The beginning of a new year has made us reflect on what we want for ourselves and our readers, when it comes to review and non-review topics. We pride ourselves on bringing you reviews that tell it like it is. If we have a hard time reviewing a book b/c we know the author reads our blog, we don’t let that stop us from reviewing the book truthfully. We don’t sugar coat our reviews nor do we pull any punches.
Casee: That’s why I was so disappointed in myself when I read some of my reviews from the last few months of 2008. Holly & Rowena invited me to Book Binge b/c I read. A lot. My reviewing style matched the style of the blog. So the fact that my reviews have become so generic is really rather sad. I might as well just post the reviews on Amazon.com. That’s how generic they’ve gotten. I’ve always tried to review in a way that would be interesting to me as a reader. The long reviews that go on and on and on just make my eyes gloss over. I want to read a review that really gets to the point without giving too much away. Something that can’t be found at Amazon.com. Turning into a Harriet Klausner is probably a reviewer’s worst nightmare. I was definitely going down that path. So 2009 is the time to pull back and take a look at what I want to give you as a reviewer and as a reader.
Holly: Like Casee, I was really disappointed in myself for writing generic reviews the last few months. I’m really surprised at the number of 4 and 5 reviews I did. I’ve always been a very discerning reading, but lately it seems like I just paste a grade on something and call it good. Later, after re-reading my reviews, I sometimes wonder what the hell I was thinking. I remember reviewing a book ages ago and Dance Chica left a comment to the effect of “Wow, a 5 review from Holly? I’m definitely going to pick this up” (paraphrasing). I’ve always prided myself on being honest in my reviews – whether I liked it or not. While I don’t think I’ve turned into a Harriet Klausner, I do think I’ve gotten lazy.
Casee: Heh. Remember Muse? I think you only gave that one a 4.5 and I was like “Holy shit” and ran right out and bought it.
Holly: Hey, I stand by that grade. The book was good. YOU might not have liked it, but I did. Although I’m kind of ashamed of it now that the author showed herself to be a fuckwit.
Wena: LOL. I’m glad I didn’t read it truth be told.
Casee: That’s not what you said when we talked about it. You said that it was good, but if you would have waited to review it, you wouldn’t have given it as good of a grade. That’s another thing, I can never decide if I should wait to review or do the review right away when it’s fresh. On one hand, the book is fresh in my mind. On the other hand, I haven’t gotten a chance to really let what I liked and didn’t like sink in.
Holly: Well, you’re right, I probably would have given it more like a 4, but I stand behind liking it. The book itself was good. I think about that, too. Sometimes I review a book right away and it’s all hearts and roses – then later I think WTF?? Instead of taking the time to think about what really worked for me and what didn’t, I’ve just been kind of coasting along. I’m not saying I don’t stand behind my reviews, but it’s frustrating to realize I’m saying basically the same exact things in every review.
Wena: Over the past couple of months, I’ve noticed a decline in the way that I review books. A lot of my reviews say pretty much the same thing and though I’ve meant every single thing in every one of my reviews, I know that I’ve gotten lazy in the reviewing department. I’m glad that Casee and Holly gave me that swift kick in the ass that I needed to get my ass in gear. Because seriously? Who wants to be another Harriet Klausner? Not me that’s for damn sure. 2009 is the year of hope and change. Well we’re gonna do some of our own changing and our reviews are a good place to start, don’t you think?
So we decided it’s time to get back to basics. We’re going to go back to our roots, back to reviewing the way we want. Our main concern is and always has been honesty. You’re welcome to agree or disagree with our thoughts and opinions, but they’re ours, 100%.
We also readjusted our reviewing system. We have our own unique grading system, but for awhile I think we forgot that and tried to pigeon hole our grades. We don’t want you to try to figure out how our grading system would match up to a letter grade. We’ve streamlined it to make it easier and put a link to it at the top of the page where y’all can reference it anytime you want.
We’re really excited to get back to basics – talking about the books we love and the books we hate. We hope all of you are just as excited as we are and will stick around to play with us in the new year.
For myself — and I’m probably in the minority here — I like detailed reviews on the hero/heroine, the plots, generally your likes/dislikes about the book. It just gives me more insight into the book and what I can look forward to as far as the plot goes.
Tabitha,
To be clear, we don’t intend to change our review format or how detailed we are. I think (correct me if I’m wrong) the way we do it now is pretty good. I feel like we give fair reviews and always mention what we like/dislike.
The problem is, we’ve gotten lazy. Instead of taking the time to think about the book and how it impacted us overall, we just throw a grade on it and call it good. Or at least I feel like I do.
We just want to get away from that and go back to reviewing more off the cuff than the formulaic way we’ve been doing it lately.
Does that make sense?
Holly, yes, your explanation make sense. I apologize as I mis-read and thought that you guys will shorten your reviews. Personally, I enjoy the reviews here. Approx. eight out of ten books that I pick up based on the reviews I’ve read, I’ve enjoyed. That’s no small feat! And aside from gmail, your site is the second one I check out first thing in the morning!
You guys hit the nail on the head. When I was looking back at my reviews, I had so many A’s and B’s…and yet, I can’t really recall for the majority of them what I liked so much. LOL That’s why with 2009 I’m going to think more about my reviews and the grades I give them. I’ve gotten lazy too. 😛
I’ve just started to review books that I read and I’m really struggling to make them more than ‘generic’. I love the fact that I came across Book Binge when I first came onto blogger. You three ladies have definitely been inspiring me to write better reviews. I know how easy it is to get lazy so I admire all three of you for wanting to get back to your roots. Good luck and I’m sure your reviews will be back up to your liking in no time (=
Holly, Casee & Rowena – thank you! I think steeping back and…almost…auditing how you review shows that you all want to grow and develop as reviewers and not, as you put it, review generically.
If I may make a suggestion, could you not write the review when the book is fresh in your mind, but then sit on it and re-read it [insert time frame] later and see if you still agree with your review and/or grade? You may do that already (if which case mass apologies) but sometimes I can have an initial reaction to a book that shifts (in either direction) as time passes and I look at it more logically and less emotionally. Just a thought. Am looking forward to your reviews in 2009 🙂
I think this is why I did so few reviews last year. I didn’t want to feel taht way, so rather than slap a review up (no offense intended at all!), I didn’t write anything at all.
Our review blog, OTOH, is far less of an ‘enterprise’ than this one. I don’t get a lot of freebies, so I don’t feel obligated to review much of anything if I don’t want to. If something strikes me as worth saying, I say it. Otherwise, I just keep my mouth shut, LOL. Lately, I’ve kept my mouth shut a whole lot. (except in the comment section, LMAO!)
Hi girls 😀 That’s a great thing to hear!! So I’m definitively looking forward to see your new reviews 😀
LOL, I am stingy with my As ^_^; However, I do have lots of Bs…
4/5 is my go to grade. 4.5 is for a book I like, and 5/5 is for something special. The thing with grading a book is it is really subjective, and is based on a gut feeling!
When it comes to reviewing my problem isn’t the reviews that I write, it’s the fact that I am writing so few of them. Once upon a time I reviewed everything. This year I have had a really bad start to the reading year and have only finished 5 books, but I have only reviewed one of those!
Because I’m nosy, of course I want to know who the feckwit author is. You know where to find me, Holly 😉
Have a lovely day! 🙂
I am so glad you will be honest and keep on reviewing. Great integrity ladies 😀
Excellent post 🙂
I have changed a lot in how I review over the years. I noticed it when I was writing my review for the re read challenge.
The first thing I do when I find a new review site is too check out the grades. If most to all of them are ‘OMG, this is the best book, ever’ then I close the site and never go back.
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again.
Those sites are for authors. NOT for readers.
My pennies are on the fact that most of us were just trying to get through Nov/Dec. (I could be projecting ;))
I always marvel at people who write the kind of reviews that make you want to buy a book. You guys do that for me. But checking in with yourself and how you think you are doing is always helpful.
Right now I’m not blogging much because I think I’ve lost my voice. I’m not funny, informative or anything. So I’m just dropping in to let people know I’m alive. It’ll be like that until I feel inspired again!
Cindys