Those who visit here regularly know there will be novel reviews posted. There will be books I love and books I don't and many - possibly even most - of them somewhere in between.
Those of us who read a lot of novels and write reviews decide if and what we can recommend to others. We've all read those books we've hated for whatever reason(s), and we know there is next to nothing good we can say about them. I've read a few that kept me shaking my head as I dragged through them because I was obligated to write a review. The obligation makes it very difficult to find a way around insulting the author.
As I pointed out in Monday's post, snarky, super-critical, and insulting reviews serve no purpose other than to flaunt an opinion. Telling the truth without decimating an author creates a fine line but a necessary measurement of a particular book's appeal. It's okay not to like a novel. I don't know any author who can please all readers.
I once reviewed a novel I thought was written poorly. Badly. I didn't like anything about the story. I said so but tried not to be mean. I got some critical feedback. I reviewed another book I didn't enjoy even a little bit and explained why. I got some insulting feedback. All the negative comments were from people who enjoyed the books. One gal was not nice. All this over books.
Is there a lesson to be learned about reviews? Perhaps. However, those who might need the lesson probably aren't interested in hearing it. They're entitled to their opinions after all. And we are. As readers, most of us realize now and then we're going to buy, borrow, or get free a story we don't like. If we're obligated to give a review, the least we can do is state our opinion with some dignity and respect for the author and for ourselves.
And never forget: an opinion is just that. Nothing more. No more valuable than someone else's.
Father, help us to be kind, decent, and honest. Help us to remember there are people at the other end of our words. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.