My Credo?

[reviews_and_ramblings]

A new friend on this LiveJournal, I will not say who to preserve the privacy but if she agrees I will do, asked me if I ever voice my likes and dislikes on books. She was very kind (and if you are wondering I was not at all bothered by the questions, I love that you made them) and she seemed really interested in my answer. She also told me that she can understand when I liked a movie, but not the same with books. She for example didn't understand my prefercenes on Genre. She asked if I'm available to discuss my reviews.

Well I decided to post my reply here since she was not the first to ask it; to some question I already posted in the past, to some other probably not.

I don't rate books and that is a choice I will not change. Other blogs do that, and I have the feeling that sometime the rating is used with other purposes. Just an example, I read a book, it was particular, sure, but I thought it was very very good. Then I read a review by another blog, it gave 1 on a rate 1 to 5. I wondered, since I'm not English and it wasn't really my genre, if I wasn't wrong in my thought. Then a very important reviewer, university professor and expert in Mystery (it was a Mystery) said to me that the book was wonderful... mmm, I still don't understand that 1.

Anyway I'm always up to discuss one of my review if people ask or leave a comment. But people don't leave comment. I'm sure people read them, I also see the outgoing clicks to buy the book (or at least to further browse it), and some publishers/authors told me that when I post a review the sells go up. So why people don't comment? I don't know. But I prefer no comment to some flaming fights/wanking feast or to have 40 comments from 5 people, I hate the long threads where the same people add something only to raise the number of comments.

I don't like all the books, only that, if I really don't like a book, I prefer to not post about it. If I liked it so and so, I try to list the positive things, but people who know me said that they can understand when the book was not exactly my liking. Same as when I love a book, my friends said that it comes clear from what I wrote.

I love historical romance, but not if they are too heavy. I like contemporary, I prefer comedy to drama, I don't like very much fantasy and even less sci-fic. I like Young Adult. But basically, I read almost all, the important thing is to capture my interest long enough.

And now, I'm ready if you want to discuss all of above ;-)

Comments

[lucifuge-5.livejournal.com]

This is a fascinating post, Elisa. I'm glad you gave us a look into the how and why of your reviews.

That you don't rate your reviews is something I find both clever and interesting. FWIW, I believe that your reasons for liking a book (or not) come across crystal clear since you do give us logical and thoughtful explanations.

I tend to compare your reviews against those I find in another lgtb book review website. If I'm still not sure, I'll read a few of the comments over at Amazon. I don't really like to do the latter though, because those posts tend to be spoiler-heavy.

Considering I already read tons of fanfic (some which are novel-length), I often "fall" for m/m books that are a little off the center. Like Hero, Shell Shocked, Hemovore and Scarlet and The White Wolf trilogy.

Otherwise, I choose books that are well-written like those of Alex Beecroft and James Lear, for example.

But people don't leave comment.

I think this might be due to the nature of people. Some don't mind lurking, others might think they have nothing good to say/feel embarrassed about certain topics/etc. In the end, like you said, it's more of a who knows than anything else. :)

ETA: Didn't mean to be so rambl-y. Sorry.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

It's a wonderful rambling and you gave me a reason for the not commenting thing that I didn't realize. And now probably I understand and am more comfortable, since me, as a starter, opened this LJ since the books I read were "particular".

[lucifuge-5.livejournal.com]

In an ideal world, people would comment all the time. On the other hand, it's better to get few or no comments than the very lame flaming/negative non-constructive comments of someone who might not even like what is being discussed to begin with.

Oh, and by the way, Happy New Year, Elisa!

I look forward to reading many more of your reviews! *g*

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Yes, for sure I hate some wank feasts I see around, I always try to stop them in my LJ, but not avoiding to answer, only not eliciting more flaming comments. Elisa

[cornflake2912.livejournal.com]

Whatever you do, I love your posts. Just a short comment from me. Much work. :(
Happy New Year!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

LOL. Happy New Year, Elisa

[chris-quinton.livejournal.com]

I think you're very wise not to rate the books. Reviewing a book or a film to give it marks out of 5 depends so much on the reviewer's personal tastes, and not everyone is going to agree with them. Not by a long shot.

But to give the kind of overview that you specialize in, is invaluable. It's certainly helped me to find the books I'd be sure to like, and avoid the ones I know I wouldn't. So I'm very glad to read that you won't be changing your policy *g*.

May 2010 be happy, rewarding and creative for you and your readers.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Thank you Chris, that is exactly what I love to read, that I'm not misleading people. Happy New Year also to you, Elisa

[abx-journal.livejournal.com]

I love reading your reviews. They're so much more helpful than reading a star rating system. Your reviews are thoughtful and very well done.

I've seen books that I've loved get a one-star rating and have read five-star books that I've hated. Your reviews give me a much better idea of whether I'll like a book or not.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It's strange like, every few months, there is always someone who asks about rating. I'm not bothered by that, but I do wonder why people are so bonded to a number that sometime it said nothing. Elisa

[shadownyc.livejournal.com]

I do appreciate your views and reviews of books and look forward to more in the future.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I will try to read more ;-) Elisa

[yachay.livejournal.com]

I don't actually follow your LJ for your reviews. It's the everything else that goes on that has kept me around.

I don't usually read reviews before I start reading something. I have no interest to know other peoples opinion before I have formed my own. Only books that really make me think "can I handle this", make me skim a review, mostly by you. Since you don't spoil, but you open up the plot more than what the author is ready to tell. You don't give full on plot-spoilers unless there is something in the book that is not for everyone (for example Faewolf). And you usually tell us more about the characters personality. That is important to me sometimes, because unless the characters are the kind I like, I lose interest quickly.
And you never state your opinion 'clearly' in a way, you hide it in the review. That is what I need, if I read a review before deciding on a book.
In some reviews, I can tell by reading it, did you really love it or was it okay, but not really for you. But some are not that easy. There are those that I had no idea did you like it or not, but I don't honestly care. My taste is so different from majority, that I can't count on anyone else when deciding should I read it or not. If I want your opinion, I comment. I know you are more than willing to share your thoughts more detailed then.

So yeah, I actually don't read many of your reviews in the end. If I do, I usually try to comment. I avoid it though, if I know it will turn into a rant about the book. You don't need that. :)

And as for the rating, I understand your decision. I use ratings, but they are completely personal, and low when the book has too much of things I don't like to read myself. They have nothing to do with authors talent or quality of the story, they are just pointers for myself when I want to check what is good for re-reading.

Sorry for the long ramble :)

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

In a comment you probably summarize perfectly what I'm trying to do. I always try to not spoil the story, but I try to warn people of things they could find troubling. I try not to re-write the blurb, but I try to expand it when the blurb itself is not clear, at least for me. I try to talk more of the characters, what they feel to me, what I think they are their reasons to behave in a way. And I'm more than willing to further develop the review in the comment section if someone need it.

Thank you for everything, Elisa

[clarelondon.livejournal.com]

I agree with all the good responses that people have given. From my POV, I will say that I like your reviews because they don't have that pressure of a 'rating'. It feels to me like you are discussing the book with me, that you are sharing it, that you appreciate the work the author has put in and are commenting on the highlights and points of interest that you've found in it. Your review is a pleasant, intelligent read in itself! and very different from the short, promo-based responses on some review sites.

Also your LJ is full of *other* goodies, where you share your other loves and interests with us, and we can get to know and love Elisa, the woman :).

On the issue of comments - after a very unpleasant experience last year when a blog comment of mine invited some personal abuse on me (not publicly, thank goodness, but still upsetting), I've been very cautious of commenting on blogs. But I will say that you've pointed me towards many new and exciting reads!

Another great post in 'getting to know Elisa' :).
*hugs*

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

LOL, I tagged these post as "about me", so yes, they are a way to know me. And I like also what you said, I started to call my posts "reviews" since people continued to push me to call them like that, but for me are more a way to discuss the book, to point what I liked and to help friends decide if they want to read it. So you understood perfectly me ;-) Elisa

[minami77.livejournal.com]

nel mio piccolo posso dire che ad esempio su aNobii avere le stelline è di una certa utilità per comprendere che cosa potrebbe piacermi o meno.

Mi spiego, come dicevo l'altro giorno con mia sorella proprio su questo argomento, ad esempio se sono interessata ad una nuova saga di vampiri e c'è gente che da tre o quattro stelline e commenti sperticati sulla bellezza della saga, l'unica cosa che devo fare è passare sulla loro libreria e sfogliare le pagine con gli altri libri sui vampiri che hanno letto e a cui hanno dato le stelline (chi legge di vampiri è come chi legge m/m, più o meno l'ambiente e i libri sono quelli).
Quindi se per esempio vedo che la tal persona ha dato a saghe che non ho amato quattro stelline e ad altre che invece ho trovato ottime una, posso farmi un'idea di che cosa andrò a leggere.

Non so se si è capito il sistema XD
Ovviamente con questonon voglio dire che tu debba usare un rating di nessun tipo, anzi. Trovo che un blog come il tuo debba giustamente essere... come dire al di sopra delle parti. Apprezzo infatti le tue recensioni e di tanto in tanto cerco anche di lasciare commenti. Spesso non lo faccio perchè vorrei poterteli lasciare in inglese così che anche altri possano comprenderli, ma il mio inglese non è così bello come il tuo.

Quindi continua così che vai forte ragazza! e buon anno nuovo, che sia ricco di splendide letture!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Grazie Silvia. Posso capire l'utilità di un rating, ma ho scoperto che nel mondo degli M/M talvolta dice poco. Penso che sia dovuto al fatto che c'è ancora molto campanilismo, gente inneggia ai propri "amici" e abbatte i "nemici".

E per i commenti, come ho detto, sono felici di ricevereli, specie se servono ad aiutare qualcuno nella scelta, ma non sono essenziali ;-=) Quindi sia in Inglese che Italiano sono bene accolti, ma solo se ti senti di farli.

Elisa

[minami77.livejournal.com]

eh, quello degli amici/nemici l'ho notato pure io e non solo per quel che riguarda questo genere, come immagino che anche tu già sappia, ma anche nei confronti di tanti nuovi "autori" emergenti. Non so all'estero la situazione quale sia, ma qui davvero a volte è insostenibile.
Per questo apprezzo un punto come il tuo dove cerchi di dare una recensione imparziale :)

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Questa è un'altra cosa che odio, quando qualcuno distrugge il libro di un emergente. Se davvero non ti piace, io lascerei perdere, non credo che un autore alla prima uscita impari qualcosa da una recensione davvero negativa, è troppo "sensibile", quindi meglio lasciar perdere. Se invece ha la pelle dura, beh magari puoi spiegare, con gentilezza, perchè non ti è piaciuto il libro, ma anche in quel caso, la "distruzione" non è nel mio stile. Elisa

[rowenasudbury.livejournal.com]

Hi Elisa,

I agree with the comments above. I could tell immediately that you liked my book, even without a star rating. I treasure your review because it was the first I received. :)

I've had a problem before in my personal LJ where I post about something that I think is pretty earth-shattering, and no one comments. When I've asked why people tell me they "don't know what to say" or they "get distracted". Sometimes I think that's a copout on their part, but as the other commenter said, that's human nature.

Many times *I* don't respond to your posts because I don't want to be a "pest"...which I guess is as silly as being distracted or not knowing what to say.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Actually when I post on personal things, the comments are always ready and supporting. What I find strange is that, in comparison to other blogs, my review posts are often with 0 comments, to then see people comment elsewhere that they bought the book after reading my review... It's almost like people think that I don't like to receive comments, that is not, only I don't like the wanking feast. But even a negative comment, if constructive, is well accepted.

As per above, I probably myself missed your post. Sorry but not always I manage to follow all my friends list, and there are even sometime when I have barely the time to post, like in November.

Elisa

[rowenasudbury.livejournal.com]

Don't worry! I don't really post many earth-shattering things in my journal anymore :)

Wank is one thing I don't like either, and I try to avoid it at all costs, so I understand that too.

But, I also understand what you mean...reading elsewhere that someone bought a book based on your review, and yet they don't leave a comment on you post? That seems quite strange to me.

-Rowena

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

It happens often in yahoo groups when there those one day chats. Sometime I also receive private emails. But well, the important thing is that I helped people to choose the right book ;-) Elisa

[tsuzukeru.livejournal.com]

like many others have already said, i like the way you review. the rating system throws me off alot of the time as well. i always like to check reviews on books i loved to see what others think and many times the rating will be much lower then i feel the book deserved. also, i've seen reviews where the rating will be low but then the reviewer will say they really enjoyed reading the book etc. o.o? makes no sense.

i do have one question for you if you have an answer: i have noticed that there's almost no paranormal/fantasy/sci-fi reviews from you and just assumed that you weren't into it much (which turns out is true) but it's my favorite genre. ^^; would you happen to know of any reviewer that does those genres alot?

thx, and keep up the good work!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Paranormal can be my genre, I like shapeshifters and vampires but with the right dose. I think that Jem and R.Parklane on Amazon are more steady than me in reviewing the Paranormal genre and for Fantasy and Sci-Fiction, Val Kovalin on Obsidianan Bookshelf is very good, but she read few books per month... but the one she read she reviewed very well.

Elisa