Blogger professionalism
I read this post on Katiebabs’ blog yesterday, and have been trying to figure out what I want to say about this topic in general ever since.
for those of you who are clicky-phobic, Kate linked to a reviewer who was told she would no longer be allowed to post negative reviews on a site she reviewed for. Which, of course, caused the comments to explode in yet another old tired debate about mean grrls vs. nice girls on the Internet.
My opinion boils down to this. Reader bloggers are not professional reviewers. It’s nice if we act like professionals when we review, but ultimately our blogs are our own spaces and we don’t actually owe anyone anything. Free Internet and all that. Sure, good manners dictate that possibly saying, “I would rather stare at the contents of my cat’s litter box than ever read anything this untalented, clap-infested whore writes because she obviously got her publishing contract by blowing her editor” might not be the best way to approach a negative review, but, well, it’s not like there aren’t several very successful bloggers who manage to be snarky and fairly well-respected in the book-blogging world.
I, personally, don’t think my online voice is terribly snarky. I’m much better at snark in one-on-one situations with friends, and I do try to be professional when I review a book I didn’t like. This is because I am such a small potato in the book blogging world that every time an author notices one of my reviews, I get all tingly inside, and, since I hate confrontation, I try to be as classy as I can be when I post negative reviews. I don’t know if I succeed even some of the time, but I do try. I also believe in being honest, which has involved giving a few books the dreaded D and F grades. If that bothers people so much, then it’s not like there’s any great loss by them not sending their books to me, right?
Also, I think there’s a difference between snark and outright cruelty. Like, I don’t think I could ever liveblog a book on Twitter, though I have been sorely tempted a time or two. I also think personally attacking an author, speculating on her physical attributes, sexual orientation, or level of education, or calling for books to be burned crosses that line. But I still maintain that sometimes you just gotta say, “This book sucks big hairy donkey balls”.
Another important thing to remember is this: I write reviews for other readers. There is nothing more thrilling for me than turning someone whose reading tastes are similar to mine onto a book I think they’ll love. I mean, think of it. If they love the book, too, we can squee about it endlessly. But my reviews aren’t meant for the edification of the authors of the books I read. I figure that, if an author really wants constructive feedback on the writing process, that’s why she has an agent and/or an editor. By the time the book gets past both of those people and hits my computer, there’s not really anything further I can do to aid the writing process, and I don’t believe I should have to.
Ultimately, though, my blog is not a democracy, and neither is anyone else’s. I do what works for me and I assume other people do, too. That’s the great thing about the book blogging community. There are so many diverse voices, and I really think there’s room for everybody from the uber-snarky to the sweet and cheerful people who have never met a book they didn’t love to those of us somewhere in the middle. And, quite frankly, I wouldn’t have it any other way,.
I’m bothered by the general idea that publishers can say what can and can’t go into a review even if they have provided a review copy. It bothers me.
I could never write a cruel review personally, but it’s possible there’s a need for some.
Amy,
Yeah, that bothers me too. I think that, and my desire to keep my blog centered on readers, is why I haven’t approached publicists for free stuff. It’s just so much easier if I buy the books I want because that way the only person whose money/time is wasted is mine, not some overworked publicist.
As for the value of cruel reviews, well, sometimes they can be funny, which I know is totally subjective. No, I don’t think it’d be nice to read that kind of thing as an author, which is why I try hard not to write especially cruel reviews, but again, from a purely reader standpoint, yeah, they’re definitely entertaining.
Is a negative review really being cruel? I just think it is being honest. It’s not really insulting the author, it is saying that the book is not your cup of tea. And, for every bad review there is usually a few good ones! I can’t believe this debate feels the need to keep going on and on. Every time it quiets down, someone else gets their nose out of joint.
Is a negative review really being cruel? I just think it is being honest. It’s not really insulting the author, it is saying that the book is not your cup of tea.
I think there is a certain distinction being made here between negative reviews and antagonistic reviews…or there should be. There is totally a type of review that does insult the author, because it is literally, well…insulting the author. (“This author has obviously never known the touch of a man, and probably never will if this is any indication,” for example.)
Now I’m not saying that even that is something that is invalid and shouldn’t be done. But as an author, I’m not going to go out of my way to make sure people who want to speculate as to my sexual proclivities, leisure activities or the state of my marriage are going to keep getting free books. I’d prefer they stick to commenting on my insipid prose, weak storylines and cardboard characters or something.
Bad reviews aren’t cruel. Cruel reviews are cruel.
I couldn’t agree with you more. I do think bloggers who review should try to act like professionals, at least in the sense that they should not personally attack an author or be unnecessarily nasty in giving a negative review, but if you don’t like a book you should say so and say why. That is what blog readers should be able to expect from blog reviewers…an honest opinion.
I really enjoyed reading this post. Yes, this is an old argument that goes hand in hand with the “pro reviewer versus blogging reader” debate. To some (those who are paid to be snarky and downright mean-spirited as a Nat’lly syndicated book-bitcher) you and are are qualified to read the book (maybe) but not to put that experience in our own words.
To both arguments I have this to say: It’s their books, and they can give them to who they will AND It’s my blog and I’ll say whatever the heck I want :-p
I’ve only ever read one book that was so bad that the only good thing I could say about it was “if there’s a freak snow storm and your heat goes out, at least ‘The Gunrunner’s Daughter’ is flamable.” Though, “One More Year” came close to being that bad.