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Booking Through Thursday


Do you read book reviews? Whose do you trust? Do they affect your reading habits? Your buying habits?

I frequently read book reviews—often if I’m reading something, I’ll stop and read reviews on Amazon or LibraryThing to see how other people feel about the book. I do read reviews of books before I read them, but not quite as often—I’m trying to limit my TBR list for the moment. I don’t go and buy the book right away, but I’ll let it stew on my TBR list for a while on LibraryThing before I take the plunge.

What I’ve found with reviews is that often it’s the three-star reviews that are the best—they talk about both the good and bad aspects of a book, instead of simply raving about it or having an ax to grind about it. I also pay close attention to reviews if the book I’m looking at isn’t quite so well-known or widely read.

Comments

Cindy Swanson said…
Good thoughts, Katherine! I never thought about it, but the balanced reviews are probably the best.

I'm having to limit my to-read list a bit too, or I'll drown in books! (Not a bad way to die, though...) :)

Hope you'll stop by and say hello!

Cindy at Cindy's Book Club
I like your point about liking 3 star reviews. I like knowing the good and bad points about books.

Here's my answer: http://abookishaffair.blogspot.com/2011/06/booking-through-thursday-5-reading-book.html
I have to look at reviews before I read a book! I have some bloggers I really trust and who I know have similar taste to mine.

And, I agree about the 3 star reviews. They're usually the fairest and most honest. I really question books that only have 5 stars and nothing else. I'm always doubtful that a book is really that good.
2 Kids and Tired Books
joan.kyler said…
I subscribe to Bookmarks magazine. They collect reviews from quite a few sources and with differing opinions. I find those reviews interesting and helpful. Bookmarks magazine also has a web site with, I think, more reviews.
Rose said…
I know what you mean about choosing which reviews to read - I tend to go less for the 3 stars, and more for the very high and very low scorers. And as I read the review I'm mostly thinking about the reviewer and whether they sound (a) like me, or (b) like someone I'd like and enjoy spending time with. If yes, then I'll value their views. If not, I'll chuckle and expect to disagree.

This is surprisingly helpful on TripAdvisor too - you read some reviews which really give a sense of an ignorant, stuck-up, disrespectful individual shouting loudly in English at people in another country and getting angry that they aren't getting 5* service in a 2* hotel...

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