#Pixieslaws: Do Not Be Review RUDE!
I was going through my feed reader and came across a review someone had written. I don’t know why I stopped to read it, cause honestly I don’t really read reviews on books I haven’t read. I will check the grade or letter rating, but if I haven’t read the book I won’t read the review. AFTER I’ve written the review or read the book, sure but never before as it may cloud my judgement. But I digress. For some reason I read the review & I was pretty disgusted after I did. Thus my desire to post a new #pixieslaws
The review started off rude & continually got ruder. I know, coming from me saying something is rude….odd right? I forwarded the review to Sara aka CdnMrs to see if maybe I was just offended because I’m weird, but nope even Sara was like WTF was that?!
First off, if you are going to be uber critical in a review SPELL CHECK & GRAMMAR CHECK. Right off the bat it was typo & grammar city. If you are going to be a complete asshole to an author, get your shit straight. (See, it got me swearing)
If you don’t like a book, fine. I don’t like a shit ton of books but I don’t ever trash an author. It’s rude & 100% unprofessional to completely & utterly trash a book. If you finished it, that must mean there was something you liked. Even the world building, it doesn’t have to be huge but if you didn’t DNF the book, something kept you going IMO.
Use tact when you write a review, insert what you liked to soften the blow. When you talk about things you didn’t like, say WHY you didn’t like them but do not say the author’s brain must have turned off or anything in that range.
That’s called a personal attack.
Honestly, I was so disgusted by this “reviewer” I un-followed their blog immediately & I’m hoping that this author shares the review with fellow authors. Personal attacks are a no no and if you can’t write a review without resorting to childlike behaviour, you need to stop.
It’s especially mean to do something like this to a new author. Please be assured all of us are not like this & do not tell others “not to throw away their money before buying your book”. (paraphrasing here)
Moral of the story:
- Check your damn spelling/grammar.
- Don’t be a dick because people are watching.
- Don’t completely trash a brand new author, hell don’t trash any author.
Cause guess what, people check Amazon & Goodreads, and you look like the dick because out of 10 ratings on two sites YOU are the only one who trashed it. Thus meaning I won’t be trusting your reviews & you’re a blog off my list.
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*claps*
Bravo!
I’d like to thank the academy….
LOL…well, here’s one thing, WLP…when I see a ranty, ugly review where the reviewer is questioning my intelligence, but can’t even spell the word? Makes it so much easier to just ignore. I agree, though, if you’re going to rip a book to shreds…if you can’t explain why, the ‘review’ just looks empty and ugly.
Very true!
If I read a particularly nasty review, especially one poorly written, I’ll usually check out the book- even if it isn’t something I’d usually read.
Someone who trashes another person, while using poor grammar & misspelling words, does not give the appearance of intelligence. And I prefer to behave in the opposite manner as someone who does not seem intelligent
I suppose my point is, nasty people can help an author sometimes. But I still think it sucks for authors (or anyone else) who have to deal with the people who spew their vitriol on others.
Agreed on both points.
Can we just make No. 2 the über-rule for life?
On an unrelated post I had to have a fight with a client about having a period at the end of a sentence. Really, I did. This is someone with advanced degrees. The fact that the magazine went out without said period darkened a corner of my soul.
I think we can, it’s common sense damnit!
YAY! I have no problem with bad reviews as long as they say why they didn’t like it and explain. I did have one review that complained my book had too much plot and then another that said I had too many mispelings (yep it was spelled that way in the review). She didn’t understand that some of the words were Hawaiian apparently, lol.
I do not think any reviewer should ever lie to spare an author’s feelings, but there is a way to review a book you don’t like and point out what you don’t like.
Agreed, don’t lie but well don’t be a dick! lol
Well done!
I understand when I’m reading (or writing) a review that it is an opinion, but a good review is constructive, offering both pros and cons of the book in question.
There’s no reason to be rude or to call someone’s intelligence into question. If the book is that bad that you can’t think of anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. This is grade school socialization and manners people! We don’t get to throw it out the window when we put on our “reviewer hat”.
it’s the whole, hiding behind a screen deal. They don’t think people are watching or the same rules of normal life apply.
Goooo Pixie Laws! Amen!
I always wonder about people trashing books and authors so severely. You many not like all the pieces or the path chosen by the characters, but you read it. And OTHERS do love it. Sorry, the author is doing more than many others…like oh I don’t know… got PUBLISHED! Yeah, there are people who do and will love it, so no need to be so rude, cruel and get yourself knocked out of the world with such a rep. You can not like a book and review it nicely and your feelings. But personal attacks! That is uncalled for.
I LOVE this law! Many should live by it. They need to think about the shoe on the other foot. Would they like to be beaten up so badly?
Of course not
But behind a screen people feel safe
Nat is giving lessons in etiquette and tact? Ms. I-Will-Shank-a-Bitch herself?
Time to convert those long-term securities to cash. The world’s obviously coming to an end.
LMFAO shat up
Amen, sistah!
I actually hate writing reviews for books I didn’t enjoy because I always have in mind that some people will like the book, so I don’t want to make it sound like no one should ever read it. I think that reviewers need to remember that their job is to give advice, not set laws. The best we can do is explain why we felt a certain way about a certain book. We give our opinions, and from there it’s up to the reader to decide if s/he should buy the book. I have bought, read, and loved books after reading a bad review about them, because the reviewer stated what s/he didn’t like, and the things s/he didn’t like were things I was into.
Here here!
Every time I read a rant post like this that little guy in my head goes, “Oh shit I hope it wasn’t me.” I have my moments sometimes, LOL. Like when you get pulled over my a cop and you automatically get nervous even though you didn’t do anything wrong. Come to find out the hubs forgot to put your registration sticker on your license plate. *le sigh* That was a really random comment wasn’t it? Well, I agree with you, I do think you shouldn’t ever attack an author personally. I mean it has gone through my head “what was this author thinking?” when they wrote this particular novel, but you review the works, not the author. No matter what though, a review will be taken personally, because it is this author’s work of art and they worked very hard on it, so respect always has to be given, no matter how terrible the work is. I’m really curious to read this review now…I haven’t read any bad reviews lately, it seems like every one I read are like glowing glowing glowing. Which has been turning me off too.
LOL or hell, if I have that thought in my head, I’d come to one of you PERSONALLY to say “so is it just me or did….” I would NEVER blog it. EVER.
And it so wasn’t you
LOL
I totally agree! Let’s get those Pixie Laws set in stone! If you don’t like something, fine. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. But let’s not needlessly trash someone. That’s just bullying, and that shit’s not cool.
I’m all for freedom of speech, but you can do things with TACT!
My rule of thumb is to write as if the author would see it. If I’m unable to ‘say’ something to an author then I don’t think it should be in a review. Besides, I dont think I have the ability to write those funny snarky reviews I see about the place from time to time. I don’t like writing negative reviews but a little while ago I challenged myself to review everything I read so that I don’t take the easy way out and only review things I love. I felt reviewing all books shows a reader of my reviews my taste and they can then decide whether mine jibes with theirs. Negative reviews are hard but I always try to explain why something didn’t work for me and I don’t necessarily expect everyone’s tastes to line up with mine.
Ditto!
It makes me really uncomfortable to read a nasty review. Enjoyment of a book is so subjective. There are just certain books that I don’t like, but that doesn’t mean those are horrible books. Someone out there will love them. I would much rather read a review that tells me why the reviewer didn’t like the book; that gives me an idea of whether or not I think I will enjoy the book. Also–I loved the Mister books as a kid. Great choice for your post. : )
I so agree with you, I feel totally uncomfortable reading a nasty review
All The Applause
There’s a huge difference between writing a constructive critique of a book, and outright hate-mongering. Sometimes, when I read those things (I won’t even give them the distinction of being called Reviews), I have to wonder just how petty and friendless a person like that must be in real life. It also makes me frown and rant that not everyone who has an internet connection should use it; i.e., the whole ‘if you don’t got nothing nice to say…’ proverb.
Smiles!
Lori