Booking Through Thursday - Honesty
Wow! My suggestion went up on Booking Through Thursday. 
I feel very honored.
The prompt:
“I receive a lot of review books, but I have never once told lies about the book just because I got a free copy of it. However, some authors seem to feel that if they send you a copy of their book for free, you should give it a positive review.
Do you think reviewers are obligated to put up a good review of a book, even if they don’t like it? Have we come to a point where reviewers *need* to put up disclaimers to (hopefully) save themselves from being harassed by unhappy authors who get negative reviews?”
This was inspired by a bit of a viral discussion going on around the internet started with this incident at Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin’?. You can read about the whole thing there if you haven’t come across it already.
Honestly, I don’t think reviewers should have to put up a disclaimer. But, I have pondered with putting one up here. Thankfully, for the books I’ve given negative reviews on, either the authors haven’t stopped by or they just haven’t cared enough to comment.
I have never once thought that I was obligated to put up a good review. I’ve felt bad about a negative review, but I feel it doesn’t do a service to anyone - especially the other - to be treated with fluffy gloves. If the author is a true writer - and the review fair in the negative review - then s/he will use it to improve in the next book.
I hope I never have to encounter an author who can’t take constructive criticism.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Good question you suggested. Definitely one of the most thought-provoking (at least for me) questions we’ve had in quite some time. Thanks.
November 20th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Unfortunately, JM, constructive criticism is one thing and being completely shredded is another.
I’ve seen sites who will attack an author not for the book s/he has written, but for a proposal sent in, requesting a review. I’ve seen sites that exist only to tear people down. Hell, I’ve been the target of what could best be called slander. All in the name of constructive help to make my writing better.
When it’s truly constructive, it’s a good thing. Hopefully once The Demo Tapes starts circulating, I’ll be gracious enough to drop by any negative review and still say thanks for taking the time to read what I’ve created. Truly constructive criticism, I’ve found through years of writing classes and workshops, is a total turn-on. It gets my brain churning and all of a sudden, I see all these possibilities that had escaped me. Even better are the situations where I don’t have to keep quiet but can ask questions if the critiquer says something that I need more information about.
So back to the question at hand: should reviewers speak up if something doesn’t appeal? Absolutely. Books are subjective; they fit every personality and every mood. But for that very reason, they can’t fit every person. If everyone likes what you’ve written, you must have made a pact with the devil…
November 20th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Karen - Thank you.
Susan - Yes, that’s part of it to. It’s not just an authors ‘thing’ - the reviewers have a responsibility not to completely burn a book just because they didn’t happen to like it. In a nicer world, constructive criticism would be the norm.