I saw a couple of posts about writing book reviews and I agree.
Most folks simply read a book and move on. Few take the time and effort to write A review – long or short. But I think readers should take the time to share their views – great, good, bad or atrocious. Even ‘roasting’ a book that you simply hated is okay as long it is constructive feedback to share with fellow readers.
While books by ‘tier 1’ authors generate thousands of reviews on Amazon, Goodreads and elsewhere, a vast majority of books end up with one or two reviews. And even those few reviews are probably solicited reviews.
Writers yearn for feedback, especially in a digital era where reviews on forums like Goodreads and Amazon can make or break sales and ratings.
Let us keep reviewing to motivate writers!
by Change_petition
12 Comments
Totally agree. I’ve been trying to write them as I finish them on goodreads, but I don’t write them for the ones I give up on for one reason or another.
I don’t write reviews. I use Goodreads, using their star system as was described when I started using it and I usually leave a note for myself about what I thought.
I’ve written some reviews. They don’t get much attention, which makes me think I’m not good at writing reviews.
As a writer, the number one thing you can do to both encourage me and help me improve is leave a rating or review.
Ratings sell books. Book sales give me the time and funds to write more books. It’s simple really.
Nah, I don’t want to do that at all. I’ll support writers by buying and reading their books.
True, I try to write reviews no matter how short and regardless of my feelings towards the book especially if it has very few reviews on goodreads. Can’t stress the amount of times I’ve seen writers say how much feedback matters to them whether it’s positive or negative.
I don’t *read* reviews ‘cos I don’t know the reviewer (taste, attitude, education…) – or if it’s a bought review.
And that’s why I don’t *write* reviews, either.
I always heard that authors never read reviews of their own books and that it is recommended for them like that – because both good and bad just mess with their head.
I love writing reviews on Goodreads. I first started doing it to just keep notes of my thoughts of the books I read, but I’ve genuinely started getting into writing thoughtful reviews! Agreed on feedback for writers, but I also noticed it helps increase my overall comprehension of the books.
I enjoy writing reviews, in general, but I don’t review every book I read, and I don’t feel particularly bad about that. I read for fun, on my own time. I do not feel an obligation to someone whose book I bought or checked out from the library. Unless I’m reading an ARC, it is not my job to give the writer feedback. I’m not their editor.
Reviews have never swayed me from any sort of entertainment media one way or the other.
What one critic or review calls an abomination, ends up being my holy grail.
Everyone has a different perspective, a different taste, a different understanding…but mostly, a bias.
Reviews, from the point of view of finding an actual good read, are useless. Reviews only help sell books. Which is great for the author, but greater for the publishing house, and rarely impactful on someone like me in my choices.
The blurb/synopsis should be what sells the book, not what everyone and anyone else thinks.
I rate, but I rate for myself. I don’t write a sales pitch, or anything like that. I use reviews for myself, to remember how I felt reading it. Over the years, some books kind of slip your mind and it’s fun reading how much you hated or enjoyed it at the time.
Or even more common, when reading non fiction, it all flying past your head, then it all starts making sense over time
I’m not gonna make reviews to help authors though. I do it for me.