Friday, March 13, 2015

Learning from book reviews

I do a lot of book reviews and let me tell you all something, there is so much to learn from doing reviews. After reading a book I mull over what I didn’t like in the book (in terms of story, characters, writer’s voice, antagonist, plot and the resolution). Once we know what we didn’t like in the books we read, it’s easy to cross-check if these are found in our own books and eliminate them.

Earlier, I would avoid reading many book reviews. Nowadays, I make it a point of reading a lot of them. I try to learn from the reviews I read.

It’s not easy for a writer to get objective about our own stories and writing. So, we depend on our critique partners and beta readers. I have added reviewers to that list. As some reviewers have a discerning eye they analyze the entire story under a literary microscope and tell the readers what worked in the story and what didn't. From these classic reviewers/reviews one can learn a lot.

Last year, I reviewed a book for the newspaper. I mentioned that the story was good, the characters had come to life and I also mentioned that the writing had slipped at places and the editing could have been better.

The writer whose book I reviewed has been asking me to let him know which are the places in which the writing has slipped, so that he can avoid repeating the same mistake in his future books. I have promised him I will let him know this week. This writer has been a classic example of learning from book reviews.

What do you all feel about learning from book reviews? Have you ever read a book review and analysed your story keeping the review in mind? Do you think book reviews (reviewing as well as reading a review) teach writers something?



16 comments:

  1. Yes. One reviewer commented that my book reads like an outline of a larger novel as descriptions are sparse. And I realized they were right. From then, I have been working on my description. But I think we should not take all the reviews to heart (some do) as that is going to distract or even upset us. Critical, but frank reviews should always be welcome.

    Destination Infinity

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  2. I do read my reviews and I have learned from them. Some areas I still struggle with though, like world-building. But they have helped me add elements that were lacking.

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  3. I think it is good to learn from reviews. That's a lot for the author to ask you to tell him/her more about his book's weaknesses like a critique. You're nice to do it for him.

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  4. I agree that you can learn a lot from reading reviews, and from doing them, too. I review books and find they make me more mindful of issues in my own writing. I agree with Natalie, too: He's asking you to critique his book, and it's nice of you to do so.

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  5. Writing book reviews for others and reading reviews (not even necessarily reviews for your books) really helps you to find out what readers like and don't like. All writers should try it.

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  6. I learn a lot from reviews, at least the ones about my book. Book blogger reviews can be very entertaining, but I rarely have time to read them. Congrats on writing a review for a paper and yay for being generous enough to help the author. You're a sweetheart!

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  7. I've learned a few things from book reviews, but I've actually learned more from one on one conversations with readers that I know. There's a few people who have pointed out small issues with my books that have helped me become a better writer of my next books.

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  8. Book reviews can help in choosing wheter a particular book would appeal your taste of reading!

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  9. I do a lot of critiquing of books...but very little reviewing. There is a big difference and I generally try to avoid the latter. :)

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  10. I've learned that a lot of parents don't like their 10-year-olds to read books where girls even know boys exist (for romantic purposes, anyway) so I'll probably avoid my 12/13-year-old characters having crushes in future books.

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  11. It's great that author was receptive to your criticism, because sometimes it can go a totally different way! I haven't thought about looking over my own story after reading a review, but it's a good point. A good review should strip a book down to its bare bones in terms of character, plot, structure. Scary but can be helpful!

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  12. I don't really like book reviews and don't do them, but I learn from critiquing other's stories in much the same way.

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  13. I think good reviewers, who say what works and what doesn't, can be very helpful to the author, and to other authors who read the reviews. Critique groups are good for the same things, which is why it's so important to have others read your work before it's in print.

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  14. I think good reviewers, who say what works and what doesn't, can be very helpful to the author, and to other authors who read the reviews. Critique groups are good for the same things, which is why it's so important to have others read your work before it's in print.

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  15. Feedback from readers, no matter what form it takes, is always worth its weight in gold. I will skip the ones that are just mean, but the ones where readers have obviously given a bit of thought to the faults and credits to a story are always weighed and considered in subsequent books.

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  16. Feedback from readers, no matter what form it takes, is always worth its weight in gold. I will skip the ones that are just mean, but the ones where readers have obviously given a bit of thought to the faults and credits to a story are always weighed and considered in subsequent books.

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