Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer. There's a new prompt each week to encourage bloggers to meet new bloggers, learn about new books, and gain followers for their own blogs.
This week's prompt: If you don't like a book you said you would review, do you graciously turn it down and explain why or do you struggle through it and hopefully come up with a halfway decent review?
This question is actually relevant to a review I'm struggling with right now. For the first time ever (for me), I was asked to review a book that has turned out to be less-than-amazing, and I never realized just how much guilt would accompany that. I mean, I feel really bad that I didn't like the book and am now going to be writing a negative (but respectful) review. If I'd simply purchased the book myself or borrowed it from the library, this wouldn't even be an issue. I'd have no problem writing a negative review. But since someone asked me review it, it's different.
And yet, I stated in my review policies that I would write honest reviews, even if they're negative. So I'm going to write it anyway, but I'll make sure to point out the positive things in the book as well. If a book I've been sent for review is SO terrible or offensive that I don't finish it, or if I dislike it and it's part of a blog tour, I'll contact the author/publicist and let them know how I feel about the book, without posting a review.
I write negative reviews and I don't feel bad about it. Sometimes the reviews are "not for me", othertimes they are "this book is lacking". Either way, I think negative reviews help my readers 1) know I'm honest--everyone gets duds sometimes and 2)learn more about the book--when I go to Amazon or Goodreads, I look for negative reviews; I find they are often more informative than the positive ones.
ReplyDeleteI often find that negative reviews are more informative, especially when it comes to spoilers. I don't usually like spoilers, but if I'm concerned that a book might have content that makes me squirm, I read the negative reviews to find out if it does.
DeleteYou're doing pretty much what I would do! Ever since I signed up with blog tours, I no longer receive unsolicited review requests from authors. I think this is great, because, if I have to turn down a request, I'd much rather deal with either the publisher or publicist. That way, there are no hurt author feelings. However, I do feel guilty about having received a print book in the mail from a blog tour company, which I had promised to review, and won't be. But believe me, it's so much better dealing with the tour companies!
ReplyDeleteOf course, if I've bought a book myself, and I don't like it, I have no problem at all giving it a negative review! Afterward, I have to find some way of getting rid of it! Lol.
Happy Reading!! : )
So far the only people I've dealt with so far are publicists, which is good, because I think I'd feel worse telling the author I didn't like their book.
DeleteBlog tours seem like such a great idea. I'll have to look into those.
Yeah, that's right -- dealing directly with the author is worse!
DeleteCheck out the "Review Policies/FTC Disclosure" page on my blog, or simply take a look at my sidebar. You'll see the tour companies I've signed up with, there. If, like me, you prefer to read print editions, TLC Tours is the one to go with. They usually send a printed review copy (either an ARC or a finished book), unless you state that you prefer an e-book. The other companies do mostly e-books, so I usually do some other type of post when I sign up for one of their tours. Then, if I like the book, I buy it! I HATE e-books!!!!
GREAT comments. I do feel badly not reading books I said I would read, but no sense reading something you aren't enjoying or are offended by.
ReplyDeleteMy full answer is below if you want to stop by.
Enjoy your day!!
Happy Hopping!!
Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My Blog Hop Answer
I used to have a huge problem with putting a book down even though I wasn't enjoying it. I'm still not 100% cured of it, but I've definitely improved.
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