tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125325709844932289.post6665162306357205567..comments2023-09-07T07:16:10.305-04:00Comments on Flights of Fantasy: Honest reviewsMarian Pererahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15700524210146863718noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125325709844932289.post-51612860708965407882008-12-04T10:48:00.000-05:002008-12-04T10:48:00.000-05:00Oh dear Gods. I read that review about the plantat...Oh dear Gods. I read that review about the plantation in its entirety--well, I attempted to.<BR/><BR/>I occasionally review books on my blog, but yeah, only books I like. But I also make it very clear that's what I'm doing; "I loved this, let me tell you why so you can buy it and love it too" rather than "Here's a review." I don't think it's really appropriate for me to do reviews, honestly. Or rather, I don't think it's politic for me to.<BR/><BR/>Which is a shame. I recently read something by a particular person you and I both know online, who is particularly...um...self-confident?...and found it severely lacking in any redeeming literary quality. Shoot me an email if you like (if you know who I mean), and I'll send you what I wrote about it for a few friends. :-)Staciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07969399927758009095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125325709844932289.post-30760454469032956252008-12-02T20:45:00.000-05:002008-12-02T20:45:00.000-05:00I hate the whole blurb and hyperbole thing. Especi...<B>I hate the whole blurb and hyperbole thing. Especially when it's repeated ad nauseam. "I couldn't put it down!"<BR/>"I had to sleep with the lights on!"</B><BR/><BR/>And the examples you provided were also personal responses (drawing attention to the reviewer, rather than the book). <BR/><BR/>Though sometimes these can be very idiosyncratic and amusing. I read a review on All About Romance where a reviewer shared the hero's cheesy post-coital dialogue with her husband. I believe that after he stopped laughing, he assured her that no real man would say anything like that.Marian Pererahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15700524210146863718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125325709844932289.post-3205544182641792112008-12-02T20:37:00.000-05:002008-12-02T20:37:00.000-05:00Hey Pink,Glad you found this helpful. One thing I'...Hey Pink,<BR/><BR/>Glad you found this helpful. One thing I've noticed the reviewers on All About Romance do to avoid spoilers is to talk in generalities. For instance, "Readers who dislike Big Misunderstandings may want to avoid this book". <BR/><BR/>You're not giving away plot details here; instead, you're performing a service for your readers.<BR/><BR/>Personally, I can't do that. I always feel I have to be specific and precise. :) So I just write lengthy reviews that give a lot away, and put a spoiler warning at the top.Marian Pererahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15700524210146863718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125325709844932289.post-21348616283970757352008-12-02T16:38:00.000-05:002008-12-02T16:38:00.000-05:00"Unborn adolescent"—What a hoot! Thanks for some g..."Unborn adolescent"—What a hoot! <BR/><BR/>Thanks for some good hints. I occasionally post book reviews/opinions/what have you on my blog and am thinking about doing more.Becky Mushkohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11833297935575559624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125325709844932289.post-35113705039614371772008-12-01T15:24:00.000-05:002008-12-01T15:24:00.000-05:00Hi writtenwyrdd,I'd say that a casual mention of a...Hi writtenwyrdd,<BR/><BR/>I'd say that a casual mention of a book (or a recap along the lines of what The Agony Booth does for movies) isn't the same as a review and doesn't need to follow the same lines.<BR/><BR/>A humorous or snarky recap (which I've done) is intended to amuse readers by its take on the material. A brief commentary might be intended specifically to say a book was enjoyable and why the reader liked it. <BR/><BR/>An objective review, though, should be intended to give readers the facts about a book and a reviewer's considered opinion - whether those facts and opinion entice the readers to buy the book or not. <BR/><BR/>Heck, if the book sounds bad enough, I know I'll pick it up and flip through it even if I don't buy. I'm still keeping an eye out for the romance novel where the hero's horse changes from a "spirited black stallion" to a "big grey gelding" in the space of a few pages.Marian Pererahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15700524210146863718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125325709844932289.post-80485512557032018132008-12-01T14:12:00.000-05:002008-12-01T14:12:00.000-05:00I agree with what you say, with the exception of c...I agree with what you say, with the exception of casual "I liked this book" reviews on blogs that don't specialise in them. Like mine, actually. When I write a book review it's to say the book was good,and I generally start with the back matter to let them know what the story is and give a few sentences to say what I thought. It's what you say <I>not</I> to do, but which I will adhere to because it's perfect for a casual mention of a book.writtenwyrddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02280711822302493122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125325709844932289.post-75715066302343392862008-12-01T08:47:00.000-05:002008-12-01T08:47:00.000-05:00Hi Marian,Oh goodness, yes. I hate the whole blur...Hi Marian,<BR/><BR/>Oh goodness, yes. I hate the whole blurb and hyperbole thing. Especially when it's repeated ad nauseam. "I couldn't put it down!"<BR/>"I had to sleep with the lights on!"<BR/><BR/>As for amazon.com- I like to go there to read sample pages of a book I'm curious about. Many of the reviews themselves are terribly written. Please don't criticize another person's work if you can't take the time to write one grammatically correct sentence. Then you have the people who give away endings.<BR/><BR/>On the other hand, you'll have another person write a very intelligent, thoughtful post explaining why they did not like a particular book- and in return they receive negative marks from irate fans of said book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125325709844932289.post-56004458354458206842008-12-01T04:51:00.000-05:002008-12-01T04:51:00.000-05:00This is so helpful, Marian. I am just about to lau...This is so helpful, Marian. I am just about to launch into a book review, and you have some great suggestions!<BR/><BR/>My dilemma is how to talk about some of the plot without doing a spoiler.Jewel Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09614039445924074306noreply@blogger.com