How do you handle "Did Not Finish" reviews?

[Lori]

Hi all,
I am currently reading a book that I just don't think I can finish. I'm not enjoying the story - - although it may not be entirely the author's doing - - the book has quite a bit of typos, grammatical errors and run-on sentences which I will freely admit I am completely anal about.

Do you publish "Did Not Finish" reviews? How do you handle this kind of situation?

Thanks!

~ Lori
Psychotic State

[Kimberly Hulst]

I am in a similar unable to finish spot.

In my case I sent out a message on another site with a request for someone else to read it. As this was not a grammar situation as much as a religious one.

I have to say review it how you feel, if you are feeling the need to vent on it do so.

[Constance Reader]

I'd love to know what the book is that you're referring to!! Now I'm all intrigued!

-Connie @ Constance Reader.

[Amy Jacobs]

What I do is post on my blog the synopsis of the book, the reasons why I was unable to finish it with my honest take on it and just give it a rating of DNF. If you don't feel that it was the story itself, put that in your thoughts of why you couldn't finish it. I look at reviewing books as an honest opinion that will help others. If someone can't finish a book I look at their reason behind it. Like you said, it could be just the grammar and such, not the writing.

[Lauren Montgomery]

I had a "could not finish" review a few weeks ago. I just wrote truthfully and explained the reason it couldn't be finished. I made sure to write what I did enjoy about the book too. You can view my review here:

The Gargoyle

[Terry Doherty]

If you think that the quality of the presentation (typos, etc) are the culprit, then I would go back to the author/publisher/publicist with your thoughts. Another thought would be to reframe your thoughts in a general statement about the things that cause you to stop reading a book without mentioning a specific title.

For my site, although we don't recommend every book, we will not publish profiles for books our reviewers couldn't finish. That book is an author's calling card. If s/he hasn't offered a professional product, I don't feel obligated to offer a professional-quality review. I do, however, go back to the author/publisher/publicist with an email that explains why we will not publish a review. We have essentially given them feedback.

I recently did that with a publisher who learned that her company had not provided the editing the author paid for. They have fixed that and sent the book back. With typos and mixed up pages fixed, we can place that one for review.

[Stacy-Deanne (Novelist)]

Hi Lori,

I loooove reading reviews. It not only helps me as an author but they are very entertaining. To be honest, I don't like it when reviewers post just to say they didn't finish the book. What good is that doing the audience who wants a review, you know? I think if they didn't finish they shouldn't attempt to write the review. It doesn't make sense because a person wants to read your review and when the only thing a reviewer says is, "I didn't finish it". Well, that's not a review. I was reading a review blog the other day where the reviewer said she wasn't posting a review of a book because she didn't finish. She did the right thing to me. She apologized for hyping the book up before she read it. That's another thing reviewers should be careful of. They shouldn't mention a book they "plan" to review only post reviews of one they have. That way audiences won't get pissed for feeling cheated out of a review and reviewers don't have to be stuck between a rock and a hard place if they got a book they can't finish.

If you promised the author a review then I'd just write them personally and be honest. Let them know you couldn't finish it. They should understand.

I'm coming to you from the "reader" side who loves to read a review. Not the author side.

Best Wishes!

http://www.stacy-deanne.net

[Jaime Huff]

This goes back to the thread about reviewers who don't post negative reviews. If I think a book is craptastic, I REFUSE to finish it (I will NEVER regain those hours). So, should I post a review WHY I couldn't finish it? Or should I not post a review and thought to be not honest when I have predominantly positive reviews? I think this really applies to hobby reviewers, like myself.

I have left a review stated that I haven't finished it (Due to a blog tour date and my only being half way through the book due to delays in shipping, etc) and reviewed it up to the point I was at by that time and it was positive and had nothing to do with the book, just ran out of time.

Now, I haven't left an unfinished review yet (except the one I just said I did) but have no problem saying I couldn't finish this. Due to X reason, Y reason, Z reason, etc.

[Jane]

As long as you are honest with the fact that you did not finish the book and where you left off, I think it is ok to review it.

There are too many reviewers that read only the first fifty pages and then give a review for the entire book. I can think of one in particular that almost every reviewer said the same thing. But about two hundred pages in the story makes an incredible turn and ends up being very different from where it started. No one mentioned it and it was obvious they did not read the whole thing. That I think is wrong to do.

[Lee Smith]

No review should mention what happened after page 200. That would ruin the book for other readers. Most authors say that they would prefer that reviewers not give away any information that happens after say the first fifty or so pages. They don't want the book's surprises, twists, conflicts and all of that to be given away by a review before the reader ever picks up the book (though giving a page # is hard to do - sometimes those twists happen early - sometimes they happen late - you have to use your judgment and protect the real "punch" of the story).

That's why most back covers leave you with questions and they won't share more than the first chapter - and sometimes less than that. If the story is given away, then why would anyone else want to read the book - you've already told them what is going to happen. The purpose of a good review is to help other readers get excited about reading good books and possibly steer them away from the bad ones. So you point out whether or not the writing was strong, whether the characters seemed real to you, whether their actions matched their personalities, whether the storyline was interesting and if it caught your attention ~ making you want to keep reading until the end... that sort of thing. You don't have to give away the amazing surprise that happens on page 226. The author would prefer that you didn't. It's important that you don't. That kills their book sales and doesn't make them or your readers happy.

It's like someone telling you the end of the movie you were going to watch before you go see it. Sound like a good idea?

BTW ~ I'm an author and a reviewer.

[Lori]

Thank you, everyone, for some really solid advice.

I think I will email the publicist and explain why I was unable to finish it but let him know that I plan to attempt it again. It's possible it's just me, or I have so much on my plate right now that I cannot give it the full attention it may need. In any event, I think it's good for the publicist and author to know, but perhaps not as vital (at least yet) for the readers of my blog to know.

:) Thanks again!

[Jaime Huff]

I have had that. I began Benny and Shrimp while my daughter was in the hospital (July). Every time I read it, I just couldn't get into it. I was bored, etc. I read it last month and it was beautiful. Sometimes that's just what you need!

So do what you just said.

Good luck!

[Jessica W]

Personally, as a reader, I like to know when books don't live up to expectations. I would hate to read a book review in which the reviewer was not honest about their reading experience and then go out and spend money on a book that I would be unhppy with. Buyer's remorse is the worst.

On my book blog, I use a rating system of 1 to 5 stars. 1 star is practically unheard of and considered a Total Bust. I explained in my rating guide that 1 star would likely represent a book that I was unable to finish reading due to loss of interest. I feel it is important to post the "Bad" reviews just as much as the "Good".

Jessica W. - Book Bound