Nasty Reviews
Thus far, I’ve been blessed to not have any nasty reviews of my books. I’m sure people have said nasty things about them, but they haven’t spread the news around the Internet.
This week, however, a friend of mine got a review on Amazon that was just vicious. The reviewer obviously didn’t get the point of the story and has some serious misconceptions about 1802 London, and was just wrong in so many ways. That aside, it set me to wondering what is the value in a nasty review? Why would someone trash a book with obvious malice?
I’m not always kind to writers when I review their work. I have a couple of reviews on my personal blog pointing out serious errors in books from historical inaccuracies the author should have checked out, to just plain boring stories, but I have never attacked the author’s integrity as a writer or a human being.
After seeing this review and knowing it upset my friend, even though Amazon took it down, I began to wonder if we are doing ourselves as much a disservice in trashing others books as we are the author. I suppose if you write good reviews, too, which I do, an occasional “Don’t waste your $$ on this one” is okay? I don’t know. Thoughts?
I think there’s a big difference between being honest and being plain old nasty. Problem is a lot of folks just don’t realize the difference.
I think an honest negative review can be given without trashing the author. It’s easy to point out this story so didn’t work for me for X, Y, and Z and move on. In the world of the internet where people are invisible, they let loose.
Not everyone will like the work someone puts into a novel. Then again, not all authors put in the same amount of work. But that opinion, posted in a professional instead of flame-worthy way, I think, is an appropriate way to express one’s feelings. I don’t know if I’d go so far as to say, don’t waste your money. But I would give it less points on a point system.
I think it’s fine, as Keri said, to point out the issues you had with the book. Despite extensive research, we’re all bound to make mistakes in not only factual presentation but grammatical. *gasp* We’re only human.
well, most of us.
I definitely don’t think trashing a book or the person as a writer is necessary. I like Keri’s idea of writing what worked and didn’t for you. Everyone has their own opinion and what they like in a book so one think you didn’t like another person may love or not even care about.
Your poor friend! My books haven’t come out yet, but I’ll be upset if I get a nasty review. I understand some people may not like it, and thats okay, but don’t trash it.
On another note, on my blog History Undressed when I was talking about the way underwear has changed, I jokingly said, Could you imagine Elizabeth I wearing a thong. Another blogger took it completely out of context and blasted me for suggesting such a thing. It was a joke and pointing fun at the differences, nothing more than that… Anyways, sometimes things can be hurtful.