tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post7870893516579589500..comments2024-03-14T16:46:14.455-05:00Comments on Becky's Book Reviews: Is it okay to hate a book...ever?Beckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793618692608823102noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-80880981923907741002009-03-07T16:27:00.000-06:002009-03-07T16:27:00.000-06:00I had a professor (of creative writing) who told u...I had a professor (of creative writing) who told us that if a book was bad, we should stop reading it. He pointed out that there are more books waiting to be read -- more than we'll ever get to in our lifetimes. <BR/><BR/>As for Dune... it was okay. I had to read it for a college course, but if it's not setting your world on fire, chuck it. Go in search for something more your style.Susan Helene Gottfriedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12778191943289129869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-9338575767814810452009-03-04T05:05:00.000-06:002009-03-04T05:05:00.000-06:00Oh the reader' bill of rights! I love them and I f...Oh the reader' bill of rights! I love them and I firmly believe in them! I gotta put them on my blog:D<BR/><BR/>have you read the whole book "The Rights of the Reader?"valentinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01568749601493955929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-74954912190506926272009-03-03T11:48:00.000-06:002009-03-03T11:48:00.000-06:00Interesting post and wow your blog looks completel...Interesting post and wow your blog looks completely different from what it looked like the last time I visited!<BR/><BR/>I love what Madison said: "A book is neither good or bad. It just is until someone reads it to make a decision."<BR/><BR/>I'm with the "skip Dune" folks!avisannschildhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12486477882148877317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-4171583859605580682009-03-02T09:37:00.000-06:002009-03-02T09:37:00.000-06:00Absolutely. It's more than okay to hate a book. ...Absolutely. It's more than okay to hate a book. In fact, in my book destruction book one commenter told me she has thrown away perfectly good books because she hated them so much and couldn't stand the thought of their existence in the world. I'm not going to give her any grief. It's her book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-16017851018862316752009-03-02T00:44:00.000-06:002009-03-02T00:44:00.000-06:00I cannot tell you how many times I have kept readi...I cannot tell you how many times I have kept reading a book because it was a classic or everybody "loved " it.<BR/><BR/>I now live the Readers' Bill of rights.Laura Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15585254426161993523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-49577362124755308482009-03-01T20:07:00.000-06:002009-03-01T20:07:00.000-06:00Though I rarely care if others don't like a book t...Though I rarely care if others don't like a book that I love, I'm always concerned when I don't like a book that so many people are raving about. Examples: Life of Pi and Time Traveler's Wife. <BR/><BR/>Ditch Dune. You've got better things to do!Cheryl Vanattihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15826862563579967763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-78441920617445825512009-02-28T12:49:00.000-06:002009-02-28T12:49:00.000-06:00great post, Becky!I also abandoned Dune. But it wa...great post, Becky!<BR/><BR/>I also abandoned Dune. But it was thirty years ago, probably. Maybe I should give it another shot.<BR/><BR/>I have some books I love to hate. They are so poorly written that I just LOVE to hate them. And yes, I've read them all the way through. I felt I needed to so I could honestly say I hated them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-73429512430655672412009-02-28T10:59:00.000-06:002009-02-28T10:59:00.000-06:00LOL on the last line. I love Dune, but I can also ...LOL on the last line. I love <I>Dune</I>, but I can also completely understand why some people can't get into it. And while I liked the 2nd and 3rd books in the Dune series I hated the 4th so much I swore off reading any further books in the series at all, so it is absolutely true that everybody has different "dealbreakers" when reading and that a book that thrills the pants off one person may leave another stone-cold.<BR/><BR/>There are a lot of books I've seen widely praised, only to come to them and find myself disappointed. In some cases I really do think the book is objectively flawed, but in others I just have to conclude that I am not the right reader for that particular book...<BR/><BR/>And then there are the books I am completely nuts about but hardly anybody else seems to share my glorious madness. That is always saddening, too.R.J. Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04503519800068573393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-79490172569011808802009-02-28T10:40:00.000-06:002009-02-28T10:40:00.000-06:00These are all things I keep in mind when I write m...These are all things I keep in mind when I write my thoughts on my reading. Just because I didn't like a book doesn't mean it won't be great for someone else. I hate when people book bash for this very reason.<BR/><BR/>My husband *loves* the Dune books. I've read the first two and I was a little bored. I'm trying to work up to the fourth one eventually anyway, because he says God Emperor of Dune is really amazing. It may take me awhile to get there though. :-)<BR/><BR/>LezlieLezliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05747969193923246804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-36878182938580995872009-02-28T10:20:00.000-06:002009-02-28T10:20:00.000-06:00Thanks for your comments everyone. I would like to...Thanks for your comments everyone. I would like to amend what I wrote one tiny bit. I don't think a reader should choose the word "hate" if they don't finish the book in question. Abandoning it says enough already. And I think hate is something that should be reserved for something you've read completely. <BR/><BR/>So I agree with you, Janice :)<BR/><BR/>I think Dune is an intimidating book. It doesn't make any apologies for being difficult. Strange names. Strange places. Strange customs. Strange languages. Throwing new characters in the mix every few chapters with no introduction or background. It's a book that thinks its good to keep the reader confused and guessing. There were parts of the book that I enjoyed. But every other chapter or so, they'd have the narration switch. And those chapters made no sense whatsoever. Maybe having a friend who could help you out would make a difference. I just know that reading the book made me feel stupid because I couldn't keep up with it all. And Nymeth, it is very idea-heavy in my opinion. I loved your post yesterday by the way.<BR/><BR/>For almost every negative review I've ever written I try to stress that the book could work for others. <BR/><BR/>I do think negative reviews can be tremendously helpful. If they list why and show what the book is about. If they're objective enough to say "I hate this book because of x, y, and z" then as a reader if I love x, y, and z...then I can say, "hey, that sounds like something I'd like."Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00793618692608823102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-37755311216982066262009-02-28T09:05:00.000-06:002009-02-28T09:05:00.000-06:00I think folks throw the word hate around when they...I think folks throw the word hate around when they really mean dislike. I don't think I've ever hated a book, but there are a few I dislike intensely. I read <I>The Boy in the Striped Pajamas</I> for a book club and found little good to say about it. Others loved it. I suppose I could have set it down, but I read to the end to see what all the buzz was about. I also wanted to see if the author could change my opinion.<BR/><BR/>I don't often put a book down before I finish. Given that I don't have as much time to read as I would like, I really shouldn't feel bad about putting a book down I don't like or can't get into. That said, I'm going to take numbers 2 and 3 to heart more often!<BR/><BR/>Love the list in general. I'm going to share it with my son. It seems like a good way to let kids know it's okay not to like every book they open.Triciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18350907653629775293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-21812317069775598702009-02-28T08:24:00.000-06:002009-02-28T08:24:00.000-06:00I love your bill of rights for readers! I totally...I love your bill of rights for readers! <BR/><BR/>I totally agree with what you had to say, it is totally subjective. That is what I told my boys in the Jedi Reader book club I have for 8-9 year old boys.<BR/><BR/>I think books we enjoy give us something we need at the time, even if it is just escape, that is why some books we end up liking at different times.Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13836076375066874789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-27724708025945374732009-02-28T08:03:00.000-06:002009-02-28T08:03:00.000-06:00Sometimes the students I work with will say they "...Sometimes the students I work with will say they "hate" a book, and then, with a tiny bit of probing, I'll find out that they've only read three pages of a book assigned by their teacher. I don't mind if they hate it, but I think you have to give a book a chance before you make that opinion. <BR/>I can't recall ever hating a book. I've had books I wasn't terribly interested in, but never one that I could say had NO redeeming features whatsoever. (I have, however, hated some movies!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-42741229906495596002009-02-28T06:02:00.000-06:002009-02-28T06:02:00.000-06:00It doesn't really upset me when people hate a book...It doesn't really upset me when people hate a book I love. I might not disagree with their analysis, but hey, whatever. Chances are, if they explain what they dislike, I'll understand it. And then sometimes, a book just doesn't sit well with you. Like when I read a certain popular, well-received novel, I loathed every. single. word. But it's a good book. My friends love it. For whatever reason, I hated it. I'm not even sure why. <BR/><BR/>Normally, if a friend likes a book that I hated or they hate a book I love, I won't say anything. It's not important enough, and it's too easy to say the wrong thing. It kind of annoys me when friends respond to low ratings I give without asking why. I'm just like, "Why? Why do you feel the need to say something? I know you liked the book. You don't have to tell me so again." If they ask why I don't like the book...well...I'm more okay with that, but if I didn't write a review, chances are I'm not in the mood to talk about the book. I mean, I don't ask why you gave a book five stars or three stars. Is it just because mine is the dissenting opinion that I have to defend it? I'm not sure that's necessarily fair, especially if it's just an emotional reaction rather than a logical one. I don't always want to write reviews, especially if they're going to be negative about books my friends love. Sometimes it sort of feels like you're being judged or losing respect or something. Even if you know you're probably not.<BR/><BR/>I've never gotten the whole mindset of, "Only talk about books you love." Bashing a book? I love to do that, and I might as well enjoy something about the reading experience. I understand when reviewers say that they will only review books they love. They have limited time and may only want to dedicate their blogs to recommendations. But if I find faults with a book and I want to say so, then I will say so and no one can stop me. Don't read it if it's going to bother you and you'll have to leave a rude comment that will have me bashing my head against the wall.<BR/><BR/>Besides, negative reviews as well as positive reviews are an important part of making a decision about buying a book. If I knew that people didn't like a book and listed reasons why, even if my friends loved it, I might not be so let down when I read it because I wouldn't feel so alone.<BR/><BR/>I think that hating and loving a book is always more of a reader thing than a book thing. Even if I find faults in a book that get in the way of my enjoying the book doesn't mean that everyone will either find the faults or care about them. And I'm not sure a book is "bad" exactly (which "bad" and "good" are subjective terms too) because it's commercial or trashy. It's all up to the reader to decide if a book is good or bad, but it's always for them and for no one else. Sometimes, a majority of people agree that a book is good or a book is bad, but usually, they'll be haters and lovers for every book. If enough people give negative reviews to a book, then I won't be tempted to read it, but if someone else loves it, then the book worked for them.<BR/><BR/>A book is neither good or bad. It just is until someone reads it to make a decision.anileehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09476478670984354189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-25649606126824984262009-02-28T05:22:00.000-06:002009-02-28T05:22:00.000-06:00I agree with you, Becky. It doesn't at all upset m...I agree with you, Becky. It doesn't at all upset me when people hate a book I love, or love a book I hated. I'm actually interested in hearing why. Most of the time their reasons will make me spot something I didn't notice, or see things in a different way. They probably won't change my mind, but they'll help me understand where other people are coming from, and that's important.<BR/><BR/>And this is why it's a pet peeve of mine to hear people say things like "don't waste your time with this book", or "I don't recommend this to anyone", or "I can't imagine anyone enjoying this". How do they know? How can anyone ever know that the book they hated so much won't be life-changing for the next person?Ana S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16092495983972185943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-36863236914683155152009-02-28T01:44:00.000-06:002009-02-28T01:44:00.000-06:00Dune is on my TBR pile - my husband really wants m...Dune is on my TBR pile - my husband really wants me to read it but I keep putting it off. I guess I am just not interested. But maybe I will give it a try sometime soon!myzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08569119583551676481noreply@blogger.com