, she’ll send to Editor 
B or C instead. Reviewers are no different. If you’ve been reading a particular reviewers column and you notice she’s consistently hating on, say, heroes with tattoos, or heroines being chased by a psycho, or plots set in the Far East, then you’ll know to take her words with a grain of salt.
How influenced are you by reviews? Do you read Amazon.com reader reviews? How about Publishers Weekly? Or Romantic Times? Has a bad review ever made you reconsider a book? Has a good review ever prompted you to buy? Or are you more influenced by a friend’s recommendation?
Very good point!
Sometimes for me it’s not so much whether the reveiwer likes or dislikes it as to what they have to say. One reviewer I read on occasion will pan just about everything but when she says it’s because this particular story line or subject matter–I will pick up the book because it sounds interesting.
I’m with you. I’ve read books and saw Amazon reviews on what I’d read that made me wonder if the reviewers had read the same books. I pick what I read from the excerpts mostly. Wouldn’t it be nice if agents and publishers looked for potential money makers rather than manuscripts appealing to their own personal quirks. :)
As a reader, I don’t pay much attention to reviews unless they’re really really bad or good. I picked up The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna Bourne because everybody was talking about it, and it was really good. I don’t know that I would have been driven to pick up an historical right now otherwise. I love Mrs. Giggles when she gets rolling. Some I totally agree with, others I enjoyed, but SHE’S always a pleasure to read either way.
I don’t put too much stock in reviews, unless I know my taste run along the same line as the reviewer. I sometimes find books that I’ve read and loved to see what the reviewer says. If they outright trash the book I take their opinion with a grain of salt. If it’s a so-so and the things they point out I can agree with then i can trust what they say. Good books are extremely subjective, because there are a million factors that go into it. How many books has this reviewer read of this particular author? Does she/he feel like the author is writing the same story? Did this reviewer just read a book with the same story line and it was done better? So going with a review is like playing Russian Roulette.(sp?)
How influenced are you by reviews?
I’m not. I’m really only looking for info (ie character/plot synopsis.)
or to be entertained.
There’s only one reviewer i can think of whose tastes more or dove-tails with mine 99% - that variance is due to her *liking* something while I *love* it and vice versa, or she recommending something that looks interesting, but doesn’t really entice me to go check it out for whatever reason (due to mood, etc.).
Aside from that, I don’t know how many times I’ve wondered if a reviewer and myself actually read the same book.
And there’s been plenty of times where I totally see where the review is coming from,but…. i don’t care! I still love the book, or want to read it because it has all my non-pc, guilty pleasure buttons. Or, conversely, I’m still not interested (in terms of a rave review) because the book has elements I *know* from experience I won’t enjoy.
Dennie,
That’s an excellent point. It’s all about substance. Sometimes I’ll read a review and the negative points, while well taken, may not bother me. For instance, I once read a book that had a hero (a spy/assassin) who had had sex with men in his past. One reviewer had a hissy fit over this, however, it didn’t bother me because it fit with his characterization. He was a ruthless Daniel Craig Bond type who would do anything to get the job done. He wasn’t gay. He was a professional, and he was one of the top operatives in his field. So his sexual dalliances fit with the character.
Bernard,
I can see your point about the editors picking books without letting their personal quirks get in the way, however, with agents, the situation is a little more complicated. You see, since agents have to sell the books to the editors, most of them feel that they can’t really be a good champion for a novel unless they fall in love.
All sales aren’t the same. I mean, I remember when I was a teen working at a hip retail clothes store selling Bonjour, Jordache and Vanderbilt jeans to the masses. I worked on commission, so I had no problem talking them up. They weren’t worth half the money they were priced as, but I didn’t care. They were just clothes, ya know? And the money was good.
However, selling a book is a bit more personal. Most agents have to be able to connect with an author’s style or something in the story has to resonate with them. Why? Because that “warm fuzzy” will help them stay the course through the rejections. An author will stand by a story because it’s her/his baby. Likewise, an agent (well, most anyway) like to be in love too because love endures through the rough times.
Joely,
I’ve made a habit of not buying a book (90% of my book buying is done on Amazon) unless it has 4 1/2 to 5 stars. Sometimes I’ll take a chance and get a 4-starred book, but nothing less than that. Books are too expensive for me to take chances. I’m tired of tossing more than half of the books I buy into my wallbanger box.
Melissa,
You said: “How many books has this reviewer read of this particular author? Does she/he feel like the author is writing the same story?”
Excellent point. I always take this into consideration because though the reviewer may have read this story more than twice, I may not have. So I probably will enjoy the book. I feel the same way about movie reviewers. Most of them are so jaded and cynical that they have a knee jerk reaction to certain subject matter. I mean, they do nothing but watch movies all week, so naturally they’re looking for the new and different. Well, sometimes, I like to see the tried and true. Even if it doesn’t have a fresh spin, it may have an actor I like in it, so I’ll be more forgiving when faced with a done-to-death storyline. It’s all subjective.
Joely,
There’s one reviewer whom I read just to find books I know I’ll hate. Our tastes are so diametrically opposite that I know if she trashes a book, there’s more than an 85% chance that I’ll like if not love it. I’ve been testing this theory for a few years now and I’ve always guessed it right. I figure our brains are just wired differently. I also have no doubt that she and I have nothing in common in other areas too.
Reviews don’t influence my reading or buying.
The only exception might be if they seem extraordinarily good across the board, it will pique my interest enough to look at it.
Very influenced by reviews.
My own reviews of my books have been good, despite my spotty production.
I am a male author. Good reviews have gotten me laid!.