Wrong or right reviews?

There is no right or wrong way to do reviews.  I do try and make sure if I don't like a book that my review stays on the book and doesn't say things like ... that author must have been crazy to write that book...  Otherwise I think anything is fine.  As for comments, I think it comes down to commenting on others blogs gets you more comments on your own blog. 

Cady

This is my third year doing this challenge and I gotta say, I don't think there is such a thing as a right or a wrong review. If you don't like something you've read it's okay to say so. Likewise if you DO like something say so. We are all entitled to our own tastes and opinions. Not everyone likes the same style, genre, authors, etc. In fact, most of my friends on here and elsewhere have vastly different tastes from mine and that's entirely cool with me.

If anyone else in this community has given you the impression that it's NOT okay, then it is they, not you, who are missing the point of this challenge and likely missing the point of life. My advice would be to mentally give 'em a big loud  and just keep doing what you're doing. (notice I said mentally. I don't advocate flame wars, etc.)

The point of the community is to build relationships and friendships based on the common bond of loving books/reading--particularly romance. It isn't a popularity contest.

If there appears to be cliques formed I'd say it doesn't have so much to do with exclusivity/popularity/etc as it does with a few combined components such as the amount of time devoted to various threads/blogs on the boards (aka visibility, diverse interests, etc), the length of membership (some of us have known each other for years. Doesn't mean we aren't open to meeting and getting to know new people. Just that it takes a little time and effort to get to know other folks around here.) and common interests (are you British? From Canada? Love SuperRomances? There is a thread in the forums for just about everyone).

As for commenting, I find it difficult to keep up with the number of blogs/reviews posted daily. I comment when I can if a certain title catches my eye but I'll be the first to admit that I don't always have time to do so. And yeah, I get that it's disappointing to not have comments on the books you've reviewed. I face that, too. But I honestly don't think it's anything personal or intended as a slight against an individual who doesn't get any comments.

All that said, I hope you continue blogging and reviewing. And I don't know if you have already or not, but explore the forums. It may seem a little daunting at first to get involved in an active thread but let me assure you--we were all newbies once. And unless things have changed and nobody told me, very few of us bite--unless asked. hehehehe

If you ever need to vent or whatever just drop me an email. I'm not around as much as I used to be but I check my email daily. janabelle2002 @ yahoo dot com.

And too, if there is someone or a group of someones giving you grief, let Jayne or Lorie or any of the hosts know. I'm sure they'd be glad to help.

LOL

(Hi Jana and Cady )

It's no real thanks to the kids that I read so much, that's what comes naturally after a lifetime of being a readaholic

Hugs

Sadhbh 

I have nothing really different to add. I started doing this challenged in February and I try to let others know if I liked a book. I certainly recognize that not everyone is going to agree with me. Sometimes I do not like a certain book--but I also try to make it about my tastes/interests and not about the author.

There has been a rare occasion when I felt the story line was in bad taste--it offended me. But that's really about me, isn't it? We don't all have the same tolerances or standards in life, now do we.

Say what you feel you need to say. Try to remember that authors are people with feelings and even if we didn't enjoy their story it doesn't mean they are a bad writer.

If you find you disagree most of the time about stories that get rave reveiws--probably those books are not a good choice for you.

I have several types of books that I will never read in great quantities. There might be an occasional author that I find her writing brilliance will compel me to pick up a book in that line anyhow.  So, remain open to possibilities outside your comfort zone. But search for reviewers that enjoy the same type of read and take your suggestions from them.

I would blog more, but I work fulltime, have kids, I read and I'm trying to write--so, I don't comment all over the place. I read more blogs than I leave a note at.

Most of all,  remember to have fun with this.

I don't have a problem with opinions that are not so favourable on books that I really loved .... we all have our own tastes  ... this is a very diverse online Community with Members from around the world .... we come here because of the one thing we all have in common, our love for Romance and the Happy Ever After  :)

I like honest reviews ... I personally won't write a "negative" review in great detail ... I'll simply state that the book didn't work for me, and I might give a simple example .... but I will not attack the author or the imprint line ... to me that is not reviewing 

I will admit that if a Member is always writing "negative" reviews, I'll stop reading them .... I have enough negativity in my life that I don't want to come here to constantly read it too .... and I think many people are that way  

I've read your reviews todate, and the negative ones are fine .... and you do have positive reviews as well ... some books work, some don't  .... easy peasy

I can't comment on why others don't "comment" on blogs or reviews ... I personally don't have as much time here as I used to (busy time of year) ... and often, what I would have had to say someone's already said it .... and maybe there is something to the "if you comment on other Member's blogs and reviews, they'll comment on yours" ... heck, that would explain why so many of mine are "commentless"  LOL   ... just not enough hours in the day!!

once again, Welcome to the Challenge and I look forward to seeing what books you've been reading  :)

I really don't think there is a right or wrong way to write a review. These reviews are YOUR opinion. Just because A and B liked the book doesn't nessecarily mean you will like it. When I write my reviews I try not to diss the author or line and state the reasons why the book didn't work for ME.

I don't really think clicques excist here. We have all come together here because we share a common bond. BOOKS So even if some of us have been here for 3 years or one month it doesn't matter because we alredy have a common interest.

This is such a big online community that it's difficult to commenton every post/review. I don't work or have kids at home or have a dh and I have a herd time visiting a lot of reveiws, I don't know how some of these people with jobs, kids and husbands do it. Am in total awe.

b/c I'm not supposed to be here.

First, as long as you are respectful, write what you think about the books you read. There are people's whose tastes are very similar to mine and I know that b/c they write honest reviews. Some of us write much shorter reviews when we don't like a book . . .It has happened more than once that some of us who usually overlap in tastes disagreed about a book. But we talk about it in a respectful and friendly way and just go on to other books.

One of my goals for this year was to spend less time here. It's been hard, and I've probably failed, but I don't let myself comment nearly as often as I'd like to b/c it does take time. And with the school year starting for a lot of us (parents and teachers), so everyone's getting into the new routine and probably stopping by less often and for shorter periods of time which = fewer and/or shorter comments all over the boards.

Once you've been around a while, you'll notice that there are busier times and quieter times around here. You'll start making friends if you just keep showing up. I don't check the book reviews. I do check blog entries and my favorite forums and my friends' blogs (which includes their books reviews). That is NOT b/c I don't want to meet new people, it's just b/c I'm umm not supposed to be here so often that I notice all the new people. That also means that I wouldn't "meet" you until you'd posted a blog entry or posted a comment in one of my "favourites" threads. And right there -- the fact that you're posting in one of my "favourites" threads -- means that we have lines in common. For example, sheandeen is fairly new to the community, but she and I "see" each other all the time in the Medical Romance threads . . . so I started making a point to find her reviews.

Everyone here is nice, it just takes time to find the ones that you click with. And even if you don't overlap much in reading tastes, you'll still find that your love of the romance genre will bring you together. And other things, too.

Just give it time and keep posting. People will find you in a variety of ways, but this is so big site so really really give it time. We want you to feel welcome. 

Penn

Oops, guess that wasn't so fly-by. See? That's why I don't make many comments. B/c a 30 second comment becomes 5-10 minutes of typing . . . add that up over as many times as I want to comment and my kids are going to school in their pjs with no lunch and coming home to a messy house and no dinner LOL.

(but which of you remembers what film that was originally a quote from? )

Write the reviews that you feel comfortable with, as long or as short as you feel suits that particular book, and anytime you feel inspired to make it different and change things, go with that too

Hugs

Sadhbh 

since I've been dealing with annoying computer problems so I haven't been around much for the last month or so.  But in answer to your question, no, you won't be judged by that at all!  There are no right or wrong reviews in that reviews are just an opinion and well, we all have different opinions.  As for cliques, I don't think there are cliques. People do tend to gravitate towards the folks who read the same books as they do but I wouldn't consider that a clique per se.  The key thing is HAVE FUN!  Enjoy posting and read what you enjoy! 

Lynn and I thoroughly agree.

Damn.  My mind went straight to Pulp Fiction.  I'm such a child. 

looks like a wonderful dog. I have three cats but I just love dogs also. I haven't commented on any of your reviews because I haven't read any of the same books yet. Thanks for becoming my friend. Hang in there you will get used to the site. I was frustrated at first too but everyone is so helpful and friendly. I noticed you reviewed a couple of Jane Porter books and I really like her writing also so will have to see if I have read them or not.

and so true

I agree with everyone about no right or wrong review just so long as it is not disrespectful towards the author.

I've been a member of this community for a long time. Maybe about seven years? The format has changed many times but the thing that remains the same is that we all love romance.

I have got to know some ladies from the forums back when I first started and there were no blogs or reviews. I just started posting comments in the forums and the ladies didn't ignore me but welcomed me. I think that in the different forums you can see the friendships develope. I love posting in What Are You Reading Now because we don't just mention what we are reading but ask and comment on our lives and in doing so we get to know each other better. I know there are other forums like that. Someone mentioned the Canadian discussion, etc.

When we started the blogs, it was really fun to see what people thought about a book and we were/are able to talk about it more than just mention what we are reading. That is when I started to get to know other people on the community better. It is easy to strike up a conversation about a book you both read.

A lot of the people who I have on my buddy list are because I got to know them over time but some are new too. I think that, if you find someone who posts books that are your kind of thing, then you should just request them as a buddy so that you can keep track of their reads.

It can be intimidating to ask someone to be your buddy but just do it. When we first started this new format for the community, I was asked to be a buddy and I asked others. I think that of the ones I asked at least 99% accepted me as a buddy. As time has gone by, I know I have not been doing the buddy requests because I haven't been thinking about it just because of being so busy reading books, reading blogs/reviews and trying to get my own done. :) It is not because I don't want a person as a buddy. Maybe like me, people are just forgetting their buddy button? :(

So, just post away. Make comments in peoples blogs and reviews when it interests you and you will see that your buddy list will grow.

Check out your Pending buddy requests. I'm sure you have some.
Margie :)

Hugs

Sadhbh 

Remind me NOT to send her the new Stephanie Laurens that should be arriving any day now

Hugs

Sadhbh 

thanks for saving me.

Angel