*You are welcome to use my meme - just credit me please*Question: How influential are reviews when selecting a book to read?
(Thanks to Brain Candy Book Reviews for the question idea!)
(Thanks to Brain Candy Book Reviews for the question idea!)
My Answer: In my experience, I feel reviews are very influential to readers. Sometimes a negative but tastefully done review could steer readers away from the book. However, I think it all depends on how much you value the reviewers opinion. As a reviewer, I choose to always write about the good and bad parts (if any) in my posts. I have to be fair to others who might actually enjoy it.
For example, I've read a lot of mixed reviews on the novel Swoon by Nina Malkin, because of that, I haven't bought it yet. I will buy it eventually but I'd rather spend money on a book who continually receives positive reviews. Personally, I think it's disappointing when I spend money on a book that didn't live up to my expectations. But, in reality it happens and probably will for a long time. Being a book addict definitely doesn't help the situation. :)
I'd love to know your thoughts, so leave me a comment :) Have a question idea? E-mail me at lafemmereaders@yahoo.com and I'll give you credit!
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
Love cool questions? Don't hesitate to visit my girl Jenn's site, Books At Midnight, every Thursday where she hosts The Weekly Debate - go check out her latest post here.
11 comments:
I keep them in to account but don't let them totally sway me. If I'm unsure of a book and it's received lots of mixed reviews, I check it out from the library :)
Great question!
It depends on what I feel for a book. If there is a book that I really want to read, although negative reviews might lower my expectations, they probably won't discourage me from reading the book. However, if I have mixed feelings about reading a book and I see consistent negative reviews, I probably wouldn't read it.
Good question :)
For me books reviews are very influential when it comes to picking up a book. Mostly reviews that are more bnegitive. For me the perfect example was The Hollow by Jessica Verday. When this book was coming out I was pretty excited to go out and get it. But in about the two week period before the book come and the reviews started getting posted, that completely changed. I didn't read 1 good review on the book. All were negitive so I never bought it, and I probably never will.
But yeah, the more positive reviews a book gets, the more likely I am to buy the book. Makes me wonder how I picked out books before I discovered book blogs!
Depends on who's doing the review, there are some I trust more than others because the reviewer has been known to dislike the same books I do.
I've come to depend more heavily on reviews lately. I don't look at Amazon at all, but either Goodreads or blogs of people that I know who like the same things I do. Like you said, I hate spending money on something that's going to be just mediocre.
I look at ratings, and at reviewers who I know normally share the same opinions as me. But a synopsis is really the thing that pulls me in :)
I always keep reviews in the back of my mind, but it's like everything, no matter how well written the review, it's usually personal, and what one person likes (or dislikes), another person likes (or dislikes). I always give my honest opinion when writing a review and I've come to the point where if I really don't like a book anymore, I stop reading it, which is probably why you don't see really horrible reviews on my blog.
As for mediocre reviews of books, I will borrow them from the library instead of purchasing them, just in case.
I answered on my site.
Nice question!
I totally agree with you.
Before I started my blog, I bought most of my books based on the reviews I read. Now, although I am a reviewer myself and have to experience a bit the unknown, I continue reading other reviewers opinions. It has worked well for me so far.
There are probably two other reviewer's that could sway me either way since we have the same taste in books but for the most part I just take in the information but will still read a book with bad reviews (I may move it further down the TBR pile though) a good review however can make me pick up a book I wouldn't have otherwise read.
Lol the last line of your answer is so true. For me, I can be swayed to read or not read a book if the reviews are overwhelmingly one-sided, or if the review is written by someone who tends to have the same tastes as I do.
Post a Comment
Thank you for leaving a comment, sending you kisses and hugs!! Oops, I am sorry if I slobbered on you. ;)