I believe I’ve finally figured something out that has perplexed me for the 18 months or so that I’ve been reviewing what I read onto one of my blogs.  I do not read reviews before I post my own or read the book.  I want my view to be fresh and unbiased by others opinions.  I do, however, read the reviews on the site I’m posting at after mine is up and running.  Just to see what other reviewers and readers thought.  And I’m often struck by how often it seems that I’ve read a totally different book than some people have, based purely on their review or comments.  This puzzled me for quite some time.  But today, I have a theory on that difference.

What brought about this revelation was one book that I recently reviewed.  I gave it a high rating, not top dog but up there because I enjoyed the story, I was engaged and entertained by what I had read.  I was emotionally invested in the story of this couple.

There were two scathingly nasty reviews on Goodreads about this book.  And I mean get out the pitchforks and the tar – I actually felt badly for the author who had to read those words about their work.  Cringe worthy is a mild description.  And again, my first thought was, “Did we read the same freaking book cos that’s not what I got from it?!”  Their reviews focused on commas not being in the right places, grammar, words that should not have been capitalized, etc.  Really I would have expected this to be a red pen infused final paper for a freshman writing class instead of a review.  It was a critique of the worst sort, one that truly was nasty and intended to hurt and humiliate.

So, I sat for the longest time with a bitter acid feeling in my stomach trying to figure why our reactions were so different about the same book.  And I finally realized what might make me a very bad reviewer (but deal with it because I’m not changing my ways) is one very simple, fundamental difference.  I am an emotional reader.  I read to escape my reality for a short period of time.  I enjoy sharing my thoughts about what I’ve read, which is why my blogs exist – but it’s not my profession, it is my entertainment, my hobby, my fun time.

When I’m telling “you” about a book I’ve read, in my mind we are sitting at a table sharing coffee, wine or something stronger depending on the mood and I’m simply talking about this great, good, so-so book that I just finished.  Sharing the story with you is like sitting down with a friend and saying, “Hey I just finished this great book, you should try it.”  I’m not only sharing the story with you, I’m also sharing my emotional reaction to that story, the characters, the plot and the resolution of the twists and turns within that couple’s universe.  Oh, I may notice when there are too many or even worse a lack of commas – but that is not my focus.  I am becoming lost in, as well as a visitor to someone else’s world.  I’m experiencing the journey not the proper placement of commas.

Are you an emotional reader or a technical reader?  I suppose we need both in the world.  I know that I come down heavily on the emotions driven type of reader, and ultimately reviewer.  I don’t think one is better or worse than the other.  I do think we need to review the work and not the author.  Telling someone to go back to their day job just because you didn’t like their comma placements is simply… wrong.