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I've been drowning in YA lit recently. On purpose. I'm trying to get a better feel of voice and tone before I revise my own YA wip. The trouble is I'm having a really hard time finding one that satisfies me.
Before I started writing I could tear a book apart with all the things wrong with it. From the atrocious cover to an overly sappy acknowledgment. I've been known to throw a book across the room, calling it all sorts of nasty vile names. Question the writer's sanity and even look up the publisher to make sure they're real.
Since I've been writing though I'm hesitant to rip the author a new one. I understand how hard it is to get the character just so. I feel the writer's pain of no control over the cover (not yet but I can imagine). When it's my turn at thanking my peeps, it will be KING of sappiness and humble tears. I will be everything I laughed at in the before life.
How do you review a book knowing how hard it is to even finish a first draft? Do you stick to just the facts or do you delve into how the book makes you feel. Do you look at the novel as a reader or does your writerly instincts take over?
I review all the time. It's not hard at all. Something about what I liked/didn't like, plot description, and summary. Easy peasy.
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I rarely review books because I'm a writer. I know how hard it is to create an interesting character. So is with that in mind that I don't review a book unless I want to have its baby.
ReplyDeleteNow, whoever created star ratings was genius. I stick to this system. No explanations why unless I feel compelled to give them. And I'd never rip a book apart. But the writer part of me can't help but make mental commentary on something I would've done differently.
Because I know it takes a lot to want to share your work with the world, I love books and respect the authors that write them.
I only do book recommendations. My mom always said if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.
ReplyDeleteI love reading in my own genre and know a lot of YA authors with published books. I don't feel comfortable trashing something they've worked so hard on.
I can't do book reviews for this reason, but on personal emails with fellow bloggers and writers, I'm very frank about what I like and don't like.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like the writing blogosphere tends to be very supportive, which I adore, but as a result I don't see a lot of reviews with negatives mentioned. Often I'll go to Goodreads to get more of a thorough look at opinions.
I've read some so-so books since I started writing, but I can't bear to criticize because I know how hard it is to get in print. And really, there is always SOMETHING I thought was inventive or cool (or maybe a really great scene).
ReplyDeleteI'll anaylze what I like or didn't like and make a mental note for myself. I'm kind of skittish about reviewing stuff online and even giving star ratings. Especially if the book wasn't my cup of tea.
I do generally try to learn something about writing from the books I read, whether it's something that worked or something that definitely didn't. I've found it's harder to enjoy a book when I'm picking it apart. But I've ALWAYS been a critical reader. It's a gift and a curse.
ReplyDeleteI don't review books any more either. I recently saw an unpublished writer tear apart an author and his book and all I could think about was karma - that could come back to haunt!
ReplyDeleteI definitely have more sympathy for writers now that I've tried to write books of my own.
ReplyDeleteI have really hard time reviewing books too. I'm like the rest of you. I just can't bring myself to rip some else's work apart knowing all I know about how hard it is to write a book. It's already been mentionned here, but I think the old adage is true as well. . .if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.
ReplyDeleteEveryone of you have said it. It's too hard to trash something you know someone shed blood and tears over. It's the whole "who am I to say what is not good?" thing. New respect for reviewers who are also writers.
ReplyDeleteI review, but I try not to be too bitchy nowadays ;)
ReplyDeleteI don't do reviews either. I will promote my friends and say I read the book and enjoyed it. I made a rule when I started submitting - I will never bad mouth another writer, an editor, publisher or agent.
ReplyDeleteI do reviews because I know how important they are to authors and getting the word out about their works. I often read the book as a writer, but I review as a reader, if that makes any sense. I try to focus on the facts and the good points of the book.
ReplyDeleteI used to review a lot, I never wanted to trash another author, but at the same time never wanted to lie about a book either. However, reading some of the the worst books I've ever come across in my life over the past year or two made it difficult to say anything that wasn't negative. So I've pretty much stopped reviewing.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I do think it's hard to write a good novel. I have written more than one, as yet unpublished, but can't honestly say that it's hard to write any novel, good or bad.