It’s Iola here. Welcome to our Australasian Christian Writers Tuesday Book Chat, where we encourage book lovers to answer our bookish question of the week.
Today’s question is:
What’s your view on authors who joke about their one-star reviews?
One author I’ve come across likes turning key phrases from one-star reviews into online memes. I suspect she thinks they’re funny. Personally, I think it’s inappropriate.
Readers who paid for the book and spent hours reading it are entitled to their opinion—to like the book, or to not like the book. But sharing an opinion shouldn’t including mocking the author. In the same way, authors should respect their readers enough to return the courtesy and not make jokes about or mock a “bad” review.
Authors should focus on the positive (I suspect we all should).
That means celebrating five-star reviews, not one-star reviews. Yes, I know many authors deliberately choose to celebrate their first one-star review because that’s proof their book has been read by more people than their mother and BFF. But celebrate or commiserate in private. Don’t draw attention to the review in public.
And please don’t mock. After all, we all know what the Bible says about mockers.
What do you think? Should authors draw attention to their one-star reviews or make jokes about them?
We look forward to hearing your thoughts. Please join in the conversation in a comment on this post or in a comment on the blog post shared in our Australasian Christian Writers Facebook Group. Or, if you’re feeling wordy (like me), write a blog post and link to it in the comments.
Not that I put up a one star review but if I did and then it was made a joke of I would lose all respect for that author. I put reviews up to help others not to be commented on by an author. I think its actually in poor taste to make a joke of it.
It would make me want to read the one star reviews to see what they say and not make me want to read the book.
I also think if you do write a one star review you need to be respectful and not be abusive or rude.
I agree that reviewers shouldn’t be abusive or rude. But even if they are, then the author should take the high ground and ignore the review (at least in public. What they do in private is up to them).
Every author invests long months and even years on what is far more than a story. However authors must realise that because novels are a work of art, they are essentially subjective and as such, aren’t going to appeal to everyone.
Just like fragments of a fictional work are often reflections of something which the author experienced, so too a reviewer will see that work with an eye which is not always objective.
If a reviewer is able to gauge merit in the crafting of the book in spite of likes and dislikes within those pages, then kudos to them for their part in assessing the product as objectively as they may, regarding literary worth.
There is a way for a reviewer to enlighten the audience they engage with, and that is with respect to the author. Likewise, the author must expect the one star review upon occasion. No, it’s not nice, but it’s a fact of life. We give our gifts to the public, but not every gift is appreciated.
Perhaps there is something pertinent in the review to consider, and this being said, an author must glean what there is to take from a one star review. Being gracious is the best approach to a disappointing result.
“We give our gifts to the public, but not every gift is appreciated.”
This is unfortunate but true. However, while some books are gifts (e.g. free Kindle downloads or free review copies), many are purchased products. If a reader has paid $25-$30 for a book they don’t enjoy, then I can see why they might leave a critical review – they could have spent that time and money more profitably.
And yes, reviews should be polite and gracious – truthful, but gracious.
It depends on the review really, and where you post your response. If it’s thoughtful I wouldn’t mock it but I might still celebrate it if it was my first. If you are going to make something of it then do so in a closed group (after checking that the reviewer isn’t a member). As for authors who celebrate their first one star review? I completely understand the desire. We writers are a sensitive lot and we all like to hide pain behind laughter.
I agree that the where matters. Private Facebook group? No problem. Public Instagram page? I think that’s crossing the line.