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Reviewers vs Book Bloggers vs Readers #HaleNo

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Today we are going to do something a bit different. A collection of bloggers have gotten together to share our thoughts following the most recent uproar on social media regarding the actions of an author in response to some sharing their thoughts about her book.

We invite you to not only read all our thoughts, but to join us with your thoughts. Either leave comments on one of the posts, or create your own and in blogger fashion – link your post to ours using the Linky Thing at the bottom of my post.

 Reviewers vs Book Bloggers vs Readers

Funny Baby Girl In Glasses Reading A Book In A Library Yet again, we find ourselves in the middle of a fervor over another author and Goodreads member interaction gone bad. Every time a situation like this occurs on social media, terms are thrown around like weapons. “Authors” point at “Book Bloggers” and vice versa. “Authors comment on the skill level of ‘Reviewers.” It seems that anyone who shares their thoughts on books is called a “reviewer“, but are they? And why is it necessary for us to use these term?

 

Reviewer….Book Blogger….Reader.

I’m a science grad, so I’m really big on definitions! Let’s define these terms.

When I look the term ‘Reviewer’ up in the dictionary I find the following:

  •  a person who writes critical appraisals of books, plays, movies, etc., for publication.
  •  a person who formally assesses or examines something with a view to changing it if necessary.

I looked up the term ‘reviewer’ in several dictionaries and the definitions were all very similar. They all contained the words formal and critical. In other words, a reviewer creates something that is well thought out, detailed, possibly follows an accepted pattern and involves finding pros and cons.

Seems like a pretty complicated thing, this review! Sounds like something that I’ve read in major newspapers or some leading literary publications. Honestly, it sounds like something I would read in the New York Times, not something that I would write on my blog.

Is there any wiggle room in the term ‘Reviewer?’ For example, some Reviewers seem to have a professional certification in the task of reviewing? I would image Reviewers that work for some of the major publications have some qualifications that I don’t have – degree in Literature or Creative Writing at the very least. I don’t have these qualifications – I just have a love of books.

So maybe we should have “Reviewers” and ‘reviewers.’ When we create two types of reviewers, we allow for professionals and amateurs.

Let’s think on this for a bit.

A Book Blogger is someone who has created a blog or website where they talk about books. The key point here is that they need the website or blog. Someone who talks about books on their Facebook page is someone who talks about books on their Facebook page – they are NOT Book Bloggers. Likewise, someone who shares their thoughts about books on Amazon or Goodreads but does not have a blog or website is also NOT a Book Blogger.

Let’s think on this for a bit and move on to the term reader.

Let’s define a reader as anyone who picks up the written word in whatever language and peruses it. Notice I didn’t say ‘read.’ I’m a voracious reader, but sometimes when I pick up a book, I skim. I wouldn’t say I read. Sometimes I’m trying to get to the ‘good part’…

Readers are pretty cool people, if I do say so myself. If you sit down beside someone reading a book – on the subway, in the dance studio, or wherever you find one – and ask them “Is that book good?” They’ll tell you.  They may tell you in one word, or you may start a half hour conversation. Most readers love to share their opinion of the books that they read. When you get to the end of a good book, don’t you just want to talk about it with someone? I know that I do.

Let’s talk about the places you can talk or share about that book that you just finished reading.  For those of us who kick it old school, we tell a friend. We meet them for coffee or pick up the phone and gush over how great a book was. When we go into work the next day, we tell coworkers.

I have a book blog and I share my thoughts about the books that I love on my blog. I don’t have anyone in my real life that reads the same books that I do, but I have many followers who share my reading tastes. What is also interesting is that I can share my thoughts with people around the world. Within minutes of my posting some thoughts about a book, my friend from Qatar can be reading them.  Pretty cool! I don’t just share my thoughts with one or two people, I share them with thousands.

A reader that doesn’t have a blog or website (and even those who do) has other options than just sharing with a neighbor or co-worker. They can post their thoughts on a wide variety of platforms, including Goodreads, Booklikes, Shelfari, Library Thing, or any of the retailers (i.e. Amazon or Barnes & Noble).

Let’s face it, people have been sharing their thoughts on books for many, many years.  They share their thoughts to the level of their ability.

Do we expect the same level of detail or knowledge from an amateur as a professional? Of course not, that would be silly. Would we expect the same level of coherency in a review from a 12 year old as we would from a university graduate with a degree in Literature? Of course not, that would also be silly. Just like in life, we don’t expect 12 year olds to have the same level of maturity as adults. But we still encourage them to share an opinion.

Would you be offended if someone sat beside you on the bus, asked you your opinion about the book you were reading, and then told you, you weren’t old enough to have an opinion? Or told you that because you don’t have a university degree, that your opinion is invalid. I know I would be.

I rarely pay attention to ‘professional’ reviews. I put more stock in what my friends say about a book. I also frequently pick up a book because of something I read in a fellow blogger’s review – especially a negative review. Either I can’t believe that a book I was looking forward to reading is REALLY THAT BAD and I need to find out for myself, or something that my friend finds objectionable makes me want to read that book.

Do we want to live in a society where only other authors can have an opinion on books? Wouldn’t that be the same as one where only chefs can tell us if our meal is good, and only other artists can have an opinion of a painting?

I don’t want to live in that kind of world. I love the look on the face of someone who just read a book that I recommended to them. Equally, I love an hour’s discussion on the pros and cons of a book the lady sitting next to me at the dance studio is reading. This makes my day, if not, my whole week sometimes.

I’m very careful with words. I’m an author. Am I splitting hairs over terms? When they are used as weapons, you betcha.

Instead of using the labels of ‘Reviewer’ or ‘Book Blogger’ as weapons, or dismissing someone’s opinion about a book that they have just finished reading, shouldn’t we be thankful for 2 things:

1)   The fact that someone is talking about a book – I would think that silence is worse

2)   The fact that books are being bought and authors are being paid.

To think that someone expressing a negative comment about a book will ruin a career is to dismiss the intelligence of readers. In fact, if negative reviews ruin an author’s career, JK Rowlings and EL James should not be millionaires!

We don’t have to be ‘Book Bloggers’ or ‘Reviewers’ to determine the difference between someone venting in a nasty way and someone sharing their honest thoughts about a book they have just read. Most readers can do that.

 

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About Barb Drozdowich

Social Media and Wordpress Consultant Barb Drozdowich has taught at University, trained technical personnel in the banking industry and, most recently, used her expertise to help dozens of authors develop the social media platform needed to succeed in today’s fast evolving publishing world. She owns Bakerview Consulting and is the only reviewer on this blog.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Jonetta (Ejaygirl)

    It’s such a shame that so much attention is being given to authors and reviewers behaving badly. Serious readers and writers know how to weed through the nonsense and pay attention to the thoughtful feedback about a reader’s experience. And, responsible writers know to not enter the feeding frenzy created by the more colorful players and engage.

    I wrote reviews long before I started blogging so I first consider myself a reader who gives feedback to other readers about my experience. Professional reviewers must disclose their status so there’s no need for a big or little “R” to make those distinctions. Readers have always known the difference.

    I embrace the diversity of opinions and while some may express them in ways I find less interesting or relevant, I respect their right to do so. I also have the choice to ignore them. Hosted sites have mechanisms to curtail violations of codes of conduct. Perhaps the real problem lies with them and not the players and other participants in this theater.

    Reply

    • Barb Drozdowich

      Hi Jonetta,
      Thanks so much for dropping by and sharing your thoughts! I very much appreciate it. Sometimes I think that this sort of non-sense goes on because of the “any publicity is good publicity” theory. I don’t like to think that people are really that obtuse…that they really think that stalking…hitting people over the head with a wine bottle…putting dog poo in their mailbox…etc are the acts of a sane person.

      Reply

  3. Pavarti K Tyler

    As an author, I totally agree with you! We need to be thankful for readers and honest thoughts. It only helps us when people talk about our books, no matter what they say. By interacting professionally and in a friendly way, we can all learn something and maybe make a new friend. I’d much rather live in that world with you than Hale’s!

    Reply

    • Barb Drozdowich

      Morning Pavarti,
      Thanks for dropping by! I agree with you – I’m thankful for honest thoughts. I don’t want to be patted on the head and told that my book is ‘nice’. I want discussion. If silence is the response to our work…..not good!

      Reply

  7. Christine Nolfi

    Kudos on the thoughtful comments, Barb. As an author, I’m always honored when a reader or a book blogger takes the time to post a review for one of my novels. Do I have an expectation of receiving nothing but glowing reviews? Of course not. Each reader is unique, approaching literature with personal expectations, likes, beliefs and emotional palette. I do strive for mastery of my craft, but always with the understanding that what I write will not stir every heart.

    Reply

    • Barb Drozdowich

      Thanks for dropping by Christine! I also appreciate comments on my work. The not so positive comments might sting, but I often remind myself that what doesn’t appeal to a reviews, might be the perfect book for me.

      Reply

      • Christine Nolfi

        Barb, I suspect some authors are unaware that reviews in aggregate matter. For example, if a reader stumbles across a book on Amazon by an unknown author and sees 100 reviews posted, there’s a higher probability of a purchase. Doesn’t matter if the reviews listed are across the board, from high to low. If a book has few or no reviews? There’s a lower probability that the reader will take a chance by purchasing.

        Authors should keep this in mind–especially if they’re prone to obsess over a poor review.

        Reply

  13. Rachel Thompson

    Excellent article, Barb!

    It’s sad and irritating, the whole shebang. From an author perspective, it makes us all look bad. ‘We’re not all like this!’ I want to scream from my own feed, but then, of course, I’ll look crazy. So…

    Seriously, though, the focus needs to be on writing, and this ‘stuff’ takes away from it, which more than anything, makes me sad.

    Reply

    • Barb Drozdowich

      Hi Rachel! I agree – everyone needs to just write – stop fussing, stop pointing fingers, stop using words as weapons and just write.

      Reply

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