Discussion: Do You Ever Put Up Negative Reviews?

Posted February 16, 2015 by Marsha in Discussion Post / 2 Comments

blue eyesDo you?

I’ve decided to start a weekly Discussion post here on Keeper Bookshelf.  Welcome to the first.  🙂

I’ve been blogging for about five years now on various subjects.  In the past this particular blog was simply for fun, with little origination – yes, I’m admitting that.  At the start of 2015 I decided to take this blog seriously.  I love reading, I enjoy interacting with other people who love to read as well.  So I’ve started putting myself out in the book blogging community.  I have no higher hopes than to be a better book blogger, meet some really great people, read some interesting books that stretch my boundaries and create a place where other book lovers wouldn’t mind stopping by.

I have questions.

A ton of questions.  And I figure the best place to go for the answers is directly to the book blogging community.  I know that there are other new book blogging folks who probably have questions too.  So I’m going to be brave and stick my neck out and ask.  I figure the better the newer community members understand the basics – the better we all will be blogging in the long run.

Do You Ever Write A Truly Negative Book Review?

So far I have not .. really.  I wrote two – one that I trashed and one that I published with trepidation.

I understand that those that can write a novel put their heart, soul, blood, sweat, tears and time into them.  I hate to tear that apart.  (I cannot do what they do)

But my word there are some truly awful novels “out there”!  I don’t think we have to be hateful about it – but there has to be some way to let our readers know that this book really isn’t worth the time without tearing apart the author.  So far I’ve usually said something like “This one just wasn’t for me, but you may think it’s fantastic and that’s okay – we all love different types of stories.”  Or simply not published a review on a truly “it sucks” book.

What is your usual decision?   Please join in the conversation.

2 responses to “Discussion: Do You Ever Put Up Negative Reviews?”

  1. Kay

    I’ve only been back to blogging for a few weeks. But, I had another blog for several years. My answer to your question is almost never. The reason is that if I really don’t like a book, I usually don’t finish it. And if I don’t finish the book, I’m not going to review it. I know that many bloggers feel that it’s sort of dishonest to say you like every book you read. Well, I that’s a pretty true statement for me. Back to the “don’t like it, don’t finish it”. There are just too many books out there that I’m never going to get to. If it doesn’t work for me, I’m not going to spend my valuable time on it. Hope I wasn’t too blunt. LOL

  2. Marcy

    No, not too blunt at all. That is exactly what I wanted to hear. The truth as other bloggers write it.

    I don’t think I will ever put up a negative review – truly negative. There are so many books that I want to read for my own enjoyment (reviewing them is just a side effect of a deep, abiding love of books ) – that wasting time on the DNF’s of the writing world just aren’t worth it, to me.

    I appreciate your answer, thank you. And i totally understand your reasons, too.

    Thanks 🙂