A Love Letter to Reviewers

“There are very few of us who have heart enough to be really in love without encouragement.” ~ Charlotte Lucas, Pride & Prejudice

Charlotte may have been speaking of courtship in the quote above — Jane Bennet’s and Mr. Bingley’s in particular — but she could almost be talking about writers as well, as there are few of us who have the fortitude to press on with our writing without having had some encouragement from somewhere. Sometimes we’re lucky enough to find that support in our loved ones. Other times we find it in the words of wonderful creative writing instructors, or possibly in the help of good friends and critique partners. But, often, it’s readers who give us that extra gift. Readers that make us want to keep going, keep on creating stories despite all the challenges…

This post is for every single reader who has ever taken the time to write a positive review for an author or send him/her a fan letter. You do not know how very special you are!!

I don’t mean to say that the only value of a review or a note is one that’s loaded with praise and nothing else. There may well have been a few story elements you might have liked better if changed. I, personally, find it really interesting when a reader tells me about scenes he/she enjoyed in one of my novels, like According to Jane, despite the fact that, for instance, the reader tends not to like first-person narration or read paranormal stories in general or even remember ’80s music. The very fact that this reader took the time to pick up the novel, read it all the way through and share his/her thoughts on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, in a blog post or with a personal email…that is like literary gold…like a declaration of affection from a lover. “You may not be perfect, honey, but I love you anyway, and let me tell you why!!”

When I got my first reviews for my debut novel, they ranged from Laurel Ann’s lovely 5-star Austenprose review that said, “What an unexpected, uplifting, and urbane debut novel! To paraphrase Jane Austen’s character Lady Catherine, Marilyn Brant has given us a treasure…Subtly powerful and amusingly acerbic, you will be gently reproved into agreeing in the power of love to transform us all,” to an angrily written 1-star Amazon review by some woman I didn’t know who suggested that I must not have ever had sex in my life because the steamy scenes in the book were, in her words, “unnatural.” (My husband of nearly 20 years found this almost unbearably funny. :) )

Some writers have the strength to stay away from reviews altogether — good or bad. But, since I don’t have that kind of will power, I had to learn to put a negative review in its proper place and to always keep a sense of perspective. There are different literary tastes in the world, are there not? As proof, I printed out some reviews of another novel, one I dearly love, where a number of reviewers said less-than-encouraging things about the author and her writing:

**This is without question the worst book I’ve ever read in my entire life. The style is clumsy though the author strives to impress with an aristocratic pompousness so typical of social climbers of her day. The characters are cold, their development dull and boring… I would rather endure a daily root canal than read this book again. It was almost as inspirational as witnessing a mountain top removal to mine coal. It doesn’t surprise me that her original manuscript was rejected as it should have been and now I wonder to what extent politics played a role in her eventual success? Perhaps zero of five stars would be more accurate…

**The story-line is predictable – you know how the whole novel is going to play out after the first couple of pages. The only thing that kept me going was the hope that there would be some little twist… Unfortunately not. Each of the female characters are shallow, self-centred…and vacuous.

**The book is really sort of a nightmare that never ends. It is not romantic or charming in the least bit. The main character comes through as arrogant and at times even stupid. It is a completely forgetable book, and I have no clue as to why so many people find it romantic.

**I am forced to read this book for my lit class and I find this book repulsive. I have never read such a novel that is completly incompetant, complete nonsence, the smallest talks of all the small talks in the world, it is about nothingness, and how several nothings trying and wanting to get married to other nothings for all the wrong reasons in the world. It is about people pretending to be inteligent and pretending to be civilized. It is a book where they compliment women as being handsome and men as being well…also handsome. It is quite contageous I might add because I find myself helplessly imatitating the language that it was written in. I am offended by every paragraph that I read. I have never felt such contemt for any work that I read. I pasionately despise this novel and I could write an entire paper on why. (Marilyn is compelled to add: It is my hope that the anonymous “reviewer” in question will check his/her spelling prior to writing such a paper, LOL.)

Of course, I’m sure you’ve already guessed that the novel in question is Pride and Prejudice. Yes, these words were written about our beloved Jane’s literary masterpiece (unbelievable, I know!) but, thankfully, she did not have to read them on Amazon. However, on her behalf and on the behalf of all writers who’ve ever read what’s been written about their novels online, let me just say THANK YOU to readers everywhere who write evenhanded reviews of books, send thoughtful notes to the author and/or find something they can honestly praise within the pages of a novel! You may not realize the preciousness of your gift, but we novelists surely do. Some of you have given that gift to me, and my gratitude cannot be measured.

xo

A Summer in Europe--smallMarilyn is an enthusiastic saver of favorite reviews and keeps a list of them on her website , where there are individual review pages set aside for each and every one of her books! Her latest addition is the Publishers Weekly review of A Summer in Europe: “Brant’s newest…distinguishes itself with a charismatic leading man and very funny supporting cast, especially the wonderful elderly characters with their resonant message about living life to the fullest.” Marilyn would like to hug that reviewer, and it is likely such hoped-for displays of affection are the reason PW reviewers remain anonymous. ;)

Question for everyone: What are your favorite sites to read reviews??

007 Marilyn Brant--clipped

Marilyn Brant

Marilyn Brant is a USA TODAY Bestselling Author of Contemporary Women’s Fiction and Romantic Comedy. She’s published eight novels to date, including ACCORDING TO JANE, which was a #1 Kindle Bestseller, won RWA’s Golden Heart Award and was named one of Buzzle.com’s “100 Best Romance Novels of All Time.” She also wrote PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND THE PERFECT MATCH, which was a Top 100 Bestseller on both Amazon and Barnes & Noble. And her latest novel, a coming-of-age romantic mystery called THE ROAD TO YOU, is just out!

56 comments on “A Love Letter to Reviewers by Marilyn Brant”

    1. Monica P
      I am guilty of not writing reviews online but after reading this post, and the one Mary had on her blog the other day, I am making a resolution to start reviewing the books I read, whether I love them or not. I very rarely read reviews because everyone has their own opinion and because so many are more interested in flaming authors (and much less interested in spelling and grammar) instead of providing constructive feedback. Before I started reading JAFF it never occurred to me to email authors. I never really thought they would respond. Why? I don’t know. But now I’m much more comfy chatting with y’all and other authors, as evidenced by my following AuAus all over the blogisphere. :)

        1. Marilyn Brant (Post author)
          Monica, I know just what you mean about thinking authors wouldn’t respond to emails! It wasn’t until I’d written a couple of early manuscripts and had met a number of wonderful authors online and at writing conferences that it ever crossed my mind that I could send them a message. A few times I did and was positively stunned when they replied! Being a published author now, I’ll admit there have been an occasion or two when someone sent me an odd or unkind email but overwhelmingly the messages I have received from readers have been *wonderful* and I answer every single one. Those notes truly make my day ;).

    1. Susan Kaye
      The Web gives people a platform they didn’t have years ago and it also seems to give them the impression that because a thought flits through their minds someone else should know it. I stay away from reviews, particularly on Amazon. I see that as a reader-to-reader venue where writers with their attempted explanations are not really welcome. I miss some nice compliments, but I also skip the creative and emotional paralysis that comes with the negatives.As a reader, I write directly to writers if I enjoy their work. It means a lot to me when a reader takes the time to not only read the book but then find my address and write.Time spent is the measure. A lot of really nasty yapping (and personal damage) can be done in a very short amount of time. Some of the review boards are prime examples.

        1. Marilyn Brant (Post author)
          Susan, there is certainly a fair amount of nastiness online and, you’re right, the emotional paralysis that comes with a negative review is very difficult to handle. I don’t blame you for avoiding it. For me that’s much less the case when I feel the reviewer has tried to point out the positives in the narrative as well as the negatives — I read evenhanded reviews very carefully and will consider each point — but the reviews that are thoughtless whines or all-out slams against the author are very hard to take. Not so much because it makes me question my writing as much as because it makes me suspicious of the person writing it and it’s a discouraging commentary on humanity. I spent 4 years as a national book reviewer and reviewed hundreds of novels — there wasn’t ONE about which I couldn’t find something positive to say — so, I don’t feel there’s any excuse at all for pure negativity. Sigh. And, of course, I definitely agree with you about how much it means to get those nice messages!

            1. Susan Kaye
              I use the reviews at Amazon — when buying — to get an idea about a product. One of the things I do, and this could be done for reviews of one’s books — is click the reviewer.s name and see how many reviews they’ve actually done. A “surprising” number of negative reviews are the only review for that person. when someone has lots of reviews, I can feel better about their objectivity.

                1. Marilyn Brant (Post author)
                  Oh, that’s a really good point, Susan. I’ve done that a handful of times and found it really interesting when the *only* reviews someone has written were negative ones. And it’s very odd to me when there’s just one or two reviews total there…

    1. Susan Adriani
      Marilyn, I really enjoyed this post! It’s so true – so many readers (especially AuAu readers!) are incredibly wonderful, not only for taking the time to read our books, but for making such an effort to let us know their thoughts afterword. I am constantly blown away whenever I receive an email from a reader for any reason. The idea that someone (or many someones) enjoyed what I wrote enough to want to contact me absolutely makes my day. I’m more touched and grateful than I could ever express, and the smile on my face stays with me (my husband laughs at me, though!)Like you, I’ve gotten some truly lovely reviews as well as some that were far from flattering, and it takes a while to develop that thick skin we all need in order to persevere let the truly negative remarks roll off our backs. While some forms of criticism can be very helpful – and even invaluable – to an author, there’s a huge difference between a negative review that is constructive and one that is just meanly written. I do read my reviews on Amazon and on other sites, and do think and care about what readers have to say about my book, but if there is something out there that is composed in a meanness of spirit (and you can certainly tell which ones are which), I don’t bother reading it through, or wasting time thinking or worrying about it later. The people who write hurtful reviews usually do it to be hurtful, and they’re also the people I know I’ll never be able to please, no matter what I do or don’t do, simply because they don’t want to be.Thank you for a lovely post, Marilyn, and sincere thanks to every one of you out there who has taken the time to let an author know that his or her writing meant something to you, whatever it was. That means more to us than we can ever express.Best,Susan

        1. Marilyn Brant (Post author)
          Susan, thank you!!Your comment reminded me of something my mother told me right before my wedding when I was worried about everything. She said, “The people who love you and care about you will find lots of good things to say about the ceremony and the reception. Those that don’t, you won’t be able to please no matter what you do.” And she was absolutely right. Of course, my wedding was a larger and more stressful affair than it would have been mostly because of some very critical people *my mom* insisted on inviting! LOL. The writing equivalent would be like telling my publisher send one of my books to a reviewer who simply hates my genre. :razz:I share in your thanks to readers who are just the opposite — supportive, helpful, encouraging and, when they feel an author’s work warrants it, letting us know their thoughts. As you said, it means more to us than we can ever express!

           
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    1. Jakki L.
      Great post, Marilyn! :grin:I do try to let authors know when I enjoyed their book. I always thought that it might brighten their day or help to encourage them to keep writing so I can have more enjoyable diversions (selfish of me, I know :wink: ). I am always honored when I email an author my thoughts and s/he takes time to respond to my email. I know you guys are busy and to take time to respond to my email really encourages me to let other authors know my thoughts. I guess it goes both ways! :smile:I give you all lots of credit. I do not think I could not take the negative reviews personally (and either be angry or cry).Great review for ASummer in Europe! It sounds like a good book!

        1. Marilyn Brant (Post author)
          Jakki, thanks so much for your comments about A Summer in Europe — I’m really excited about that novel — and the heroine makes a few references to Austen, of course! :) And you’re absolutely right about how hearing from wonderful readers like you will brighten an author’s day and keep her writing! Here’s wishing everyone would be as “selfish” (LOL!!) in wanting more stories from us! Love that. ;)

    1. Monica P
      Sometimes when a book has a lot of really nasty reviews, it actually makes me want to read it MORE, just to see if it really is that bad.

        1. Marilyn Brant (Post author)
          Ha!! That’s a great attitude to take, Monica :grin: . Personally, I really appeciate it when a reader will make a judgment for herself, too. No matter what the reviews say, I always read the sample pages before buying a book because I’ve found, many times, that people will rave about a book that doesn’t resonate for me at all and, alternately, there have been awful reviews written about a story that I felt were *dead wrong* after I read it myself…

        1. Beth
          I do the same thing! If I really want to read something, negative reviews are not going to stop me. I do read reviews but I take all of them with a grain of salt. I like to make up my own mind. Sometimes I may really enjoy a book that has received mainly negative reviews and sometimes I may be one of the only few who doesn’t like something that has received quite a few positive reviews.

            1. Marilyn Brant (Post author)
              Beth, I love hearing this! Sometimes I think the type of people who routinely post nasty reviews don’t give other readers credit for being intelligent, analytical beings who aren’t going to believe everything they see — especially if it’s something written with obvious meanspiritedness. To me, it’s a lot like movie reviews, too. Some critics may pan a film that just doesn’t happen to hit an emotional chord for the majority…but a dedicated (smaller) sector of viewers would LOVE it and it would speak to them. I loved the film “Before Sunrise” (with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy) but a lot of movie-goers found it “very boring.” (Including the group of elderly ladies sitting in front of me at the theater!) I was totally and completely enchanted by it, though…and I still am. I watch it a couple of times every year ;) .

    1. Monica Fairview
      Loved this post, and the reviews of Pride & Prejudice are hysterical (if you can see the humor in them). Of course, if you’re the target, it’s not very funny.And yes, there’s a huge difference between constructive criticism and finding fault.I agree with Marilyn that the readers who express their appreciation by writing positive reviews deserve a BIG THANK YOU for taking the time to go out there and let people know.

        1. Marilyn Brant (Post author)
          Monica, thank you!Exactly — the difference between nastiness and a constructive critique is a huge one. I don’t think many writers would get far if we couldn’t handle a thoughtful analysis or constructive criticism of our work. But it’s one thing to say, “I found the head hopping in this story to be distracting and would have liked the author to stay in one point of view per scene…” vs. saying, “OMG, this book is SO boring and the characters are tramps — I threw the novel out before I got to the 4th chapter!” Yikes!And, yes, the P&P reviews are jaw-droppingly funny. Thankfully, millions upon millions of readers (like everyone who visits this site!) disagree with them. :razz:

    1. Stephanie L
      I tend to not read reviews much because I get so annoyed. Now on occasion if I’m trying to decide to buy a book or not I will read the reviews and the more negative ones the more I’m likely to buy it. I’ve come to the (personal) conclusion that the people that leave the most flaming rude reviews have absolutely nothing in common with me and are my polar opposite, thus, I will most certainly like the book! :lol: I am guilty of forgetting to go do reviews. I’m trying to get better because of you all. I’m also hesitant to leave a review that says “not to my taste, but that’s my personal opinion” LOL you know that old adage about opinions being like other things: everyone has one kind of thing. The reviews for P&P were quite funny. I would have read it if I never had simply because of those reviews. LOL You guys (AuAu & others of the genre) are responsible for helping me off a ledge at the end of particularly grueling days so the least I can do is tell the world that I appreciate it, I promise to be better about leaving reviews!!

        1. Marilyn Brant (Post author)
          Stephanie, I have to tell you, I *love* the way you think!! That comment you made about people who leave flaming rude reviews being your polar opposite and, thus, knowing you’d certainly like a book they hated…yes and yes again! So well said ;) . I have to admit, I have NO IDEA where these types of reviewers find the time to write something nasty. My day is so packed with responsibilities and requirements that I barely have time to get done everything that I need to do. If I have a few moments of free time, I can’t imagine spending it that way.Glad you thought those P&P reviews were funny, too :razz: . And I know I speak for all the AuAu members here when I say that if our stories help any reader feel a little better after a tough day, then we’ve done our job! I feel such gratitude to writers who’ve written words I needed to hear in their books or made me laugh or took me on an adventure that helped me forget a sad real-life situation for a while. I chose to become a writer because of authors like that, JA among them…

    1. Alyssa Goodnight
      I absolutely agree–honest, contructive reviewers are beloved! Even the negatives can be appreciated. It’s those anonymous reviews that really fester, and they’re worse still if misspelled. I had a reviewer write that she stopped reading the book altogether because the sex scene ‘ruined the whole feel of the book.’ Didn’t get that one at all. :)

        1. Marilyn Brant (Post author)
          LOL, Alyssa! I don’t get it either ;) .And, yes, reading a terrible, horrible review where there are blatant misspellings on every line is hard… I never know if I should be more insulted by the comments or by the fact the writer couldn’t be bothered to use spell check!

    1. BeckyC
      I have spent most of my life as a quiet appreciator of books. Several years ago my son, who had just finished a book he loved, wanted to contact the author. I helped him find the email and get started. After several emails back and forth, I was getting worried that the author would get annoyed at this 6th grade kid bugging him. I thought the way to support your favorite author was to simply buy books! After spending the last year with AustenAuthors, I am becoming more and more aware of the importance of this communication. I have expanded my blogging and have even written a few reviews. Thank you, Marilyn!When I read reviews, I often toss out the worst ones, and always remember that you can’t please everyone!

        1. Marilyn Brant (Post author)
          Becky, what a lovely comment — thank you!! I’m so glad that you’re jumping in and adding your voice to the dialogue. I always enjoy your comments!I love that your son was so inspired by a book that he wanted to contact the author! My guess is that the writer was delighted to hear from him ;) . As a few of us have discussed, *we* didn’t know that authors would welcome getting messages either…not until our books were published and we had the chance to interact with such wonderful readers. And I totally agree with you about supporting authors you love by buying their books. I always did that as well.I do think it’s really been the act of blogging and the various social media outlets that changed the relationship between many readers and writers. Novelists 10 years ago rarely blogged and they never tweeted. Readers typically only had access to an author if they sent him/her a snail-mail letter routed through the publishing house. On the one hand, it made some inappropriate requests and a few nasty comments much easier to avoid but, on the other hand, authors wouldn’t get the kind of immediate feedback that we do now when we write an article or essay (like I did today in the form of a blog post ;) ). It becomes much more of a two-way street getting to communicate like this, and it’s one of the great perks, I think, of what the Internet has given to us. Not that I should be spending as much time online as I do…LOL.

            1. BeckyC
              I’m with you Marilyn. Sometimes I find myself so wrapped up online that I don’t have time to read. (Or I ignor all the other of life’s demands!…like…ssshhhh… housework.)

                1. Marilyn Brant (Post author)
                  Ha! Don’t worry, Becky, your secret’s safe with me! One of these days I’ll choose to dust or do dishes instead of blog hop or post on FB…but that day is not here yet ;).

    1. Kara Louise
      Thanks for the blog, Marilyn! I received most of my encouragement to publish from readers online, but that also then put me in the position to receive not so friendly reviews. I am careful of reading poor reviews of my books (depending on my mood), but I do look over reviews of books I am interested in and have learned what to discount in a review or what to consider. Those reviews of P&P are really something, aren’t they!

        1. Marilyn Brant (Post author)
          Kara, those reviews of P&P saved my sanity and my sense of humor when my debut novel was released!! I’m actually indebted to those people for writing something I could hold up as concrete evidence that not everybody shares the same opinion on a piece of literature. To think someone called my FAVORITE novel of ALL time “a nightmare that never ends”! WHAT?!! Definitely keeps me from taking any of my own reviews too seriously ;).

    1. Abigail Reynolds
      Those P&P reviews are definitely good medicine when the criticism gets a bit much! Thank you for bringing up the value of good reviews, though. I think readers don’t always understand just how much it can mean to an author to hear that someone enjoyed their book. Among other things, it’s the best muse food I know of! So my deepest thanks to those readers who have taken time to tell me what they like about my books.

        1. Marilyn Brant (Post author)
          “Muse food” — oh, Abigail, I love that phrase!! It’s a perfect description ;). Reading what really touched someone about a story or made them laugh/cry is, IMO, so inspiring. It makes us all want to work harder, write even better. And I think that verbalizing this for each other is one thing that writers become more aware of the longer we’re in this industry. I’ve written more reviews of books I’ve loved and have personally shouted out, “Hey, you all should read this story!” more often in the past 2-3 years than in all my life before that. We realize how much that means.

    1. Sundee Miles
      I was so pleased to read this posting about reviews from a writer’s POV. I have always wondered if and what writers think about the reviews at on-line bookstores and places like Goodreads. I do read synopsis, reviews by professionals, and reviews by readers, but like several have already noted I do not allow them to influence me undually as I form my own opinions (well maybe mom and sis in law have a strong recommendation influence (-; ). I never used to review books I read because I did not feel qualified to have an opinion that might influence others, but then I read some of those reviews you spoke of (-; and heard from an author that part of her success depended on receiving reviews. I have since then reviewed each book I read and I can honestly say- I have ‘shown some compassion for your poor nerves’ while attempting to be objectively honest. I try to remember that whatever I think it is really ‘just my opinion’.Thanks!

        1. Marilyn Brant (Post author)
          Sundee, thank you!! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post ;). You bring up a really great point, too: that readers will often not feel “qualified” to share their opinion. I remember feeling that way myself when I first began reviewing books for a magazine. I asked the reviews editor if I was doing it correctly, and she stressed that I should just focus on sharing *my* opinion. That’s what they were looking looking for — the elements of the story that I honestly liked and didn’t like. So, I love hearing that you now review each book you read and attempt to be compassionate but honest. Reviews like that are *incredibly* worthwhile from an author’s standpoint!!And I also agree that there’s no greater recommendation than having a family member or good friend tell me that I *have* to read a certain book. That kind of word-of-mouth recommendation is priceless. :smile:

    1. Candy Morton
      What a great post! As someone fairly new to reviewing books this was good to read. I didn’t review books before because I also felt inadequate. I feel like I’m getting better at it! :smile: I don’t post anonymously, so if I have said anything incorrect in a review, please feel free to contact me so I can correct it. And thanks to you, Marilyn, I made my first amazon review! I really had never thought about doing that. (I really don’t know why!!) I’m happy to help! I agree with Jakki, I selfishly want you to keep writing! :grin:

        1. Marilyn Brant (Post author)
          Candy, I could hug you!! Your reviews are *lovely* and I’m so thrilled that you chose to start reviewing our stories. I was absolutely delighted when I read your thoughts on Double Dipping and On Any Given Sundae (!!), and I appreciate greatly that you took the time to read my books and post your reviews. “Selfish”? I don’t think so! I know I’m not alone in happily continuing to write stories for wonderful and caring readers like you!

    1. Jack Caldwell
      Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. I’ve read my reviews — and other book reviews — on Amazon, and try to pay attention to the trend of the reviews. If most are very positive, I ignore the occasional negative review. Generally, Amazon has been kind to me.Goodreads is different. They either love you or hate you. What ticks me off about Goodreads is that I write for adults. However, some of the tweens (or the tweens-at-heart) that post there just OMG HATE IT that my stories are SO not like the movie or Twilight. And what’s up with Darcy spying on Beth? Yuck! One reviewer panned my book because “it was obvious that a guy wrote it” — whatever that means.Just remember — whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I know my book — and the other outstanding novels found at Austen Authors — are not everyone’s cup of coffee. I write for the historical romance crowd. There are thousands of books out there for those not inclined to read my stuff. Have fun, folks.

        1. Marilyn Brant (Post author)
          Jack, you make an excellent point in that there are SO many books out there for readers who don’t like one author’s writing style. I found myself actually kind of stunned one day when I was hosting a giveaway for my 2nd Kensington novel — Friday Mornings at Nine — and I saw that one of the people who signed up to try to win a copy was a woman who wrote *THE most hateful* rant about According to Jane (it wasn’t a real review — it was inaccurate, meanspirited and, as an added bonus, even included a threat of bodily harm toward me). Yet, she wanted a free copy of my 2nd book, and all I could think of was: “But WHY?! There are a million authors out there. Don’t you want to find one whose writing is less likely to inspire you to violence?” LOL. It was pretty bizarre. Thankfully, that was a rare experience for me, and it only made me appreciate the truly thoughtful and constructive reviewers all the more. :)

    1. Carolyn Eberhart
      I used to review books for a romance novel website. It is hard when you try to be fair. I usually tried to find something I liked in each story, though sometimes it was very hard.I do remember one review I did that started with all the reasons I would normally avoid the novel, as they were things I tend to dislike when reading (ie, first person narrative, takes place over years). I gave the novel one of my highest ratings, so it really does come to actually reading the book before making up your mind.Jane collected reviews of her works. I believe she had the same reaction to the reviews as any modern writer – surprised, delighted, even perplexed.

        1. Marilyn Brant (Post author)
          Carolyn, you described the author reaction to reviews perfectly — surprised, delighted, even perplexed :razz: — so true! No doubt Jane was gifted with the great wit to make mincemeat out of any reviewer who unfairly criticized her writing, though — if only in private or within Cassandra’s hearing. I would have loved to have heard some of her reactions…And isn’t it wonderful when we unexpectedly fall in love with a story that we think isn’t our “type”?! I read a novel like that almost 2 years ago, before too many people around me had heard about it. I was so sure I wasn’t going to enjoy it, but I’d promised to read it for a book club gathering. I thought, “Fine, I’ll just skim it,” but I kept getting sucked into the story in spite my resolve…and I ended up LOVING it. Guess what it was called? “The Help” — LOL.

    1. Vera Nazarian
      What a truly wonderful post and such a great discussion around it, Marilyn! On behalf of every writer here and everywhere, you nailed it!Dear readers, you are the ones who often act like the last blessed straw to keep us going with a kind word or two, and for that we are infinitely grateful to you for taking the time out to review!It also occurs to me, after reading this fantastic blog and commentary, that sometimes reviews, good or bad, but intelligent, are a rare window into another person’s soul and mindset, and when you find something that stuns you, it is time to consider what kind of a personality would write that kind of review, what psychological aspect of character makes a person love or hate something of yours… and why, and now it might reflect not only on you and your work but on THEM….So much food for thought! :-)

        1. Marilyn Brant (Post author)
          Vera, thank you so much! I really appreciated the thoughtfulness and wisdom you added to the discussion, particularly how someone’s review style is far more indicative of the person writing it than the author/novel it was written about… ;) So. Very. True.I have to say, I’ve become friends with people in real life whose intelligence and kindheartedness first shined through on their blog posts and book reviews. I may have been initially introduced to them online only, but reading their thoughts and coming to see the way they viewed the world impressed me so much that I hoped our paths would cross in person. Sometimes I’ve been fortunate to have that wish come true, and I’ve never been disappointed!

    1. Susanne
      Dear Marilyn!Thanks for this Love Letter. I am not a writer but over the years I´ve learned how important good reviews are. And as I read a lot, I try to write reviews as often as possible. I like Goodreads and most shops like Amazon, Waterstone´s….. and it is really strange how ugly the Amazon reviews are.Keep strong and believe in yourself!Susanne

    1. Marilyn Brant (Post author)
      Susanne, thank YOU! I appreciate the very kind words and the reminder that believing in ourselves is key… Writing professionally requires an odd kind of skin — thick enough to handle the many slings and arrows, but still thin enough to fully take in the experiences around us. There’s nothing like having wonderful readers to make the rough patches on the journey easier and with whom to share the smooth spots — so thanks!! :smile:

    1. David Wilkin
      :razz: Liked your post very much. It was pointed out to me by Sundee, up above in the comments section here who had read my book and given it a good review. Just days after I had a very negative review. So her review had lifted my spirits and then she directed me to this blog post.What I find having sat through negative critiquing for years, rejection letters, etc, to perfect the craft of writing, is that now we have actual readers who want to blast you with more negativity. Sure I’ve built my suit of armor, but that does not mean I am indifferent. I do not want to be universally liked any more. I am old enough to have grown past that. But words of scathing criticism hurt. Even when they are so far in the minority, against so many others praising the work.Still having portrayed, especially here where one takes characters that Austen created, the readers favorites in a way they do not like, makes it hard to make that reader a fan of your work.My focus has always been story first. I aspire to entertain through story just as Garrison Keillor does during his Lake Woebegone monologues. Should I miss the mark by having Darcy be the littlest bit different than another reader thought they would be once Jane wrote The End, then I have erred for that reader. And there are several readers that once lost because of such an error, will never come back.Should I try to capture the flavor of the regency through the use of language, dialogue, or tell of the history beyond Meryton that is occurring at the moment, I think I open the door on another way for me to lose some readers. These have certainly been the complaints lobbied against me, which is a valid reason to read the reviews, even though I may not like them.Your post, of thanking the readers who speak up and tell you they like your work, or give a fair review of your work is something we writers all need to do. For a negative review may discourage someone from purchasing our work, a good review, that says another reader will enjoy what we have written, give us a chance to further our audience and hopefully entertain more readers as well. And while some writers need to write just for themselves, I write so that I can have more readers enjoy my stories and be pleasantly diverted for a few hours, and even perhaps, take the time to write a good review themselves.

        1. Marilyn Brant (Post author)
          Thanks so much for your comment, David ;). I’m glad you liked it and delighted that Sundee pointed you in this direction!As for the power of the negative over the positive — I remember reading once that it took 11 words of praise to counteract just 1 criticism, so, if that’s true, we’d need 11 fairly positive reviews to balance out 1 harsh one. Imagine! It’s probably too much to expect that the balance will be perfect, but I do think where we focus our attention most can, at least, help a little bit. I don’t believe we can thank those wonderful and supportive readers out there enough and, of course, we still need to do our best to strengthen our writing craft so we’re continuing to release stories they’ll want to read. If we’ve done our best and someone out there still doesn’t like our writing, then we have nothing to regret…

    1. Vee
      Hey Marilyn!Thanks for a great post! I could not believe that those reviews were for Pride And Prejudice!! No twist! Predictable! Nightmare! OMGAnd one was supposed to be an English lit teacher! Heavens!I love to share my thoughts on review once I have finished a novel. Being a positive person by nature I always highlight the good parts of books I’ve read. Everyone has their own interpretation/like/dislikes etc. So who am I to tell someone else what they should like or dislike about a particular novel! I must admit I have found it easier to make comments or reviews since “meeting” so many talented and wonderful authors on this site and others. You are all so wonderful and obviously enjoy what you do immensley and love your books like they are your children and that to me as a reader speaks volumes. Keep up the great work every single one of you!I have plenty of room on my shelf yet! Best wishes to all xxxTSBO devoteeVee

        1. Marilyn Brant (Post author)
          Oh, Vee, thank you!!I don’t know an author here that wouldn’t be warmed and encouraged by words like yours! Thanks for being so very supportive.And I share your shock at those unbelievable P&P reviews!! I’m tellin’ ya, if reading those words doesn’t convince an Austen lover that “people like different things,” I haven’t a clue what will… :razz:Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!

    1. Tara Finlay
      I’ve been reading Austen adaptations almost exclusively for 2+ years now. I cannot get enough. I don’t absolutely LOVE every single one, but there isn’t one I haven’t finished, nor one I was sorry I read ;) I have been wondering what venue of review is the most advantageous to the authors? Would it be Amazon.com or maybe a blog dedicated solely to Austen adaptation reviews? It has always been important to me to let authors know when their books have touched me. And since I have learned that authors now need a platform, it seems like a public venue might be more helpful to them. I’d love to hear your take.

        1. Marilyn Brant (Post author)
          Tara, thanks so much for your comment and for asking such a great question! I can’t speak for everyone, but I do know from my own experience and that of my closest friends that Amazon tends to be a big one in the eyes of the publishing world. When my publisher was trying to make some decisions about promoting my second novel, the sales dept. took a very close look at my Amazon reviews. And the same thing happened when I was switching literary agencies last year. One of the first things a few of the agents did was to check out my Amazon reviews for According to Jane — to see how many of them there were and if they were, overall, fairly positive in tone. (I was very fortunate because some really awesome readers had taken the time to post there. I’m still so grateful for that. :) )Agents and editors are primarily concerned with sales numbers when considering whether to take an author on as a client or to offer that author a new book contract, but if they don’t have much sales data to look at or if — like nowadays, when the industry is shifting so much and print numbers are down across the board — having a lot of generally good, honestly written reviews can *definitely* tip things in a writer’s favor.In addition to Amazon, B&N is also great. And sharing your reviews and opinions about books on writing communities like Goodreads and Library Things is tremendously helpful, too. Some reviewers will will have a blog site dedicated to reviewing — like the kind you mentioned for Austen adaptations (love that!) — which is wonderful when readers know about it and flock there to find new novels in that particular subgenre. And I’ve seen some smaller blogs gain a big audience by consistently taking their blog reviews of a novel (not having to shorten or change them in any way) and sharing them on Amazon, B&N, Goodreads, etc., as well, along with a link to that reviewers blog site. That way it can really help that reviewer gain exposure for their thoughtful writing. I’ve *often* checked out the blogs of reviewers who’ve posted their work in an evenhanded way on Amazon, and I’ve found some terrific new blogs to visit as a result. That’s, actually, how I first discovered Laurel Ann’s Austenprose! ;)I hope that helps!!! And thank you — on behalf of all the authors here — for wanting to help spread the word!

            1. Tara Finlay
              That helps so much. I just found mention of a website dedicated to reviewing Austen-inspired novels, but of course I cannot find it now. I like your idea of posting the review both on Amazon/BN and then on the blog.Thank you for your thoughtful response. I appreciate it!

                1. Marilyn Brant (Post author)
                  The pleasure is mine, Tara!!And p.s. — it’s great to see you on Twitter, too. :razz:

    1. Lúthien84
      Thanks Marilyn for your special post. It definitely made my day to feel the inter-dependency between authors and readers.I’m still learning how to write good reviews in the form of truly expressing oneself how I really feel whether I love it or not. I’m usually tongue-tied for words and sometimes forget a significant scene which I love earlier in the book but did not pen it down. So sometimes I depend on reviews at Austenprose and Austenesque Reviews to get me started.Btw Marilyn, my review your debut novel is here. I wrote it some time ago. :razz:

        1. Marilyn Brant (Post author)
          Oh, Lúthien!!Your review made MY day! Thank you so, so much. I just read it, printed it out and saved it (I keep a special file for the ones I love and, yes, I do reread them on days when I need a little brightening… :) ). Thanks for the thoughtfulness of your comments both here and on your blog. I really appreciated all the things you mentioned in your review, and I do, in fact, agree with you that I should have used more of JA’s other works in the novel! That’s one of the elements I would have added if I were able to revise the story now. Sometimes we like to believe a book is “done” just because it’s on the bookshelf but, actually, in the eyes of many authors, a book is *never* done — it’s just turned in! — although it’s the best we can do at that particular point in time.Thank you, again…I’m still smiling ;).

            1. Lúthien84
              You’re most welcome, Marilyn. Didn’t know that you keep a special file but it’s good to remind yourself when you feel down.When you’re happy, I’m happy too. :razz:

                1. Marilyn Brant (Post author)
                  {{Hugs!}} I’m definitely happy! ;)

    1. Regina Jeffers
      I avoid Amazon and B&N review sections. I also hate to read reviews from bloggers. As much as I would like to NOT take it personally, it always feels very personal.

        1. Marilyn Brant (Post author)
          Regina, I can certainly understand that… Sometimes I find myself wishing that I could channel my curiosity elsewhere and avoid them, too, LOL. But the only thing that really stops me from reading reviews is when I’m simply too busy to go online ;).

Marilyn Brant

Marilyn Brant is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of contemporary women's fiction, romantic comedy, and mystery. She loves Jane Austen, Sherlock Holmes, travel, music, gelato, and chocolate. She was named the 2013 Author of the Year by the Illinois Association of Teachers of English and lives in the Chicago suburbs with her family. Visit her website at www.marilynbrant.com.

12 comments

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    • Sophia Rose on February 6, 2014 at 2:02 am
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    Neat to read this old post. Its a good reminder to us readers.

    1. Sophia,
      I’m so glad you liked this older blog post (we’ve got more coming!) and thank you for taking time to leave a comment. I always enjoy getting to read your thoughts on our posts 🙂 .

    • Deborah on February 6, 2014 at 4:58 am
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    This was a very interesting post. Thank you for sharing it again. The only time I havemade comments about books are on the blogs here. I guess I have a lot of catching up to do in commenting. I never realized comments could mean so much to an author, although, in hindsight, I should have, as a simple thank you from my students parents means a lot. Thank you for the insight.

    1. Deborah,
      I’m delighted you liked the post, and I used to be a school teacher, too, so I know just what you mean about those notes from the parents!! There are several of them that I kept because they were so heartfelt and kind… I’m glad you got some precious thank you notes as well :). As for book reviews, don’t feel bad! It wasn’t something I ever thought to do before I became an author. Just like sending emails to a writer I admired. It never even crossed my mind that I could do that, let alone that the writer would actually respond! That’s one of the things I love so much about big blogs like this one — readers and writers all have the opportunity to interact via the comments. I think of it as a big gift for all of us…

    • Sheila L. M. on February 6, 2014 at 11:57 am
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    When I began reading this blog I noticed that the date was October of 2011. I have only posted a few reviews on Amazon in the past. And I was able to find one author’s e-mail and sent her my accolades when a new book was released. Having worked full time until a little over a year ago, I did not find the time to search on the Internet for web pages or e-mail addresses of other authors. I counted on Amazon’s reviews for my decision on my next book purchase. When I bought myself a kindle just before Christmas and then went on Abigail’s web page to see if she had released anything new I read that over 20 books were on sale at a bargain price so ordered them. I didn’t take the time as I usually do to read all the reviews on Amazon before buying these books. SO I was introduced to some new-to-me authors. Some are delightful and I have already ordered other of their books. Only one was disappointing due to the sexual descriptions, which for me were distasteful. (I have many books with sex scenes but it was how they were handled. I own all of Abigail’s books and you know she has scenes of such in some of her books.) Now I have also made it my goal to not only review all the new books I am reading, but to also go back and post reviews on the books I already own, even if it means I have to re-read such. I am close to having 20 reviews posted on Amazon todate. I also found at the end of reading “Scenes JA Never Wrote” the web page addresses for all those authors. I made note of them, as I would love to contact them directly. Since I own close to 90 books in this genre you can see this is a very ambitious project. As an aside, I also babysit my two 1 and 1.5 year old grandchildren fairly often and they don’t live nearby! I DO READ all the reviews on Amazon usually prior to purchasing a book but now I also read them before I write my own review. I do not have a blog. I am not on FB, although I was in the past but found it had privacy issues. So having found these pages is now my daily connection to “what is happening” in my one world of interest. BTW: I do read other genres, as my adult children are into various books and I want to discuss such with them. Marilyn, you are one of my new discoveries and I have now read 2 of your books and am following the WIP. Good job. Reviews were posted!

    1. Sheila,
      My warmest and most heartfelt thanks for all the reading and reviewing you’ve done — not just for me, but on behalf of ALL the authors I know!! The time and attention that you give to your fellow readers and to all the writers whose work you come into contact with, serve to benefit all of us. And the sharing of thoughts on a story — either verbally or in writing — simply raises the level of literacy and narrative analysis across the board. It’s a really wonderful and generous gift! So, again, thank you generally…but, also, my deepest gratitude for reading and reviewing Pride, Prejudice and the Perfect Match and The Road to you. It was a pleasure to get a glimpse into your thoughts on those stories, and I truly appreciate your having taken the time to share them 🙂 .

    • Chanpreet on February 7, 2014 at 10:37 pm
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    You’re right about everyone having different things they like to read. I’m in the medical field and when people ask me what I read the faces I get when I mention romance, chick lit, or NA are just hilarious.

    I love contacting authors when I read and love a book they’ve written. I love it even more when I hear back from them. It makes me feel special too, just the way the author may feel.

    1. Chanpreet,
      You’ve always been such a kind, caring and supportive reader and friend! To me, it’s a treat every time I read one of your reviews, esp. for a story I’ve written (!!), and I love getting your comments on blog posts like this one or on FB or Twitter 🙂 . The single BEST part of being involved in a community of both readers and writers is getting the chance to have connections like this. Writing a book is like the opening line of a discussion, and getting responses back from those who’ve read it is hearing the reply…the second line of dialogue and, hopefully, the start of a full conversation!

    • Kari S on February 19, 2014 at 9:01 am
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    Thank you for reposting this. It was enlightening. I haven’t reviewed on amazon, but I will read the reviews, unless I am familiar with the author. I do try to comment on these sites, however, but it is mostly just encouragement for a good post. I read some of the reviews and it makes me feel incompetent, so many intelligent people read so much better than I do and can find things written that never would have even occurred to me :)! I have never understood the bad reviewer, but I was brought up with “if you can’t say something nice…” probably not useful for you all, but I can’t find it in my heart to discourage someone who has probably put a lot of their heart, soul, and time into that project.

    1. Kari,

      First, I just want to say a huge thank you! It’s actually no small thing, in my opinion, when someone takes the time to leave comments on a blog post 😉 , particularly if it’s one I’d spent a lot of time and thought writing… That is *always* helpful and appreciated!!

      As for reading reviews and thinking that other people are more competent to write them, I’ll just share with you this story about my early days as a reviewer for Romantic Times Book Reviews Magazine: I’d applied for the job on a whim — I’d never written a formal book review in my life, outside of reports for school projects — so I’m not sure what got into me and made me decide to try it. The process was online and we were required to write a sample review that followed the magazine’s format, using a book we’d recently read. I figured I’d write two samples because I’d read one great story and one not-so-great story and that would give the editor an idea of what I might say in either case. By the time I sent my application in the next morning, the position had already been filled, so I thought that was the end of it. A couple of months later, though, when they had another opening, the editor contacted me and asked if I was still interested. I said, “Sure!” and then proceeded to panic, LOL. Truly, aside from those 2 sample reviews, I had no experience. But I ended up reviewing for them for 4 years, and what I remember most is my editor saying not to worry about anything other than sharing my honest opinion. That, basically, as readers, we just need to be attuned to what we really *feel* about the story. So, I’ve always kept that in mind. Other readers might say things in their reviews that I find insightful or clever, but I’m the only one that can share *my* honest opinion…

      That said, I’ve never had a problem finding things to praise in a story, even if I found a few issues as well. Being fair and evenhanded is important to me. So I totally agree with your “if you can’t say something nice” philosophy and appreciate that you try to live by that. I do too 🙂 .

    • Hazel Mills on February 26, 2014 at 11:40 am
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    I both read and write reviews when I can. I can fully understand when others don’t always agree with my view but I am always disappointed with the self appointed literature police who have the audacity to say that a writer should not be allowed to write another novel. I recently reported one of these whose language in putting down the author I found particularly offensive and was pleased to see that Amazon.co.uk removed it.

    1. Hazel,
      On behalf of authors everywhere, I thank you!!
      I’ve been a published novelist for a number of years now and have a pretty thick skin when it comes to narrative criticism, but there is a BIG difference between someone stating a dislike of elements in a novel (a character, a plot point, a description, etc.) and someone who attacks the author him/herself. So, thanks for not only understanding the distinction so well, but also for taking action and telling Amazon that it isn’t appropriate.
      I’ve been fortunate to have had very few occasions where I’ve felt a review was threatening (though one person did say she wanted to “hit me in the head” because she didn’t like a scene I’d written…that was a little scary 😉 ), but I know there are authors who’ve gotten serious threats sent to them, and that’s just never okay.

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