Nora Roberts raised a good point in her comment below
If I could rub a lamp and have one wish granted during these review/blog/reader/writer discussions it would be that the posters who tend to lump all writers together as if we were The Borg remember, we’re separate, individual and will have varying opinions–and levels of those opinions–on pretty much every issue. I mean that, sincerely, when praise or criticism is expressed.
My letter was styled after the one on RtB but I did edit to add the word some in front of authors. Just as one blogger doesn’t speak for us all, it shouldn’t be implied one author-to-be speaks for all authors. I don’t see anything wrong with authors being drawn to pollyanna style of blog/websites. And agree with what Teresa Medeiros states in the RtB comments:
My honest theory is that writers need to stay away from almost all review sites on the internet.
If an author doesn’t want to see any sort of bad review, clicking on a site you know will never post a bad review and runs off any sort of dissenting opinion, is safe. And has to create a level of comfort for some, not to say the same authors wouldn’t be more than happy to be in an environment that allows honest discussion.
I rarely visit RBtheBook/blog because I don’t like the style it is ran in. Since it is tied to TV news websites all the random hits it gets from people looking at the days news (many who would probably never pick up a romance novel) are treated to a page that enforces the typical romance reader stereotypes. And it helps imply ‘those women romance authors’ can’t take anything but sunshine or they might cry and run from the room, never to write again.
I know you can’t be a NY Times Best Seller without fangirls and I know there is nothing wrong with the silly fun of lusting over cover models or picking out what hero you want to take home for the evening. But I would rather have joe and jane everyone, who believes romance is stupid and the readers mindless, exposed to the honest thoughts of dear author, complete reviews of AAR and the intelligent snarky opinions on romanceland from smart bitches.
At the same time I know we shouldn’t be waiting around for the world at large to respect us. And they never ever will until we can do it. So it majority annoys me whenever I hear the war cry of STOP the MEAN GIRLS. If you don’t like it don’t read it…. that should be the same for books or blogs.
If authors (or whoever) want to start reviewing blogs, shouldn’t they do the same thing expected of us: be informative, ethical, and entertaining. There was really nothing wrong with the RtB post other than it was incomplete and not informative.
And I see nothing wrong with “Reader’s Opinions”. I read blogs because I want their opinions. So if someone says they bought book X and hated it because they are so over plot x or loved it because or plot c. There is still a good chance it will spike my interest. I will take “Reader’s Opinions” over a paid sqqquuueee any day. But that is another post for another day….
Sooooo Author’s AND/OR Readers what do you want to see in reviews? What would you like to see less of? How would you do it? How do you do it (links). Who do you think does it well? Have you ever bought a book off of a Harriet Klausner review? Do you even read reviews? Is anyone even in blogland this weekend?
(yes wendy it is animal cruelty but really the horse can’t die again no matter how many times we beat it 😉 )
I rarely visit RBtheBook/blog because I don’t like the style it is ran in. Since it is tied to TV news websites all the random hits it gets from people looking at the days news (many who would probably never pick up a romance novel) are treated to a page that enforces the typical romance reader stereotypes.
And this is why I don’t care for RBtheBook’s rah-rah take. My opinion only, but it’s a shame a blogger with that much traffic doesn’t take the opportunity to flip the “sunshine sisterhood” stereotype.
Two things I look for in a review – 1) plot description and 2) a clear, concise analysis of what the reviewer liked/disliked about the book. Spell it out for me folks. Hey, we all have different tastes – so what annoys the crap out of me might not be an issue for you. Don’t just say, “I read this book and it was good.” That doesn’t tell me anything.
As for (how shall I put this?) less than informative reviews – I will read these but usually just to get a plot description. And I never, ever read Harriet because frankly I think the reviewer should at least get the characters’ names right. That’s just me though.
You readers are all crackpots. 😉
I agree with Teresa… I try really hard not to read reviews. Sometimes it’s easier said than done, but hey…I’m trying.
As to my own book buying, I tend to go on recommendatiosn from friends or just seeing what I can find when I hit the bookstores. If I see something interesting, I’ll skim the back and the first chapter. If the first chapter hooks me, I buy. If not, I look for another. Reviews don’t much play into my shopping habits.
And please don’t turn the blog world into pollyanna ville. I can only take so much sweetness at a time.
1. Sooooo Author’s AND/OR Readers what do you want to see in reviews? I’d like to see more dissection and analysis of romance novels like the discussions I have in my college’s English classes. Of course, we can’t always analyze the authors the way we can Virginia Woolf or Henry James, but I like it when an author can shed some light on the background of that novel that’s being disucussed or any other tidbit–which is why I also like it when an author includes a note about their sources and inspiration in the back of the novel, or on their website.
2. What would you like to see less of? Less of of sparkly, happy-sunshine-ness of the reviews and interviews. I appreciated it when authors take the time out of their schedule to get involved in blogs and boards, but do we have to treat them like gods or exalted beings? I’m as awed and interested in all sorts of talents as the next person, but I don’t neccessarily enjoy it when authors are worshipped and cooed over.
3. How would you do it? DeconstructingRomance is a yahoogroup I belong to, and I really enjoy the discussions.
4. Who do you think does it well? Have you ever bought a book off of a Harriet Klausner review? DearAuthor, I have a softspot for, and I’ve been a long-time visitor of Mrs Giggles and SMTB. As for the latter question: hell to the No!
5. Do you even read reviews? All the time. Mainly just to see other’s opinions about the book–but mostly after I’ve read the book myself. If I’m on the fence, and there’s buzz about it and it looks interesting, I’ll probably buy it, but reviews don’t make me buy books.
What I still find so weird about this is that writers write because they need to write. (I think that’s a fair generalization which could apply to all authors.) OK, so the heart and soul is poured into it, but then at some point they (or at least some) go forward and publish. They put their thoughts, ideas, similies, stereotypes, ideals, prejudices, and characters *out there* for public consumption.
There’s need to share it. There’s a need to have someone else read it.
So bloggers and “yahoogroupers” are following basically the same urge, but obviously not always to the same level of accomplishment. Yet somehow the “anonymous bloggers” are only cutting other people down to gain attention when they go public with their thoughts? Um. No. Second verse, same as the first. A little less edited, perhaps a bit worse.
In terms of reviews–I have to read them. So glad to have found AAR. Totally shocked beyond belief to find other bloggers who *gasp* admitted to reading romances and talked intelligently about them. Because otherwise I’m stuck at a Borders looking at rows and rows of books with decapitated male bodies or pictures of a single rose without a clue in the world as to who is who or what any book is about.
Before I found internet reviews (not Klausner, not Amazon) I had stopped reading romances entirely. My four last authors had stopped writing (getting published?).
I need a plot summary (spoilers are OK with me–read the last page first anyway) and a description somehow of why the characters stuck with the reader after the last page. And it needs to be a historical.
Alison Kent couldn’t have expressed my thoughts better. “Sunshine Sisterhood” I need to remember that one.
This is one of the main reason’s I avoid blogs that have a large amount of reader/author interaction. Way too much sucking up and fangirl activity.
My two favorite review sites… Dear Author, which as we know comes at the reviewing process from a reader POV and Paperback Readerd which gives interesting insights from author POVs.
I do read RT for the synopses but I don’t read Amazon or Harriet Klausner’s reviews at all, so no I wouldn’t buy a book based on her recommendations.
I avoid Harriet Klausner reviews like the plague. As to what I want in a review? Honesty is always a good place to start.
Okay, let me try this again. I tried to comment just a second ago and it locked IE up. (Sybil? What did you do to your blog? :p Ahem.) Anyhoo . . .
If authors (or whoever) want to start reviewing blogs, shouldn’t they do the same thing expected of us: be informative, ethical, and entertaining. There was really nothing wrong with the RtB post other than it was incomplete and not informative.
Something has been nagging at me since the other day when that post came out on RtB. I’ve been so out of it with this bronchitis that I wasn’t sure if I was remembering incorrectly or what so someone else may need to correct this if I’m wrong but don’t the RtB “guidelines” sort of push columnists away from naming specific names and stuff. Which sounds good in theory but allows for generalities like that to get posted too.
I know it’s been bothering me for a while and one of the reasons I’m seriously considering stopping posting there next year because even though I probably wouldn’t be the first one to do a controversial post, if I did take it into my head to be specific about something I would want to be able to be so. I prefer the option of being able to call a spade a spade when the urge does hit if you get my drift. I’ve never even sure what is acceptable in their comments for the same reason.
Is there an option like we can be the Borg? Because that would rock. I’m just sayin.
Sooooo Authors AND/OR Readers what do you want to see in reviews? I want to see an actual review. I don’t want my time wasted with people trying to mask bitterness as snark. It takes a clever mind to do snark right. Very few sites out there who claim to be “snarky” are more than bitter people being mean and calling it snark. I can get that when I remember 10th grade, I don’t need it again. If I want true snark, I’ll go to Smart Bitches, who can do it like no one else.
Tell me what you liked about the book what worked. Tell me what didn’t and even sometimes, how you think it could be alleviated. I don’t want to hear amateur theories about the author’s relationship with her ex-husband. I don’t want to hear people who say they hate novellas reviewing novellas, I don’t want to hear people who hate historicals reviewing historicals. I don’t want to hear reviewers bitch about an author’s book they bought when they already profess to hate the author.
I don’t want to read “Oh I loved the book” and nothing else. That’s a comment, not a review. I don’t want to read any personal internal issues about the reviewer either.
What would you like to see less of? Bitterness disguised as snark. One line “reviews” of loved it or hated it. People who review without having finished the book – in that case, a “I could not finish this book and here’s why” is much better. Fangirl devotion (although I do love it and it makes my day, it doesn’t really do much by way of a comprehensive review). Personal shit between reviewer and author or reviewer and publisher or reviewer and editor. If you can’t be professional, call it an editorial, not a review.
How would you do it? How do you do it (links). Who do you think does it well? I think Don’t Talk Just Read is a great example of how to write a comprehensive review. I wish they reviewed more often. I’ve bought several books after reviews I’ve read there. Also, Joyfully Reviewed does a good job. I tend to like sites that don’t give number reviews but just go over what worked and didn’t work. I do reviews at my blog but I don’t call myself a reviewer because I don’t review books I hate.
Have you ever bought a book off of a Harriet Klausner review? No.
Do you even read reviews? Yes.