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 started my blog, She is Too Fond of Books, as a way for me to process and remember what I’ve read, a reference for myself and for my friends. I wanted to be able to tell a friend why I liked (or didn’t like) a particular book. The review blog has grown to have a readership outside people I know “in real life,” but my core values remain unchanged – honesty in all things.
My reviews usually have excerpts of the author’s writing, to illustrate a point I’m making about his style – whether it be beautiful prose or choppy ill-written dialogue. Whenever possible I try to compare the book to other books by the same author, or books in the same genre by other authors (“if you like X, you might like Y”).
However, my reviews are my opinions; they’re not term papers with certain points and proofs required. I’m doing this for me. If other readers trust my opinions, they’re more likely to feel comfortable reading a book I recommend. If all my reviews were glowing, what would be the point?
If an author wants to guarantee a positive “review,” he can pay me to run an ad for the book, which will be clearly labeled as an advertisement! 
I’m kidding! I won’t go down that path!
I review most every book I read, no matter the source. That is, books I read for a book group, receive from a publisher or author, win in a giveaway, or randomly happen across at the library or bookstore … they all get the same amount of attention and the same honest review, positive or negative.
I will write a “review policy” and post it on my blog. In the future when I am interested in a book brought to my attention by a ”Dear Sir or Madam Would You Read My Book …” email, I’ll ask the contact to read my review policy before putting the book in the mail.
You know what Billy Joel says:
Honesty is such a lonely word.
Everyone is so untrue.
Honesty is hardly ever heard.
And mostly what I need from you.
I agree with you – I started my blog as a personal thing, to keep track of the books I’ve read.
Yep, that is what a personal blog is all about. Honesty and your own feelings about the book. Chuckled at your advertisement comment, but you make a good point.
hear hear!
I agree with everything you said. All of the thoughts I’ve had on this topic, you took them and wrote them so eloquently!
My thoughts exactly…just be honest!
Good post!
I agree! My reviews are my personal opinions, and really, this is true of all book reviewers, even the professional ones whose reviews can supposedly “make or break” a book. The whole idea of a “review” would fly out the window if all reviews ever written were positive and glowing. I think you’re right – if an author wants a guaranteed positive review, buy an ad!
Well, let me just as a question. Would it be wrong not to write the review? I mean, if an author sent you a book you absolutely hated
(disiked and didn’t finis), would it be so wrong to send it back or send an email saying – Dear author, thank you for sending you book to me but I find that I don’t like it and therefore decline to review it? Or something like that?
What are your thoughts?
Well said! I’m starting to shy away from the word review. Mine are more like sarcastic rambling thoughts on what I just read. I just tone down the sarcasm a bit if it’s a book I’ve been asked to review.
Hmm a review policy is definitely something to consider. Drop by to see my post.
It’s sad that you feel you must write a review policy. I don’t have a disclaimer, and I don’t want one. Please come see my response to this prompt.
I agree. And you bring up a good point I didn’t think to mention. Like many of us, I started my blog as a way to help me keep track of my own reading and a way to share my thoughts about books. We all have our own styles: some people simply give the book a rating, you quote passages, I do plot summaries, some people concentrate on the characters. Regardless, why would I read anyone’s review if it weren’t honest. Polite is good, but fluffy praise with nothing to support it is worthless.
S.Krishna – many of the blogs I read regularly started as simply personal blogs. I do try to limit my blog to book-related posts (sometimes I really have to stretch it!)
Ti – really! In that case, why not call it what it is, an *advertisement* (and pay me the big bucks, not just a ‘free’ book!)
Kylee – gosh, I’m blushing!
Shelly – I commented on another blog, “honesty is the best policy.” That’s one of those things from the “everything I need to know I learned in kindergarten” book, right?
Karen – thanks. I’ll pop over to see what you and Jane have to say about the subject!
Ms. Bookish – I might post a “my favorite books of the year” list, but I wouldn’t limit my reviews to only positive ones. Then readers have no frame of reference for my reviews.
softdrink – that’s why you’re on my Reader; I enjoy your sarcastic rambling
Bluestocking – I’m considering it, and plan to write one … but haven’t yet (not a priority, obviously!)
Sally – I’m considering posting a review policy to make my parameters clear to anyone who might offer to send me a book for review. I’ll check out what you have to say on the subject!
Beth – it’s funny, I don’t like to give a “star” rating. I did for my first few reviews, but I feel people may look no further than the “stars”, and it doesn’t give a complete picture. We all have our own style, and readers with a similar style will connect with a reviewer who fits!
Bonnie – I wanted to respond to your comment in a separate remark …
I’m one of those people who tends to finish a book, always giving the benefit of the doubt, and staying until the bitter end. I wish I was more disciplined at saying “enough” when a book doesn’t work for me, but plowing on is a weakness (I’m stubborn!)
I think it’s my responsibility to “vet” a book before I accept it for review. What is the synopsis of the book? Have I read anything else by the author ? (if not, I often ask for a writing sample if no excerpts are available on line) Do I enjoy this genre? (I’ll stretch outside my comfort zone, but it would be wrong for me to accept a book of science fiction or horror … I know I don’t enjoy them.)
Sometimes I agree to review a book, and find out it’s not a good “fit” for me. I’ll state this in my review, as well as an analysis of the author’s writing style.
See my reviews of Three Cups of Tea, The Wishing Year, and Run for examples of my less-than-glowing reviews. I’m fair, honest, and support my case with examples from the text.
Hypothetically, if I were to find a book “unfinishable,” I would consider it self-censorship to not review it as such. I would explain that I didn’t finish it because of X, Y or Z, and ask other reviewers to submit point-counterpoint if they had completed the book. If I did not review a negative or DNF book, it would give readers of my blog an incomplete picture of who I am as a reader, an incomplete frame of reference for my reviews.
I understand what you are say and I do support your right (obligation even) to tell the truth. While I can’t say that I enjoy a bad review, I understand that not everyone is going to like my books. That being said, I had an incident a while back that has really caused me some heartburn.
So now, before I approach anyone to review, I do look at a track record — what types of books do they read, how harsh have they been to books they do not like? Are they fair? I think this has to be approached more logically on both sides so that folks will understand what type of situation they are getting into. If I look at a reviewer and they have given a poor review to a book that 99% of other reviewers have given high praise to, I’m looking at the situation and will probably not send my book to the reviewer. This has been a hard lesson for me to learn.
What absolutely shocks me is when (and I have had this happen to me), I get a very poor review yet my book is offered as a PRIZE to the readers of the blog. Amazing.
But I am a Brooklyn girl. We are tough and resilient, most of the time. I’ve just had to learn to employ much more judgment in this area.
Thanks for this forum. It’s a good way to discuss.
Great response ! I had no idea my blog would evolve the way it has and I was surprised to get review requests. Reviews are opinions and there is no right or wrong answer.
Very well said, Dawn.
My goal is to review every book I read. I think what struck me as particularly interesting in the recent controversy is that the author expected a positive review – or maybe I should say a better review than the one he got – just because the reviewer had won the book in a giveaway. I don’t know – I just don’t see that reasoning.
I agree completely. My blog is ultimately for me, but I hope those who read it know I will review honestly.
I mentioned to my Nana about your post and it sounded like someone was unhappy with your opinion. As my Nana said a review is something objective, “if it wasn’t objective it wouldn’t be a review.”