Since sites like Amazon gave the general public the opportunity to review any book they have read, what many still fail to understand, or indeed appreciate, is the difference between writing a review and what amounts to a critique.
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Here is a typical example of a professional newspaper review:
The Secret History of the Blitz by Joshua Levine, review: ‘tunnels behind clichés’.
Next is an example of a critique by an individual who quite simply failed to appreciate the book they read:
A second weakness in Frankl’s writing is in the assumptions he sometimes makes to prove his point. He makes overarching generalizations several times in his book, making statements that, although may have been true for himself and those around him, might not have been true for every prisoner in every concentration camp during the Holocaust. For example, in one instance, he says, “The prisoner of Auschwitz , in the first phase of shock, did not fear death” (37). It is very bold to say that no prisoner of Auschwitz, one of the most well-known and deadly concentration camps of the Holocaust, did not fear death, as death was all around them and was a very real threat in their daily lives. Although he might have not feared death during his phase of shock, it is impossible for him to guarantee that no prisoner was at all fearful of death in this first psychological phase, and for him to make overarching assumptions like this is a weakness to the overall quality of his book.
Finally, Frankl sometimes becomes too technical and verbose in his writing style, which makes it very hard for the average reader to understand. One example of this is as follows. Frankl states, “I remember an incident when there was an occasion for psychotherapeutic work on the inmates of a whole hut, due to an intensification of their receptiveness because of a certain external situation” (102). This sentence, which is overly wordy and complicated, makes it difficult for the average reader to understand exactly what he is saying. A reader can easily get frustrated when trying to decipher the author’s meaning due to overly complicated language, and this is a third weakness of Frankl’s writing.
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Now do you understand? Unfortunately many people still fail to grasp the fundamental difference!
Reviews are short and to the point without criticism, or for that matter, the need to tell the author how you would have preferred to have seen certain passages written, deleted or expanded in the book in question, while also giving away the plot!
Whenever I read any critique masked as a review, I tend not to the read the book in question. Why? Because you have already told me all about it. Like millions of other readers, I far prefer to find out what’s going on in the story for myself.
Think long and hard before you feel the need to offer a critique rather than a review in the future. No one is in the least bit interested in how you want the book written, especially the author!
😉
Reblogged this on Jo Robinson.
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Thanks Jo ❤ xxx
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I agree for the most part, Jack. I do a number of reviews each year – the one place where we might differ is if there is an overarching point of weakness, I will mention it.
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Criticism of things like weakness are best left to actually talking to the author Noelle – if you are brave enough. Personally I never criticise…
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Good points. I think most reviews are critiques some done well and some not. Good post as well. (Hmmm I think I’ll say everyone should read this to move into review territory.)
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Thanks John 🙂
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It’s difficult to respect a reviewer who uses the term ‘very real’; something is real or it’s not. 🙂
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Or “good read”. 😉
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Part of the problem with everyone thinking they are an expert and not having a clue.
Once you find a reviewer who’s style and skill you appreciate, that’s the one to look for and stick with – skipping the others
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A review should always entice…
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Reviews are hard to write, no matter how often you do it, you always worry that you should have said something or left something out.
While I agree with you for the most part, I feel a review should say something about the book, I’ve seen far too many that are too short to give you any idea if it’s good.
I for one want to know if a book is simply Star Wars rewritten word for word only with different names.
Just my two cents.
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The only way is to read it for yourself Colin. Far too many critiques contain spoilers!
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Unfortunately that is all too true. The worst thing is there are so many books that sound good, how can you tell what is worth reading? I guess that’s just a problem everyone has to deal with the best they can.
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Simple. If its a genre you enjoy, take a chance and read it for yourself 😉
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Thank you, no doubt I have been guilty of this in the past, but I have been criticised for not being more critical of the books I review, but I see my review as an opportunity to persuade someone else to read the book. I am reluctant and loathed to write critiques and would much rsther try to voice my appreciation of a book I loved/liked rather than bash a book that simply wasn’t for me. I’m no writing coach, just a reader so stay away from pronouncements of how a book is written.
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All too often critiques are written with a hidden agenda…
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As a somewhat naive inde author with just one book under my belt, I found this post very interesting. Am I right in assuming that a critique can be regarded more or less as a “negative review”?
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They can be Ken. But done properly, minus personal dislikes and spoilers etc, they can be good. No one minds fair criticism. By the way, I’ve started reading your book. 😉
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Fingers crossed. Hope you like it. Interested in your opinion either way.
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I’m sure I will Ken 😉
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I agree that most of what are called reviews are actually critiques. It’s apparently confusing to a number of people. Thanks for the information making the difference clear, Jack. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Hopefully anyone reading my blog will now know the difference Suzanne 😉
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Reblogged this on and commented:
An article I found by visiting our friend Jo Robinson’s blog. Okay, so I found it last week but I decided to share it today.
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Thanks for the reblog 🙂
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This is such a good point. Maybe people need to read more theatre reviews for an idea how it’s done. That said, there is plenty of criticism in those reviews, but also praise–and they never feel a need to “document” every point they want to drive home.
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Unfortunately Luanne, many simply don’t make the distinction. 😉
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Reblogged this on Notes from An Alien and commented:
Today’s re-blog makes very clear a critical distinction of response to books………
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Thanks for the reblog Alexander 🙂
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You bet, Jack 🙂
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😉
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Reblogged this on Have We Had Help? and commented:
Read and learn…
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I personally like to focus on the positives rather than the negatives and I agree that highlighting a particular sentence for criticism is just bad form.
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Trust you had a happy Christmas, Jack. Making actual ‘assumptions’ in any story is a no-no, and I find it difficult to outright criticise a book just because I don’t like it…Most of us appreciate just how fickle taste can be, but of course there is a huge difference between a critique and a review! Constructive criticism, or shut up! Have a healthy, lucky New Year. xx
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