This may seem like a strange question, but it’s one I’ve been contemplating for a while. I’ve always read a lot, and over the last few years reviewing those books has become a regular thing.
A few years ago I joined the Amazon Vine programme, which allows me to request books (and sometimes other items) for free, provided I review them on the site. When I started this blog, it seemed natural to include the occasional book review here too.
But at times this can become a drain. As my collection of books for review has grown, so have my perceived obligations. I worry that I’m not getting through books fast enough or writing strong enough reviews and my desire to read at all begins to wane.
Despite my love of reading, I don’t usually enjoy writing book reviews. I struggle to distil my feelings for a novel into the right words without repeating clichés or platitudes and I often feel like my comments aren’t all that meaningful.
That’s partly why my policy is to only review books that I love or feel strongly about, because the words flow more easily and there’s a point I want to make. I also write about books that are interesting in some other way, for example, I wrote about my feelings for the last Sookie Stackhouse novel, although it was only average, it was the final instalment in a series that I had invested a lot of time in and I wanted to discuss the way the story came to an end.
Book reviews also don’t tend to be my most popular posts. There are exceptions to the rule of course, again the Sookie Stackhouse review has attracted a lot of traffic via Google, mostly from people looking for clues on the ending!
I don’t want to review every book I read. Sometimes it’s nice to read a book, have that moment where the story sinks into your consciousness and leaves you with whatever message or moment you will take away, before putting it to one side. I don’t always want to mine the recesses of my consciousness for an opinion.
Sometimes a book is so average that I really can’t find anything to say about it. Or there are occasions when a book provokes a reaction in me that I don’t want to share with the world. I believe in giving an honest review, but I’m also not inclined to annihilate someone if I think their book is awful. Usually I won’t even finish it.
I do believe bad reviews are necessary, if only to prevent others from having to wade through 500 pages of horrendous writing and non-existent story. But I leave them to the people whose focus is on reviews.
Regardless of popularity, I like to have a balance between the different types of content. It keeps things interesting for me as a writer and hopefully for the reader too.
One of my resolutions for this year was to be more accountable for my reading habits. I’ve set myself the goal of reading at least 50 books and I want to keep a record of what they are, in a way that works for me.
I won’t be reviewing every book, or even assigning a score. At the moment I’m still thinking how to structure these posts, so they may be a work in progress at first.
I want to keep my reading habit a positive thing, a way to unwind after a long day, a pleasure not a chore. If that means sometimes a book is for reading not reviewing, that’s okay.
How do you feel about book reviews? Do they change the way you read?
Mike says
Hi Amy, you ask some interesting questions here, and set yourself some great principle-driven objectives. I read a lot and do sometimes write reviews. I too am a member of Amazon Vine, and of course we have to comment there in order to get hold of another free read.
I have discovered Goodreads as a great application for recording my library (being able to scan the book barcode to load up all the details is great). In Goodreads I can, if I wish, write down my thoughts and rate a book, and I have one or two family / friend followers there who do the same. I will sometimes write a brief review there and then copy it to Amazon. As I often have several books on the go at the same time for different reasons and many in the pending pile (like the one you’ve shown us before), the app allows me to record not only the book details, but also to categorise as “read”, “currently reading” and “to read”. I’ve got a “gave up on” category too… as well as lots of personal library categories to help me rediscover books.
I read to enjoy and learn, not to review, but I’d like to think that a reflection at the end is often good for me, and in some cases may help others.
Keep up the good work!
Mike
Amy Lord says
Hi Mike, I have a Goodreads account too, but it’s one of those things I’ve never quite started using on a regular basis. I did think about using their reading challenge at new year; I might get round to it one of these days as it does seem like a good way of tracking books. I like Amazon Vine, but now they’ve introduced the deadline it does add a bit of pressure, and I can’t turn down new books each month – even when I really should!
Sara Strauss says
I’ve heard a lot of the same things from other book reviewers! Reading for them has become a chore rather than something they enjoy because the whole time they’re thinking about the review they’ll inevitably have to write, so I can understand why you don’t look forward to reading anymore. I say take the pressure off and like you said only write a review for books that you either really love or really hate. Because hate reviewing can sometimes be just as fun as telling someone why you love a book!
~Sara
Amy Lord says
Haha yes I suppose hate reviewing could be cathartic and funny, if done the right way! I like to keep a balance between reading and reviewing, I enjoy keeping some books just for me. Especially if I don’t want the world to know about some of the cheesier things I read 😉
Mike Eccles says
I wrote a long comment from my iPad… has it not appeared?
Amy Lord says
Sorry Mike, I’m just slow checking them today! Thanks for the long interesting comment though!
Mike Eccles says
Just me worrying, I don’t often say things as you will have noted… you are encouraging me to think of blogging though!
Amy Lord says
I appreciate you taking the time to comment! I spent ages thinking about blogging before I started but find it so worthwhile! There are plenty of options too depending on how seriously you want to take it.
Boo says
I’ve only just gotten into reviewing books, so this may change over time. I find myself paying more attention to minor things in the book. I get immersed less and have to stay aware of things I want to mention. Using flags of different colors helps a lot. But I find myself more able to talk about the books than just just say I loved it because it was great. I never used to have words to describe what I enjoyed and didn’t enjoy. I really look forward to the challenge of seeing a book as more than just an escape, as something I can share thoughts on.
I think of it as a book club and taking notes on parts that interest me to share with others, to start or continue a discussion. I think that helps me think of reviewing as a time with friends rather than work. Though it is time consuming.
Amy Lord says
I like the idea of thinking about reviewing as though it’s for a book club discussion! I hope you keep your perspective, even after you’ve been reviewing a while as it seems like you have a really good approach!
Nabil Arridho says
Hi Amy, this writing reminds me about my self thought whether to give a to-the-point or core review about the information of some books. What i want to ask is do you think it is legal or acceptable to give a indepth summary about the content of the book? Do the book writers will feel uncomfortable with that?
Amy Lord says
I think it’s okay to give a summary, but it’s probably best not to give too much away so it doesn’t spoil the book for readers. Legally it would probably become an issue if you started to quote big chunks of the text, but I’m not an expert on that.