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#Post#: 54213--------------------------------------------------
Writing a polite book review
By: Hanna Date: July 7, 2020, 11:44 am
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I just finished reading a memoir and want to leave a review. I
have strong feelings about being kind, but also want to be
honest.
What are your suggestions about writing a good book review,
regardless of whether you felt the book was good or bad. Keeping
in mind that there is someone who put their energy into writing,
how do you be fair but also honest?
#Post#: 54214--------------------------------------------------
Re: Writing a polite book review
By: Kimberami Date: July 7, 2020, 11:48 am
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Compliment sandwich? I think it is a fair critique to say a book
is well written, but it is not to your particular tastes.
Something like "Author does a wonderful job sharing x topic with
the reader. While I am not a huge fan of the blah blah genre,
Genre lovers will really enjoy authors attention to details."
#Post#: 54218--------------------------------------------------
Re: Writing a polite book review
By: Winterlight Date: July 7, 2020, 1:48 pm
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I definitely think you can be both honest and kind. "The author
admits to making a lot of poor choices, but does not appear to
take responsibility for the consequences which came from those
actions," vs "This bleep is a schmuck who should be ashamed to
be breathing the same air as the rest of us."
#Post#: 54219--------------------------------------------------
Re: Writing a polite book review
By: bopper Date: July 7, 2020, 1:52 pm
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"I have never read anything like this book before. The way the
author described things was beyond belief. "
#Post#: 54221--------------------------------------------------
Re: Writing a polite book review
By: Amara Date: July 7, 2020, 2:01 pm
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When I ran a professional book review site, the reviews were
written with honesty and integrity and they were intended for
readers only. Any writer's emotions or feelings about their book
or the work had no relevance to us and if they had, the reviews
would have lacked integrity.
#Post#: 54223--------------------------------------------------
Re: Writing a polite book review
By: Jem Date: July 7, 2020, 2:23 pm
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I think it depends what the purpose of your book review is, what
your relationship is with the author (if any), and who your
audience is. I have read books that were well written but on
topics that did not interest me, and I have read books that were
written very poorly but for whatever reason were an enjoyable
way to pass the time (for example, anything by Danielle Steele).
If I am understanding correctly, the book you want to review is
a memoir so I think it matters whether the particular person is
important to you and whether the purpose of the book review is
to support the author and if not what the purpose of the book
review might be. I also think it matters whether the memoir is
lighthearted or instead covering very heavy topics.
Is your critique that the book is poorly written? Or does the
memoir contain lies or misleading information? Were you asked to
provide a review or do you feel called to write one? I really do
think the tone of any book review would depend on the motivation
to review the book.
I am reminded of a memoir of sorts that I read by Suzy Favor
Hamilton, an Olympic runner who eventually became a highly
compensated escort/prostitute and now holds herself out as a
proponent for mental health. I read her book "Fast Girl"
anticipating insight into her mental health struggles and how
she had overcome them and how she can help others who may have
similar struggles. Her memoir was NOT that and came across, to
me, as more bragging about how hot she is and how she was the
best runner and then the priciest call girl in all of Nevada,
etc. It was somewhat jarring. If I were to write a book review
of her book I would likely be honest about how she came across
as narcissistic and not in a healthy place, in my opinion.
But if Suzy were a relative or friend, I would not likely write
such a public review of her memoir. I probably would decline to
write a review of her book. I might reach out to her privately
to discuss my perception of how she came across (to me, anyway)
in her book, but unless I was pretty close to her I probably
wouldn't unless she asked me.
#Post#: 54225--------------------------------------------------
Re: Writing a polite book review
By: myfamily Date: July 7, 2020, 2:43 pm
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Why do you want to leave a review? Did you like the book? Did
you find the book to be poorly written? Were there factual
errors? And to be polite, you need to be factual, not attack
the author, and don't let personal bias be the reason behind the
review (ie if you don't like cats and the book is about cat
wrangling, so therefore you disliked the book, why did you read
it, and why do you need to say that in a review?)
#Post#: 54226--------------------------------------------------
Re: Writing a polite book review
By: Hanna Date: July 7, 2020, 2:50 pm
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[quote author=Winterlight link=topic=1776.msg54218#msg54218
date=1594147689]
I definitely think you can be both honest and kind. "The author
admits to making a lot of poor choices, but does not appear to
take responsibility for the consequences which came from those
actions," vs "This bleep is a schmuck who should be ashamed to
be breathing the same air as the rest of us."
[/quote]
Oh, you read it too. ;D ;D ;D
#Post#: 54240--------------------------------------------------
Re: Writing a polite book review
By: oogyda Date: July 7, 2020, 6:44 pm
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Good question. I had a similar dilemma when I was asked to
review a book written by a family friend. I liked the book. It
was interesting and informative from an aspect of learning some
things that went on "behind the scenes" of events that happened
around you, but didnt didn't directly involve you.
The only issue I had with the book was his pattern of starting
each chapter with a story from his professional life and telling
a related story from his personal life. Too predictable.
#Post#: 54242--------------------------------------------------
Re: Writing a polite book review
By: pierrotlunaire0 Date: July 7, 2020, 7:47 pm
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I acknowledge that my opinion is not The Word Of God. Others may
disagree with me.
The example given by Winterlight is excellent. "I have some
caveats which prevent me from enthusiastically recommending this
book." Then, logical, non-emotional criticisms. No snarkiness.
No cheap shots. (So, in a memoir, I wouldn't sneer at a writer's
childhood poverty - they had no control over that).
Try to be specific. "Just could not get into it." That tells me
nothing. In one Amazon review I wrote of a true crime book, I
complained that entire passages were excerpts from news reports,
which meant some information got repeated five and six times,
with no editing to reduce repetition.
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