Blogger: Rachel Zurakowski
Location: Books & Such main office, Santa Rosa, Calif.
Yesterday we discussed reviews. Crystal mentioned that a well-written review is helpful. That started me to thinking:
What makes a review well-written?
Does a reader need to have certain qualifications to write a helpful review?
What information should be included in a review?
What would you hesitate to say in a review?
Happy Friday!
Reviewing is harder than it looks.My comments refer to fiction book. The most important place to start is to read the book. Sounds simple, but I have read a review, bought the book and read it, and then shake my head. Obviously, the reviewer never read the book.
When I read a review, I want a sense of the story but not the outcome of the story. I want something left for me to discover. I also want to see why I should read the book. What will I gain, even if it is just enjoyment?
When I write a review I put myself in the place of the reader. What would I want to know and not know about the book?
I only review books I can recommend. I choose not to be the book police. Others can do that.
Reviews are only one avenue that people use to decide whether to purchase a book. But they are important enough that care should be taken when writing a review for it may be the only introduction that a person may have to that writer.
A J Hawke
ajhawke.blogspot.com
You definitely don’t want to give away too much information about the book – avoid spoilers because then you might ruin the story for others! I think you just need to state your opinion of the novel very honestly, and give some feedback about the parts of the book that you especially enjoyed – without giving away too much information about the storyline. I think a reader should be somewhat familiar with the genre that they are reviewing. I know a man gave me so-so review for one of my romance novels, but, from the content of the review, it appeared that he didn’t really read many romance novels, so I don’t think he should be reviewing one!
I would hesitate to totally bash the book – somebody else might like it and I wouldn’t want to offend the author. Even if I don’t care for a book, I’ll try to find some positive elements to the story.
A review is like any other piece of writing in that it should be written in such a way that the manner of the writing (grammer, sentence structure, etc) doesn’t distract from what the reviewer is trying to say. I don’t think a reviewer needs specific qualifications, but at least a passing familiarity with the genre is helpful. I once read a review in which the writer thought the fact that she dressed like a teenager qualified her to review YA work! Needless to say, it was a horribly written review of what I know was a well-written book (it wasn’t mine, btw). But you got no sense of that in this particular review.
A “good” review will comment on writing style, content and how successfully the author engages you in their story (and hopefully does it enthusiastically). Or (in children’s work) how well the audience liked the book.
When I review, I try to stay positive and point out at least one or two strengths of the book. I will also address difficulties I had in reading it – whether in content or style or plot problems – but try to keep my tone professional while I talk about them. For the truly egregious nonsense, an editor once suggested I simply say “Some readers may find … ” and quietly state the problem. ie. … “Some readers may find the introduction of two new plot twists in the last chapter a little disconcerting.”
And I never give out spoilers!
I never bash a book. Cruelty is never appropriate or necessary. If it is a book I can’t find some good things to say, I decline the review. Endorsements are the same way.
So often reviewers give away too much of the story. Bad idea.A good review should intrigue the reader, give an opinion based on the reviewer having read the book. There are some genres I would not review just because I don’t read them often enough to have a sense of what really works.
I love reviews on cards taped to the shelf under the book. short but punchy. Those little cards written by other readers and/or store employees get me to buy a lot of books.
I review books on my blog, usually picture books and board books since I write those types of mss. I comment on the illustrations as well as the text since those illustrations should carry at least 50% of the story.
I, too, try to stay positive with my comments even if my opinions are negative. That’s a great exercise in creativity sometimes.
I also try to review through the eyes of a writer–especially when I’m commenting on style and format and the way the illustrations and text work (or don’t work) together.
Jean
http://www.jeanmatthewhallwords.blogspot.com
Like most people have said here, a review should give a taste of the book but not give too much away; should comment on writing style and POV and anything else that adds to the book. I find it hard to give a negative critique, even if I reviewed a book that I’ll then probably pass on to the library because it left me feeling “blah.”