A while back my post on Got YA, SHOWING LOVE TO YOUR FELLOW WRITERS, touched on the same topic one of my favorite new YA authors, Lisa Desrochers posted on HER BLOG today. I couldn't agree with Ms. Desrochers more. The YA community is tight nit. We all pretty much know each other. With that being said, I don't think belittling an author if you don't like their book is a wise move if you are an aspiring writer. I just wanted to mention this because it's something I feel pretty strongly about because I've read some pretty harsh reviews that I thought crossed the line or came very close to it.
What are your guy's thoughts about book reviews that cross the line?
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6 comments:
This is actually something I'm terrified of doing. I try to focus on the good bits and really explain why I personally, didn't like some things but that someone else may feel differently. Like you'd mentioned, the writing community really is small and with the internet, authors can read opinions quicker than ever. I really try to think about what wouldn't hurt me to read as an author (actually, I'm an aspiring author) and stick to those points.
That the person behind it is severely immature and--when concerning aspiring writers--naive. You should know better than to cross the line, especially since you know what the journey is like. Regardless of how you feel about the book, your criticisms should never extend to the author. You read their work; you didn't read them. Therefore, review the book and nothing more.
As an aspiring writer, it doesn't mean you don't get to state your opinions or that you have to always like the books you review or say nothing when you have nothing nice to say about the book. But it does mean you should be conscience--as everyone else should be, actually--of what you're saying. It might just come back to bite you, if you're not. You don't know who you'll be working alongside or who will be reviewing your book and what influence that'll have on your readership.
By hurting an author simply because you didn't like their book, you might be hurting yourself too. More than you know, most likely.
*jumps off stool*
Sorry to spam you with my comments. I made another mistake while correcting my previous mistake. *head/desk*
Anyway, I meant 'conscious' and not 'conscience.' Don't ask how I mixed those two up. It's sad story.
I personally think that when writing a review you are giving your own opinin of a book. You should give good and bad. What some readers like, others won't and what you don't like, others will. As a writer and a reader, I realize I'm picky about what I like to read (and so are most reviewers) like some people like a romance that is historical with a rogue, but others like one with a duke. So reviews are always going to be jaded by personal opinion, but being mean about it is just not necessary. Especially on the www where whatever is put out there stays forever.
I do book reviews on my blog, and the one rule I made for myself is: don't drag the author into it past the point of saying, "this is who wrote it" Whether I like a book I'm reviewing or not does not give me license to belittle the author. As we all know from countless agent from rejections, "This is a subjective business" What one person likes may not (in most cases will not) be what the next person enjoys. Instead of slandering the author, just tell us what your problems with the book were and why.
Also, while I do agree that an aspiring author should never ever ever do something so mean-spirited, really I think that NO ONE should, writer or not, pubbed or not. Whew...okay, I'm done ranting now. I promise :)
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