I found myself rolling my eyes that the second post on the new group reader blog at Access Romance was about reviewing.
My question would be when will we get a new topic in romanceland. Haven’t we talked reviews into the ground? But hey since when has that stopped us? So once more with feeling…
A review to me is anything used to learn more about a book, decide to try a book or pass on a book. And it is something I have found since my blog move has forced me to reformat tons of posts that I find myself some what stuck on now.
Before I joined AAR I wasn’t hung up on ‘what a review had to be’. During my short time with AAR I found myself forcing a structure. So I resented that in a way and coupled with other shit I suddenly found myself with a ton of reviews half done.
At the risk of making bev’s head explode, I do think what she does counts as a review at least to me. She may not summarizes the book or maybe she will, either way I know how to google and can get a summary. She may go off on a rant about something, tell a story that relates or a number of other things BUT the point is that helps me decide if hey I should pick this up and look it over or not.
It is very, very rare for me to buy because of a review or commentary or whatever you want to name it. Pick it up and check it out – yes. Decide to buy or not buy – no. I will buy due to the person. Xina and I have very similar tastes. If she loves it I will more often than not get it without thinking. But I am not touching that last book. Wendy and my tastes run very similar in westerns. She says good – I buy. Don’t even need to think about it. But for other genre’s I would give it thought. Jane and I disagree more often than not. So if she says ick, I generally think cool I will like this.
For me I find myself fighting what I ‘think’ is expected vs what I expect.
I don’t care how ‘whatever’ defines the word review. This is the fucking internet and it is 2007… words we create end up in the dictionary so whatever. It is what we make it. We rule the school and if people want to get pissy and stomp their feet and say but but but it isn’t critical it isn’t deep enough or whatever. They can. It doesn’t change the simple facts.
Author will, more often than not, hate bad reviews of their books, their CP’s books and their BFF’s books. And fangrrl’s readers will get pissed off and stomp their feet when their bestest book evah by their favorite author book is reviewed badly. And the rest of us will keep reading.
Saw the blog post, and kept on surfing.
;p~~~~~
My head didn’t explode but your screen may need to be cleaned.
😀
Actually, I don’t disagree with you, Sybil, because you’re sort of proving my point about the term being meaning everything and nothing.
I think the reason the topic won’t die is because blogs have created a more democratic society (for lack of a better term). Anyone and everyone has the power, means and opportunity to post their opinion for mass consumption now. Which means The Old Guard is frothing at the mouth that many “reviewers” aren’t “qualified.”
What the hell makes a qualified reviewer is what I want to know?
I used to get this kind of crap a lot because I review for a web site (TRR). Reviewers who review for Library Journal or BookList (both print journals) tend to turn up their noses at web sites because really – are the reviewer’s qualified? Whatever. When I see a byline on a printed page I don’t know how “qualified” that person is either – so I take it all with a grain of salt. No review is infallible. You’ll agree with some, disagree with others. It’s up to the reader of that review to decide for themselves.
Personally I think all it takes to be a reviewer is a strong sense of objectivity, the ability to write clearly, and the ability to concisely convey why you think the book sucks or rocks. But I’m all about power to people.
And I’m with Karen: went right over this blog post because I’m really bloody sick of the review debate. Same “commentary” it’s just moved from message boards to blogs. Whoop Diddity Doo.
Of course here I am feeding the tiger by responding to your blog post. But only because you mentioned that I pick good westerns. So go Team Wendy!
I think a review is just the opinion of a reader. Nothing more, nothing less. Doesn’t mean I agree or sometimes (most times on AAR)even care. I mostly get my book ideas from people I know who like the same kind of book I do. I like westerns, medievals, not vampire, not fantasy, not YA. I pretty much like what you do sybil.
So…what last book are you talking about? The big fat “F” book on AAR? LOL. Actually, it is kind of a zany book that might not appeal to everyone. Still…and “F” is harsh. Especially, since I gave it an “A”. Must have been the drugs I consumed that day while reading. Kidding….kidding.
Saw the blog post, and kept on surfing. //
Ditto.
Xina, you don’t like YA. I am horrified to learn this. We must talk.
heeeeeee
yeah the ‘f’ book… I meant to go back in and put in the title but this sat in draft for a few days and I forgot. Guess I should do that.
And see good call for me I think because I don’t realy like ‘zany’ or slapstick. I see to be low on the humor scale for books.
But I do adore Erin McCarthy’s books. LOL you might even like her vamps *g*. Cuz you are my reader twin. Woot!
Note to self if I want wendy to post link to team wendy… got it… 🙂
Yes, sybil. I will follow Erin McCarthy anywhere…even into Vamp Land. Bit The Jackpot was very good. Haven’t read the first one yet…I’d forgotton about it.
And Keishon…sorry about the YA crack. It’s not that I don’t like it, but I spent many years reading it with my children and liked what I read and what they read, but couldn’t wait to read ONLY adult books. I guess I’m still in that mode. I did love SPEAK…the book you mentioned on your blog. My daughter used to love books about people her age with serious problems. SPEAK is about date rape.