On novel reviews. A couple of years ago I argued I wouldn’t be doing “reviews”. Equated them with book reports in school. Anything “school” makes my curly hair go straight and my normal nail-biting increase tenfold.
Once again author Mike Duran posted an interesting opinion about book reviews (http://mikeduran.com/?p=11984#comments) and generated a lot of comments which were equally stimulating.
So. Got me to thinking about what I do here. Sometimes I do novel reviews. Sometimes I give a simplistic approach to sharing what a book’s about and who might appreciate it. Sometimes I review and recommend a novel.
If I choose to do a review, I’ll tell you what I like and don’t like about the novel. If I go the simplistic route, I’ll give a limited description and commentary about the novel. The reason for that is I’m not the target audience for the novel but figure it meets the prescribed needs of the intended audience. The review with a recommendation might also contain what I like and don’t like about a novel, but what I don’t like is insignificant if I’m recommending it to readers. A perfect example of that is my review of the novel Dogwood by Chris Fabry. To this day I’m unsure as to whether or not I like the ending, but I loved everything else about the book. I mentioned one weakness besides my indecision about the ending, but that opinion of the weakness didn’t diminish the story or his writing for me.
I have given a few “bad” reviews. They’re difficult to do, and the only reason I’ve done them is I felt duty bound because of the arrangement with those who supply the books. Yes, the CBA writing world is relatively small and it’s possible to one day be in proximity to someone whose novel you chose to review with a less than positive evaluation. Not to mention having them stop by your site to read what you’ve written about their book. Will you be able to face them and feel comfortable with how you presented your review? If so, then you’ve done a fair job.
Does that mean you shouldn’t mention negatives about a book you read? No. It means your objections should be clothed in gracious explanations. If you’re not the target audience, state that.
And remember the Classics. Even with their distinctive recognitions, the novels which have achieved literary acceptance over decades and some for centuries are still debated and disliked, criticized and canned, ridiculed and ripped.
Keep in mind you might be a judge of a novel, but you’re not the jury. You’re one individual with an opinion. It might be the prevailing opinion about the piece, and it might not. Any reviewer is entitled to give his/her opinion—however each one chooses.
It would be more informative if those who “review” novels indicated they only choose to publish opinions of the books they like. And it would definitely be more helpful if those who give opinions of novels tell us if they’re readers or writers or both.
Just some thoughts on the subject of “reviews” . . .
God, help us to be truthful with grace. To be kind and honest. To treat our peers as you would have us do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.