1. Bainespal says:

    I would like to write some reviews for this site some day.  Thanks for the encouragement.

    That said, for me, writing reviews is a big pain, to say the least.  I want to express my thoughts about books that I read, when I find ideas and connections that interest me in them.  I want to help the authors by spreading the word about their books.  But writing reviews is just plain hard, one of the hardest things I can contemplate doing.

    For one thing, I usually have to read something twice in order to clarify my thoughts well enough to write a review.  Do you have any suggestions on how to read deeply and carefully enough the first time that re-reading is unnecessary in order to review?  I’ve tried taking notes, and that does help, but then I get caught up in noting every little idea that pops into my head, and I get pulled out of the story. 

    • Great questions, Bainespal.

      I think it’s important to realize we aren’t writing reviews professionally so there’s no standard to which we have to reach except the one God gives us. The fact that you want to help other writers is tremendous! Right there, you have a motive that pleases God, since we know He wants us to love our “neighbor.”

      I think taking notes is good too, though you might want to keep any note-taking for chapter breaks. And then keep it simple–over all impressions, perhaps.

      When I write reviews, I usually try to ask myself why questions: why did I like that character, why did that “surprise” seem predictable, why did I cry at the end (or not)?

      I wish I could help about the reading issue, but the truth is, I’m a slow reader. It’s always been the bane of my reading life, but also the blessing because I do “get things” as I plod along!

      You might try reading out loud, at the beginning, perhaps, or whenever you find yourself flying through a book and want to slow down a bit.

      One last suggestion. How about trying an intermediary step–instead of starting by writing reviews, write a few recommendations. Here at Spec Faith those can go right into the comments section of the novel entry.

      At Amazon or Goodreads or B&N they would simply be short and to the point. A lot of people like those the best.

      Once you get comfortable with those, then you can launch out to full reviews. Just a thought.

      I look forward to whatever you decide.

      Becky

      • Bainespal says:

        I think taking notes is good too, though you might want to keep any note-taking for chapter breaks.

        Good idea!
         

        I wish I could help about the reading issue, but the truth is, I’m a slow reader. It’s always been the bane of my reading life, but also the blessing because I do “get things” as I plod along!

        That’s exactly how it is for me.
         

        How about trying an intermediary step–instead of starting by writing reviews, write a few recommendations.

        I’m thinking deeper, substantial reviews for blogs and ezines, including my own blog and full reviews here.  Then, if I read something and have thoughts about it that I can express quickly but am not motivated enough to write a full review, that’s where databases like Amazon, Goodreads, the Internet Movie Database, and the Interactive Fiction Database are appropriate.
         
        Speculative Faith has the advantage of being both a blog/ezine and a database, and the distinction between reviews and recommendations recognizes that, I think.  I’ll plan to leave recommendations in the comments for books that are in the Library here, at least. 🙂

  2. […] wrote a post today over at Spec Faith about writing reviews. I’m a big believer that we need to be balanced in what we say about […]

  3. Good article. This in particular caught my attention:

    A review is not a slam. A person writing a review should  not vilify either the book or the author.
    A review is not a sales pitch. At the same time, a reviewer is not a shill and should not praise the book for the sole purpose of pushing sales.

    I like this. Reviews have to be charitable (writers are people, too), while still being honest and helpful. I suppose the key is to tell the truth, but tell it kindly.

    Harsh attacks are not always out of line, but I think they should be reserved for books that are malignant. (As opposed to merely, in the artistic sense, bad.) Once I was browsing Plugged In’s movie reviews, because I do this for fun, and I saw a movie title with a biblical ring to it. Thinking it might be an interesting review, I read it.

    Now, Plugged In reviewers try to be even-handed. They have a list of moral categories to report on, and one of these is “Negative Elements”. Under that heading, the reviewer wrote of the Movie With a Biblical Ring: “Really, though, the entire film is one large negative element.”

    I thought that was uncustomarily harsh for a Plugged In review. Then I reached the conclusion: “This is one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen. It is so bad that it could kill monkeys. It is so bad that I’d recommend any cinema playing the thing to put baffles up so its badness doesn’t somehow leak onto adjacent screens. It is so bad it should come with a surgeon general’s warning—and a government tax for causing cancer.”

    Hmm. Well.

    The movie’s basic idea is that the archangel Michael rebels against God – and he’s right. As he says to Gabriel, “I gave Him what He needed.” A story that re-dresses Satan as Michael and approves of his rebellion is malignant, and it’s due for some hard words.

    But most errors are lesser, and they should be given gentler treatment. G. K. Chesterton once said that as even a bad man is still a man, so a bad poet is still a poet – and I’d extend the same regard to a bad novelist.

  4. […] glad you asked. Becky has already answered much in this column. (We also hope to turn it into a featured article). She gives examples of what a review is not and […]

  5. Kristen says:

    I’m working toward being more consistent about posting reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. Is it OK to copy those reviews and submit them here?

    • Hello, Kristin! More thoughts on Spec-Faith reviews are here, and a complete listing of our review-submission policy is at the review-submission form. Previously published reviews are more than welcome, if the reviewer him- or herself is copying and submitting the review. We’d only ask that you include the original source (especially if it is your own blog or website), so that you as the author can receive due credit.

What do you think?