tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130637022613050517.post2057073172452680687..comments2024-03-27T22:17:16.083-04:00Comments on Musings of a Literary Wanderer: Is It Hard to Fairly Review a Favorite Author?Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16746631124966726182noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130637022613050517.post-24071893158814891342018-05-03T08:39:20.334-04:002018-05-03T08:39:20.334-04:00Thanks, Joann! I think trying to focus on the boo...Thanks, Joann! I think trying to focus on the book itself instead of the author would make a difference.Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746631124966726182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130637022613050517.post-75968953741641189822018-05-02T19:56:47.708-04:002018-05-02T19:56:47.708-04:00Yeah I definitely think reading a favorite author-...Yeah I definitely think reading a favorite author-makes you biased. But I do reviews based on what I liked most about that book Individually. Great post!!Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01207956659813152712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130637022613050517.post-17734612400679673442018-04-24T11:26:47.935-04:002018-04-24T11:26:47.935-04:00Thanks, Alicia! Yeah, I think you nailed it with ...Thanks, Alicia! Yeah, I think you nailed it with the loyalty we feel towards certain authors. I think I have overlooked issues with some books because they were written by my favorite authors. I might say I didn't like them as much as their previous works, but I still enjoyed them (maybe slightly more than I actually did).Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746631124966726182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130637022613050517.post-7620869650161121662018-04-23T13:52:05.613-04:002018-04-23T13:52:05.613-04:00This is a great topic to discuss. I definitely thi...This is a great topic to discuss. I definitely think a lot of us feel a sense of loyalty to our favorite authors. I tend to judge favorite authors against their previous books. I'd like to say I'm always impartial, but that wouldn't be completely honest. I know I've given the benefit of the doubt to certain authors in the past. Definitely something I'll be thinking about the next time I review a book by a fav author. Great discussion!Alicia @ A Kernel of Nonsensehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12100606566359762426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130637022613050517.post-44410039329555218622018-04-20T09:07:29.376-04:002018-04-20T09:07:29.376-04:00Totally, I think the feelings are so much stronger...Totally, I think the feelings are so much stronger, either way, for an author you already love.Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746631124966726182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130637022613050517.post-34727965863466154362018-04-19T19:47:58.925-04:002018-04-19T19:47:58.925-04:00I think I am tougher on an author I love. I have t...I think I am tougher on an author I love. I have these expectations, which were set by the author's previous work. Conversely, I feel so much more disappointed, if the book does not dazzle me the way prior books had. Samantha@WLABBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589486165371852904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130637022613050517.post-47276129641969312852018-04-18T17:38:43.920-04:002018-04-18T17:38:43.920-04:00Right, I agree, I definitely think there's a d...Right, I agree, I definitely think there's a difference between an author you've read and enjoyed before and one you're trying out for the first time.Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746631124966726182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130637022613050517.post-29946794114031295452018-04-16T03:54:58.825-04:002018-04-16T03:54:58.825-04:00Good question! I hadn't really considered it b...Good question! I hadn't really considered it before. I don't have favourite authors in the sense that I rush out to buy their new book just because it is theirs. But I do have several where I have an expectation of liking their work and would feel more disappointment if I didn't than with an author on whom I had simply taken a chance.Stephanie Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16071958445763105060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130637022613050517.post-3065159811124980152018-04-15T22:06:40.118-04:002018-04-15T22:06:40.118-04:00They really do! I think we expect that they will a...They really do! I think we expect that they will always put out books we love!Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746631124966726182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130637022613050517.post-91497176611572094662018-04-15T02:06:55.609-04:002018-04-15T02:06:55.609-04:00I think I'm more likely to judge a book by a f...I think I'm more likely to judge a book by a favorite author harshly. They can have a lot to live up to!DoingDeweyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09902496432225294188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130637022613050517.post-42516136623552929382018-04-11T09:54:40.621-04:002018-04-11T09:54:40.621-04:00I totally agree - I can admit when a favorite auth...I totally agree - I can admit when a favorite author has a misstep, but it does hurt a little more!Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746631124966726182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130637022613050517.post-86405004997802357472018-04-10T19:32:39.486-04:002018-04-10T19:32:39.486-04:00This is a great question, Angela. I think I feel t...This is a great question, Angela. I think I feel the disappointment of a bad book more when I've read and loved others from that author. When it's a new to me author, I don't mind writing a scathing review. When it's an author whose other books I adored, it hurts to write those negative words (but I do write them). Lindseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00333927782181943347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130637022613050517.post-44901696230571362802018-04-10T15:52:20.333-04:002018-04-10T15:52:20.333-04:00Yes, I definitely think when we're expecting s...Yes, I definitely think when we're expecting so much from a book, we can get let down when it's not perfect, and that's never fun, but it does happen sometimes, even from our favorite authors. I think I just have to learn to have an open mind for all books.Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746631124966726182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130637022613050517.post-73855320063803148922018-04-10T13:20:23.623-04:002018-04-10T13:20:23.623-04:00Great topic! I hadn't really thought about thi...Great topic! I hadn't really thought about this yet, but you're so right, it really is difficult to be impartial when reviewing a book by our favorite author, because we really want it to be good. On the other hand, when our expectations are too high, we can be more easily disappointed too. That said, I do think I can give fair reviews to favorite authors since I did have some issues with a few latest releases of a favorite author (thinking of Sarah J. Maas books for example. I love her books, but was disappointed with some of the last ones. I think I still gave them a fair review though...)Lindsey @ Lindsey Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11159843040371809292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130637022613050517.post-68250319010588511672018-04-10T12:50:31.191-04:002018-04-10T12:50:31.191-04:00Exactly, it can be hard, but I have to remember wh...Exactly, it can be hard, but I have to remember who I'm writing for, and if a book has issues, even if it's by an author I love, I feel like it's important for me to point those things out, so the next reader will know what they're potentially getting. Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746631124966726182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130637022613050517.post-84160634830388255842018-04-10T12:48:37.366-04:002018-04-10T12:48:37.366-04:00I agree, I maybe overlook certain things, but if I...I agree, I maybe overlook certain things, but if I really didn't like the book, I would never give it a super-high rating "just because." It may be hard to write the review, but I think it's better to be honest because other readers rely on our reviews.<br /><br />I always feel weird when these hyped books and popular authors have such high ratings, and when I read the book, I don't like it. It makes me wonder if the reviews are inflated, because people just want to love the author. I mean, I know I'm not going to like every book, and we all have different tastes, so I'm sure in a lot of cases the high rating is warranted, but sometimes I just find so many issues with the book and wonder if anyone else saw them.Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746631124966726182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130637022613050517.post-52889992146472271922018-04-10T12:45:09.982-04:002018-04-10T12:45:09.982-04:00Yes, I can see how that would be so hard, directly...Yes, I can see how that would be so hard, directly working with an author. I would hope I could be honest, but I might worry about hurting the relationship I've built with them.Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746631124966726182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130637022613050517.post-56747648517345330652018-04-10T12:44:05.654-04:002018-04-10T12:44:05.654-04:00Thanks, Marie! I know, it can be hard to be impar...Thanks, Marie! I know, it can be hard to be impartial, when in the months and weeks leading up to the release, we might be raving about the book and the author and getting so excited - we don't WANT to be disappointed.Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746631124966726182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130637022613050517.post-4849898750747070162018-04-10T12:42:29.296-04:002018-04-10T12:42:29.296-04:00I don't usually have problems writing and post...I don't usually have problems writing and posting negative reviews, but it might be hard to criticize an author I have probably raved about many times on the blog.Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746631124966726182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130637022613050517.post-46083695355249952462018-04-10T12:41:03.099-04:002018-04-10T12:41:03.099-04:00I know, it's so hard - authors are our favorit...I know, it's so hard - authors are our favorites because they've given us great stories in the past, so it's really hard to NOT have expectations.Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746631124966726182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130637022613050517.post-12656150810430229892018-04-10T12:39:59.093-04:002018-04-10T12:39:59.093-04:00Yes, it is important to keep in mind who the audie...Yes, it is important to keep in mind who the audience is for the review. If you're writing more for yourself, maybe it doesn't matter so much, but when you're trying to give an honest review for other readers, I think you need to point out the flaws, if there are any.Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746631124966726182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130637022613050517.post-721024042844252922018-04-10T12:38:00.390-04:002018-04-10T12:38:00.390-04:00I definitely get excited when my favorite authors ...I definitely get excited when my favorite authors release a new book, or a new book in a favorite series is coming out. And you're right, not every book is going to be a 5-star read, even from a favorite author, but yeah, it might be more disappointing when it's something you've been looking forward to.Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746631124966726182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130637022613050517.post-68392857987917178612018-04-10T12:35:49.284-04:002018-04-10T12:35:49.284-04:00Yeah, I think if you going into it thinking you wi...Yeah, I think if you going into it thinking you will like it, things that don't work so well might stand out more.Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746631124966726182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130637022613050517.post-32913327602547949232018-04-10T12:34:59.831-04:002018-04-10T12:34:59.831-04:00Thanks, Erica! I know, I'm always bummed when...Thanks, Erica! I know, I'm always bummed when I don't like a favorite author's newest work as much as the others.Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746631124966726182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6130637022613050517.post-33303424714906982632018-04-09T19:37:08.801-04:002018-04-09T19:37:08.801-04:00Great topic. I find it somewhat harder to review ...Great topic. I find it somewhat harder to review my favorite authors just because my expectations tend to be so high, probably too high to be honest. Like you say, they're my favorites for a reason. If I do end up disappointed, I'll definitely say that in my review but I feel bad doing it. I just have to keep reminding myself that I review for my fellow readers, not for the authors. Suzanne @ The Bookish Librahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16116292880784513187noreply@blogger.com