Hypothetical question 1:
Say an author reads a review of one of their books and it’s all positive bar one thing – in fact, the reviewer gives it 4+ stars – how do you think they might react? By saying thanks very much for explaining why that particular aspect didn’t work for you, which the reviewer did and which all authors say they want? Or by giving the reviewer, which is someone with whom the author had been friendly up until this particular review, the cut direct?
Hypothetical question 2:
Say an author reads a review of one of their books and it’s all positive bar one thing – in fact, the reviewer gives it 4+ stars – how do you think they might react? By saying thanks very much for explaining why that particular aspect didn’t work for you, which the reviewer did and which all authors say they want? Or by not responding to the review, which is something that authors recommend not be publicly done, yet writing an indirect post about it – sort of like this one – on their personal site where their fans can come out and stroke their ego?
Yeah.
It makes me wonder about pots and kettles too.
Kris + Books = Good. *Sometimes*. 
I'm finally reading your blog from home, so can comment 🙂
And do I even want to know what this latest one is? A 4+ (assuming on a scale of 5) is an awesome review. They should just say thank you so much and get on with it.
I rarely visit any author blogs. That sounds rather rude but that's just the way it is. A few, I guess people I consider more friends, but not as a general rule so I miss most of the wankfestery. Perhaps my day will come when I am snubbed by someone I consider a friend, or am attacked by the minions, but I'll be honest, at this point I choose not to review certain books that I know could result in that. I just don't take the chance. I'm all about avoidance. I like my life to be pleasant and smooth so I'll detour around the potholes rather than hope I manage to skip over them.
There's what “should” happen and then there is what really happens. I know a lot of talk that goes on about what authors should do with reviews but the reality is that there will always be authors who react badly no matter what the review is and how positive.
The authors that are classy are easy to spot just as those that pretend to be ok then trash you in semi-private (more like open author loops or their blogs). It's almost like a rite of passage to have that happen.
Either way.. it's not on you the reader or reviewer.
Not sure what the latest wankfest is that inspired you to write this, but I've had #2 happen to me before. Like Kassa said – almost a rite of passage.
Lori: Hey, my blog is totally sfw… now. All the rude bits go on my tumblr… mostly. 😉
Nope, you don't want to know. I think most would be shocked or horrified as hell. Mainly at me for daring to question this particular author. And I totally agree with you about the 4+ out of 5 stars.
Tam: “I'm all about avoidance. I like my life to be pleasant and smooth so I'll detour around the potholes rather than hope I manage to skip over them.”
I'm all about avoidance too, if you hadn't already guessed by the vagueness of this post, but mine's due to sheer and utter laziness.
I agree with you that is it par for the norm, but what I don't like is when it becomes hypocrisy. That shits me.
Kassa & Chris: Passive-aggressive behaviour I get – obviously – but when an author puts themselves on a pedestal to tell everyone, including reviewers, how they should behave when they themselves don't do it? More importantly, don't do it when the reviews are 4+ stars and are what anyone else in their right mind would consider pretty fucking amazing reviews?? Well, that makes me a tad cross.
I'm just so bloody hopeless – I seem to tootle along quite happily & then catch the middle of a conversation on a blog somewhere (usually yours) & think “what the hell is that all about?” By that time, I've usually managed to put my foot in it anyway.
4+ is a great rating – what on earth is wrong with that?
My favourite poor review is by Susan Cohen about The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo:
“This is easily one of the worst books I’ve ever read. And bear in mind that I’ve read John Grisham.”
Holy Take-your-pick-of-holies! You gave someone other than Sir Terry a 4+ review?
Man, I wouldn't be able to put up a blog post. I'd be on the floor in a dead faint! 😀
P.S. Thanks for visiting my blog, Tam. I feel hono(u)red!
Juni: People tell me things otherwise I'm usually the one scratching my head. LOL.
“4+ is a great rating – what on earth is wrong with that?”
Got me fucked.
KZ: “You gave someone other than Sir Terry a 4+ review?”
As if. You rude heifer.
Oh dear, you are in a snit. I guess this isn't the day to engage in a little Fun With Hyperbole.
*slinking away to that corner where all bad authors are sent*
Wow, I really have you scared, hey KZ.
Go me. 😛
I just read a review on Goodreads where a reviewer didn't like a book, gave a detailed reason why, with some snark in between.
The author comes along and starts the old, you don't understand what I was trying to do with the book blah blah blah.
I really do think authors shouldn't comment on any reviews, both good or bad. I think an author should email the reviewer personally to thank them for taking the time to read and review, and that's all.
And if a reviewer gives a book 4 out of 5 stars or whatnot, why would the author complain about the small thing the reviewer may have not liked that stopped them from giving it a perfect grade?
KBC: “And if a reviewer gives a book 4 out of 5 stars or whatnot, why would the author complain about the small thing the reviewer may have not liked that stopped them from giving it a perfect grade?”
Who knows. Maybe the author is too used to getting 5 star reviews??
Give me a 4+ review and I'll be kissing your hands.
Matthew, if you want a 4+ star review you're going to have to do a lot more than kiss hands around here 😉
Matthew: This is possibly the only time you should ever listen to Sean.
4+ sounds great to me, but then I haven't had my ego inflated by a plethora of 5+ DIK reviews so what would I know? 😉
Actually, I have no idea who you're referring to, but to me even 3 stars is positive, so I don't see what the problem is. And I've seen an awful lot of review trashing on author loops – sad but true. I think the speed and ease of getting epublished thrusts authors into the public eye before they're ready to deal with the potential consequences. Maybe there just isn't enough in-house editing from some of the epubs – I'm now used to being taken to task by my beta readers who are always happy to tell me when I'm writing crap, but if you've never had that, the first time it happens must be distressing.
Not that that sounds like what's happened here…
What, you mean, like… *write* something? Is that mandatory or what?
Um, all of the above?
I don't mind if authors want to go onto private author loops and cry over reviews. It means I don't get to see it and they can have all their authorly friends patting them on the back and saying 'there, there, didums'. All authors needs support when a review has hit them in the gut.
Josephine: “4+ sounds great to me, but then I haven't had my ego inflated by a plethora of 5+ DIK reviews so what would I know? ;)”
Cheeky! I knew I liked you, although you are way nicer than I am – pretty much everyone is – to give authors the benefit of the doubt.
The agree that editting is indeed an issue, yet when such an issue is mentioned in a review more often than not the author leaps to the defense of the editor/s. That doesn't really make sense to me, but then again I don't really understand the ins and outs of it all. *shrugs*
Matthew: That would help, sweetie. That would help.
Jen: “All authors needs support when a review has hit them in the gut.”
That's true, but do it privately and whatever you do don't get caught out being a hypocrite. It leaves a rather nasty taste in the mouth of readers such as myself.
Oh dear… *hugs*
Orannia: Erm… I was ranty yesterday?? 😛
*sigh* Why must authors continue to focus on the negative? I would much rather get a three or higher from you then to receive a five star gush-o-rama from some we-never-read-a-book-we-don't-like site.
Clearly whoever it was doesn't know you very well Kris – 4 stars from you is exceptional. Gosh, even I know that and I've only been a minion for a year or so…
@ Matthew – if not for writing what would you like a review of? I'm sure Kris can help whatever it is…. 😀 *blinks innocently*
Stephani: “I would much rather get a three or higher from you…”
Naturally.
“… then to receive a five star gush-o-rama from some we-never-read-a-book-we-don't-like site.”
True. Some sites I've maybe visited once or twice before I've decided they're way too nice for me (ie, what's the fucking point of wasting my time there).
Re: negativity – I've been thinking about this a lot since Kassa's post and I do think it is human nature to focus on negatives, even when there is more positive or praise than criticism. I'm not saying this is a good thing and I think it is something we should all strive to deal with before we react, but I don't think it is uncommon.
Kaetrin: I don't know why everyone automatically assumes that this was done to me.
I can be nice.
*poutmope*
I think 4+ is a great review. And I want reviewers to say when they were confused or didn't understand something. That way when I'm confused and don't understand the same things it makes me feel less lonely. 🙂
Like Juni I seem to spend most of my time in blissful ignorance of everything else that's happening in the blogging world. Possibly that's a good thing.
I think the important thing you say is “positive”. That's great. I don't mind about marks (TBH I suppose a 1 may make me blanch *g*) but I concentrate on the content of a review, that's where you find the fun and the interest and the pleasure of sharing.
Someone told me once when I started publishing not to bother whether I got 5 stars / wings / dildos or whatever, but to appreciate the content (if applicable LOL).
And some authors don't take to reviews at all anyway (she says, diplomatically) so they're never going to cope with it as an opinion, seesm to me they're expecting a partisan blurb instead!
Lesley: “That way when I'm confused and don't understand the same things it makes me feel less lonely. :)”
This made me laugh because I have exactly the same reaction when I read a review or a comment at goodreads which talks about something that I didn't get. I bet there are a bunch of us who feel the same way. 🙂
Clare: I would like to see a 5 dildo review… I think. LOL.
“And some authors don't take to reviews at all anyway (she says, diplomatically) so they're never going to cope with it as an opinion, seesm to me they're expecting a partisan blurb instead!”
Indeed. I think this is where Josephine's comment comes in because there seems to be a perception, certainly amongst new authors, that reviews provide the opportunity for good promo full stop. A meh rating or any kind of criticism is a shock to the system and understandably so even though it is not particularly realistic.