Comments on: Weekly Geeks 2009-34: On Reviewing

By: justicejenniferreads

justicejenniferreads — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 07:10:45 +0000

Great answers. I think that you have a really great reviewing style. I read this article right around the time I created my blog and it made me stop and think about what kind of book blog I really wanted to create. I love that you work at a book store – I don’t think I knew this about you before. That sounds like my ideal job, although I like to picture myself actually doing some writing someday. We’ll see … I feel like doing anything with an English major requires confidence in your talent as a writer, which is something I haven’t really developed quite yet. I know that I can write, but I don’t really know if I believe that my writing is good or even really worth reading. Sorry, didn’t mean to get into confessional mode but your post got me thinking … Guess I should take this to my journal!

By: Staci

Staci — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 23:58:28 +0000

I pretty much ignore ratings given by professional reviewers but I put a lot of faith and trust into my blogging friends and what they highly recommend.

By: knightofswords

knightofswords — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 14:35:55 +0000

When I read a book for the purpose of writing a review, especially one by a new, yet-to-be-discovered author, I read it with a sense of hope. I’m thrilled when I discover descriptions and bits of dialogue that really work, that are exactly right or are very inventive and take risks.

Likewise, when a book is otherwise very good, I feel a great deal of despair when the plot sags or an important character is presented as a one-dimensional stereotype. In such cases, “what might have been” bothers me more than what’s happening in the plot.

When I put my reviewer hat on, I’m more sensitive to what the writer is trying to do than what the characters are trying to do. I wonder if other reviewers feel this way.

Malcolm

By: Rebecca @ The Book Lady's Blog

Rebecca @ The Book Lady's Blog — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 01:36:22 +0000

I love getting swept up in a story, too, and when that happens, I don’t fight it…I just don’t have direct quotes for my review, and that’s OK.

By: softdrink

softdrink — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 00:23:37 +0000

Great answers!

Every once in awhile I tell myself to slow down and become a more thoughtful reader, but I have yet to manage it. I never want to put a book down to note a passage, or a word, or what I’m thinking at that point in time.

By: draabe

draabe — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:23:08 +0000

I agree w/you on many of these point…and don’t care for Dan Brown either. But there’s no way I could talk myself into Twilight. I am aware, however, that I was not Ms. Meyer’s intended audience – and someone has to review that stuff, right?

I enjoyed reading your answers!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:38:32 +0000

I appreciate you more as a reviewer for the fact that you do pick up those books you wouldn’t typically (ie; mass market, etc) so that you can join in on conversation to provide different perspective. As you’ve said reading/reviewing is so subjective we all tend to get into our bubbles and stay there. Having someone come in and pop it allows us to stretch our thoughts out.

Fabulous point!