Let’s face it. Book reviews are the lifeblood of authorship. We try and restrain our giddiness when notification of a new review shows up in our inbox. We know the importance of a good review. It has the potential of massaging our ego and our sales, neither of which is a bad thing. So what do we do when a stinker shows up?
I started thinking about this the other day whilst looking at a book on Amazon. With this particular book, there were several hundred reviews. A vast, vast majority were 4 or 5 stars. That tells me a lot as someone considering a purchase. Looking a little further, I saw that there were several 1 star reviews as well. I thought about it and quite frankly I was a bit annoyed. I mean, really? Virtually everyone loved this book and yet there was that one curmudgeon who had to swim against the tide. And, it wasn’t just a “not my cup of tea” review (those don’t warrant a one star either), it was a lambasting of the author and the story.
When I worked at the local library, I checked out a book that had received rave literary reviews. I was absolutely intrigued by the story line and I couldn’t wait to dive in. I opened to the first page, stared for a minute, then blinked. There was no punctuation. No quotations around dialogue, no commas. My brain had a little seizure. I gave it my best effort. I wanted to read it. I tried. Lord knows, I tried. But I couldn’t do it. The punctuation thing was just too much. When I post my review on Amazon, I was dead honest. I didn’t blame the author. I was matter-of-fact in my assessment of my apparent lack of flexibility. Ultimately I gave the book a 3 star rating because I felt a 1 star would be grossly unfair to folks trying to make a book purchasing decision. Interestingly, you wouldn’t believe the amount of feedback that comment receives – all of it positive.
Some folks always need to play the devil’s advocate. They derive some sort of self satisfaction by being different from the crowd. Personally I think this is disingenuous. The lesson here is that authors need to keep their suit of armor at hand and not let these folks bring you down. Keep these things in perspective. Think about any kind of surveys you may have seen about virtually anything. A majority usually falls one way or the other and then there is a spattering of folks who insist on being the anchors on the other end.
What I’m saying here is for you, as an author, need to keep your reviews in the proper perspective. If all of your reviews are positive and you receive one stinker, consider where the stink is being generated from. Chances are it’s not your book.
Well said. I also noticed that phenomenon especially with books that have got a lot of reviews. I tend to listen to well written 1 star reviews if they explain exactly what they thought wring with the book. Then, I weigh it against the amount of positive feedback. With authors buying their 5star reviews these days, it’s important to look closely there too. But in general, you’re absolutely right.
Katharina Gerlach´s last [type] ..Review Monday: Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones
Hi Katharina,
Thanks for coming by and commenting. I think your strategy is sound. I kinda do the same thing and yes, it’s a shame that good reviews can be purchased. And to think that in the past we just had to deal with reviews from moms, spouses and the like.
George
Bravo! I had a one star review in which the reviewer freely admitted to reading 10% of the book. That’s it. Ten percent, gave up, called it quits and stuck me with a one star. Seriously? That’s enough to warrant an opinion? If I read 10% of a book and gave up on it, I think it would be ridiculous to expect others to give a flip about my 10% opinion.
Richard,
Yeah it sure doesn’t seem like they gave it an honest effort. In that case they need to claim “not my cup of tea,” move on and not write a review.
George
I don’t give bad reviews. If I can’t write a good review I rather contact the writer with a list of the things wrong with the book. But yes, I’ve seen those one star reviews out there complaining about all the illiterate or tasteless people that have given the book 5 star reviews. It happens and there is nothing we can do about it. Like you say: perspective.
Heh. Rolando, I thought I was the only one. Generally I tend to not write a review if I don’t like a book, chalking it up to taste or what have you. Although I did write a bad review a few years back and the author totally emailed me getting up in my face. Actually, he was quite a jerk about it, and my review was not scathing or anything like that. He was clearly out of line.
George
George,
I created an email account for my novel and listed it on the contact page at the back of the book. I knew that by doing so I was opening the door to everything – glowing praise to harsh criticism. One in particular really stuck with me in a “really?” sort of way. It was from a gentleman who all but condemned me to hell for using foul and offensive language. Even said he was surprised I let my wife read the book. (I’m guessing that offensive language flys in the face of a woman’s “delicate” sensibilities.)
Rolando,
I had a one star (one of two mind you) that had the nerve to make vague accusations that my five star reviews were not legitimate. His “proof” – a lot of the five star reviews had only my book as their sole review on Amazon. What a jerk.
Wow, Richard. That’s amazing. I take it the guy wasn’t a 50 shades kind of guy either. It’s just like watching TV. If you don’t like what’s on the channel, change the channel. Don’t lobby to have the channel removed. And for folks to send accusations about purchasing reviews on a basis as flimsy as what that one guy said, is no less than ridiculous.
Some people’s children. Sheesh.
George
I don’t expect everyone to like what I write, but one of my short stories was given a 1-star review because the Kindle software wouldn’t work on the guy’s computer. He didn’t even read my story (he couldn’t) but he gave it 1-star for something that I don’t even have control over. Argh!
Some people just need to be slapped.
Jay
J. A. Whye´s last [type] ..Making Your Novel Perfect
Jay,
This is the kind of thing that makes me think there should be an appeals process for single star reviews. Talk about bogus. if you find who did it, let me know. I’ll do the holdin’ whilst you so the slappin’.
George
A great read, good advice, and very funny pic! Nice stuff! xo
Julia Kovach´s last [type] ..BEING BIPOLAR
Hi Julia,
Thanks so much for coming by and leaving such kind words.
George
Pingback: Negativity Versus Negative Review | Dark cargo
Pingback: A few links for the end of the week | Words on a page
Books reviews are always necessary if you are buying a new book.^
Please do go look at our new blog
<="http://www.caramoan.ph/caramoan-minalahos-island/