Lol E. I like to know if the writing is any good, is the world interesting, are the characters well-fleshed out, are there plot holes and *most important* does it end in a cliffhanger?
Your review for Night Unbound doesn't appear boring, or the least bit format letter-ish. You manage to include a summary of the plot as well as your thoughts in a light and humorous, non-book report way. You read some of my reviews and you can hardly tell what happened in the book at all, but I can't help it. I just write it the way it comes out of my head.
Thanks, guys. I tend to think my reviews are boring if I've read over some of the older ones and I see the same words over and over again. Night Unbound was easy because I simply love that whole series. lol
With me, I want to know why the reader/reviewer liked the book and why they did not. I hate just a star rating because it leaves me full of questions - if it's a 1 or 2 star, I want to know what it was about the book they didn't like; if I've read the book and it's a different rating than what I gave it, I want to know what made them give it that rating.
I don't think my reviews are bad, though sometimes I do think I should give a little more information, but I either can't think of what to say or don't want to give too much away.
I periodically submit reviews to another website and I was told yesterday (in a very rude and unprofessional way) that my criticism was not constructive and eluded that all of my reviews are poorly written. I guess now I'm second-guessing things.
10 years ago
You can't be second guessing things every time someone says something to you about your reviews. Of course you want to be the best reviewer you can be, and if you're happy with what you're doing then this person is just giving you their opinion-which you didn't even ask for.
Eh, screw that. No matter what you say, someone will take issue. Do whatever you want. It's your opinion/space! I've been told my taste in books is atrocious That one still makes me laugh. I happen to like my atrocious taste in books.
I agree with Char - I like your atrocious taste in books. That's part of the reason I follow you haha. I'm rather eclectic with my reading taste, so I really can't say anything about anyone else's choices.
Well, thanks you two. My tastes are kind of strange and all over the place and no one I know in real life, besides my sister, shares them. I'm so glad to have found some kindred spirits here.
That's how my real life is too. My sister and I don't get along, but we have the same strange sense of humor, same taste in music, and we both hate most movies that pass them off as comedies. No one I know gets my book - at least until I came here and to Goodreads.
Ummm...I don't know! I actually kind of like stream of consciousness reviews. Especially if someone is really excited about a book, it comes through and I feel excited about it too. I just tend to ramble.
Thanks E. It's funny, but I HATE reading that kind of book, they tend to get low ratings from me and I don't really 'get' them.
10 years ago
What the reviewer liked or didn't like about the story. Sometimes what they didn't like is exactly what would make me like it. If they say the writing is good or bad, a short example is great. This too can be subjective.
This is true, Lora. You've made a great point. I look at some reviews where they say "I hate ____________" and I'm like "but I like that stuff." For example, sarcastic anti-heroes - I like them, others don't. Just like when I say it didn't need the romance, I know that others grab it up and love it.
I want to know if the book is one I might like because I am completely selfish that way. So, a little plot, maybe a funny quote (if applicable), and if/why it moved you, bored you, whatever. I'm not picky.
That's not selfish. That's what reviews are for - to help readers decide if they want to give the book a try or not. I don't give books a try unless I think I might like it.
Oh and my reviews are never constructive. At least not on purpose. I'm writing them for me and for other readers. I don't feel obligated to give any kind of constructive feedback and as a reader I'm not looking for that sort of thing either. Hope this helps..
I feel the same way. I mean, I don't mind helping an author out, but I'm also a freelance editor with cheap rates so if they need all that, they can hire me. That's what editors do. I do put what I like and don't like (most of the time - sometimes I just think it's a great book for whatever reason and say what I like about it) because that helps readers decide and it does show authors (maybe not the one who wrote that book) what readers like and don't like, but I'm not going to sit there and tell you how to fix things and candy coat things and stuff like that because I'm writing the review for myself and potential readers. I'm not mean when I write my reviews. I'm just honest and I write like I talk, talk like I think. That's just me.
I'm unusual. I want to know what the book is about. Is it light or gritty. Does the hero die or suffer too much? I want spoilers to decide if I want to read it.
So you like spoilers? I know that a lot of my friends use them (some seriously, some not) and, if it's a book I probably wouldn't read anyways (like a romance), I'll check it out to see what they have to say/thought (cause that's what I do - y'all are my friends and I'm always interested in what y'all think).
They're something I'm afraid of using. Some of my reviews are short because I'm afraid of giving away too much information. And some I want to talk about SO bad, but no one I know has read it yet. Maybe I'll try a spoiler warning on those and just let loose.
I pretty much always use spoilers. My main problem is realising what's a spoiler that needs a warning, and what doesn't. Sometimes I forget to warn people and I get yelled at.
Same here. As a rule, I don't use spoiler warning in my reviews, and sometimes people express their unhappiness with that. To be fair, it hasn't happened on BL so far, only on GR.
And, for me, it's not friends who get annoyed (or at least not vocally), it's people I don't know who just randomly comment and have a go at me for spoiling a book's plot for them.
I don't like spoilers, so if I'm not warned before I read a review I get annoyed. If I'm warned at the beginning and I still read the review then that's on me.
I don't think my reviews are bad, though sometimes I do think I should give a little more information, but I either can't think of what to say or don't want to give too much away.
I periodically submit reviews to another website and I was told yesterday (in a very rude and unprofessional way) that my criticism was not constructive and eluded that all of my reviews are poorly written. I guess now I'm second-guessing things.
I happen to like that particular review. I'm posting it over here today.
Thanks, Char. See why you're one of my most favorite book friends? :)
They're something I'm afraid of using. Some of my reviews are short because I'm afraid of giving away too much information. And some I want to talk about SO bad, but no one I know has read it yet. Maybe I'll try a spoiler warning on those and just let loose.
Thanks Olga :)