Praise and criticism seem to me to operate exactly on the same level. If you get a great review, it’s really thrilling for about ten minutes. If you get a bad review, it’s really crushing for ten minutes. Either way, you go on. — Ann Patchett
Book reviews go hand-in-hand with publishing a book. On the one hand, potential readers want to know both the content and the quality of a prospective book. On the other hand, most authors would like to receive honest feedback from their audience. Balancing the merits of book reviews can be a complicated process.
- Do book critics always hit the mark?
- Can readers rely on another person’s opinion?
Sometimes the answer is yes and other times it is no.
I have been extremely disappointed by 5 star books and pleasantly surprised by books with mediocre reviews. Thus, I am leery of relying exclusively on book critics. Instead, I trust my impression of the overall content and the track record of an author. Buying a book written by a first-time author is trickier. My gut instincts usually lead the way.
As a first time author, I realize that my potential audience may depend more on other people’s feedback to decide whether to purchase my book. Looking at a cross section of commentators will hopefully shed sufficient light. While I realize that the range of responses will vary from person-to-person, I hope that a less than stellar review will not dissuade anyone from considering my book.
When I decided to publish my memoir, May This Be the Best Year of Your Life, I chose not to pay for any reviews. A complimentary copy of my book was the only compensation. I realized that this would open the door to a wide variety of comments from mediocre to superlative and potentially limit the total number of reviewers. I prefer to avoid biased comments and unnecessary costs.
Like Ann Patchett, I am not going to become overly obsessed with any reviews that I receive. I will read the evaluation, take heed of the constructive criticism, and move forward. For the ones that understand my intended messages, I will pat myself on the back. If a reader misses key elements, I can only shrug my shoulders. I realize that not everyone is going to comprehend all of the threads that are woven throughout my story.
Today, May This Be the Best Year of Your Life is being reviewed by Miriam Plotinsky at Chick Lit Central. Unlike previous reviewers who focused on the lessons that I learned and the positive aspects of my journey, Miriam highlights some of the negative aspects and questions why I didn’t select a more pessimistic title. While her perceptions are different from my intentions, I realize that some people will not be able to connect with what I am trying to express. Even though I feel that she missed some of the key elements of my book, I’m not going to suppress her opinion or others who may have differing opinions. I welcome all constructive comments and feedback.
Miriam is an English and creative writing teacher. She lives in the DC/Metro area with her husband and three kids, who occasionally give her the time she needs to write and eat sushi.
I want to thank Chick Lit Central for including a book review on their site.
MAY THIS BE THE BEST YEAR OF YOUR LIFE is available on Amazon.
Check out my book giveaway on Goodreads. Sign up by February 4 and be eligible to win a book.
If you enjoyed reading my memoir, consider posting a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and/or AskDavid.com.
Sandra, I am happy to see that you did not pay for any reviews. I run a book review websit at http://www.closedthecover.com and I would never request payment in exchange for a review on my site or any of the sites where I also publish my review. A complimentary copy of the book is more than enough. I had an author friend of mine tell me that one reviewer requested $500 from him in exchange for a review. I always question the authenticity of a review if that review was paid for by the author. There are plenty of reviewers that are happy to publicize your book simply in exchange for a copy of the book. Best wishes to you. I hope your literary endeavors are successful!
Ashley
Ashley, Thanks for taking the time to comment. Unfortunately the lure of getting numerous favorable reviews tempts some authors to pay unnecessary and unethical fees for reviews. While I agree that there are an abundance of people who are willing to write a review in exchange for a complimentary copy of a book, it can be a tedious process to find these individuals. Some are backlogged several months while others may not be interested in my genre. Many simply do not respond to inquiries or are not interested in self published books. Despite the shortcomings of the process, I am content with my efforts. All of my first virtual book tour hosts were met through social media. I have enjoyed the interactions and the feedback that they have provided. I look forward to connecting with other reviewers and book bloggers who are interested in learning more about my adventure.