tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post5699315365321309565..comments2024-02-23T05:16:12.783-05:00Comments on VOICES FROM THE HEART: Unofficial interview of a famous reviewerMona Riskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-21487468067856102802010-12-23T10:44:12.939-05:002010-12-23T10:44:12.939-05:00Mona, awesome post, Sweetie. I like the philosophy...Mona, awesome post, Sweetie. I like the philosophy, but I feel reviews should always be guided by honesty. I agree that what one person likes another might not, but there's always a tactful way to say it. I review a lot and if I find something that just doesn't sit right with me, I try to find a tactful way to mention it in the review. Being Nasty is just not cool.<br /><br />Smiles<br />StephStephanie Burkhart https://www.blogger.com/profile/16952130018587727063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-31643115171719663462010-12-19T12:32:01.332-05:002010-12-19T12:32:01.332-05:00I'm with Brindle -- a review that is all posit...I'm with Brindle -- a review that is all positive does the reader very little good, honesty about points strong and weak (expressed kindly, of course) are a lot more useful. The reader, after all, is the one who is trying to make a decision about how to use her limited resources of time and money. While a review certainly does affect the author, is the review for the benefit of the author, or for the reader? <br /><br />I have no idea who the lady in the interview is, but I suspect she's known for damnation by faint praise.Crysellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00721283067580814034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-27699784357356614672010-12-19T08:52:10.425-05:002010-12-19T08:52:10.425-05:00This is something very good to know. Thank you fo...This is something very good to know. Thank you for sharing with us, Mona!Liana Laverentzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17541637851147603199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-57338379492465664062010-12-19T03:15:45.329-05:002010-12-19T03:15:45.329-05:00That's a very interesting take and I agree wit...That's a very interesting take and I agree with much of it. But I think a reviewer needs to give their honest opinion. If they didn't like a book, or enjoy the plot, disliked a character... whatever it was that made reading it a less than favorable experience, then they should say so politely. I Don't think they should skip over these negative points. They aren't doing the book any favors by saying it was awesome, when it wasn't. Readers of reviews will come to distrust the reviewer and the author if the reviews are not truthful.<br /><br />With that said, there are very positive and polite ways to express dislike. Tee'ing off on a book is not the way to do it. Snarky comments only tell us the reviewer is an A--hole, who likes to shred other peoples art. I've had very positive reviews that were quite honest in pointing out aspects of the book they really didn't enjoy, while also highlighting all the things they did.<br /><br />A great example of why the negative should be included is one I received. They absolutely loved the story, but gave it 3 stars instead of 4 or 5, because the short story was "too short" They said so very politely. When reading a review to see if it might be a book I would enjoy, it would be great to know why this awesome book only got 3 stars. If a reviewer notes the only negative aspe3ct of the short story was that it was short, I would be inclined to overlook the 3 rating and give the book a shot.<br /><br />If you give only positive reviews, I'm left wondering why one got 5 stars and was excellent, and another was excellent and got 3 stars.<br /><br />Anywho, great article! Thanks for sharing with us Mona!Brindle Chasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08418376822874625493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-83084260654770758052010-12-19T01:07:58.311-05:002010-12-19T01:07:58.311-05:00Hi Mona,
Great blog. I certainly wish all reviewer...Hi Mona,<br />Great blog. I certainly wish all reviewers were as caring and sensitive as your friend.<br /><br />Regards<br /><br />MargaretMargaret Tannerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07123830410502520003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-71341005523313767992010-12-18T22:45:21.028-05:002010-12-18T22:45:21.028-05:00That's a cool idea for a post, Mona. I wish al...That's a cool idea for a post, Mona. I wish all reviewers thought like her. Of course, I don't have a published book, but some day I will and would love to see what she had to say about it. :)Paisley Kirkpatrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06401039126457210324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-50686668115576176312010-12-18T19:24:27.739-05:002010-12-18T19:24:27.739-05:00I will answer all your comments at once. I think I...I will answer all your comments at once. I think I understand this famous reviewer's thought. By the time a book is published it should really be as polished as possible through many critiques, revisions, editing, proofreading, so it's really not up to the reviewer to explain what is wrong with a book. If a reviewer doesn't like a book it's probably because she doesn't like that genre. As an author, I would not change my writing just beacuse a reviewer doesn't like it. Another may like it.Mona Riskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-70231849329134624462010-12-18T18:30:05.729-05:002010-12-18T18:30:05.729-05:00I think this is a wonderful slant on reviewing. Wi...I think this is a wonderful slant on reviewing. Wish every reviewer held to that same concept.P.L. Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06266607796347848772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-61367694991089524442010-12-18T18:26:49.550-05:002010-12-18T18:26:49.550-05:00Thank you Mona for sharing this advice with us! Wh...Thank you Mona for sharing this advice with us! What a great, great way to look at reviews. Especially after pouring our hearts and souls into our work!I will remember every word when reading the first of my reviews. Thanks again.AJ Nuesthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16010557416505335378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-68393666121341125192010-12-18T15:19:58.297-05:002010-12-18T15:19:58.297-05:00I like the way this woman thinks. Behind every boo...I like the way this woman thinks. Behind every book is a brave dreamer who shared his or her soul with us. Books contain mental pollen that the writer uses to make our souls bloom and grow. Why trash their efforts? Our society is too bent toward nastiness. Thankfully, wise people like her bring the sweetness of their spirit to their work--and to our lives.Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07360480832587538895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-3613409624173246882010-12-18T12:45:38.425-05:002010-12-18T12:45:38.425-05:00Wonderful post and so true.
Maeve, you hit it rig...Wonderful post and so true. <br />Maeve, you hit it right on. <br /><br />Unfortunately, there are those who thrive on being mean and go out of their way to trash someone's work. You have to let those go and move on. Most of the ones who trash, trash everyone's work. There's a pattern. <br /><br />Funny, before I wrote my first novel, I never read the reviews, looked at who the publisher was or cared if the author was a newbie or a New York Best Seller. lol I chose the book because the blurb caught my interest. I read it and made up my own mind if I liked it or not. It never crossed my mind to leave comment or that the author might want to know if someone like the story. How about any of you?<br /><br />Mona,<br />Your books sound wonderful. I wish you the best success!Karen Michelle Nutthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04083893569523248900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-72017722687856737912010-12-18T12:40:06.005-05:002010-12-18T12:40:06.005-05:00You know I so agree with you Mona.
A trashing can ...You know I so agree with you Mona.<br />A trashing can ruin a writers self esteem. Not to mention tears. I do believe there is something nice to say about every book, if not, don't review it. <br />The lady you spoke to is spot on.<br />And so are you my friend, you are a wonderful and talented author.<br />I loved every book I read of yours and look forward to many more!<br />You rock Mona!Mary Ricksenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12676306822821614446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-21541222906028298562010-12-18T12:23:36.218-05:002010-12-18T12:23:36.218-05:00I disagree. There's a difference between prese...I disagree. There's a difference between presenting both good and bad in a nice manner and in trashing a book. If all reviews are nothing but good, there is no longer a point to any review at all. Maybe the author can't change that book, but she can take the comments and consider them for her next book. An author who wants to grow wants to know what readers honestly think.<br /><br />I do believe, though, that a review should never by nasty. There are always nice ways to be honest about what you don't like.LK Hunsakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10706929624587891992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-74068640616620382512010-12-18T11:23:58.548-05:002010-12-18T11:23:58.548-05:00Excellent post! I too agree with every word. Two t...Excellent post! I too agree with every word. Two thumbs way up for her!Joanne Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17708364499624604625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588376429247025873.post-31954524706829732842010-12-18T11:04:57.992-05:002010-12-18T11:04:57.992-05:00Well said and AMEN to every word! I so agree with ...Well said and AMEN to every word! I so agree with the motto: if you can't say something nice - don't say anything at all. What might not strike me as a favorite read could easily be someone else's passion. Excellent post (and I love your books, Mona)<br /><br />:-)Maeve Greysonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14947265251857551496noreply@blogger.com