Review Group discussion

Hello everyone - a question for readers rather than writers (although, I think most of us are both). What are reviews for?

I've been pulled up by a different review group for including "unacceptable" comments in my reviews. In a 300-word review of mostly positive feedback and a four-star rating, I included one sentence pointing out that the rhyme scheme was a bit shaky here and there, there was the odd blank page and said the book was a "little bit rough-and-ready".

Too harsh?

Now, I don't know about you, but as a reader, I want to know what I'm in for. Yes, the author might go back and change the book - but they also might not.

I'd be pretty annoyed if I bought a book expecting a polished production and ended up with something that wasn't as brilliant as the reviews suggested.

Frankly, when I go on Goodreads, I'm very suspicious of books that have only glowing five-star reviews - because no one, not even Shakespeare, gets universal approval.

Thoughts?

Note: I'm also an author and have a number of 3* reviews on my books from people who were okay with them but found flaws (or the books just weren't to their taste). I accept this and thank them for any constructive feedback.

Edit, because I had some responses in another thread that made (understandable) assumptions about the content of the review. Here's a fairly typical 4* review from me: https://rhianwriting.wordpress.com/20...
And here's a blog post that goes into more detail about what I was asked to do: https://rhianwriting.wordpress.com/20...

(I will remove the links if a mod asks me to. They're included for the sake of clarity, not self promo).

Rhian, I don't think that you should change a thing. If you are critical of the book and there is nothing aimed personally at the author then - job done! As you say, your comments may help the author and prospective readers. Authors have to take it on the chin!
G.J.

I think choosing to give five-stars only to people who can compete with Shakespeare is too harsh (that's obviously not your approach, though). I give 5-star ratings to professional-level work that does what it set out to do, even if there is a wobble here and there. Many (most?) classics have their wobbles, after all, and they are still beloved by millions of readers. I give 4-stars where I can see large numbers of people enjoying the book. Again, it sounds like that is close to your approach as well.

I give 5-star ratings to professional-level work that does what it set out to do, even if there is a wobble here and there"

That's exactly what I aim to do. :)

I was just about to post a closely related reflection. I read a lot of SFF and have read a ton of indie / self-published work as well as trad published. I try to not see the publication route and mark the book on its merit. I used to torture myself as far as trying to mark it on its merit if I didn't enjoy it much because of personal preference rather than quality. I've recently cut myself some slack on that one though; it's all right not to like a well-written book as long as I can calmly and clearly articulate my honest reason(s) for downgrading its rating.

But the truth is, the indie books are often poorer quality. I find a staggering number of self-published authors have a lot of talent and I sympathise with their plight in not being able to afford to get professional editing. That said, if they're going to charge cash-money for their work, then as much as I feel torn about it, I think if I buy their work, I'm entitled to give it an honest appraisal even if that means a low rating and a critical review.

As an author though, I'm only human. It's hard not to be sensitive when you've put your all into a book and someone just goes, 'yeah, nah, it was ok, bit crap in some parts, not really my thing anyway 3 stars. Next.' And I think that kind of sensitivity - which we all have if we're honest with ourselves - is the source of the negative feedback on your, uh, negative feedback. I don't know what's in people's minds but they seem to think they deserve to be cut slack because they're an indie author. They seem very surprised to get a negative rating and sometimes angry. This in my view, shouldn't be made the reader's problem.

If someone's selling their work for actual money then as a reader, I want honesty from other readers about what they thought so I can work out whether or not I want to buy the book. And as an author I do too, for that matter. I want to know what I can do better. As long as it's constructive and not abusive; abusive is not ok. But I don't think that's what you're being Rhian.

I say keep doing what you're doing and pay them no mind.