Amazon Helpful Votes...

[reviews_and_ramblings]

... what is the mystery under them?

I really don't understand. I know that they are used to rank the review, and probably to rank also the reviewer, better I'm sure they are used for that, but I really don't understand how they are given and by whom.

I have a lot of helpful positive votes, 88% on the total, so I'm very grateful to people who click on "yes" this review was helpful for me, and tried to ignore the 12% of negative votes, but today I notice something really strange. I was the first to review a book, and, even if I shouldn't say it, my review was good, not only since I loved the book, but also since people, publisher and author told me so.

So I posted my review on Amazon, and for a bit I was alone and no helpful positive vote. Then today I received a negative vote... and guys that made me think, since I really think my review was good. So I click on the book and noticed that the same book has now two other reviews, five stars like me, and from two frequently reviewer like me. And they both had two helpful positve votes! Why me not? (pout).

But the most strange thing is when I post a good review, or at least a review that gives an idea of the book, when maybe there isn't even the product description (and this happens often) and I'm the only review, and someone click the helpful negative button... what the hell have I said to make that people click on the negative button?

It's not the first time I discuss this matter with other Amazon reviewers, Jetm in primis, but I read also a blog by Amos Lassen... but I'd like to listen also to my friends opinion, are those votes really "real", are they indicative of a good review or not?

Comments

[kopernik.livejournal.com]

I am much more likely to vote on a review at Amazon if I disliked it than if I liked it, and I'm sure that's the case with most people, so however many negative votes you have, the percentage is probably skewed right off the bat.

When I give a review a thumbs down, it's generally because it doesn't tell me anything I don't already know from the blurb, or because the reviewer has graded the book harshly for stupid reasons. ("It was beautifully written but the bad guy was too bad! Boo hoo! Two stars!")

I do like it when a reviewer gets to the heart of the matter, rather than rehashing the plot at length. I can get the plot, usually on that same page. I want to know what worked for people and what didn't. What surprised them. What made them think.

On the other hand, if a reviewer spoils me for the exact thing I need to know (frequently whether or not the book has a HEA ending,) that's instantly going to get a positive review from me. I like to know what I'm getting into, but that's just me.

Anyway, I would try not to worry about it. No matter how well done a review is, it's going to displease plenty of people, some for good reasons and some for bad.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

So you give a positive vote for the same reason why someone else give a negative vote, for the spoilers ;-) I always heard around to not give up the book, or at least not too much. See? people are really different in their way. Elisa

[kopernik.livejournal.com]

It's true, I absolutely prefer to be spoiled because I have a very difficult time shaking off books (also tv and movies) that leave me in a funk. Surprises are overrated.

I had an extremely bad experience years ago with a mystery where a child abuser went free at the end of the book, no one knew he had been doing it, and the audience was meant to assume the abuse would just continue forever. NOT a happy surprise. I have read very, very few books since then where I didn't at least glance at the last few pages first.

And since I've started reading m/m romances, I do always want to know if the ending is happy or at least hopeful. I battle depression, and I can't handle getting my heart shredded. I guess that makes me a big baby, but oh well. There are plenty of happy books to read in the world, and hardly time enough for me to get to them.