I receive a lot of review books, but I have never once told lies about the book just because I got a free copy of it. However, some authors seem to feel that if they send you a copy of their book for free, you should give it a positive review.Do you think reviewers are obligated to put up a good review of a book, even if they don’t like it? Have we come to a point where reviewers *need* to put up disclaimers to (hopefully) save themselves from being harassed by unhappy authors who get negative reviews?
Absolutely not! No, no and no.
I've heard some stories about authors getting upset over negative blog reviews and all I can say is- get over yourself. The last time I checked, I don't work for authors or publicists. If an author sends me a copy of a book for free, I'm obligated to review it- that's all. I'm not obligated to love it, or advertise their readings, or their other blog appearances, or their other books, or generally act as an amateur publicist or fan club president.
And if staying off the marketing hamster wheel means I don't get as many freebies as some people- fine. I didn't start my blog to go to work for marketers.
I've had situations where I felt that an author was standing over my shoulder as I read a book and monitoring me, and I've read books given to me for review that I've hated, and in both cases I think the less said the better. You can tell when I really disliked a book because I did the minimum on my blog, sometimes to the point of not discussing the book at all except to mention a blog tour or a guest post. (And I've stopped doing blog tours anyway.) Most of the time I try to find at least something nice to say about any book, solicited or not, but I'm not afraid to say I didn't like something. It's my blog, right?
7 comments:
Exactly. That's why I've always been very cautious about requesting review books. I try to restrict myself to just the ones I'm pretty sure I'm going to like because I really don't like to write negative reviews. Or to read them, for that matter.
The authors and publishers should know better than reviewers owe their readers honest opinion. There is no room for dispute. If they can’t handle negative reviews, they should keep the books to themselves.
I have made it clear to whoever sent books my way that I don’t review every book received. I just don’t.
(chuckle) I tend to say fewer words when posting on a book that I did not care for.
I agree with you completely.
If I receive a review/advance copy, and agree to review the book, in my opinion, I'm under no obligation to give a kind review where one isn't due.
I am honest in my assessment and review.
~~Lorri
I have had a couple of authors ask me to review their books. One of them was something I just didn't even want to continue reading. I just sent it back.
Kudos on not participating in "blog tours." Nearly every blog post I see that's part of one of those comes off as a shill. I don't do em in my blog.
KingRat, I tend to agree. I did two and I actually felt kind of dirty!
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