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sl_thumbnail.jpgDoes your opinion matter at all?

Barbara Vey, who blogs for PW has a post up today called, “Reading the Book: A Novel Approach to Reviewing.”

Yes, yes.  I hear you groaning now, “Dear god, please, not THAT!”  But after reading Richelle Mead’s whinepost on BAM’s blog about the evol that is amazon and blog reviewers who are too stupid and incapable to pick up on anything subtle in a book running across another blog on the evol of reviews…

Well I figured I would be the charming third in the blogging review pile-on.

Vey says:  “That’s why we don’t write actual reviews here, we just blurb about the book (my blog, my rules). The WW ladies and friends just do it for the love of the written word.”  As well she states she doesn’t read reviews because she wants to make up her own mind.

I don’t understand that at all. Where does it say a review is meant to take place of a book? If you read the review, what? You no longer need to read the book because now you know how you feel?  Really? Do I not enjoy books, reviewing or the ‘written word’ because I know what I like and what I don’t and have the nerve to tell people?

And why is it that people who can see the problems in reviews, be it at amazon, review sites or whatever, decide to not be a part of the solution? I have always thought that if you see something being done wrong – well, do it right. No?  I totally believe some reviews on amazon are meanies. Some are bad bad peeps out to ‘get the author’. But every bad review an author gets, doesn’t have an agenda. No really. And if you honestly believe that, you are a few sandwiches short of a picnic.

Some people will love your book. Some people will hate your book. Some will be ‘meh’ about it. And others won’t even read it cuz it just doesn’t float their boat.  They will ALL be right.  And if you really, really need to believe all bad reviews are just people ‘out to get you’ for god’s sake stop saying so in public. Because it makes you look like a dumbass and screws with my enjoyment of your book. Damn it.

I did respond to Vey’s post but I haven’t see it show up yet… so just in case I am spammed or something… for your reading enjoyment I have pasted it here.  You are most welcome.  Sybil Sez:

Why don’t you review? Knowing all reviews are subjective and that oh so many authors only get bad reviews because people are ‘out to get them’ or ‘are 15 year olds telling them how to write’ why not provide your own honest opinion?

Aren’t people who don’t want to say anything bad that may be mean, part of the problem with amazon, blogs and review sites? If a person can’t say anything but praise than they are never there for the reader. They are there for the author.

And authors who want nothing but praise have to know that isn’t an honest view of their work because no book will be liked by all. So what is the point?

How can any author be proud of nothing but 20 5 star glowing reviews when they know, as well as anyone reading it, that it is not a true reflection of them or their work.