Sometimes when we finish a book, we have a bit of a 'meh' feeling about it and we move onto the next book without giving the finished one another thought. Other times when we finish a book, we feel strongly about it. Sometimes the feelings are strongly good - we loved it. Sometimes the feelings are strongly bad - something about it just left us disappointed (or worse - angry!). It can often be when these extremes of feelings occur after reading a book, that we feel we have the most to say in a review.
In so many aspects of our lives, we follow through and action the extremes of feelings via the words we share with others. It's natural to shout to the rooftops about the great things and the bad things that happen to us. Often, the mundane things that we experience day to day are never spoken of, even though they form most of what our day comprises and what is happening in our lives. The in-betweens are little mentioned and yet, so very important.
Writing a book review can be daunting for some. For others, it's extremely easy to give one's opinion. The most important thing to remember is that all reviews ARE just that - opinions. Everything is subjective. Sometimes we are attracted to people that others aren't. Sometimes we love listening to music that others don't. Equally so, sometimes we love or despise a book ... and yet, others might equally feel as strongly but in the opposite way. Regardless of how a reader feels about a story, I would love to encourage all to write a review. Don't let it be daunting, and don't let it only be about the books that inspire that great feeling or that negative feeling. Consider also writing reviews for all those books that lie within those boundaries - the books that left you feeling 'meh'. It's quite okay to write 'I loved this', 'I liked this', 'It was okay', or 'This book wasn't for me', and any of these are very much enough! Reviews do not have to be lengthy discussions, and any author will welcome any encouragement from a reader. Like in any aspect of life, we can focus on the glass that's half empty, or the glass that's half full. In reviews, we can focus on the negative or we can pick out one small aspect that was a positive. Or .. we can just say 'Liked it', 'Didn't work for me', or any other comment. They're all appreciated so very much.
So next time you read a book, please take a moment to consider writing something in the review section of the book retailer. And, hey, if words aren't your thing, go for a simple... :) ... it will still make the writer smile.
It's a gorgeous spring day here in my hometown of Dunedin, New Zealand. It is a perfect day to continue writing my latest story, and even a great day to write a review!
Enjoy!