A Voice for Independent Authors
― E.A. BUCCHIANERI
WHY MY REVIEWS MATTER
I do book reviews for Readers’ Favorite – a well-respected online site.
Granted Top Reviewer status, I am paid for my reviews.
I’ve written almost 200 reviews.
But why should my reviews matter? Are they important? Should you care?
Are they not just more opinion? Aren’t you sick of that?
I am. A bit. A lot.
Also, I tend to rate books high.
Why do I write mostly favorable reviews?
Actually, this is why my book reviews matter.
Look. Occasionally, I tell an author why his book stinks. I am required to write a full page, detailed critique when I do. But I don’t publish such critiques. Readers’ Favorite policy. Authors need a chance to salvage bad writing without public condemnation. Also, Amazon does not publish professional reviews. Excerpts are shared in the Editorial Review section, and the authors choose what they like.
Still, my reviews are mostly favorable. Why?
Because I personally select each book I read. And I do my homework. I read the author’s own comments about his book. When the “blurbs” are poorly written, I turn down the book. I sample actual work inside. Readers’ Favorite lets me reject any book without cause. I reject them fairly often, always for poor writing. I have no interest in reading crap. Even for a paycheck.
So, I’ve become really good at choosing.
Therefore, most of what I read is already positioned for favorable review.
And that is why my reviews matter.
When you see posted A Review by Joel R. Dennstedt, you know the book meets a standard. My review is honest and sincere. Even when I turn hyperbolic about a writer, I mean such praise intentionally and truthfully.
Finally, I know books. I know the world of writers. I know their intentions, I recognize their creative decisions, and I know how successful they’ve been in getting their intentions on the page. I appreciate unique styles, classical understandings, grammatical correctness and typographical purity, and always gorgeous writing, no matter how simple or concise.
My book reviews matter.
You have no idea how much terrible writing ends up on the shelf these days – mostly digital. I wade through acres of rubbish to find hidden gems deserving of attention. Books you do not find easily on Amazon. Often not recommended just for you, because they are not mainstream gold mines gifted with paid advertisements. They should be mainstream. They could be. If agents and publishers could somehow manage the impossible: Sift through a gazillion submissions to find a few great works.
Which … actually … they do, of course.
They just don’t find them all.
Some are left for me.
And believe me. That matters.
Joel R. Dennstedt – Top Reviewer for Readers’ Favorite
