This hop is hosted by Billy over at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer. Every week bloggers answer a question and then visit other blogs that are participating. This week's question is:
If you don't like a book that you said you would review, do you graciously turn it down and explain why or do you struggle through it and hopefully come up with a half decent review?
A: Honestly, I try to push myself into reading the book. I hate breaking a commitment so I really to my best in finishing books that I don't like for review. I won't attack the book or the author, but I will explain why the book wasn't right for me. I believe in giving honest opinions that are done tastefully.
As a future note for myself though, I would try to contact the tour host if I'm participating in a blog tour. I know I am a Reader, Not a Writer understands this and is gracious enough to change a person's review post to a spotlight one instead.
As a future note for myself though, I would try to contact the tour host if I'm participating in a blog tour. I know I am a Reader, Not a Writer understands this and is gracious enough to change a person's review post to a spotlight one instead.
Book Beginnings on Friday is hosted by Rose City Reader and The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice.
Alluring Tales: Awaken the Fantasy by Various AuthorsThe beginning: "So...how did your date with Brian go?"
Page 56: "Kili sucked in a deep breath and blinked as her eyes adjusted to white, searing sunlight. Her first glance at her vacation setting sent her stomach plummeting. Where was the desert island with the horseshoe strip of pale sand and navy sea? Sure, heat radiated off the ground in suffocating waves, but where was the cabana boy in the Speedo?"
This is an 18+ book. I've had this book on my shelf for a while. I thought it was time to finally tackle it down.
This book is an anthology so it has various stories from different authors. The first line had me wondering who Brian was and if he was our heartthrob in the short story. We'll see how the rest of the story goes.
It is difficult to turn down a book for a tour, but I can't read a book that doesn't hold my interest.
ReplyDeleteGood answer.
Don't read any books this weekend that you don't like. :)
Happy Hopping!!
Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My Blog Hop Answer
I'll try my best to only read books I like :)
DeleteSounds like a fun read...thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI also got drawn into your question above about review books...and I totally agree. I have only ever NOT finished a review book once. And tried to explain it tactfully, as you pointed out...a kind of "it's me, not you" solution.
It is definitely hard to struggle through books we don't like, though. As a result, I am very picky with review books now.
Thanks for visiting my blog.
Oh gosh...it is a "it's me, not you." How awful!
DeleteI'll be honest, speedos on men slightly freak me out, I don't know why! Maybe they're just too tight? I also think honest reviews are important, it is a sort of constructive criticism. And I've learnt my lesson when it comes to blog tours! Thanks for sharing, I hope you have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteMy Friday Post
Juli @ Universe in Words
Lol Speedos are not my desire either but some men can pull it off.
DeleteHey, Vonnie!
ReplyDeleteYes, it's the fact that I've already made a commitment that makes me feel guilty....but I honestly can't force myself to get through a book I detest. I've tried, really tried, in all of the cases I mentioned in my blog post. It was just too painful....lol.
If you're participating in a blog tour, it would certainly look bad for the author if you were to give their book a negative review. We bloggers are also committed to giving honest reviews, after all. The blog tour companies I'm signed up with (including I AM A READER, NOT A WRITER) have definitely been very nice about my declining to review books they have sent me. Not that I haven't feel guilty whenever I've done this, but they've understood.
As for your pick for "Book Beginnings" and "The Friday 56", I don't read erotica, so I can't really comment on it. Speedos would like nice on my hubby, though, I think! Lol.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, as well as for visiting my blog and commenting on my BBH post!! Hope you have a GREAT weekend!! : )
EEK, a TYPO!!! I meant to write "I haven't FELT guilty whenever..." Ay, yay, yay....sorry! Lol.
DeleteOoh I need to send you to grammar school ;)
DeleteIt's good to hear that authors and publishing companies are understandable in these situations. Let's see when I have the guts to finally approach them to say, "No, can't do."
Maria, no worries about erotica. I completely understand. I do enjoy reading this genre only if it's done well. I am very picky with it. Also, I have to be in the mood for it so I tend to read erotica once every 4-6 months.
You know, sometimes fingers have a mind of their own! Lol.
DeleteThese tour companies have been very gracious to me. Whenever I've offered to return a book I couldn't review, they have told me it's not necessary. I offered to do that because I felt guilty about rejecting a book.
I'm so glad you understand how I feel about erotica! I just don't like that genre. I do enjoy sex scenes in romance novels, but not the type depicted in that genre....
You know, chica, I really enjoy chatting with you!! I'm sending a "colada" your way!! : )
(And yeah....no night school tonight, so I can blog more!! YAY!!!!!)
Una "colada"? Como el café? Hmmmm...coffee actually sounds good right now, lol.
DeleteI enjoy talking with you too! I am always looking forward to your comments and replies :)
Se me olvido enviarte dos croqueticas tambien!! (And ditto for me!) : )
DeleteI write honest reviews, including some that are critical. The source of the book doesn't really matter. http://rannthisthat.blogspot.com/2013/08/book-blogger-hop_9.html
ReplyDeleteI force myself to finish everything, if I can. Sometimes I over-extend myself though and I just can't catch up with reviews. Either way, I still give an honest review but I've never hated anything so much that I gave a 100% negative review.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm starting to feel the pressure about keeping up with reviews too.
DeleteI've had to push through some crap because of how obligated I fell when sent a book. Them's the breaks. You can't love them all.
ReplyDeleteYou can't like every book you are asked to review - but I do try to be objective and if it's really awful, I explain privately why I gave up.
ReplyDeleteHappy Reading.
Great way to start off the book! Thanks for sharing the book opening and for dropping by my blog last Friday. Hope you had a lovely weekend! :)
ReplyDelete- Lianne @ caffeinatedlife.net