tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700813534075377575.post4297752494819952224..comments2023-10-05T03:23:51.371-05:00Comments on Perpetual Chaos of a Wandering Mind: To Star or Not To Star: About Book ReviewsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966241468533764102noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700813534075377575.post-60850400753768419412012-06-15T08:28:52.634-05:002012-06-15T08:28:52.634-05:00Marsha,I agree wholeheartedly! Dear Author:Why di...Marsha,I agree wholeheartedly! Dear Author:<i>Why didn't you just ask?!</i> Right now, two books come to mind that make me think, <i>I'm reading this on the wrong end</i>. I wrote a post about the need for a good editor yesterday.<br /><br />As for yours, I can't wait to get my hands on "The Man from Shanendoah". Thanks for the comment.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10966241468533764102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700813534075377575.post-44902933135161981312012-06-12T00:55:29.182-05:002012-06-12T00:55:29.182-05:00LOL! Penny, you remind me of myself as a reviewer....LOL! Penny, you remind me of myself as a reviewer. Except that I have to keep a tight rein, sometimes, so I don't launch into teacher/editor mode and tell the writer how he/she can fix the problems. If only they'd contracted with me for an edit before publication!<br /><br />From time to time, a bit of that still leaks out. I do try to find something good in each book I review (I'll pass on truly abysmal books), but I also am stingy with rankings. Not every book is impressive enough to be a five-star novel. Some are simply nice tales to pass the time.<br /><br />On the other hand, as an author, I'm very gratified when readers have chosen to gush about my books and award them five stars, LOL! That's never because of something I've imposed on readers/reviewers. I do encourage readers to post comments, but never, ever tell them what to say or coach them on where to rank them. I'll take whatever they say, and try to learn something if the book failed to give them a good time.<br /><br />Thanks for speaking your mind.<br /><br />Marsha Ward<br /><a href="http://marshaward.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Writer in the Pines</a>Marsha Wardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15389060049107102815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700813534075377575.post-31562023614818887702012-06-11T19:24:39.591-05:002012-06-11T19:24:39.591-05:00This is only too true. I fear my procedure is sti...This is only too true. I fear my procedure is still in development. I liked the reviews I read on your blog, especially those that are negative. They are honest and well thought-out.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10966241468533764102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8700813534075377575.post-55661434663011816572012-06-11T18:02:43.917-05:002012-06-11T18:02:43.917-05:00I agree with most of what you say here. If an auth...I agree with most of what you say here. If an author wants to control what, how, or where I post my review of his or her book, I will pass on reading it. If I agree to review a book, and have a negative experience with it, my review will state why my experience was negative, and I will post it in the same places I post my positive and neutral reviews. I do this because, in writing a review, my responsibility is more to the potential readers of the book than to its author. If people see only "three-star" or higher reviews from me, they have every reason to question my veracity, because I'm not being completely honest with them.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09834898815142421757noreply@blogger.com