Comments on: The good review

By: Kathleen Bolton

Kathleen Bolton — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:41:01 +0000

Some Amazon reviews are good if the reviewer is giving an authentic response and doesn’t have an underlying agenda (pro or con). It can be tricky to tell which is which, though. I, too, tend to give more weight to reviews in respected journals and newspapers, but again, reviews are subjective just like anything else.

Like? 0

By: Juliet

Juliet — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:51:13 +0000

I’ve never forgotten the wonderful review you wrote for Daughter of the Forest, Sophie, for an Australian journal. It wasn’t in the least gushy, but well-informed and well written, with an analysis of the reasons why you enjoyed the book so much and a lot of interesting commentary about fairy tales. I wish all reviews were as insightful.

I don’t believe Amazon reviews are a very good guide to whether one will enjoy a book. Some of them are thoughtful, some are just rubbish.

Like? 0

By: Jamie

Jamie — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:25:27 +0000

I tend to follow Amazon reviews as well, though I watch more for what the reviewer says than what star rating they gave…if their comments are decent and the seem to have disliked a certain aspect of the book, I’ll pick it up anyway.

Like? 0

By: Sophie Masson

Sophie Masson — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:14:55 +0000

I must say that I’m also more likely to be influenced by an Amazon review than a newspaper one–quite why that should be, I’m not sure!

Like? 0

By: Kristan

Kristan — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:52:11 +0000

I’m with StephanieD, in a way: when I read NYTimes reviews of movies, for example, I’m often reading for insight to how the movie was made and what it’s about more than whether or not it was deemed “good” or “bad.” In fact, a LOT of times I like things that reviewers hate, lol.

I will say, though, that less than an average of 3 stars on Amazon or GoodReads will pretty much stop me from buying a book or product. For a book, if I’m really interested, I may still check it out at the library, but at less than 3 stars, it doesn’t seem worth my (very limited) money.
.-= Kristan´s last blog ..Like crack, but better =-.

Like? 0

By: StephanieD

StephanieD — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:14:41 +0000

I recently bought a book because of a well-written negative review. The review made it sound more interesting to me because it was so thorough. Not very often such a thing happens, though.
.-= StephanieD´s last blog ..13 Days of Halloween: Soulless Review and Giveaway =-.

Like? 0

By: thea

thea — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:43:58 +0000

it all depends on whether i respect the critic. i read a lot of book reviews in the wash post as well as ny times. i enjoy them and they certainly influence whether i’d commit to buying and reading a book. but i have found that most books have to be pretty pretty good to even get a review in such publications.

Like? 0

By: Debra Schubert

Debra Schubert — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:23:41 +0000

I think a good review inspires people to buy books more than a bad review dissuades them. At least, that’s been my personal experience. If it were up to me, bad reviews would be banned alongside all things hateful (like KKK and neo nazi propaganda). Deliberately causing pain in the world is wholly unnecessary on any level. ;-)
.-= Debra Schubert´s last blog ..Soon is Good, But Good is Better Or, Please, Take Your Time =-.

Like? 0