tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post8530856758042581455..comments2024-03-27T09:59:30.485-07:00Comments on MYRIAD SPHERES: Bad, Amazon Reviewer! BAD!Michael K. Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128433159545304223noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-32690611381480229612012-09-01T03:47:36.272-07:002012-09-01T03:47:36.272-07:00I've noticed people confusing two things: one ...I've noticed people confusing two things: one is a review, a genuine one, written as a review (good or bad, it doesn't matter), and the second one is customer's opinion - usually a few sentences with irrelevant information and (sometimes "hurt") feelings. To write the first one you should read the whole book, cover to cover. Period. The second one is not even a review and should be ignored. Why bother with people who don't bother?Jeno Marzhttp://jenomarz.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-5226548568754704822012-08-14T22:34:26.744-07:002012-08-14T22:34:26.744-07:00Just got something like this. Newest review was a ...Just got something like this. Newest review was a 3-star. Star count doesn't bother me at all but I wish the reviewer had elaborated. Very vague review with poor grammar/punctuation. Claimed my book was "worth the read" & "nicely written and entertaining" so the 3 stars confused me a bit. Most perplexing, however, was the claim that my story was "not a sci-fi". Ummm . . . I invite anyone to my blog to check out samples and see if they agree. Can this sort of review be removed? It seems very misleading. Again, I'll take a 3-star review, or even less, as long as the reviewer justifies the rating in their review.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-26995287202720543492012-08-13T11:55:43.960-07:002012-08-13T11:55:43.960-07:00I don't think someone should write a review un...I don't think someone should write a review unless they have read the whole book. However, if there are one and two star reviews on a book, I like to read them. Especially if there are a lot of positive reviews. Sometimes they have valid points (not that they change my mind about reading the book), other times they make me roll my eyes over the sheer stupidity. WiLoveBookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16345478886762794988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-9748381652834662202012-08-13T00:17:36.301-07:002012-08-13T00:17:36.301-07:00Area reader, reviews like that bug me to. don'...Area reader, reviews like that bug me to. don't rate a book, positive or negative, that you haven't read.<br /><br />To this reviewer's defense, at least she read SOME of the book. I'm seeing a lot of reviews lately that admit to rating the book for totally bizarre reasons that have nothing to do with even a single line from the novel.<br /><br />Reminiscent of spam if you ask me, not that you did.<br /><br />FYI, as an author you no longer have the right to be a reader. Wait, don't roast me alive. This isn't MY opinion. As a reviewer, I personally think you DO have the right. But there is a very vocal group on the interwebz who believe authors are no longer human because they wrote something other than a review.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-5657465157543769002012-08-12T11:57:13.503-07:002012-08-12T11:57:13.503-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Robert Forresterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12081509260691665480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-23180353042593882282012-08-12T11:33:42.653-07:002012-08-12T11:33:42.653-07:00I think I'm going to take a minority view here...I think I'm going to take a minority view here--although I agree with you completely in this instance, I do think that's it's possible for a book to be so poor in quality that it's worth warning other potential purchasers even if you've only read a chapter or two. I wouldn't do that, certainly, based on a single word. I also wouldn't do it based on the simple fact that I didn't care for the story; there are many popular novels that just aren't to my taste. But what about a novel that is so riddled with typos and grammatical errors that it's actually difficult to read (and not for stylistic reasons)? What about a non-fiction book on a topic in which you have some expertise which you find within a couple of chapters to have made numerous blatant factual errors? I don't think in such egregious cases one has an obligation to struggle through the rest of the book before warning fellow readers of those issues.Tiffanyhttp://jakeprints.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-14237456560184335782012-08-12T06:45:54.789-07:002012-08-12T06:45:54.789-07:00I had someone give one of my books a 1-star review...I had someone give one of my books a 1-star review on the Barnes & Noble site because the book was written in first person. She admitted that she only read three pages and then decided to return the book because she doesn't like first-person narrative. She went so far as to say that publishers should WARN readers ahead of time if a book is written in first person. And the author deserves a 1-star review because, um, why? It's a crazy world out there.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02546311130843707209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-66463466676982344262012-08-11T22:08:46.053-07:002012-08-11T22:08:46.053-07:00I'm ringing in on the side of "must read ...I'm ringing in on the side of "must read the whole book" in order to leave a review. Frankly, I have way too many books on my TBR list to finish a book that I would rate 1 or 2 stars, and I feel it would be unfair of me to leave a review if I hadn't read the whole book. To give a book a 1-star rating based on one word, correctly or incorrectly used, would be laughable if it wasn't so hurtful and downright aggravating!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05297177380496383805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-521896413306793952012-08-11T04:32:23.859-07:002012-08-11T04:32:23.859-07:00"do to errors" LOLOOLOLOL!!!!! That sho..."do to errors" LOLOOLOLOL!!!!! That should be due to errors. <br /><br />See. . . who am I to judge!K. Millionairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16718218006038713930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-15676822061250047012012-08-11T04:30:01.865-07:002012-08-11T04:30:01.865-07:00I have mixed feelings on this one. I've read ...I have mixed feelings on this one. I've read things that within the first chapter got thumbs down for me - do to errors and overall poor writing. I don't think I left a review, however there was enough of the writing style (not the story line) revealed that I knew I wouldn't enjoy the read. <br /><br />On the other side - I HAVE had someone to write a not so stellar review for one of my works midway through the read . . . then came back to finish it off. That was silly to me. <br /><br />I think definitely more than the first chapter should be read, but I'm not sure if I feel like I have to read the entire story to make an assessment. I have written a 1-star review before, and I did read the whole work, however, it didn't take me reading the whole work to know that I'd be rating it one star.K. Millionairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16718218006038713930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-86081748206641634782012-08-11T00:49:37.007-07:002012-08-11T00:49:37.007-07:00'Anyways' actually IS a word... at least a...'Anyways' actually IS a word... at least according to Merriam-Webster.<br /><br />http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anyways<br /><br />And I agree. I think a reviewer must read 100% of a story to leave a review. Period.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-21050877629018239702012-08-10T17:20:55.605-07:002012-08-10T17:20:55.605-07:00Yay! You go!
I think 50% at the least. The review...Yay! You go!<br /><br />I think 50% at the least. The reviews that annoy me the most are the group of trolls who claim to have read "an excerpt" and, when pushed, will then claim the excerpt was on a third party site asking for reviews of the whole book, based on said excerpt... I have one of these as do several authors I know... same guy even. :(Joleene Naylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11591967764003541551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-31896161040346554432012-08-10T17:17:30.319-07:002012-08-10T17:17:30.319-07:00Well done! I don't think some reviewers realiz...Well done! I don't think some reviewers realize how hurtful their comments can be, so I'm glad you've taken the time to set one straight! I love your replies--factual, not just emotional--and I think you responded in such a way that she can't possibly fault you for being a jerk.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing this!LisaAnnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02084670148565013397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-54592018870937923952012-08-10T17:04:16.676-07:002012-08-10T17:04:16.676-07:00I love your pithy replies! I hope she takes it to ...I love your pithy replies! I hope she takes it to heart but for some reason I doubt she will.Char Newcombhttp://charlenenewcomb.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-18019195125831321352012-08-10T16:53:36.551-07:002012-08-10T16:53:36.551-07:00That person must be a troll. No one could genuinel...That person must be a troll. No one could genuinely be that petty and rude. Personally, I think if you read the whole book you can give your honest opinion. Otherwise, keep it to yourself.Brian Wilkersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14450751137708813329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-76267135611043098372012-08-10T15:05:45.528-07:002012-08-10T15:05:45.528-07:00There was a badly behaving reviewer thread on Amaz...There was a badly behaving reviewer thread on Amazon that Amazon took down. It was for authors to complain about reviewers. I guess it got out of control. Now there is a badly behaving writer thread run by reviewers and they are ruthless.Virginia Llorcahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08354795459855491623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-73945083635659036502012-08-10T15:02:32.449-07:002012-08-10T15:02:32.449-07:00I do not think someone should leave a review unles...I do not think someone should leave a review unless they have at least read enough to get the gist of it. It is possible to hate a book enough to be unable to finish it. Or maybe you don't hate it, you just are bored or disinterested. But it is pointless to engage in a dialogue with them. Move on to the next.<br /><br />All my reviews are polar opposites. I got a one-star on B&N that was actually great cuz he couldn't put the book down and criticized my character's moral choices. If I don't like a book, I usually don't post a review because I don't want to hurt feelings and the market will give hem their answer. Someone else posted an article about the time-traveling reviewer--those who give a review in anticipation of an unpublished work. These are usually from the super-fan group.Virginia Llorcahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08354795459855491623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-88305399944549945902012-08-10T05:45:22.916-07:002012-08-10T05:45:22.916-07:00I think it is perfectly valid to review a book tha...I think it is perfectly valid to review a book that you have not finished, provided you a) at least approached it with an open mind, and b) explain, in a rational and mature way (never get rude or personal), why you couldn't finish it. This will let potential purchasers of the book know that there are aspects which may be difficult. I reviewed the Steig Larsen books that way - and I doubt I had much adverse effect on their sales. But I might just have let someone know that there are difficlt bits.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-67802629188710969602012-08-10T02:45:04.901-07:002012-08-10T02:45:04.901-07:00then you did a great thing to stand up for a fello...then you did a great thing to stand up for a fellow author. didn't see many people do that.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01826794075724927826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-8813455269802207602012-08-10T01:08:11.628-07:002012-08-10T01:08:11.628-07:00Totally, I grew up in north west London and we use...Totally, I grew up in north west London and we used that word all the time in our teens.<br /><br />Viz reviews, I know a bloggers who reviewed a book they could only get 3/4 through before abandoning, but she was v.careful to state why, that it was a one off, and that basically life was too short to struggle on with such a consistently bad book. I felt that was fair if it was her experience and truth.Yasminselenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16601910092914034690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-49733406838862572542012-08-10T00:46:26.933-07:002012-08-10T00:46:26.933-07:00I had a similar thing happen to me earlier this ye...I had a similar thing happen to me earlier this year, when a reviewer took it upon himself to review my novel "in depth" after only having read two chapters of it.<br /><br />I couldn't leave it alone and had a to and fro with him on Kindle Boards but the guy could not be reasoned with. You cannot be taken seriously as a reviewer if you aren't prepared to read the entire novel cover to cover.<br /><br />I've had a number of critical reviews which I accepted on their merits because they had read the entire work and made some valid, constructive points. In those cases, I still took the time to thank them for reviewing my work.<br /><br />I'm relieved to know that most fair minded people can see through a shoddy review and take a chance on my work. <br /><br />Sometimes it's best to leave these idiots alone but then again, there's no harm in discussing it either.DeanfromAustraliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12292995600982621329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-21393915716884158472012-08-09T23:15:36.954-07:002012-08-09T23:15:36.954-07:00Kudos on defending a fellow authors against lazy b...Kudos on defending a fellow authors against lazy bad reviews/ This is especially important as any review with less than 4 stars is read by Amazon algorhitms as "not recomended" and negatively affects teh readers earings on Amazon (http://www.epublishabook.com/2012/07/20/amazon-book-reviews-10-cardinal-rules-of-using-reviewing-power) so I fully agree with you, one should at least read the entire book before venturing to trasg it.<br />Furthermore, slang is slang and belongs to dialogues when appropriate and certainly does not warrant such a harsh judgement.<br />If you write to the commentator again, you should include a link to this post and advise him/her to have a look at the comments so as to strenghthen your point.Patriciahttp://www.epublishabook.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-89031860998888432402012-08-09T19:57:28.531-07:002012-08-09T19:57:28.531-07:00Good job, Michael! That's just plain spite to ...Good job, Michael! That's just plain spite to leave a 1 star review on a book that the reviewer hasn't even read. AND incorrect words are used all the time in dialogue. It's the way people tend to speak, depending on who the character is, of course. It always chills me to see low ratings paired with a review that doesn't express what was wrong with the book. I'm suspicious of some of those as well. Maybe a competing author, one with no ethics? And my answer to your question is at least 75%. If the book is still bad 3/4 of the way in, then it's probably bad to the finish. But, that's just my opinion.Wodke Hawkinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10528226211040437072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-55538973691922096092012-08-09T18:56:57.769-07:002012-08-09T18:56:57.769-07:00I won't leave a review unless I read the whole...I won't leave a review unless I read the whole book. <br /><br />My first thought on reading the word 'anyways' was 'Is it in dialogue? Because that's how people talk...'Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18436989031700445050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-23431959620469052902012-08-09T18:44:34.251-07:002012-08-09T18:44:34.251-07:00Michael, another great post. I believe a reviewer ...Michael, another great post. I believe a reviewer should read 100% of the book, but then there are exceptions. Sometimes a person is asked by a publisher or author to review a partial, in which case the reviewer should state that, though they usually don't. I've seen some great reviews by readers who said they just read a certain portion of the book and loved it. Hey, as an author I love every good/nice/great review.<br /><br />On the other hand, one of my books recently received the following 1-Star Review: "Very unrealistic characters having very unrealistic experiences of the Outback." It should be noted the reviewer didn't buy or read the book as he/she apparently considered it unreadable. No, I didn't respond to the review, but I'll sure as heck mention it from time to time. <br /><br />For those who follow my blog, I've written several posts about reviews. I look at it this way, if someone writes a review on a book they've never read, then they're not a reviewer, just someone spouting off.Teri Heyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12734384917646492938noreply@blogger.com