posted on Wednesday
I know, I know. You thought I was going to say “giving good–” Well, something else. And someone has, I’m sure–in some other blog…
This one actually is about good reviews.
But ho! It’s a trick! Because “good review” doesn’t equal “reviews of high praise.”
Don’t get me wrong–those are highly cool and to be worshiped accordingly. But this is about those short reader reviews that help other readers decide if a particular book is for them. In other words, the same reviews I want to read when I’m looking at a book.
I didn’t like this book. This book sucked. This book was too [insert mad lib here].
Ugh!
Everyone evaluate books from his or her own head space. No one’s in the reviewer’s head, rooting around for context. “Ahh…Yeye said this book was too X, but I see here that X is actually a hot button for YeYe.”
Because X isn’t a hot button everyone. Some people even like X.
Okay, I really, really don’t like first person POV. So sue me. Still, if a first person POV book is written well in all respects, that element isn’t an issue. However…if it’s written in a way that the POV introduces problems, then those problems REALLY PUSH MY BUTTONS!
But what I say in comments is that while I found the POV to be problematical, those things might not bother someone who enjoys first person POV in the first place…unlike me.
It’s even helpful to do it the other way around. Ooh, I love Patricia Briggs’ recent work. I love that she does nothing with the animal form of her shapeshifters that makes my naturalist self go snortysnort. So I mention it in comments, because maybe I’m so beguiled that I gloss over things likely to bother other people.
So if the point of commenting on a book is to help someone else choose reading material they’ll delight in, then think beyond, “Ugh!” (or “glee!”) and offer the context of the things you on which you comment.
Oh, what the heck. Skip the ugh! It’s enough just to say it was a problem, y’know?
Course, if the point of commenting is to get a power rush from slamming a faceless author in an anonymous online context, then, um…oh–hey! Look over there! Lots of shiny stuff over there!
*runs away*
….
At this point I bet someone’s wondering if I’ve just gotten slammed. Though I tempt fate, I say nope! In fact, SingleTitle.com just put up a RECKONERS review with lots of words like mesmerize and captivating and my favorite phrase, will fuel your imagination. I am all a-glow!
But find myself braced for the slamming, sooner or later. I think we all do, these days…
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OBLIGATORY SNOW PICCIE
Just beyond this giant snag of a deadfall, the ground plunges away into the small arroyo of the pasture area (beyond which is the truly profound arroyo slashing through the back third of the property). The roots of this tree anchor the area’s fragile soil, and for that reason–although the snag blocks a crucial little portion of land–we’re not removing it.
Plus, isn’t it pretty?