The Extra Cool Group! (of people Michael is experimenting on) discussion

I don't think so, but more likely with non-fiction. EG, if another expert points out deficiencies in arguments, or the use of bad or questionable data.

But reviews often show me what I have overlooked, didnt get or can make me thing about something from another point of view. This is more true of fiction.

Usually, positive reviews of books I didn't like don't do much to change my opinions of the book. For instance, I've read some glowing reviews of Boneshaker by Cherie Priest, but I just assume these readers don't expect as much from characters as I do.

But, negative reviews of books I liked can sometimes make me see things I didn't see before...like Keely's version of The Road. I guess Keely is a pretty big downer, eh? But, even in this case, this didn't change my actual rating, because I still thoroughly enjoyed the book, and I thought it was successful in most of the ways he thought it failed.

So, umm, just a little bit, especially when people are harder on books than I was.

Once. I read a book I hated...I thought it was stupid and the humor was lame.
A gr buddy of mine wrote a glowing review about the humor and even quoted some lines that I caught myself chuckling at. So I asked her what she liked about it and I re-read the book with the mindframe that it's a silly humor, rather than a serious book with dumb misunderstandings...the misunderstanding was mine, it would seem, as I liked it better with a fresh perspective.

"I guess Keely is a pretty big downer, eh?"

Hey! I have positive reviews, too! Really, I do! It's not my fault if people like to concentrate on the negative.

I always really hope to come across a review that will completely turn me around and change my mind about a book, especially books I didn't like. I always feel like I must be missing something, like with The Road or Gene Wolfe's stuff, because there are some cool, seemingly intelligent people who love them.

I usually try to read through positive reviews and literary analyses of the works to understand what the hell I'm missing, but I don't usually have much luck. It doesn't help that most of the disagreement comes from people who don't seem to think that opinions can be explained.

Keely, just get used to it. You're the resident misanthrope.

May as well be (in)famous for that, as anything else. :D

Oh, misanthropic, certainly, but not mislibric. I'd hate for you all to think that I nurture a disdain for books equal to the high disdain in which I hold my fellow man.

And sexist, to boot.

Yeah it does happen, I think everyone here have different opinions about the book and sometimes if they are really good at reviewing the book they can change my mind on how I view the book

I'm more easily persuaded if I read the book a long time ago. I question my own sanity or memory of events.

Maybe not a "single" review but I may be influenced by several reviews. They may address certain issues that I didn't think of but only slightly because I base my reviews on entertainment value. I will often ignore inconsistancies or editing unless it is pointed out to me.

Like Mariel, I often question my memory of a book I read a long time ago based on what someone wrote in a review. Reviews have often made me reinterpret a particular aspect of a book, but so far not the entire book, that I can think of. I can imagine that it could happen, though. One day.

All those glowing reviews of 2666 by smart GR reviewers make me think 'what did I miss?' Not that I hated the book, but it wasn't anything special for me, the way it is for others. Other people's opinion doesn't sway me, but it can make me want to re-read or re-consider a book, to give it another chance.

Yes, because I'm easily swayed by an unfavorable well written review.

Oddly enough, well written favorable reviews have no effect on me. Either I agree with them and admire their perspicacity, disagree with them but concede their right to their views or I assume they're shilling for the author/publisher/friend/self.

I think it's interesting to see different perspectives. If I feel strongly about a book, an opposite review won't sway me, but it will give me something to think about and a basis for understanding why someone else would feel differently than I did.

Although I am not easily swayed by propaganda, if a review looks at the book (or issue) in a way I hadn't thought of before, sure. I like to think I have an open mind. I am not so firmly stuck to my own opinions that I cannot be influenced to reconsider. Sometimes it's hard to give up an opinion if it's a dearly held one but I like to think I do it when it's appropriate.

Especially if the review brings up new factual information. For example, I just found out yesterday from a reviewer that Marion Zimmer Bradley aided and abetted her husband in molesting boys. I spent five hours online verifying the information from multiple sources. Several of her novels that have relationships between younger and older people, including one about a man and a boy in love, that previously seemed sweet now take on a much more sinister meaning. I now am repulsed by these books.

I don't think I actually will change my mind about a book because I read a review. But I do very much believe that reading is a personal experience. And for me the experience of the book is generally how I feel while reading it, so while musing and critique is interesting it doesn't change the reading experience for me.

For example, I had a generally unpleasant experience reading infinite jest, but I have read a lot of really positive reviews. I usually agree with most of the positive reviews and I know some people at least agree the things I say are also true about the books. Generally I think it comes down to a recognition that different things are important to different people in books. So if anything reading someone else's review helps me understand myself better as a reader. I mean I get now that character continuity is really really important to me (and that when I say this it probably means something different then it does to other people).

Then I use this kind of information when I recommend books to my friends.

Jasmine wrote: "For example, I had a generally unpleasant experience reading infinite jest, but I have read a lot of really positive reviews. ..."

I, too, hated that book. Other good reviews made me go back and try again but I still hated it and just couldn't finish it.

i finished it. I'm proud of that

Kelly wrote: "If a review looks at the book (or issue) in a way I hadn't thought of before, sure. I like to think I have an open mind. I am not so firmly stuck to my own opinions that I cannot be influenced to reconsider."

Ditto.