Suggested by JM:
I receive a lot of review books, but I have never once told lies about the book just because I got a free copy of it. However, some authors seem to feel that if they send you a copy of their book for free, you should give it a positive review.
Do you think reviewers are obligated to put up a good review of a book, even if they don’t like it? Have we come to a point where reviewers *need* to put up disclaimers to (hopefully) save themselves from being harassed by unhappy authors who get negative reviews?
I am so happy with this topic, since this is an issue I think about at least once a week (since I review a free copy every Wednesday). I have never “lied” in a review, but I have certainly tried to soften a negative impression.
I tend to write my reviews early in the week so that I can reread them a couple of times, with the author sitting next to me (figuratively). I try to find some redeeming quality in every work I read, and I try to be as objective as possible. So, if I really didn’t care for the work, I try to think objectively: is there a stylistic or structural weakness that I am responding to? I then think subjectively: what about this subject matter or tone is creating a discord within me?
A past professor once said that when we read a novel, we read ourselves — and I have repeated this to countless students. Too many times I have heard students dismiss a novel as “bad,” without considering why the work didn’t grab them — and one of my great tasks as a teacher of literature was to encourage students to learn to appreciate a work that they did not necessarily like. Since this is largely a result of maturity, this task was usually easier with juniors and seniors, but even the occasional freshman would have an “aha moment” and realize that there are objective elements in literature that can be evaluated, beyond our subjective opinions.
So, not surprisingly, I put a LOT of thought into each and every review — even for the books I really didn’t care for. I have been reviewing ARC (advance reader copies) for a few months now, and I find that I am a bit harsher with the memoirs. I think this is because fiction is so very hard to write well — to create believable characters out of nothing but imagination and experience is extremely difficult, so I am a bit more generous with the craft of fiction.
However, the memoirs are a different story. I obviously think everyone deserves to tell his or her story — in fact, we recently had a great discussion about memoirs (be sure to read the comments, too). But I think if someone is going to try to profit from what could simply remain a personal journal, then I think it should resonate with others and address universal aspects of humanity. Or simply be very, very well-written. I figure, if you are asking us to take 3 or 4 hours out of our own lives to read about your life, I want it to be worth our time…
Now, let me end with a quirky thing I’ve noticed about the readers of my reviews: the works that I have enjoyed the least, often get the most requests?! So, I have decided one of two things must be happening. Either I am entirely too gentle with the works I do not care for, and my reviews are too positive (see list below ). Or, my readers do not actually read the reviews, but just the synopses. Personally, I do not read reviews before I read any book — or even the synopsis on the back cover. I love the mystery of reading a new book and prefer not to have another’s ideas or opinions in my mind when I start.
So, here’s my question: Am I too “nice” in my negative reviews?
Here are reviews of works I did not care for:
Can you tell? Thank you!! 
Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving such a nice comment about my BTT!
I think the reviews you linked to were very fair, and not too nice or too harsh. It’s really hard to write something completely fair and balanced, and I think you did a good job. You’ve stated really good reasons for why you didn’t like the books, but also noted reasons why other people might actually enjoy them.
I think it’s a benefit to us that we’re innately nice people, even though it means we might have to work a little harder to give criticism where it is needed!
I’m glad I found your blog through BTT, and I really enjoyed reading the reviews of the books that you didn’t like. Your reviews are excellent! So well-written, and you tell me the things that I, as a reader, would like to know about the books. I do read reviews of books I’m uncertain about before deciding whether to add them to my to-read list, and reviews like yours are invaluable.
About the reviews themselves, I would say that in three of them I came away knowing you didn’t like the book (but you do this VERY gently, in a positive way). It wasn’t quite as clear with Forever Lily, although on second thought, I think I’m feeling this because I was captivated by the quote about Lily that you included so ended up feeling positive about the book. (Plus I did actually like the more reflective lines you posted!). I like the way you highlight the positives in these books, too. I would imagine most authors would get quite a lot from your reviews, whether it’s a positive or negative one.
Perhaps the job of being an subjective grader is what helps those of us who are educators to review honestly without tramping on toes. Please see my response.
Thank you, Jessica! The first draft of some of my reviews may change your mind about how nice I am, though
But I’m always trying to become a better person — and better reviewer!
Ms. Bookish — Thank you for stopping by! I just read your BTT post and really like how you said reading books for review enhances your reading — and makes you more intentional about what you are reading! So true…
I also agree that there is something to “taste.” I have friends who know what I like, and I can always depend on their recommendations. Great post!
Kristen – you’re wise to “sit for a bit” on reviews, before publishing them. I always re-read mine before commiting them to WordPress, but to truly have a ‘working draft’ for a few days is an even better approach.
Thank you for the comment, Dawn! Of course, there are always those weeks when I’m a little behind, too…
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