Reader Passions Run High
Since the life if internet drama is cyclical, there's usually some discourse going on about authors and reviews and author reactions to reviews and what constitutes a "real" review anyway? This topic has been pretty prevalent lately, so I'm not going to get into what others have already said.
One of the more frequent points made, though, is that reviews are intended for readers, not for authors. And it's true; I've never posted a review hoping the author will find it, read it, and learn a thing or two. "I have all these insights, and if they'd only listen to me, they could grow so much as an author!" is not a thing that ever crosses my mind. I write reviews because I like books and I like talking about books. I like dissecting things, seeing how they work, and then turning that into a discussion. I like talking to other readers about things we like and don't like and the whys and wherefores of that. Anything that can open discussion like that is a good thing, in my opinion.
But even that's not simple. Sure, reviews are for readers, and each review is one reader's opinion, intended to start thought and discussion as much as anything else. But as readers, we all feel passionately about books. We wouldn't be here if we didn't. Which means that sometimes, someone will vehemently disagree with your opinion. That book you read and loved so much you've been sleeping with it under your pillow for at least a week? Someone hated it with a burning fire and has eviscerated it on the internet for everyone to see. Sometimes this is easy to dismiss as a "oh, well, they don't like that kind of book anyway, so no wonder." Sometimes, though, they come up with unlikely plot points and unlikeable characters and bad prose and they tear apart all the things you loved about that book. Kneejerk reaction says "YOU ARE WRONG AND ALSO A STUPIDHEAD" but this is perhaps not the best way to intelligently defend something you feel strongly about. (Although let's face it, we've all seen that happen.)
Is it possible to have an intelligent, reasonable discussion about a book when two parties feel very strongly about it in opposite ways? Or is it best just to avoid that part of the conversation and either write your own glowy review or just content yourself with snuggling your own copy of the sadly maligned masterpiece? Thoughts?
One of the more frequent points made, though, is that reviews are intended for readers, not for authors. And it's true; I've never posted a review hoping the author will find it, read it, and learn a thing or two. "I have all these insights, and if they'd only listen to me, they could grow so much as an author!" is not a thing that ever crosses my mind. I write reviews because I like books and I like talking about books. I like dissecting things, seeing how they work, and then turning that into a discussion. I like talking to other readers about things we like and don't like and the whys and wherefores of that. Anything that can open discussion like that is a good thing, in my opinion.
But even that's not simple. Sure, reviews are for readers, and each review is one reader's opinion, intended to start thought and discussion as much as anything else. But as readers, we all feel passionately about books. We wouldn't be here if we didn't. Which means that sometimes, someone will vehemently disagree with your opinion. That book you read and loved so much you've been sleeping with it under your pillow for at least a week? Someone hated it with a burning fire and has eviscerated it on the internet for everyone to see. Sometimes this is easy to dismiss as a "oh, well, they don't like that kind of book anyway, so no wonder." Sometimes, though, they come up with unlikely plot points and unlikeable characters and bad prose and they tear apart all the things you loved about that book. Kneejerk reaction says "YOU ARE WRONG AND ALSO A STUPIDHEAD" but this is perhaps not the best way to intelligently defend something you feel strongly about. (Although let's face it, we've all seen that happen.)
Is it possible to have an intelligent, reasonable discussion about a book when two parties feel very strongly about it in opposite ways? Or is it best just to avoid that part of the conversation and either write your own glowy review or just content yourself with snuggling your own copy of the sadly maligned masterpiece? Thoughts?