This week’s Booking Through Thursday is an interesting one for book reviewers:
I receive a lot of review books, but I have never once told lies about the book just because I got a free copy of it. However, some authors seem to feel that if they send you a copy of their book for free, you should give it a positive review.
Do you think reviewers are obligated to put up a good review of a book, even if they don’t like it? Have we come to a point where reviewers *need* to put up disclaimers to (hopefully) save themselves from being harassed by unhappy authors who get negative reviews?
I enjoy writing reviews because knowing that I will be reviewing a book enhances the act of reading for me. I find myself on the alert for my own personal reactions to the words on the page: how am I affected by this book? what am I feeling about the characters? their actions? am I getting the point the author’s trying to make? what do I like about this book? what do I dislike?
So the question to ask myself is, why am I doing this? Why am I writing these reviews, blogging about them, adding them to my LibraryThing account? And I find there are a number of reasons.
First, for me, such critical reading has the effect of sharpening my own writing, particularly during the editing phase. This is a huge benefit, and I know myself well enough to know that if I weren’t writing the reviews, I would be far less likely to read critically, with my senses sharpened, so to speak, to catch my own nuances of thought as a reader rather than as a writer. Having access to those nuances is of enormous benefit to me as a writer.
Second, writing reviews has the effect of pushing me to read more frequently, to make the time for reading, and this is important simply because reading inspires my own creativity. Every time I finish a book, or watch a movie, for that matter, I come away with new ideas, ideas for characters, plots, scenes, circumstances. Germs of ideas that might eventually sprout into something whole.
And finally, I write reviews because I rely on reviews myself. A book by a favorite author is easy – I don’t care what anyone has to say about it, I’m getting a copy and making the time to read it. But there are so many books, and so little time, that I need all the help I can get when it comes to the rest of them.
I know one thing for certain. If I’ve picked up a book because someone reviewed it positively, and I find myself not liking the book, two options come to mind. One is that the reviewer and I simply do not have the same preferences, at least not when it comes to that particular kind of writing and genre. The other option is that the reviewer hasn’t been sincere in his or her review. Because the first option is fine with me, I’m willing to continue reading the reviewer’s reviews for a while; if it’s the former, it’s just as likely that with certain types of books, we will share the same preferences, and I will continue to read this reviewer’s reviews. And it’s interesting to me to see the positives other readers find in a book that’s not to my taste. But if it’s the latter, the trust and the credibility are gone. I will not continue to read reviews written by this person.
So when it comes right down to it, when I examine the reasons why I’m writing these reviews – I could, after all, just read and keep quiet, right? – the third reason, that of returning the favor to all those fabulous reviewers out there whom I’ve come to rely on, is the most relevant reason when asking the question about honesty in reviewing.
The bottom line for me? A review is an opinion. If it’s to be of any value, it must be an honest opinion. And really, that’s all there is to it. And authors should know this about reviews. That is, after all, the point of a review.
Update: Reading through other people’s posts on this issue, I wanted to add one more thing: While reviewers (of books and other products) do get ARCs and other products for review “for free”, the reality is that it’s not free, but rather, a fair exchange. We get a copy of the book, and in exchange, we agree to read it and (possibly – if we requested it) review it. The slant of the review, whether positive or negative, is irrelevant. Reviewers need not feel guilty.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Nicely said and I agree completely. Once the honesty stops, then who are you able to trust?
Well said. As long as the review bears a resemblance of reasonably argued and well-supported statements, it’s a just review regardless of whether the subject being reviewed is good or bad. I stopped reading some of the book reviews in media because they turn into fluffy gasbags.
Really well said! I agree with your comment on my BTT… how boring would it be if we all liked the exact same things and thought the exact same way? Reviews are such great ways to express thoughts and opinions, and I think it would be absolutely depressing if that kind of honesty was gone from the world (in any capacity!).
Absolutely: it must be honest. Please see my answer.