Do you think it’s okay for reviewers to resell the books they review? What about Advance Review Copies (ARCs)?
Most online reviewers are not paid. What they do get is the free book to review. Once it comes in their possession, the book belongs to them. I personally have never sold a review book. I’ve made baskets and donated them to the retirement homes, yes.
I’ve reviewed arcs, pre-edited arcs, and I will never do that again. When the arc is riddled with mistakes, switches from third person POV to first person POV…how can you critique this? How do I know what the final book will be like? What I did in these cases, and I’m talking big traditional houses here, is I gave my impression on the storyline only but made sure to mention I read a pre-edited arc. I couldn’t write about the characters since the characters needed fleshing out.
What are the most common mistakes amateur reviewers make?
That’s an easy one and I’ve had to edit their reviews in the past. They tell you the whole story, revealing the outcome. A big no no. If the reader knows what’s going to happen you’ve just spoiled it for them.
You need to give the essence of the book first. Then your impressions, followed with who would enjoy the book.
With so many major newspapers getting rid of their book review sections, how do you see the future of online review sites?
Forget about the newspapers getting rid of their book review sections. What is flooding the market now, and more and more review sites are going to be inundated with review requests, is the fact more and more writers are going the self-published route, along with several new smaller presses coming to the surface.
Do you keep the author’s feelings in mind when you review?
Always. Mind you, when I say always I’m not referring to gearing the review to suit the author. Oh no. What I mean is that we will not sarcastically bash a writer’s work. We will offer the good qualities in the book before we dig into what we felt were missing elements that took away from the read.
Have you received aggressive responses from authors or publishers because of a negative review? If yes, how do you handle it?
Article comments
1 - Margay
Thank you, Lea, for giving such a great interview. Lots of good info here!
2 - Joy Delgado
Mayra, thank you. Lea, thank you. I like your rose rating system and the fact that you look at every book as the authors baby, even if it isn't the best book in town, it's still somebody's baby.
Joy
3 - Beverly McClure
Thank you, Lea, for letting us know what to expect in a review from the Muse Book Reviews.
Thank you, Mayra, for an interesting interview. I'm learning so much about how to review and how reviewers feel about our books.
Beverly
4 - A. F. Stewart
A fascinating interview. The Muse Book Reviews sounds like a great site.
5 - Lea Schizas
Way late and I apologize but have had internet problems for almost the entire month of June.
Mayra, I had a great time answering your questions and actually they re-connected me with why I started the Muse Book Reviews.
I'd also like to thank your readers for leaving their comments and look forward in the near future reviewing their books.
Lea Schizas
6 - Donna McDine
Mayra and Lea...wonderful interview. And I'm proud to say that I'm associated with Muse Book Reviews. Keep up the great work ladies!
Warm regards,
Donna