Negative Reviews

[Michelle Skaflestad]

I recently read a book that an author sent me to review.

Based on the cover, I was excited to read the book, however I thought it was terrible.

Following some advice from a highly respected blogger, I went ahead and posted my honest review, and emailed the author to let her know that I posted my review and that I was sorry the review couldn't have been more positive.

Well, she sent back a nasty reply, and has now made a similar reply on my amazon review. Additionally, I have received another comment on the review which is amazingly almost word for word another email that the author emailed to me.

I made my rebuttal, but I have this feeling it's turning into something ugly, and I don't want that. I just want the right to tell people that I disliked the book without someone jumping all over me. If you don't want someone's opinion, don't ask for it, right?

Any advice??

[Outnumbered Mama]

I think you did everything right. The point of reviewing books is to give your honest opinion. You cannot like everything you read. And the author should be aware when they publish the book that their are going to be good and bad reviews. I think as long as your review was just about the book, not the author and was polite, you are fine. If the issue persists I would delete the offending comments and block the user from your site. Did you get the book from the author or the publisher? If it was the publisher you might want to email your contact and let them know that their author is acting in a very unbecoming manner and that they may want to contact him/her. Not a tattling thing but a courtesy thing. The publisher doesn't need their authors making "scenes"

[Michelle Skaflestad]

Thanks for your thoughts. I got the book from the author, and I even wrote her back further defending my position on my negative review. As a matter of fact, she's not really an author so much as a compiler of essays, and what I didn't enjoy was the overly complicated jargon used by the experts who wrote them.

Unfortunately, I can't delete the comments as this is on my Amazon review site. I declined to discuss the book on my blog.

[Outnumbered Mama]

I really think you did the right thing. I mean if the author can't handle criticism, then she shouldn't be making public records of her work. Like I said as long as you were polite in your review, she should just accept that it's just one person's opinion.
I am glad you started this discussion. Though I haven't really done a totally "negative" review, but I have done so not all positive ones and i do wonder how the author and publishers will take it. But I have to be honest.

[Michelle Skaflestad]

I agree, you have to be honest. In my public speaking class, they tell you to make an Oreo out of negative feedback, surround it by good. I tried to point out positive things I saw in the book, and followed up with who I feel may enjoy the book, though I really don't believe that what was promised on the cover was found inside.

I'm trying to not take this personally, but I dislike having my commonsense called into question when I know I have every right to give a book one star - it's my opinion after all..lol..

I'm sure I'm not the only person out there who will deal with this issue, so I thought it would be a great discussion.

[Outnumbered Mama]

Oreo! That is a really good tip, thanks for sharing that.
I would take it personally too, because you want to do your best. But in this case your best was to be honest which was negative. Hang in there!

[Jennifer D.]

I'd had this problem once before. But I told the author I just didn't like the book. She posted a few comments where I had left my review and so I emailed her and let her know that the comments she's leaving make that review more prominent on certain sites. So by "arguing" with my review she's actually bringing it to the attention of more people, whereas if she'd just left it alone it probably would have just "dissappeared" into the depths of the reviews posted.

I think you did the right thing. I hope it all works out for the best.

[Michelle Skaflestad]

Thanks. I think you're right. The more she comments (and she commented again today), the more she looks childish.It's absolutely silly that the woman can't take some criticism, and I hope anyone who looks at this book review reads all of the arguments she's making. My secret dream is to sic all of the known blogoverse on her for being childish and telling me I'm not allowed to dislike her book..lol.. but I wouldn't do that. I'm an adult. ;)

[Kate Lindsay]

I have a disclaimer in my review guidelines stating that when they request a review, it will be totally honest and they have to accept the risk. So far I haven't had any problems. I always feel just a smidge guilty when I give a not so great review, but it doesn't stop me, because sometimes things just rub you the wrong way. You were right and have every right to your opinion. If she can't handle a negative review, she shouldn't be a writer, or compiler or whatever. Don't worry about it, just ignore her if you can.

Kate the Book Buff
The Book Buff: Book Reviews for Regular People

[Michelle Skaflestad]

Kate, I definitely need to post review guidelines on my site. I have no desire to cater to people, and when they tell me they want a better review - to revise my review - well that's just not honest in itself. What I can't fathom is why she doesn't understand I'm just one little person in this world and my review would mean nothing next to dozens of other reviews - so why doesn't she get the people to write positive reviews of her book instead of argumentative comments on my review? Oh well. I am ignoring her, and deleting her messages...lol..

[Freda Mans]

Stop listening to bloggers firstly. To be a good reviewer you must listen to yourself.

I have written bad reviews, and gotten flack from the author. I find sticking to your guns works best. If you don't like it, too bad for them.

[Kate Lindsay]

I don't know why you'd stop listening to bloggers, my advice as a blogger agrees with what freda mans said.

[Outnumbered Mama]

I am with you Kate - why do you gotta dis the bloggers when we all said the same thing??