Do You Think About The Author?

I know many of you who review books also write them, so you probably don’t need to read this post. But I have a question for you.

As a reviewer, do you ever stop to ask yourself this, “How will my words directly impact this author?”

I don’t write a ton of reviews. I will post on GoodReads on a pretty regular basis, but that’s usually if I’ve really enjoyed a book, or (yes) if I know the author. How does that work? Well, just as I asked a bunch of people to read my book, Yesterday’s Tomorrow, when it first came out, I get similar requests from other authors. Usually I enjoy the books and have no problem finding great things to say. But I’m always conscious of how my words are going to affect that author. Yes, even those authors I don’t know personally.

I remember the days after my book released. I would sit in fear and trembling, work up the courage to hit the link for Amazon and check if any new reviews had come in. I’d already seen the ones from those wonderful people who read advanced copies and gave endorsements…so I did have a certain sense of security that I hadn’t written 375 pages of complete drivel, but you know, there’s always that little voice in the back of your head that starts those nasty rumors…I was terrified that one day I’d wake up to find several really bad reviews plastered all over the internet for the world to see.

Fortunately that hasn’t happened. Not that it could never happen. It just hasn’t. Yet. But I’ve seen posts on various writing groups from anguished authors who have been getting those bad reviews. They’re crushed. Some of these reviewers seem almost vindictive in their words. And I just shake my head and wonder, what’s that about? Why is it necessary to be so cruel? So you didn’t like the book. Big deal. Say SOMETHING nice about it or don’t review it. (We talked about this here, and there were great comments).

I’m in the process of judging several entries for a writing contest. I’ve been on the other side of this. I know what it feels like to get those low scores and not so encouraging remarks. I’m really trying hard to be encouraging in the comments I’m making, even when I can’t give a high score. I sure don’t want to be responsible for making an aspiring author throw their laptop out the window and go back to working at Wendy’s

Do you know what I’m getting at?

Just as we writers carefully craft each sentence, each scene, every bit of dialogue that goes into our manuscripts, so should you, the reviewer, carefully craft the words you say about the finished product. If you are going to take the time to write a review, be responsible. Professional. And above all, do no harm. A little melodramatic? Perhaps. Perhaps not.

Some will scoff and say pish-posh, reviews don’t matter, nobody reads them anyway.

I disagree. They do matter. They matter to the author. 

A good review is validation. It’s confirmation that all the hard work, frustration, tears and sleepless nights have been worth it. When I read a great review, I think, “Yeah. They get me.” And that’s an amazing feeling. A bad review cuts deep into the soul, and even though you smile and shrug it off, you know you’re not going to forget those words in a hurry.

Maybe you are one of those sensitive reviewers who do think about us authors before you start hitting keys and sending your thoughts into cyber-space.If so, I applaud you and thank you for a job well done. Maybe you haven’t really looked at it this way before. May I encourage you to do so? Your authors would really appreciate it. And you’ll make a lot of friends in the process. And who doesn’t need friends?

How about you? Do you think about the author before you send out that review?

Chit Chat – The Hunger Games

So I may be one of the last people on earth to read The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, but I’ve just finished it. I heard all about it when it first came out. A lot of my friends read it and raved about it. I didn’t get around to reading it. Truthfully, I wasn’t even aware it was YA fiction until I downloaded it.

My initial thoughts as I read were “Wow, what a fantastic read!” Now that I’ve finished it, I’m taking a breath. Rethinking the whole thing. Trying to make sense of it.

This is a book for kids? It IS YA, right? So what age range would that be? You can tell me, because I have no idea, but I’m thinking it’s usually middle school – 10 – 14 perhaps? Given that, I’m not sure I can totally rave about this book. As well written as it was, I’m not sure I would have wanted my kids reading it when they were ten.

The premise bothers me. Bothers me a lot, actually. It’s like Survivor on crack.

Take a bunch of kids, chuck them into a man-made arena and let them fight to the death. To. The. Death. Really? And while I am sure it could have been worse, there were some pretty gruesome descriptions here that I didn’t care for.

I guess I’m not surprised that this is a #1 best-seller. Nor am I surprised that there’s a movie coming out. I am surprised however, that this is acceptable reading material for kids. No. Not surprised. Disappointed.  It’s Harry Potter all over again. And yes, I have watched and enjoyed all the HP movies. Again, great writing, great story, but too much darkness. Isn’t there enough in the world already?

So I guess my bottom line here is that I’m not a fan. I thought I was going to be. I was all ready to rave up and down about how great this book was, but to be honest, now that I’m finished, I’m left with a hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach. And a question that I just have to ask.

Is this ALL we have to offer the next generation of readers?

So lets hear from you. Read Hunger Games? What are your thoughts?

 

What Are You Reading Right Now?

Every now and then, I’ll throw this question out at you.

What’s on your nightstand or Kindle or whatever, RIGHT NOW?
And if you’re one of those lucky people who can manage to read several books at the same time, which one is really grabbing you the most? Why?

Writing A Review – What Makes The Difference For You?

 Being the curious being that I am, I’m always asking questions. Always asking “Why?” “Why’d you do that?” “Why’d you say that?” “Why in the heck are you wearing that…” Okay, I digress.

As an author, a published author since March 2011, I’ve had to curtail my obsession with the why questions, because sometimes I’m just not going to get any answers. I know that I’m one of the lucky ones – most of the reviews of Yesterday’s Tomorrow have been very positive. For that I’m eternally grateful. So is my husband. This has saved him years of therapy. Mine. All bills go to him. But you know, as reviews come in and I look at the four or three star reviews hiding in amongst the five star reviews that I read over and over and over again, I just can’t help myself. I have to ask. “Why?”

What makes the difference between a four and five star review?
Okay, I know there are those that decry the whole star rating system. Bully for you. But This Is A Blog About Books (just incase you’re like me and walk into a room and forget where you are a minute later). What else do you want us to talk about if we don’t talk about books?

Seriously, I love to read. But I’m honest. If I don’t whizz through the pages, dying to get to the next one, read way after my bedtime, knowing I’m going to regret it in the morning, if I can’t stop thinking about the characters long after the last page is turned, that is a book that will remain with me. That is a book that gets five stars from me. Those are the kinds of books I love to read. The kinds of books I hope to write.

If I ‘enjoy’ the story, like the characters, happy with the outcome, but it just doesn’t have that same tug on my heart, you all know what I mean, I’ll give it a four. And then I start to get antsy. Threes, twos and – gasp – one star reviews just ain’t perty. Nobody likes getting them. Unfortunately, I do believe some people enjoy giving them.

I’ve read a lot of books. A lot of good books. Some bad books. If I see the writing on the wall within the first few chapters, i.e. the book sucks and I’m going to hate it no matter which way you slice it…I probably won’t finish it. I hate doing it, because I’m a writer too. I know that somebody out there put their heart and soul into that pile of paper, and maybe some people will love it. I just won’t be one of them. Do I write a review of those books? Sometimes. Sometimes not. Sometimes it’s just best to walk away and say nothing, know what I mean?

Okay, so I want to know – how do you decide what makes a ‘good book’, a five star ohmygoshyouhavetoreadthisrightnow book, and what’s just a ‘ho hum’, good writing so I’ll give it a four, book. Or I know the author and I don’t want to hurt her feelings so I’ll give it a four because I just can’t give it a five…(knowing the author of the book you’re rating is a tough one, isn’t it?)

So what makes the difference for you?

Speak to me…