NF Leaving Amazon Reviews

[CLoperfido]

It's a pretty safe bet to say that people who are interested in the Civil War love books. As an author we love to hear feedback from those who read our work. Next time you finish a book please consider leaving a review on Amazon even if you didn't buy it from there, why you ask? Good question, here's why:

1. Again feedback for the author, how did we do? What did or didn't you like?
2. Helps publishers figure out what is working and what isn't as well as what subjects are appealing.
3. Other potential readers can be influenced by reviews and it helps them make a decision on whether or not to give it a shot.
4. Reviews help a book get more exposure especially on Amazon. The bigger the volume of reviews the more people get exposed to the book via recommendations.

So next time you're done with that book please consider a review, something as simple as a star rating or "I enjoyed this book and would recommend" will do just fine. The author and publisher will be appreciative.

 

[DixieRifles]

Good input. I have to admit that I havent posted a book review in quite awhile.
Most of my early reviews posted on Amazon have been simple and just the basics. I would say it was good or bad and why I felt that way. Most reviews was to highlight the purpose of the book. Was a good reference book to put on your shelf or a story that was well researched or full of anecdotes with few references.
When it comes to books related to my study of the WW2 Italian Campaign, my reviews to explains which part of the campaign is covered. I identified if it is about the Britush or the American or both or if it was biased toward one. I also identified the unit it was about if not obvious from the cover, etc.

A year(plus) ago, I bought the bio of Union General Stephen A Hurlbut intending to browse it and put on my shelf. I couldnt put it down even though the first few chapters focused on my least favorite subject: politics. I started drafting a detailed Review. I wanted to give some pre-war background on the General and then highlights of his rise and fall during the War which is quire complicated to describe. My Draft is almost 2 typed pages. Im still trying to slim it down and it is still sitting "on" my Puter.
I discovered it is harder to write a detailed review than to write a book.

I will resolve post a few reviews.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

I write reviews on GoodReads for almost everything I read. I should crosspost at least some of them on Amazon - at least for my favorites, small publisher works I want to support, and any books I bought on Amazon (which isn't much).

My reviews usually follow the same general format:

1. Short summary of the book, sometimes with a breakdown of how it covers different aspects of the subject (ex: "this book spends 100 pages on the campaign leading to the battle and 300 pages on the battle, but reduces the retreat to a short epilogue.") Does it have citations, bibliography, index, or appendices? Did I read it for a particular reason - recommended, gift, research, heard the author speak?

2. What did I like about the book? Interesting people & things I learned about. Issues I'm particularly glad we're covered or compelling arguments made.

3. What did I dislike about the book? Mistakes, dry writing, dubious claims, blatant bias, annoying quirks of the author, printing and editing issues. If I thought it was boring I will say so, but try to explain why if I can.

4. How much did I enjoy it overall? Would I recommend to others and, if so, what audience?

My star rating guidelines:

5 stars: One of the best books I have ever read, would highly recommend to anyone interested in the subject.

4 stars: Good book that I would recommend, but usually had some weaknesses or simply lacked a "wow factor". I rate more books 4 stars than 5.

3 stars: Okay book. Usually this is either a fun read without much depth or a very insightful and well-researched book that is a slow read.

2 stars: Not recommended, but with some redeeming qualities. Most often a book with good content crippled by atrocious editing and/or extremely dull writing.

1 star: Hated it, thus not recommended to anyone. Usually books I found so awful For whatever reason that I stopped reading entirely.

 

[BelleBlackburn]

I think people get overwhelmed with writing a review and feel like it is a term paper. I tell people to think of what you would tell a friend if someone asked what you thought about a book and that is your review. Length is irrelevant.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

I used to write Amazon reviews, but one time I wrote one that was mildly critical of a certain aspect of an otherwise fine book and got an irritated response from the author. I decided it wasn't worth fooling with.

In a larger sense, as someone hoping to publish something someday myself, I have become cautious when it comes to reviewing. If I can't say the book was great, I figure it's better to remain silent. (But I do have some very vehement opinions about certain books...)

(Note: on my navy bibliography on this site, the lack of a thumb's up does not mean the book is bad; it merely means it's not among the best. There's plenty of good stuff in many of the books without a thumb's-up.) (In other cases, it may merely mean I haven't read the book yet.)

 

[mofederal]

I have never written a review for Amazon, but I have been asked to several times. I have no real interest in it. Why I like or dislike a book, is just my opinion. The problem is that everyone including author's have an opinion good, bad or indifferent. Author's really should get over themselves, and learn to chill a bit. We are all human.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

I should note that I read very few new books so that may color some of my opinion on reviewing.

I used to write Amazon reviews, but one time I wrote one that was mildly critical of a certain aspect of an otherwise fine book and got an irritated response from the author. I decided it wasn't worth fooling with.

I think that says more about the author than the review process. Quarrelsome authors accomplish nothing except cause fewer people to read their books.

One review I left resulted in a response from the author pointing out I had missed something. He was correct and I apologized, editing my review accordingly. The review was polite and so was the accompanying exchange of messages.

In a larger sense, as someone hoping to publish something someday myself, I have become cautious when it comes to reviewing. If I can't say the book was great, I figure it's better to remain silent.

As a author in progress myself, I know I will have to face down some negative comments. However, I find writing reviews to be both useful writing practice and useful reflection on what I have just read.

If every review of every book was glowing then all book reviews would be practically worthless.

However, if writing reviews on a more limited basis (blog, periodical, etc) I can certainly see picking and choosing what to review or not review. In my case I rate 100% and review 95% of what I read because I track all my reading through Goodreads.

I have never written a review for Amazon, but I have been asked to several times. I have no real interest in it. Why I like or dislike a book, is just my opinion. The problem is that everyone including author's have an opinion good, bad or indifferent.

Unless you have very narrow reading interests, the number of books to read is functionally infinite. Deciding what to read requires relying on the opinion of others. You can value some opinions more than others (and ignore some entirely), but if you pay no attention to reviews you greatly increase your chances of wasting time with junk.

I've read books despite negative reviews and intentionally not read books with good reviews, but quality reviews usually factored into the decision.

That said, some people certainly don't make useful reviewers. They have trouble expressing why they like or dislike a book, or don't feel they know enough about a subject to have a useful opinion.

I do prefer no review to the people who only know how to rate things 5 stars (liked it) or 1 star (disliked it).

 

[BelleBlackburn]

I used to write Amazon reviews, but one time I wrote one that was mildly critical of a certain aspect of an otherwise fine book and got an irritated response from the author. I decided it wasn't worth fooling with.

In a larger sense, as someone hoping to publish something someday myself, I have become cautious when it comes to reviewing. If I can't say the book was great, I figure it's better to remain silent. (But I do have some very vehement opinions about certain books...)

(Note: on my navy bibliography on this site, the lack of a thumb's up does not mean the book is bad; it merely means it's not among the best. There's plenty of good stuff in many of the books without a thumb's-up.) (In other cases, it may merely mean I haven't read the book yet.)

Mark, no author should EVER contact you over a review. One size does not fit all with books (ANY book) and people have a right to their opinion. If you have thin skin, don't write a book. It is asking for criticism. I'm sorry you got contacted by an irate author but it is definitely not the norm. Ignore them.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Regardless... I'll stick with my mom's "If you can't say anything nice" rule, as far as self-discipline allows me.

(I agree that he shouldn't have contacted me.)

 

[CLoperfido]

I have never written a review for Amazon, but I have been asked to several times. I have no real interest in it. Why I like or dislike a book, is just my opinion. The problem is that everyone including author's have an opinion good, bad or indifferent. Author's really should get over themselves, and learn to chill a bit. We are all human.

I get your point about everyone having an opinion and I am going to try and touch on this from the perspective of an author. I do think your comment that authors should "get over themselves" is a little ridiculous and here is why. Most authors spend a massive amount of time and money (I had to buy the rights to a photo in mine, as well as pay for indexing) working on their book. Unless you have actually written something, the average person has no idea what actually goes into taking an idea and turning it into the finished product that you see in a bookstore.

Not only is there a copious amount of research and writing just to have a manuscript, you then have to shop your manuscript around and find a publisher. Once you get a publisher who will agree to work with you, you sign a contract and then wait, and I mean wait. It could be over a year until the publisher gets to your book. When your number is finally called there are initial edits, followed by more research, reformatting, and rewriting. You have to source photographs for your book and find ones that are 300dpi so it prints well, check footnotes, endnotes, work with the publisher to create a cover, etc. The publisher then creates your first galley proof which is followed by more editing and rewriting. You have to create an index or pay to have one done for you as well. Once those are complete there is then a second galley proof, more editing and rewriting, and finally more waiting. After all this your book finally goes to the printer. It took over two years from when I initially signed my contract with Savas Beatie to final print and that doesn't include the years prior to that when I initially conceived the idea. How would you like to go through all of this and then have no idea if people like it?

So what I am getting at is yeah, authors would like to know what people think of their book. Nobody is asking for a full page thesis on what is good or bad about their work. For me personally, if someone reads my book, is kind enough to go to Amazon and leave a review that states they either enjoyed the book, learned something new, and would recommend it to others, or said they thought it sucked and gave a quick sentence as to why, I would be grateful. Something short and concise is still enough to give me feedback and I can appreciate it one way or the other.

A review also gives a potential reader an idea of whether or not the book is something they would enjoy and is worth spending their hard earned money on. How many times have you thought about buying something and thought eh maybe I should check the reviews just to see what others have said? It is a powerful tool and is very important for authors and publishers. Books are a dying breed and it is becoming increasingly difficult to get books into the hands of readers and anytime you can get some good publicity its appreciated.