So the question of the day: When you read a bad indie book should you
- Give it an honest review
- Give it a falsely positive review anyway
- Say nothing
A group of independent science fiction/fantasy authors who support each other and share their love for the genre.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Today's Poll
Recently I read an indie book from an author whose previous books I had generally enjoyed. But this latest book was just awful. It was slow and the writing so turgid that after a while I started to tune it out. I couldn't even finish it, which is something that rarely happens. I gave it a one-star review on Goodreads and now of course the author is incensed about it.
So the question of the day: When you read a bad indie book should you
So the question of the day: When you read a bad indie book should you
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Just to be clear (because when you read something on the Internet and you know is about you) this is about me. I was wondering when you'd write publicly about it. As far as I'm concerned, if you're reviewing something in a public forum, you have an obligation to write your critical thoughts about it. I could write all day about the apparent lack of critical thought given to most indy books, but in this context it would only make me sound even more "bitter" about the review. You have yet to admit that your review had anything to do with anything but the book itself, but c'mon. Let's be honest. When nearly every blogging buddy gives some kind of overly glowing review to everyone they know, and one of those buddies gets an overly poor review, there's something wrong there. So now I'm asking you in public to be a little more honest. Did you think you were helping me? Well, thanks but no thanks, buddy.
ReplyDeleteYou already mentioned it in public so I don't know why I shouldn't do the same. Besides we needed something to fill in the time spot.
DeleteYou know my opinion: Give the honest review.
ReplyDeleteI used to say "say nothing" but now I side with Andrew: If indie writers want to be treated as real writers, they've got to face bad reviews, just like any other writer.
ReplyDeleteThis exchange between you and Tony is interesting, though. I'd like to know more.
If it's a writer I'm working with in some way, usually I would just tell them on the side. "Hey, I can't review this because..." But I don't think a review on Goodreads is that harmful because very few people are even going to see that and at least the author is getting some feedback that way. If it's someone you consider a friend, I would not post it on Amazon or any other sales site. There's no way a friendship would survive that..no matter how unprofessional that might be.
ReplyDeleteI did only post it to Goodreads and since deleted it, so someone needs to stop whining.
DeleteI'm not whining. Either you simply really did just hate it, or you're completely unwilling to admit that the review itself was a complete aberration for you (other than the very similar Cavanaugh reviews, which followed a few comments from you where you were angry that I had given someone a nominally better review than I had for one of your books...so you might have an idea of why I thought your extremely bad review of my book was about more than not liking it).
Delete