Bad reviews and angry authors

[Dave Rosenthal]

On The Baltimore Sun's book blog (www.baltimoresun.com/readstreet) we've noted the recent discussions about bloggers who post tough reviews -- and get hammered. Recently, a blogger dissed a self-published author's book, and got a snide, anonymous comment, as well as threats of legal action for posting an excerpt and the book's cover. Many bloggers are justifiably outraged, and some note that they do not post negative reviews, to avoid offending anyone.
Do you shy away from giving a bad review? Have you ever had an angry response from an author? Is the reaction worse from self-published authors?

[Dave Rosenthal]

Sabrina, you made a great point that a negative review can have value for readers -- if not for the author. There's nothing more frustrating than wasting time with a bad book. I'd much rather have someone warn me off before I pick it up.
Bethany, I've only been to Oregon once, when I was reporting a story about a Seattle-based architect who designs zoos. He was really interesting, and your part of the country is beautiful. I'll have to get back there. p.s. Your have a terrific site; good luck on writing your novel.

[Cheryl]

I'm new to blogging and reviewing in general. I've not yet had to give a bad review, but if I did I would try to do so as gently as possible. I would also explain why the book wasn't right for me personally and how it may appeal to others.

When I agree to review a book I include a few sentences that go a little something like this - "As a disclaimer I'd like to add that I don't guarantee a positive review, although even if I don't care for the book I will try to point out its positive aspects. I'm sure you understand that any review, positive or negative, generates interest and that's the goal. If this is acceptable to you I look foward to reading (the book)."

I've only reviewed one self published book and it wasn't bad-but it needed some basic editing and formatting. As a whole though, self-published books usually aren't up to industry standards, so I read them with that in mind. So I don't mislead my readers, in my review I point out that the book is either self-published and/or inferior in the editing department.

Feel free to share this.

[Bitterly Books]

I think that right now my blog is small enough that none of the authors I'm featuring have found out about it. I sometimes worry about what would happen if an author saw my coverage and got upset about it, but I hope they can see the spirit in which the review was offered.

[Ruthie @ Ruthie's Book Reviews]

I myself has never gotten a negative response from anyone whos book that I have reviewed on my blog. But I do post my own personal opinions on my blog in regards to the book. I am open, honest but I'm not mean nor do I say nasty things about the book. I just explain why I didn't like it for whatever reason.

[Nicole D. Porter]

When I started my blog this past summer, I started it for one reason: To give my opinion of books I've chosen to read.

I had no intention of being offered free books from publishers or authors and I don't solicit them and I have turned down all that have been offered. I read only books that I pick off the shelf of the bookstore. I have received 2 free books from a source not connected with either the publisher or author with the understanding that I write a review for the site that provided the book.

This is how my blog will stay.

If an author feels compelled to reply to one of my reviews, that is their right (so far, only Warren Adler has done so, and, I might add, very nicely to a book I had no hard and fast opinion on). I, however, am writing for the consumer. In time, people will decide whether or not they agree with my opinions and either continue to read my blog and take my recommendations or stop reading.

For me, it's just that simple.

Have I written negative reviews? Yes. Have a written a review for a book I didn't care for but admitted, "I may not be the intended audience"? Yes. Have I "attacked" an author? Yes. His "memoirs" truthfulness is very much in doubt. Have I agonized over the review of a book that was so over-the-top good that I couldn't figure out a way to do it justice? Yes! And I don't believe I did do it justice.

But in the end, I'm not trying to help or harm the author. I'm trying to inform the customer who will be spending their money and time on "this" book when there are sooo many others from which to choose.

Let me add: This is just me. Everybody reviews for their own reasons. Some people can accept books from the source and still remain true to themselves. I think I could, but I'm not sure.

[Dave Rosenthal]

On our blog my co-author, Nancy, and I just reviewed The White Tiger. She didn't like it that much, and would have put it down if she hadn't been committed to a review. I liked it more, but found flaws, too. Still, the book won the Man Booker Prize this year, so go figure. At least someone who reads our reviews on a regular basis will have a sense of how our tastes compare to his/her own. And, no, I don't expect the author to bother commenting on our reviews -- he's probably too busy giving lectures.

[cait]

With Google Alert, every author and every publisher can automatically find every reference to them written on the World Wide Web. No matter how bid or how small your blog might be.

I think wisely, most do not respond in a negative way to negative reviews. It isn't smart to do so i think, and most seem to see that.

I have written negative reviews...when a book deserves it in my opinion, it is dishonest to the reader to do otherwise. I would feel awful if someone bought a book based on what I wrote because it was not clear what I really thought. Assuming anyone would buy a book based on what I said...lol

You know there is a point here....the book is not the author. I am not judging the author or saying they are a bad person or even an untalented person. I am just saying that this one thing they made has some issues and in a review I try to be clear about what I think those problems are.
I don't know about you, but in my job, if I do a bad job I expect to hear about it, and so should an author. It is not an attack on me when my boss says something and it is not an attack on the author, as a person, when reviewers and readers..the customers.... say something. Really, if an author is not ready for that, they shouldn't publish.

[KittyCat]

Hi Dave,

When I review a book, I try to be as constructive as I can. After all, I imagine myself being an author one day and have someone else review my books. I agree with BermudaOnion's comment about negative reviews as long as they don't get personal.

I reviewed a book meant for preschoolers and 1st grade children. It was a good effort but I really didn't like the font that was used and I mentioned it in my review.

The author promptly and graciously replied that they'd
a) used the font based on a survey of children's preferences
b) thanked me for pointing it out and
c) would keep it in mind for future editions

Personally, I think it was well handled both ways...

I agree with Cait too - if the author is not prepared to receive negative comments, then why share your work in the public sphere in the first place?

If I were the author, I'd read ALL reviews, take a deep breath, do something fun and then go back to the reviews to see which I'd accept or reject :-)

[Nicole D. Porter]

It's funny, Cait, when responding to this sort of discussion on other sites, I almost always use the comparison of everyone being corrected on their work, no matter what they do for a living. Most of us work hard at what we do for a living and are "reviewed", in one way or another, on a daily basis by both clients and employers.

As reviewers, we are "customers" who have paid with both our money and our time for the service of entertainment and/or information and if we've gotten less than we expected, we should say so.

I don't know why I left it out this time, but it is, indeed, the most logical arguement there is.

[Blaine Dixon]

I always thank reviewers for mentioning my books, no matter what they say..its politics..I learned that in the Democratic party as a precinct chairman! :)

[cait]

I think you make an excellent point Karen...both here and in the blog post.
And I love the word hullaballoo!

I can understand how an author, to a degree, can't help but take any criticism personally. But as hard as it might be, they really have to separate themselves a bit and step back and see if there is anything to be learned from what the critic says.
Again, to compare it to other jobs, I want to be told if I make a mistake in my job. Hopefully nicely...but still, how will I ever learn and improve if problems are never pointed out.

[Lilly]

I do not shy away from posting negative reviews. If a book is bad I think a future reader has a right to know. That doesn't mean I post comments personally offensive to an author. I simply explain what was bad from a critical point of view and I always try to find at least that one good thing about a book.