Wearing another hat

Lynne Patrick

When I joined the Dead Guy team a few years ago, one of the links in the idea-to-bookshelf chain was a reviewer. (Hi, Sharon; I’m guessing you still check in from time to time, even if it’s a while since we heard from you. Give me a call sometime.)

That role hasn’t been filled recently, so this week I thought I’d take the opportunity to plug the gap, if you’ll pardon the expression. I recently started reviewing a book a month for a website, and they’ve used everything I’ve submitted so far, so I think I’d qualify even if I wasn’t a voracious and reasonably discerning reader as well.

So far I’ve reviewed three books, sent one back because I couldn’t connect with it at all and am reading another at the moment. Of the three, one was in danger of becoming a well-kept secret: a beautifully written heart-tugger which explored the nature of grief as it moved through the puzzle which caused the grief. I would never have found it if it hadn’t been on the list available for review, but I’m very glad indeed that I did. It wasn’t an intellectually demanding read, but it made me wipe away a tear or two.

One was a kind of adventure-romp: lots of galloping around the world, a couple of feisty female characters and a sexy hero, one of the world’s enduring mysteries to solve and a rising body count along the way. It was fun, decently done tosh, and I read it in a couple of sittings.

I described the third as dense, chewy and ultimately satisfying, which is probably about right. It was historical, which isn’t always good news for me, and the author had done a lot of research, which can be very tricky to blend into a storyline without getting bogged down. But his characters drew me in and I think he pulled it off.

The one I couldn’t connect with was so badly written I simply couldn’t get past the first page. I have a feeling it was self-published. And it’s reappeared twice on the list available for review. Go figure.

The one I’m currently reading is... interesting. It’s set in the 1960s, and judging by the little stabs of nostalgia it’s giving me, not all of them entirely comfortable, the author has either done his homework or he’s been there, done that.

OK. Now for today’s question. Does any of the above affect in any way at all your desire to read any of these books? The brief of the website I’m reviewing for is to support crime and mystery fiction, which means reviewers are required to say what’s good about the books and not harp on about what doesn’t work. I think my three-line summaries above are a little more realistic; so far the only real turkey I’ve chosen is the one I didn’t even attempt to review, but nothing’s perfect.

I’m interested to know to what extent my single, untutored opinion is likely to make people buy or not buy the books I’m allowed to pontificate about. And not just me; do reviews actually count for anything?

And how about those best of... lists that proliferate at this time of year? I have a vested interest here, kind of: my good friend Chris Nickson was recently delighted and flabbergasted in equal measure to find the audio version of his first Richard Nottingham novel, The Broken Token (which was the one I spotted, folks; big buzz for me too), on a very short list of best audiobooks of 2012 alongside J K Rowling and Ian Fleming in one of the UK’s leading national newspapers! Does that make you want to read it? Or does it put you right off?

I ask because I’m interested. If I’d known the secret ingredient that makes people buy one book and not another when I was still in publishing, I might just possibly not have given it up. But I’m still interested.

Comments

[ABE]

"Of the three, one was in danger of becoming a well-kept secret: a beautifully written heart-tugger which explored the nature of grief as it moved through the puzzle which caused the grief."

That one got me. I am SO tired of badly written books, and 'well-kept secret' seems to be attached to many of the books I love.

Or the category: 'I love it but don't even know how to talk about that without sounding sappy.'

Can you tell us what that is?

My reactions are often different from those of the majority of reviewers, so I appreciate good leads. I want depth, ethics, moral dilemmas, sacrifice - and joy. And the kind of realism that says 'that could really happen, maybe even to me under the right circumstances.'

[Laura K Curtis]

It affects my desire to read all of them, actually. I am especially interested in the first two. Want to give us the titles?

I am actually Community Manager for http://www.criminalelement.com, where we don't do reviews, but we do this weird hybrid thing called a "Fresh Meat," which is where our bloggers talk about what aspect of the book most struck them and give examples of it.

It's a hard thing to explain when people start because they think it means "write positive reviews," but we want more of what you're talking about--characterizing the novels. I frequently disagree with reviews, and am much more apt to be interested in your style of writing a "review" than many. I don't want a "grade," which is all most reviews seem oriented to give you.

[Becky]

Good sharing, welcome to joy fax server: http://www.joyfax.com

[Kevin]

Since what you said are not reviews it changes nothing for me. You have made comments that in context don't have enough information or depth for me to consider.

[Kristopher]

I think that all reviews (and styles of review) have a place. Readers are likely to find reviewers they trust (maybe because they have similar tastes or maybe because they enjoy the writing style of the reviews), so I say do what feels natural.

On my blog, I limit my reviews to positive reviews as well (though I am not above saying that some part of the story could have used work, as long as the overall review is positive). I made this decision for myself, after reading many negative reviews of books I happened to love. It is my theory that every book has a reader out there and who am I to discourage someone from picking it up by giving it a bad review. After all, a review by definition is an opinion. I just choose not to spread more negative energy.

This certainly doesn't mean I don't read books I hate - I just don't discuss them on my blog. I certainly don't think this is the ONLY way to run a blog/review website. I know authors who like to learn how to improve from negative reviews, but I just think that is better discussed one-on-one and not in a review.

Let's face it, there are people out there who believe everything they read on the internet and if my negative comment stopped someone from finding a book they personally ended up loving (regardless of how poorly written or unbelievable the plot), then I have done a disservice to the author. So I will stick with mainly positive reviews.

[Lynne Patrick]

See above for the first one, Laura. The second is called The Roswell Conspiracy, author Boyd Morrison, published in the UK by Sphere.
I look forward to taking a look at criminalelement.com when I get a minute.

[Lynne Patrick]

It's called Sworn Secret, author Amanda Jennings, published in the UK by Constable & Robinson, a meium-sized indie house. I stand by everything I said, but it's possible it may be a tad girle for your taste, Abe. Then again, maybe not.

[ABE]

Thanks so much - if nothing else, your description leads me to go take a look. If it's not for me, I will figure that out - but you gave a book you loved a chance to connect because I value YOUR writing about writing.

That's how it should be. If I ever get things published, and someone likes what I write, I will be pleased if they take the time to mention it. Because good books deserve it.

Who the author is, is irrelevant (unless they have more goodies a reader who likes them can go slurp up). The book, the writing, the voice - that is the important part.

PS - I do have a girlie side - life has just bashed it down a bit.

[Liebjabberings.wordpress.com]

I had a premonition: I bought Sworn Secret by Amanda Jennings. I am a third of the way through it - have not been able to put it down.

Not a false note. Her people are real and true, and the situation she has chosen to write about clutches at my heart.

Beautifully written is exactly right.

I am SO glad you recommended it; I'll review it when I've finished.