tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post9071708757675561534..comments2024-03-20T08:13:24.605+01:00Comments on Bingeing On Books: Musing Monday - How Necessary are Negative Book Reviews?Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-55239862190081844062015-02-01T12:51:28.148+01:002015-02-01T12:51:28.148+01:00Oh yes Anna if someone told me they didn't wri...Oh yes Anna if someone told me they didn't write negative reviews that would irritate me so much!! Sometimes negative reviews sway me and sometimes they don't. But I always want to know both sides. And if their is a blogger who likes a lot of the same books as I do, then I may give their negative review a little bit more weight. Thanks so much for your input.Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-60526351180767275962015-01-31T03:52:20.006+01:002015-01-31T03:52:20.006+01:00One of the first posts I did this year was about w...One of the first posts I did this year was about writing negative reviews and how important they are. I'm a big believer in them. Sucks when you have to write one but oh it makes me so mad when I pick up a book that's got amazing ratings and it ends up being awful and then once I post or say something like everyone I know who has read it goes oh yeah I read that and it was terrible but I don't write negative reviews. Oh my word. So ticked off. Anna (herding cats-burning soup)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17422129120413380189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-8244396788288098102015-01-30T20:50:19.646+01:002015-01-30T20:50:19.646+01:00Thanks Nereyda! I'm so glad I am not the only ...Thanks Nereyda! I'm so glad I am not the only one who feels that way. I feel guilty because I do hate writing the negative reviews. But with a positive review, there are only so many ways to say "I love it." Ha. I know that if there is a blogger who likes a lot of the same books that I do, then I may give their negative review a bit more weight. But it's always good to look at the other side. When I am deciding to buy a book, I always look at the negative reviews as well as the positive ones. Sometimes they sway me and sometimes they don't.Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-85951239506264226452015-01-30T20:47:34.484+01:002015-01-30T20:47:34.484+01:00Yes you are so right to all of this!! I know write...Yes you are so right to all of this!! I know writers put a lot of work into their craft, but if they aren't prepared for negative reviews then they shouldn't publish their work. Everyone's tastes are so different and it is impossible without finding at least one person who hates your book. I wouldn't buy anything from that author either.Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-29257718141212003862015-01-30T20:34:05.943+01:002015-01-30T20:34:05.943+01:00Negative reviews are so much easier to write! It ...Negative reviews are so much easier to write! It sucks but it's the truth. I always have a hard time explaing why I love a book as opposed to why I hated it.<br />I think negative reviews are important. I read negative reviews because what bothered one person might not bother me. For instance, I don't like kids in books. I might not like a book because of that, but someone else might not be bothered by it. Great topic post!Nereyda @Nick and Nereydas Infinite Booklisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05068688280866239189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-22637846653398014992015-01-30T13:04:50.380+01:002015-01-30T13:04:50.380+01:00I actually get really irritated when authors say t...I actually get really irritated when authors say that there shouldn't be any negative reviews. I read a post from one and it was absolutely ridiculous. I didn't comment or anything, but I was like "yep! Never buying ANYTHING from this author."<br /><br />Fact is, we are allowed to do what we want. Once a book goes out, authors have NO control over what happens next. The reception could be good or it could be bad. Either way, the book's already out. There are no take backs or revisions to be done. This being said, reviews aren't for the author.<br /><br />I think they're for the readers, for the people who are thinking "is this book worth taking a chance on." Like, for example, the review on Twilight are a mix of good and bad [all those Teenage fangirls!] So i went with a reviewer I trusted and it was a good idea.<br /><br />Negative reviews are just as important as positive. And it could also end up saving someone else money.N o v a - Z a yhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06071319586825957117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-91376391145912880892015-01-28T09:04:54.190+01:002015-01-28T09:04:54.190+01:00Thanks Captivated Reader! Glad that someone else f...Thanks Captivated Reader! Glad that someone else finds it a little easier to write a negative review. :) I really try my best to write positives as well as the negatives for every book. I think other readers can benefit from that. Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-42326859828670726572015-01-28T09:03:31.826+01:002015-01-28T09:03:31.826+01:00Thanks for your input Rachel! Everyone's taste...Thanks for your input Rachel! Everyone's tastes are different but if there are things you feel didn't work in the book, it should be communicated to other readers.Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-67511925349654982662015-01-28T09:02:42.455+01:002015-01-28T09:02:42.455+01:00That is very true Trish. I hate when I dislike any...That is very true Trish. I hate when I dislike any book, which is why I try my very best to list some strengths along with the weaknesses. Personally, I do write reviews way more for readers than authors. I do think, though, that some people are afraid to offend the author with a negative review. But if you are going to be a writer, you have to be prepared for criticism. Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-71618157872710897782015-01-28T09:00:07.634+01:002015-01-28T09:00:07.634+01:00Very good point Cait! Everyone's tastes are di...Very good point Cait! Everyone's tastes are different so the fact that some people dislike it doesn't mean the author really did anything wrong. Personally, I do write reviews for readers way more than authors. And if there is a fellow blogger who likes a lot of the same books that I do, then I am more likely to listen a bit more to their negative review. Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-18959000129216971402015-01-28T08:58:36.983+01:002015-01-28T08:58:36.983+01:00Thanks for the input malvikajaswal! Of course I wo...Thanks for the input malvikajaswal! Of course I wonder what that person meant by "unnecessarily negative reviews." I am sure every author loves and adores their book and probably feels negative reviews are unnecessary. I don't think I could agree to something like that. Lesson learned though, right? :)Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-32254610632680764092015-01-28T08:56:43.354+01:002015-01-28T08:56:43.354+01:00You are so right Giselle! And personally, I write ...You are so right Giselle! And personally, I write my reviews more for other readers than the author. And if there is a blogger that likes a lot of the same books I do, I will probably listen to them a little bit more if they give a negative review. And yes, I agree with you about comparing books to other very famous ones. It always sets my expectations too high and then I am disappointed. Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-21118160486714632102015-01-28T08:54:45.780+01:002015-01-28T08:54:45.780+01:00Thanks Kwizgiver, glad I am not the only one!Thanks Kwizgiver, glad I am not the only one!Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-30426105952869075212015-01-28T08:54:20.389+01:002015-01-28T08:54:20.389+01:00Very good point Breana. I try to do that as well. ...Very good point Breana. I try to do that as well. I would hate to write a review where every single thing was bad!Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-41029987032733939542015-01-28T08:01:50.307+01:002015-01-28T08:01:50.307+01:00Writing negative reviews is necessary... Just as n...Writing negative reviews is necessary... Just as necessary as writing a positive review of a book. I think that it is easier to write negative reviews sometimes than positive reviews, but not always... If you don't like a book you've read, then yes, you need to state why you don't like it... Just like when you love/like a book you need to give reasons why you loved/liked reading it.Captivated Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15789205839634527219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-9475661953428163262015-01-27T21:54:21.295+01:002015-01-27T21:54:21.295+01:00I feel like negative reviews are just as necessary...I feel like negative reviews are just as necessary as positive reviews. It just shows the variety of opinions people have on books and why they feel that way. <br /><br />Rachel @ <a href="http://aperfectioncalledbooks.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">A Perfection Called Books</a>Rachel https://www.blogger.com/profile/06616299360211920794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-73150627243060312392015-01-27T11:09:34.202+01:002015-01-27T11:09:34.202+01:00I don't think a blogger HAS to write negative ...I don't think a blogger HAS to write negative reviews and it's a decision we all have to make for ourselves. I do write them but I don't snark and always try to explain exactly why it didn't work. And for me it's important to remember who I write reviews for and that is myself mostly and I want to keep an accurate record of my feels for the book. Then for any blog readers and again I want to be honest in my opinions. And I don't really take the author into account as I'm not writing reviews for them and I do think if they put a book out there, they need to be ready for good and bad reviews. So for me those negative reviews are needed when I think of who I'm blogging for. But each to their own! Trish @ Between My Lineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08517849083417759188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-29611780249875488582015-01-27T03:49:34.608+01:002015-01-27T03:49:34.608+01:00I think negative reviews are definitely defintiely...I think negative reviews are definitely defintiely needed...but not for the author. As the reader, I actually don't think it's our place to offer the <i>author</i> critisim at all. Writing is ART! Everyone appreciates art differently! So I don't think an author "wrote it wrong"... What I DO think negative reviews are for is...us. I find bloggers and readers with similar tastes to me so when they hate a book and review it negatively I can go, "oh, well we love so many of the same books that I'd probably not like that book either". And then I don't waste my time. XD<br />Love this discussion topic!<br />Thanks for stopping by <a href="http://www.paperfury.com" rel="nofollow">@ Paper Fury!</a> CG @ Paper Furyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14954615708675952085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-39204986367742688392015-01-27T03:18:21.299+01:002015-01-27T03:18:21.299+01:00I had received a book review request from a group ...I had received a book review request from a group a few months ago that said they did not want 'unnecessarily negative reviews'. I agreed to review a book for them and unfortunately didn't like it at all. The agonies of trying to find good points about the writing gave me a couple of sleepless nights and I swore never to promise to write stuff I do not agree with. So yes, I agree with most of the fellow bloggers with the idea that negative reviews are a must. So many times I have picked up or left books on the basis of reviews I read from people who share the same interests as me and have never been disappointed. And I agree, writing a negative review does not mean we do not appreciate the hard work that goes into writing a book. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-41087985627743173522015-01-26T23:47:27.924+01:002015-01-26T23:47:27.924+01:00I think there are 2 kinds of reviewers: those who ...I think there are 2 kinds of reviewers: those who review for authors, and those who review for other readers. Those who review for authors are usually those who refuse to write anything negative and usually are the ones with the opinion that negative reviews are unnecessary and mean and bullying which I think is ridiculous. <br /><br />On the other hand, those who write for other readers (which is who reviews are REALLY for if you ask me), will most definitely write reviews regardless of how much they liked or disliked a book. Because they know that it will let other readers know if they will be equally in love or hate with this book. Let's say you always hate certain aspects in books, seeing someone complain about them in a review will tell you that book won't be for you. So in that sense, writing negative reviews could actually avoid the book getting more bad reviews. <br /><br />The point of a review is to attract or dissuade like-minded people towards/against a book. If there are only positive reviews, the book is not really reaching its audience. It's trying to wrongfully attract ALL readers and there is not 1 book in the universe that is loved by all. I actually feel the same about those blurbs on covers that say things like "better than The Hunger Games", like, no. Don't even try! Gisellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16953187386418088952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-12070926640791847582015-01-26T20:20:29.675+01:002015-01-26T20:20:29.675+01:00I'm with you--I like to qualify my reviews wit...I'm with you--I like to qualify my reviews with reasons I liked or disliked the book.Kwizgiverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02030855903021576354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-20337966168244324652015-01-26T20:09:17.252+01:002015-01-26T20:09:17.252+01:00When I write negative reviews I try to state what ...When I write negative reviews I try to state what I did and didn't like about the book. Because even if I didn't like the book overall, there are usually at least one or more aspects that I did enjoy. Negative reviews happen because not everyone has the same tastes in books. Needless to say, this is an interesting topic to discuss.Breana M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10345983166905397230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-35860676242075203522015-01-26T17:40:37.749+01:002015-01-26T17:40:37.749+01:00I agree with you completely Carmel. I am writing a...I agree with you completely Carmel. I am writing a book now and I don't even want to tell the plot to anyone yet because of the possibility of criticism. I don't even want to think about what I will be like when I finish it. HaCynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-77944784693354844562015-01-26T17:36:02.596+01:002015-01-26T17:36:02.596+01:00Thanks for the input Jen! I do agree with your poi...Thanks for the input Jen! I do agree with your points - everyone does have different tastes after all. It is important to be as specific as possible. And if I happen to dislike a writers' use of a specific POV, another reader may love that type of writing style. Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719681682618841725.post-28836450373955189912015-01-26T17:34:48.130+01:002015-01-26T17:34:48.130+01:00Thanks Creations! And yes, I agree that every revi...Thanks Creations! And yes, I agree that every review should include some strengths if possible. There are very few books I have read that have ZERO strengths. I can usually find at least one thing that I like.Cynthiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16050447428759378366noreply@blogger.com