Things to mention in a book review

[Simcha Lazarus]

I recently started writing book reviews for my website and I've been wondering if there are certain opinions that should be left out of a review, even though I feel strongly about them, because I don't see any other reviews doing it.

More specifiably, one of my pet-peeves is when an author uses a particular word or phrase over and over again in a book, to the point where it is distracts me from the story. The thing is, that almost all authors seem to do this but I rarely see anyone mention it in a review.

For example, in one of Kim Harrison's books she kept describing characters faces as going "blank" or "slack." In generally I don't think these are very descriptive words for an expression but the fact that she used them on almost every page drove me to distraction. But I didn't see anyone mention this in any reviews of the book.

I also just read a book where the author kept describing a character as "smirking" even though this expression was not inline with the character that the author had created (imagine Mr. Darcy from Jane Eyre being described as "smirking"). And about half way through the book this word was suddenly being used with a lot more frequency then before. Since this bothered me so much I want to mention it in the review of the book but I was wondering if this would be considered irrelevant to most people and something that I should not bother mentioning despite the fact that I feel strongly about it.

I would appreciate any opinions on the matter from other book reviewers

Thanks,

Simcha

[Stephanie Dellosa]

I would mention the word tics.

[Kristen M.]

Funny because I really catch on to these sort of things too but by the time I get around to reviewing, I usually leave it out of the things I mention unless it was SUPER distracting. That said, I just wrote a review last night where I complained about the overuse of foreshadowing phrases like "but we didn't know that at the time". It got to be quite annoying and I thought it ruined the story.

So I would say that you should bring it up in the worst cases because it might be something that bothers someone else.

[Simcha Lazarus]

I decided to not mention the overuse of the word "smirk" because I didn't think it would actually influence a person in their decision to read the book or not, particularly since the rest of the review was positive.

But I was thinking of maybe emailing the author and telling my opinion to her directly. Would this be presumptions? And do authors actually allow reader's opinions to influence their writing?

[Mary Lydon Simonsen]

One thing to keep in mind, a lot of readers only read what is between the quotes. So whether or not he "smiled" or "smirked" or whether the word "said" is used too often is not important. When I read a review, I am looking for the reviewer's opinion of the major elements of the book. I would only mention these things if they drove you crazy. Otherwise, it could make your review look like you are nitpicking.

[April]

I actually write about those in my reviews. I wrote about Sarah's Key and how the author would write something about the main character then follow it with two synonyms, repeatedly, which really irritated me. I think honesty is always the best policy. :-)

[Stacy-Deanne (Novelist)]

Hi S,

Just don't do what one reviewer did to me and my book! I write mysteries and can you believe the lady TOLD a major spoiler and twist? I was shocked and yes, VERY upset. She was the only reviewer who lacked the sense not to do this. I don't know how long she'd been reviewing, but in all my time of reading reviews of other books AND having my books reviewed by scores of reviewers, she was the ONLY reviewer I ever saw that did this! That's a major rule to reviewing, especially a mystery! You don't give out the twist! Goodness, LOL. Needless to say I don't want her to review another book.

You said,

"More specifiably, one of my pet-peeves is when an author uses a particular word or phrase over and over again in a book, to the point where it is distracts me from the story. The thing is, that almost all authors seem to do this but I rarely see anyone mention it in a review."

You should mention this in your review if it happens! I had the same issue with one of my books. I'm human and not afraid to admit it. I had a word I used a little too much and it wasn't until a reviewer mentioned it that I realized that. Was I upset with the reviewer? No. She helped me! I was more peeved with the fact that the people who were supposed to catch something like this before the book went to print, didn't. That's what I had the problem with.

A writer can edit their book millions of times and still, we make mistakes. That's why it's up to the folks behind us to catch it BEFORE the book is released. That's the purpose of having the book go through so many stages. When I make a mistake, I own up to it. But still, things that should have been dealt with when the book was no longer in my control, was not. Their jobs are to catch what we miss but sometimes they don't.

That lady was the only reviewer who ever said anything about that, but she still enjoyed the book. After that I was a little embarrassed, but no one else mentioned it. That is why I believe reviewers should be honest and point things out. Most authors appreciate it. I know I do. It helps us become stronger writers.

(By the way, since that reviewer, I've never even used that word again, LOL!)


I would also like to mention that I was constantly SPAMMED by one book reviewer! I let her review my book, she gave it a good review but she continued to send me emails soliciting her own books and where they could be purchased. I had to block her from my email. I appreciated her review until I realized she wasn't a professional. What respecting reviewer spams authors? She'd taken my email and added it to her newsletter without permission. I hadn't witnessed a reviewer act like that before!

Best Wishes!

http://www.stacy-deanne.net

[Christy Pinheiro]

The spamming thing is tough. I never add my my industry contacts to my mailing list, especially the more recognized published authors. You have to treat those contacts like precious jewels-- don't take them out of the safe very often, and use them only on special occasions.

In response to the OP's question, I have mentioned the word tics in a review once, and it was for a book that had over a hundred glowing reviews on Amazon. The author said "for example" a million times. It was so distracting I actually started counting how many times he did it in a paragraph.

[Simcha Lazarus]

I am relieved to see that I am not the only one that mentions these things because I was beginning to wonder if I was doing something wrong.

@Stacey: I was interested to hear about this from the writer's perspective. I've wondered if authors actually take note of comments about their writing from the average reader (as opposed to a comment in a NY Times review).
Giving away key plot twists is definitely a way to lost the support from both readers and authors. I always try to give away as little as possible while still making my point. The only time I think I might have given away too much was in my review of Charlain Harris's most recent Sookie Stackhouse book because some of the events towards the end of the book were so horrible and out-of-place that I just couldn't let it go.

What about the idea of contacting the authors themselves when something in particular bothers you about their writing? Does anyone ever do this? I was thinking, regarding my recent review, that it would more beneficial to just tell the author my opinion directly, rather then include it in the review because this was unlikely to influence anyone in their decision in reading the book.

And why do people keep mentioning tics? What does that mean?

[Jessica Strider]

Mentioning word repetitions/tics/etc in a review is fine if it really bothered you. Emailing the author about it... probably wouldn't achieve much. Writing tends to me merely thinking on a keyboard. Most 'tics' are repetitions that particular author uses in real life - hence why they don't notice they're doing it and why they don't catch it when they edit. Since everyone has different words they use more often... For example, I have a friend who talks in exclamation points. She wrote a novel where several characters also spoke in exclamation points. As a reader (who doesn't talk that way) it was distracting. But this is something an editor should catch, if it's used too much. And again, everyone has a different tolerance for different word choices, so what for you is too much for someone else wouldn't be noticable. Some writers might welcome the feedback others wouldn't. Another thing about writing is the number of people who think you should make changes - and the necessity to make final decisions about what to change and what to leave the same.

[Stacy-Deanne (Novelist)]

Hi S,

I take notes!!!! I take what reviewers say about my work seriously and I learn from them. The problem is that too many authors have big egos and want to act like they know everything. Some are so snooty to reviewers or unpublished authors. They always go, "How can you tell me anything? You're not a published author!" But just because someone isn't a writer or published, doesn't mean they can't point out things authors miss. I give kudos to reviewers who do this and I am glad they do. Authors are supposed to get better with each release and the only way to do that is by listening to people who are only trying to help.

I think, if you really want to talk to the author in private about something, you should. I don't see why they would have a problem with it. If they are negative to you and take you the wrong way, then that's their problem. They should see that if you didn't really think it was important, you wouldn't be writing to them. If this is what makes you comfortable, then do it.

I don't know what "tics" means either, LOL! I've never heard that used until this thread, LOL!

P.S. I don't think that just because someone writes for the NYT, it makes them any better than any other reviewer. Most of those books on the Times list are books I never really liked or wanted to read, LOL. Just because a reviewer works for the Times or other big publications, it doesn't mean they know more. Sometimes, they seem to know less.

Best Wishes!

[Simcha Lazarus]

I did end up sending an email directly to the author with my comments and I received a nice note in return from her.
I look forward to reading her next book and seeing if she actually takes my suggestion to heart.

Thanks for all of your replies!

[Stacy-Deanne (Novelist)]

I am sure she appreciated it. That was very considerate, what you did. A lot of reviewers wouldn't take the time to do that or care enough to.

Best Wishes!