You Didn’t Like the book – Why Broadcast It?
Okay, this space is usually used for my personal blog. I write full-time and have another blog entitled Authors’ Secrets for books and writing endeavors. But today, I’ve a tiny rant, okay maybe not so tiny, that I would love thoughts from readers, authors, and actually everyone.
I’ll start off by acknowledging that everyone tries a new book or author at times, that’s how we expand our literary horizons. Right? We all have our favorite genres and authors. What incites you to try a new genre or author? Are you looking for something different, bored with what you’ve been reading or did someone recommend a book that sounded good to you? Oh, one more thing. Do you like stand alone books or series?
Now, there are people that try something new, in this case a book, and didn’t like it. So — don’t buy or read that type of genre again. Right? Why leave a nasty comment/review to the author knowing that she/he has put her heart and soul into this book and been brave enough to share it with the world? I just can’t figure it out. Sure, I’ve bought and read books I didn’t particularly care for, a few I didn’t even finish. But I would never dream of leaving a review that would cut the author to the core of their being. 
Writing is subjective. I know that. Not everyone will like what you write. I get that too. What I don’t get is the mean spirited actions of those few people that have to leave a troll review. Yes, this has happened to me on occasion, when it does, I yank up my big girl panties, read it once then ignore it forever. But recently there’s been a rash of this insensitive behavior to authors of all different genres and it bothered me. So I did what any author does, I wrote about it. LOL Yes, I feel much better now. Thank you for asking.
Okay, I’m putting my soap box back under the bed and promise never to use this as a forum for a… okay, almost never do this again. Next post, bright and 
cheery – oh, did you know there is only 21 weeks until Christmas? That’s 151 days, and finally only 3,616 hours until Christmas. Just thought you’d like to know. <grin> I heard that collective groan. Oh wait, maybe that was me. LOL
I’d love to hear from you! Please leave a comment. Thank you so much. Enjoy your summer!
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Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged Authors, Book Reviews, Christmas, IMHO, Readers, Trolls by Tena Stetler with 31 comments.
Totally agree with you, Tena. There’s no need to be cruel. If I don’t like a book, I put it down and that’s the end of it. I certainly don’t bother to write a scathing review. What would be the point? Thanks for your rant.
Thank you CB. I just couldn’t seem to let go what I see going on. Thanks for stopping by!
Good rant. I think the anonymity of the Internet makes people brave and the chance for 15 minutes of fame is irresistible to some. Not my cup of tea.
I’m agree totally with you. Have a great weekend. You know it’s almost here. LOL Thanks!
Totally agree! In fact, last Mon. TWRP posted my blog on Review Risks. It’s hard enough to get people to review your novel when they LOVE your work. If I don’t like a book, I don’t review it unless it was a promised swap. (Authors are kinder and more sensitive to the power of a review.) I reviewed books for our local paper years ago and NEVER panned a book, knowing it might appeal to someone who appreciated the genre more than I did. It’s not hard to review a plot and add a complimentary sentence about the style, research, characters or creativity. The only 1 star review I ever got was from a girl who was fired by my daughter. She admitted she didn’t read the book. It was a revenge that devastated me and in spite of comments challenging the review, Amazon didn’t remove it. I know if an assigned reviewer for one top ‘pay-for review’ magazine decides they just can’t find anything good to say, a 2nd reviewer is assigned. If that reviewer agrees, the book is NOT reviewed. Money lost/face-saved by author!
Thanks for the insight CJ! I appreciate it. Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!
Tena, I agree with everything you said. I, too, have read books that I thought were real stinkers. But I didn’t broadcast my dislike. Nor did I write a review that would hurt the writer’s self-confidence. Let’s face it, the more we write, the better we get. It’s all a learning process. As is life. The beauty is that we all deserve the chance.
Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Sandy for stopping by! Here’s to getting better and better. Have a great weekend. I can see it from here. LOL
There’s a pig in a poke in every crowd. I’ve written one two star review and I regret it to this day. Although the book was poorly written, the author did pour her heart and soul into the story. The editors should’ve done a better job and the writer should’ve insisted on a better edit. Since then, I’ve become a multi-published writer and read every review(when someone takes the time to write one) with a grain of salt. Good rant for a Thursday. Look forward to the next one. Keep up the good work!
Thanks Penny. Nice to meet you! Have a wonderful weekend. I can see it from here, can’t you?
I agree, Tena. As writers, we know not everyone will like everything we write (odd though that may be!LOL) And that’s fine. But some of the comments can be extremely hurtful. I wonder if some reviewers realize that. I personally know an author who stopped writing for many months because of such a review. Thanks!
Sadly, I know an author myself that did exactly that. Shame! Thanks one of the reasons I wrote this, to bring attention to the situation. Probably won’t matter, but I feel better. LOL Have a wonderful rest of the week.
Hello Everyone: Chiming in late here. Just came from arm therapy. Aches, but there is nothing more hurtful than a bad review when we authors know how much it takes to get our novels published. I try not to look at them, but sometimes, I do, but I never reply. There are people out there who want to see their name in print, and I’ve been told by many well known authors, never, ever to respond. So I don’t. On the brighter side, when I read a novel that perhaps was just okay, I look for something good to say. No book is 100% bad that we can’t find an ounce of goodness (a sentence or two)to talk about. But if that were to happen, I just don’t comment because nothing is gained by hurting someone else. Have a great day and thanks for the rant.
Good advice Sandra. Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate it!
I agree with you and all of the comments. It is possible to give a review that is less than stellar but still positive.
I very much agree with Jennifer The anonymity of the Internet allows some to behave outrageously and say things they would never have the nerve to say to a person’s face.
Yep, like so many said, the anonymity is what makes this situation a never-ending story! Thanks for stopping by! I appreciate it! The weekend is nearly here, have a great one!
Getting bad reviews is part of the process of writing, I guess. But let’s face it, we don’t always like the food we select in a restaurant, but I’ll bet that kind people only say to themselves, “I won’t order that again.” I have yet to figure out why people need to be “mean” to others. (If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. –Remember your parents saying that?)
Ooh, boy, do I. My mom said that over and over and over as I was growing up! I try to live by the golden rule, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Enough said. Thanks for stopping by!
We live in a society of high expectations and easy to complain attitude. We all do it. Even me. But I don’t write bad reviews. It’s one thing to deter people from buying a defective toy or material good, but books are a different arena. Sure, I may tell a friend that I didn’t like a book. But I won’t rant about it. We want to offer support the best we can! Reading (much like anything in life) is very subjective. Three times now a friend has recommended books. I tried. I tried to like them! One I had such trouble with, I got the audio book (because I love audio), hoping it’d be a better experience for me — nope. One was made into a mini-series — again, nope. My friend and I just have different tastes and go into books expecting different experiences. And that is okay! She ADORED these books. Did I write a bad review? No. I’ve even not enjoyed a book by an author who’s other book I loved! Know what I did? I gave up on that book BUT I went and got a different book by that same author (because I know she wowed me once!) and I loved it. You just never know. Anyway, that’s the end of my rant reply. 🙂 It’s subjective, but please don’t troll or trash. Be kind.
Yep! I have had similar experiences. And that’s a good thing, think how boring it would be if every one liked the same think. Not to mention how hard it would be to get said thing! LOL Have a lovely weekend!
What? You didn’t mention how many more days until Halloween??? LOL! On a more serious note, I’ve received my share of 1-star reviews and at times I shake my head wondering if they even read the book. There was one reviewer who suggested my hero and heroine travel forward in time to the present and have to live on only Top Ramen and sleep on rumpled pillows to get a sense of a struggle (This is when I thought she might be going through some tough times and had to vent). The power of social media and hiding behind a computer is rabid! It’s sad and pathetic. I have learned from these spiteful individuals. I won’t become them. If I can’t say anything nice, then I’ll keep my mouth (and fingers) closed. Good post, Tena, but there sadly, this is a “never-ending story.”
Actually it’s 95 days to Halloween. I love Halloween, but not all do. He, he, he. Yep, hiding behind a computer is what makes this a never-ending story. But I got it off my chest and feel better. Who know’s maybe someone will read the post and it will give them pause to think. But… I won’t hold my breath…I’d turn blue… just saying. Have a wonderful weekend, you can see it from here, can’t you? The weekend that is. LOL
Hi Tena! Great post! I agree with you and all the comments. I’ve read plenty of books that I didn’t like, some I never finished, but I’m not going to write bad things about them online. If I can’t give a book a 3 star or higher (yes, I’m one of those authors that thinks 3 stars can be okay!) then I won’t review it on Amazon. Some reviews I’ve received have made me wonder about the writer. Some people just like to trash and troll others. Maybe it makes them feel better, I don’t know. But I don’t like all the hate thrown around on the internet (or in person, but that’s a whole other blog).
Thanks Karilyn! Seems to be more negativity online recently, which is what brought on my little rant. I don’t usually hop on my soapbox, but after several authors had scathing reviews of late, I just had to say something. Glad you were able to pop by. Have a wonderful weekend!
Good post! Sadly, those who need to read it won’t. I like to leave reviews on books I read. Even if I hated it, I try to find something positive to write about. Lately I’ve been purchasing and reading many self-published novels because I want to give the authors a boost. You can usually tell when the writer rushed to publish before having it properly edited. If I review it, I like to praise the good elements, yet also say something helpful in a tactful way.
Thank you Cat. Thanks for reviewing, it’s a tough to find that balance of positive and helpful comments.Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks for this Tena! This applies not only to bad reviews (which I won’t post) but to critiquing WIPs. Before I joined RWA and learned how to constructively critique another person’s baby, I told another aspiring author her work was *painful to read*. Over a decade later, I still regret that hurtful comment and wish I could take it back. To quote Maya Angelou — ‘I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’
That is so true, Sharon. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting. I really appreciate it.
I am a voracious reader and there are lots of books I start but don’t bother to finish. I never regret trying new authors or new genres but life is too short to waste time finishing a badly written book, and certainly too short to be mean-spirited and leave a negative review. Madeleine
Exactly! Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment. I really appreciate it!
Late responding to this (life is like, completely in my way right now!!).
I think nasty comments should not be published. However, I try to leave an honest review. I think it’s more important to be honest, than to pretend everything is sunshine and roses. I love a good honest review of my own work; it’s how I grow. If I need to be adored for everything I do, then I’ll read my novel to a dog. They adore everything. I do think it’s important for authors to know when their writing didn’t hit the right spot. And it is about how the message is delivered. There’s no excuse for name calling or unconstructive feedback.
Maybe it’s my age, and that I’ve been in the workforce for many years (40+ now) and having to go through regular reviews and discussions of my work, that I find that kind of thing more helpful than not. I can incorporate feedback into my future work, including writing. 🙂