Betsy Tobin's Blog - Posts Tagged "reader-feedback"
The Art & Etiquette of Book Rating
I have a confession to make: I've never rated a book on any website EVER before today. Not even my own. Honest. (For the record, I've never solicited reviews from other people either, but that's a different story.)
As an author, I've always felt that reader reviews existed in a sacred, ethereal, reader's-only place that authors should not intrude upon. As authors we are grateful for each and every reader that comes our way (yes, even the ones who aren't so keen on our books.) And we are even more grateful when they take the time to review or rate them, so that other readers can be gently guided towards (or indeed, away from) us. I always felt that it was important for readers to inhabit that space without the sense that authors were peering over their shoulder, nudging them to put in a word.
But it goes without saying that I'm a reader too. And like you I have views (boy, do I have views!) about the books I read. The trouble is twofold: first, I'm from the Midwest, where niceness-for-its-own-sake is a mode of being. It's bred into us, almost before we can walk, talk or chew. Second, like most authors I'm painfully aware of how hard it is to write a book -- any book -- much less a good one.
So when it comes to dishing out stars, I suspect I err on the side of generosity. And if I don't care for a book by someone I know personally, I won't rate it (under the if- you-don't-have-something-nice-to-say-don't-say-anything-at-all-philosophy.)
I also rate books according to what they set out to achieve: a book with modest aims that succeeds admirably might get a higher rating from me than one that shoots high but only partially succeeds.
And books that linger in my mind the longest will get a higher rating than those that vanish-without-trace, even if the reasons I remember them are not always positive ones. Sound perverse? Maybe so.
But like I said, I'm no expert when it comes to book rating.
Like everything else, clearly there's an art to it.
As an author, I've always felt that reader reviews existed in a sacred, ethereal, reader's-only place that authors should not intrude upon. As authors we are grateful for each and every reader that comes our way (yes, even the ones who aren't so keen on our books.) And we are even more grateful when they take the time to review or rate them, so that other readers can be gently guided towards (or indeed, away from) us. I always felt that it was important for readers to inhabit that space without the sense that authors were peering over their shoulder, nudging them to put in a word.
But it goes without saying that I'm a reader too. And like you I have views (boy, do I have views!) about the books I read. The trouble is twofold: first, I'm from the Midwest, where niceness-for-its-own-sake is a mode of being. It's bred into us, almost before we can walk, talk or chew. Second, like most authors I'm painfully aware of how hard it is to write a book -- any book -- much less a good one.
So when it comes to dishing out stars, I suspect I err on the side of generosity. And if I don't care for a book by someone I know personally, I won't rate it (under the if- you-don't-have-something-nice-to-say-don't-say-anything-at-all-philosophy.)
I also rate books according to what they set out to achieve: a book with modest aims that succeeds admirably might get a higher rating from me than one that shoots high but only partially succeeds.
And books that linger in my mind the longest will get a higher rating than those that vanish-without-trace, even if the reasons I remember them are not always positive ones. Sound perverse? Maybe so.
But like I said, I'm no expert when it comes to book rating.
Like everything else, clearly there's an art to it.
