Booking Through Thursday: Honesty
Here's today's BTT. For the complete meme and for everyone else's answers, please click here.
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?
I'm not going to get on a soapbox, but the short answer is this: If you make your work available to the public, then you have to brace yourself for all kinds of reactions. Here in the United States, we have the right to publish our negative opinion about anything and anyone, as long as isn't slander. Authors have no rights when it comes to receiving negative reviews.
Unless you've signed a contract guaranteeing that you'll post only positive comments, you are under no obligation to give a good review.
What's the point of posting reviews if all your reviews are glowing? Your readers will begin to lose faith in you if you never write about dud books. Of course, I don't think reviewers should be mean, but I appreciate the 1- and 0-star reviews.
Furthermore, what do authors learn if everyone tells them they are so wonderful? Surely negative reviews can be used as guides for bettering one's craft.
I'm on the side of freedom of expression. And I'm not on the self-esteem bandwagon. Hummm, when did I climb up on this box?
15 comments:
Exactly! When I read a review, I want to know the truth about the book.
I agree. Come see my answer.
http://bookcritiques.blogspot.com/
I'm in favor of free expression, too. But I do try to be gentle with my criticism.
Here’s my answer.
I agree with you completely!
Yes, I think so too. I think it is more respectful of someone's work.
*making room for you on the box* I'm with you on this one, Beth.
I am absolute with you on your soapbox Beth. I jsut wrote more or less the same in another blog-comment, but you are right. In Denmark we say, that if you "stick out your nose in public, you better get used to people wanting to dent it". This is not a proverb which means that if you write or say something publicly, you will automatically receive a severe beating, but it means that when it is out there, people have freedom of speech to say whatever they want about your work, whether it is a book, an article, a blogpost, a movie etc as long as they don't slander you. If they want to call my work a piece of sh*t, they can do that, basically.
But I agree.
I completely agree. If you can't take negative opinions, then you shouldn't share your work in a public domain. I agree that we should be gentle with our criticisms also, but not everybody is, and if you put your work out for everybody to see, you've got to expect a few bad reviews.
"If you make your work available to the public, then you have to brace yourself for all kinds of reactions." Exactly my sentiment too, Beth. Crisp answer! :)
As long as the review bears a resemblance of reasonably argued and well-supported statements, it’s a just review regardless of whether the subject being reviewed is good or bad. I stopped reading some of the book reviews in media because they turn into fluffy gasbags. I owe my readers my honest opinions to a book, regardless of whether it's free or not. A negative review can be constructive as well given the reviewer states what can be improved.
Honesty is the best policy ... isn't that one of those "everything I need to know I learned in kindergarten" things ...
How big is that soapbox? Let us up there!
I say it all, the good, the bad and the ugly!
My answer is here
ITA! Great post!
Well said...and you've got lots of good company on that soapbox!
Oh...and I meant to add I love, love, love your header. It reminds me of Europe...is it?
Great answer, Beth. I agree completely. My post is finally up.
Robin of mytwoblessings
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