Reginald MarshAnd I am not going to mention its title or author, but it's been out more than 18 months and is still under 250 on Amazon. Plus it has won a big award or two. But look at the amazon ratings.
Almost as many people hate this book as love it. I would have to conclude that the reviews it received in newspapers made it a success. Or the author's previous work led people to it.
If I went to Amazon, not knowing whether to order this book or not, I would probably be wary.
Is amazon a bad place to check out a book? Do the reviews come from unreliable people? You can't really say that people who love or hate a book are more likely to post a review because this book is almost perfectly distributed among the five categories except for a slight preference to rate it highly. Or I would conclude this is a difficult book and those looking for an light read will be disappointed. In this case, people must feel strongly about this book.
19 comments:
I suspect that there is and always will be a large gap between what judges for major literary awards consider good writing and what the average person wants to read. I think the distribution of ratings from Amazon accurately displays the range of reader attitudes — from " prose is truly a pleasure to read, no matter how absurd or at times unpleasant the subject matter" to "Awful and unbelievably pretentious" Years ago my library colleagues told me I had to read The English Patient. I didn't make it past the first 2 or 3 pages.
Two answer your question, no, I don't think Amazon is a bad place to check out a book. For me, I like the wide range of reviews and I generally read the comments on reviews when they are present. There is a lot of back and forth that you don't get reading a newspaper or journal review.
Have to admit, before buying a book I do read some reviews there. If I am merely taking it from the library, not so much. How are you. Mack!
I would never buy a book based on Amazon reviews, good, bad or otherwise. I'd rather rely on: authors I already read; reviewers I know and trust; the plot or setting or something that speaks to my interests; blogs I read and trust.
Occasionally I will look at Amazon to check reviews and often find they are indeed all over the place.
As for best sellers, once you become one you are pretty much going to remain a bestseller no matter how poor a writer you are (names furnished on demand) or how crappy your best seller may actually be (ditto).
Can we know the name of the book now? Please?
Jeff M.
Doing OK Patti. A recent holiday in Italy has boosted my morale after a horrible summer.
Thanks for featuring Reginald Marsh. I'd forgotten how much I enjoy his work and I look forward to results of the flash fiction contest.
I just started receiving Crimespree Magazine and haven't got to the reviews yet. I'll look for you.
It might be a fun study to analyze the Amazon reviews for major book award winners and see if there is a consistent distribution of 5 to 1 stars.
Jeff M, I don't think I've purchased or rejected a book based on an Amazon review. Electronics, yes, books, no. I rely on the same sources you do though I might be heavier on blogs I trust.
Even though I post reviews on Amazon now and again(not nearly on everything I read, good or bad), I often wonder at some of them posted. The reviewers admit in some cases not to have read a book. That I don't get.
Readers have different tastes. What you like I might not and vice versa. And we might even have an overlap in likes.
Until I started with Amazon's Vine program, I never posted reviews on books I didn't like. Didn't see the point and it might not be the book where the problem lies. I try to pick books that lie in my interest zone, but occasionally I get one that misses. In order to remain in the program, I'm obligated to review a certain percentage of what I get.
I still review books I buy only if I like them.
I have wondered about that program, Randy. I saw it sink a book last spring before it even was out. It eventually got a lot of pretty good reviews but the initial ones were bad. Haven't read the book so I don't know who was right. Do writers agree to submit to that program or is it thrust upon them? I only amazon review a book I have liked. I did a bad one once, because I found a book offensive, and even regretted that.
AMAZON reviews don't influence me much. I will check out the 1-star reviews, but I'm usually buying a book because someone I trust told me the book is good or I read a review by someone whose tastes are similar to mine.
I suspect that the split reviews are largely driven by expectation. People are drawn to bestsellers and hope that all of them deserve the bestseller status. For some of them, the book fulfils expectations, for others not. Books that have not broken through or have more limited readership are perhaps more likely to be bought, read and reviewed by people who have sought the book out, or been referred to it, or have browsed it before buying? The vine program is likely to lead to more negative reviews as people are compelled to read and review books that it turns out they don't like (and probably don't finish) and wouldn't normally read. As a result, my guess is that books in the vine program are more likely to have the kind of distribution you report in your post. Wouldn't be difficult to statistically test if anyone's got the energy or a spare, bored student at hand.
When a book get over a hundred reviews on Amazon there seem to be a few of the obligatory, one-line reviews by "a reader" who calls it "the worst book I've ever read." I assume those people re high school freshman who "had" to read it but I don't know.
I've written exactly one 1-star review on Amazon and it was for a book that was so bad, so mean, that it made me re-assess the work I'd liked by the author (of course, no one marked my review as helpful). Most of the books I've reviewed on Amazon I did it because they were somewhat obscure and older and I figured that I'd tell someone that if they stumbled onto it they should get it.
I reviewed books professionally for a few years and, when I was reading a book I didn't like I turned it into a game "Well, why did this get published?" and usually I could figure out a reason even if it wasn't a good reason for me.
I'd definitely have to read some of the reviews on this one before making a decision. i'm guessing, like you, I'd be very wary in general of this book.
Interesting post.
No, I don´t let Amazon reviews influence me very much because it seems so many reviewers there either write glowing five-star reviews of ordinary books, or they love to trample on books just because it had one flaw or two (where I would mention the shortcomings but probably give it three stars for the good sides).
But for a new writer it is useful to check what goes on on Amazon, Goodreads etc. When I received my first two-star review I took a look at some of my favourite books and realized their average ratings were all lower than mine. So I concluded that I had entered the real world where you are also judged by strangers who couldn´t care less about you and your books ;)
Patti, the last two Thursdays in each month, a news letter is sent to those in the program, a short list the first and an expanded the last.
It's filled with various titles(everything from children's books to thrillers, the occasional western, religious stuff, self-help, and such), electronic equipment and accessories, food(mostly snacks), bottles of seasonings, and energy drinks.
The electronics are hard to get. I've tried with a computer keyboard, computer speakers, and an expensive watch. Most of the time, you get "out of stock on this item." They go fast.
I'm more of a book person anyway.
The books are ARCs, so I presume publishers submit them to the program.
You're allowed to pick two from each emailing as long as you've reviewed 75% of previously selected items.
Do you find most of the reviews you see of books you have read to be fair, Randy? It sounds like fun to participate in.
Barely any newspapers review books any longer, at least not in any systematic way. And why did you choose not to cite the book in question?
In any case, the author of this one has picked up a number of awards over the years, has been publishing books for about a decade and half, at least, and this one, of course, won a major award some months back, though not 18 months back, which helped it keep sales up...but, then, that award is often handed off to logrolling choices.
The work in question is a bit cute and a bit difficult, which means it will annoy a wide range of readers, while enchanting those who find a bit cute and a bit difficult enchanting. I've read a bit of her work, but nothing at book length, and might well pick this one up when I get around to it...being something of an aging punk-rock enthusiast myself, and not afraid of a Bit Difficult, though a Bit Cute can put me off.
But, golly, no, Amazon reviews are about as worthless as, say, Peter Travers film reviews in ROLLING STONE. Or those of the horror and sf columnists in THE NEW YORK TIMES. Though they can be amusing.
As I said, Amazon reviews of an item can be all over the place. Different strokes...
Some make no sense to me. I can read one that finds things I didn't see when I read it. Sometimes i agree, sometimes I don't.
Before the vine program, I never reviewed a book I didn't like(and I've gotten some ARCs from publishers I didn't care for). Those I just quietly put away. I don't always blame the book for not liking it. Not muy thing, the mood I'm in when I read it, the style of the author.
I learned a long time ago that the fact that I don't like it doesn't make it a bad book. Conversely, if I like one, it doesn't necessarily mean it's a well written book.
Todd, you are so right. I get a kick out of some of the movie ads quoting Travers or "Jeff Craig of Sixty Second Preview" or (a few years ago) Earl Dittman. Now it's any fool who has a website. I guess they think people (i.e. morons) are easily led.
Whenever I see "the perfect date movie" or "the feel-good movie of the season" I know the reviewer is useless (to be kind) and the movie is not for me. Of course, the ultimate "critic" that guarantees a movie is unwatchable is Larry King.
Jeff M.
I review at Amazon and elsewhere.
Often I go read reviews of the book I just reviewed and wonder what the heck the 'reviewer" was reading. It isn't just at Amazon where clearly those who are posting reviews did not read the book.
Or, did read the book and feel the need to spew every last detail into the review.
As I used to teach back when I was doing the Muse Online Workshops every fall, know the reviewer. Look at the body of work he or she produces.
Post a Comment