Prompt Response: Week 5

Hi everyone! 

Reviews are definitely a saving grace for librarians for multiple reasons. One of the main reasons I love reviews is because they can help me with my recommendations. Reviews in a genre I don't read often will allow me to recommend a book to a patron. Which is why I say the more personal, the better. When people get emotionally invested in a book, they explain books in greater detail with more connections to real life and emotional vulnerability. Another reason is when I review books I have read myself, I tend to remember the book better when looking at my review. Insights I had then are easier to recall and, therefore, better to connect with. 

Ebooks only book, have a following all on their own. The readers who follow the authors and the series know what they are looking for and how to rely on fellow readers for the next great book. Their category is ruled by the people who read them. I love this because it means the authors are more inclined to listen to the readers and reflect that in their stories. On the flip side, having little-to-no reviews from professional publications makes it seem like ebooks (only books) are less important or less popular than other print/ebook books. Readers can fall into the trap that books that haven't been reviewed by these big names (in publishing/in reading) aren't worth reading. 

After reading the reviews of The Billionaire's First Christmas by Holly Rayner, I wasn't immediately inspired to read the book, but I wasn't completely turned off either. When looking at the two reviews,  there is one review that I liked better than the other. The Amazon review was a little cleaner and to the point, while the other book focused on things that I wouldn't really care about. I mean the whole first paragraph was about the author (of the review) than the book. 

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt isn't a book I typically read since I enjoy more fiction than nonfiction. The reviews are more professionally formatted and focus entirely on the book. It captures the main points and emotional pitfalls of the journey. They are neat and quickly summarize the book, but they don't straight out say their opinions but rather use descriptive words to showcase their opinions and emotions. 

I wouldn't say it is fair that some books are heavily reviewed and others aren't, but I do think readers dictate a good portion of that. Readers who read and promote books that they love will allow the book to grow in popularity. Publishers promote and review books they think readers will enjoy (and yes buy) more of. Librarians work harder and promote more of the books that don't get a lot of professional attention. Like my own boss says, series like Wings of Fire or James Patterson don't need extra promotions because they are so popular and heavily advertised. 

                              

Reviews should be an accurate representation of the readers' opinions. This may mean that the reviews are negative in nature. Every reader is different and they may not like a book for whatever reason. It could be a warning of spice or language or even sensitive subjects like child abuse. Whether it is, at least one other reader will likely find that important to note. Reviews are important to note but are just one aspect that would influence my decision to buy a book. Patron wants and needs are much more vital when buying items. For personal reading, I sometimes read reviews but mostly I base my decision on my own preferences. When I do look at reviews, it is often on either Amazon or Goodreads.