Tell Me Something Tuesday

Tell Me Something Tuesday is hosted by Rainy Day Ramblings and discusses a wide range of topics from books to blogging.

Question: How do you handle writing books for books that you didn’t love?

Answer:
I know a lot of bloggers agonize over this - but to me it’s the same as any other review.

My one rule is to keep the review about the book and not make it personal about the author.

I think most of us blog to promote authors and books we love but I read reviews to help me choose my next book. I like to read pros and cons for a book before I decide and that’s what I try to do with my reviews.

It’s not that there’s anything wrong with readers loving a book and screaming from the rooftops READ THIS!!! But without other reviewers, who feel like they can’t knock a popular book out there, I don’t know about the things that would have helped me steer clear of something that wouldn’t work for me.

Not every book can be a winner and I find negative reviews to be invaluable. And not AT ALL a deterrent to reading or buying a book.

I actually have a MUCH harder time writing reviews for books I love. It’s pretty easy for me to point out pros and cons for a book – I figure the reader can decide from there if the book is for them. When I LOVE a book though, I’m an incoherent mess of love and don’t want to look at the book more closely and potentially ruin the experience for me. And I try to get to every single thing that I loved. Without spoilers. lol

Possible controversial opinion ahead.

I beta read for authors, I understand the hard work that goes into writing, how emotional it can be and why negative reviews can be devastating – especially if tweeted directly to the author (& especially while writing their next book) (don't do this) but a book is not a baby (as it is often referred to) I get that it is in a way for the author – but it’s not literally a baby.  It’s a product that people buy and I deserve to have honest information out there to help me decide my next purchase. I also understand that other readers might not love the book that I did. It doesn’t bother me at all.

I have also seen authors who don’t think there should be negative reviews & advocate Be Kind on Twitter then rip TV shows, movies and games a new one without any sense of irony. Is that not a creative process? Isn’t there a face behind that? People who invested years and sweat and tears into the finished product? Yet they felt they deserved better writing, a better ending…all the things that get us riled about books.

I also don’t buy into the *constrictive criticism for the author* review. Sure, it might be helpful if the author is interested (maybe a new author or if the criticism is a common one) but the book is done and can’t be fixed. Besides what you hate might be what appeals to someone else. No one book can be catered to every reader. Nor should it try. 

Homer Simpson The Simpsons GIF from Homersimpson GIFs

I try to be fair about it – not unnecessarily cruel, definitely not personal, and try to point out the type of reader it might appeal to.

That got a little ranty lol but what are your thoughts on this , sometimes controversial, topic?