Monday, October 21, 2013

To Star or Not to Star... The Goodreads Dilemma

I've read some books I really didn't like lately. Even one I put down. For good. I almost NEVER do that.I'm not sure if I'm becoming more critical or my tastes are changing or I'm just not good at picking out what I think I'll like to begin with.

In the past, I've kept a running list of the books I've read online, mostly at Goodreads, but I'm finding myself conflicted now about how to do this. I am both a reader and a writer, and while I know the value of a good, honest review, I also know how much a writer pours their heart into their books and how subjective opinions are.

I used to give good, honest reviews. Ones I would have liked to have read if I was wondering whether or not to buy a book. I was never harsh or personal about an author, but I didn't flinch from saying a book was definitely not for me because of the way it was written.

Then I was published, and that brings a burden of its own. I don't want to be the writer that is critical of other writers. I hate when authors bash each other, publicly calling each other out as phonies or hacks or undeserved millionaires. Jonathan Franzen and Stephen King have earned poor reputations for publicly denouncing the quality of other writer's books.

(Which made me wonder if semi-famous writers like Ann Patchett or even lesser-famed but well-established and talented writers like Therese Fowler review books in public forums? Certainly they read!)

I also realized how sensitive some writers are about low ratings, and how mean people can be about something that maybe just isn't their own taste.

If I don't like science fiction, but I try one because everyone is raving about it, is it fair to give it only two stars because I think the plot is outlandish? If I have a pet peeve about casual sex in books aimed at thirteen and fourteen year olds, is that fair to hold that against the book?

Harder yet, reading books by people I know. Between the faculty at school that I adore, the great students I studied with that are putting out their own books now, and you great blogging peeps, I am reading more and more books by people that are personal to me. And not all of those books are up my alley.

I've sat more times that I liked to admit staring at the Goodreads screen wondering what to do. Do I just unlist a book I didn't like, so I don't come off looking like a critical nincompoop? Do I just mark it as "read" but give it no rating or review? Do I give stars but no review? Do I lie?

I have done all of these. Not outright lying... I can't do that. But I have fudged. I have said what I loved about a book - all true - but not mentioned that the things I didn't like overshadowed what I did. I have said, "This wasn't for me, but there are things about it I can see others loving." It's both honest, and lying by omission, but right now it seems the best option.

I don't know if I'll come to a resolution I like, but I'm curious about you. Do you review books publicly - on your blog, Amazon, Goodreads, Library Thing, or some other site? And what do you do about books you don't like?

And, as long as you're here, what's the best book you've read lately?

11 comments:

  1. I've thought about taking the stars off ALL the books I've read and just writing a couple sentences of a review, but then I'll read something amazing and HAVE to star it... Now I only rate the 4 and 5 star ones, and don't star the ones I don't love or just mark them as read, say nothing and move on... It's a hard thing. But my solution works for me...

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    1. Jolene - I always think of you when I think of reviews because you are such a huge author advocate and promoter! I think your solution is a good one, and probably the closest to what I do. Sometimes I think, "I don't want people to think I am a book slut and love everything, because that makes the good reviews meaningless..." and then I realize people are probably not looking at my reviews in the first place and I need to stop thinking I have the clout of some NYT critic. :)

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  2. yes, it is fair to post negative opinions about 'casual sex' in books aimed at 13 and 14 years old! Because I think it's more than a 'pet peeve' for we Christians! And, when our oldest daughter entered middle school, I was astounded at what was on her reading list. SO many GOOD choices out there for such garbage...ugh.
    BUT, I totally get the rest of what you're saying, Heidi. And, this is supremely lazy of me, perhaps, but I'd rather spend more time reading than belaboring over painstakingly honest, but 'nice' book reviews, so I don't do them. hahaha! Except for yours, and I will give you 5 stars!!

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    1. Leisha - This is my dilemma! As a reader (and a mom of three avid young readers!) I really do WANT to know what's in the books I'm buying! I want to read those brutally honest reviews. I just don't want to write them. :)

      Maybe I should realize there are plenty of people out there with the time and inclination to be that brutally honest, and I should just spend my time writing my own stories!

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  3. I have come down on the side of not reviewing books I read. I read a lot of books and recommend a very few. Why? Because I have come to know what I like in a book. I prefer good writing, at least one character to root for and an engaging story line. Sometimes these books are biographies, sometimes they have sex in them, sometimes they are "light" and sometimes they are "heavy." Just because a certain book doesn't grab me, wow me or educate me doesn't make it a book not worth someone's time. It's like when a person failed to make an offer on a house we were selling because it didn't have a separate room for the toilet. No, it didn't. And you knew that going in. Not every one has a separate "throne room" on their list, just as not everyone likes to read the same writing. Back to my original point...I don't review or rate books as a general rule because I think all my reactions are too subjective to be valuable. All I know is what I like. It very well may be you don't like any of the books I love. However, if Heidi recommends a book or an author - I listen! She's never steered me wrong and I would hate to see her end the practice of reading and rating!

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    1. Anne - I have been in that place most of my life. I never considered reviewing until it became a big deal with my publisher and I could see how it does really matter in selling books. But I'm like you - I need good writing, a character to root for, and an engaging storyline, and I don't really care what format the book is. Most of my favorite books lately have been non-fiction, and ones that I know others have absolutely loved and adored, I haven't. Books are such a personal,subjective thing! But I really do value other people's opinions and I do read a lot of reviews to help me decide what to whittle my list down to, so it seems stingy for me not to take the time to also write. Maybe that time would just be better spent writing my own book and trying to make it something worth reviewing. :)

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  4. I'm not on goodreads nor do I review books, mostly I don't have time or maybe it's more like I don't want to make time. I'm pretty private about the books I read. Not sure why but I really don't recommend a book unless I know it is up that person's alley. I guess my answer is avoidance. Probably not what you're looking for though.

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    1. I think your option is very valid, Patti! I actually began listing my read books on Library Thing, and then Goodreads, just as a place to keep track of them. It wasn't at all social media for me, and I didn't think of anyone else even seeing it. Now, I can really see your point about keeping private. I may eventually end up that way, also.

      Recommending books to people is a tricky thing. I found that out in school, when people used to foist their favorites on me with the "anyone who calls themselves a writer should read and love this," and then I'd hate the book and think less of myself as a writer. And that's just wrong.

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  6. My main goal of Goodreads is to list the books I have read and want-to-read. As I get older, my mind just does not remember as well as it once it did! However, I do on occasion write reviews including reviews of books that I have been asked to by the publisher or the author. If it is a book that is not my usual genre (so did not particularly enjoy) I try to make that clear at the beginning of the review so my bias is clear, and at the end of the review recommend the reading to those that may like that type of genre, story, or topic. I think it is important to encourage authors to just keep writing and readers to keep reading and, in a small way, listing that you have read books on Goodreads or other reading sites, giving ratings, and maybe even a writing reviews keeps the love of stories alive.

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    1. You really said so much of how I feel about it, Lynn! Everything you said... that. That is how I feel.

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