As a reader you might think that your opinion of a book or
short story you’ve read doesn’t matter, but you’d be wrong! Not only does your
opinion matter to the author but it matters to other potential readers as well.
Writers who can’t build a readership because they remain unknown are likely to
become discouraged and stop writing. So if you do respect and/or enjoy a book
or short story, voice your opinion. Give that writer some encouragement and
publicity. Amazon is one place to do it and so are Goodreads and Library Thing.
But there are many other sites as well.
For those authors who are published in print, major editorial
reviews only matter as much as they do because the reviews offered in such publications
as: The New York Times Book Review, Booklist, Library Journal, Publishers
Weekly, Kirkus etc. are what acquisitions librarians consider when they place
their orders. Librarians are often referred to as gatekeepers, but this is not
quite true. For the most part, just a few publications control what books will
be purchased worldwide. But these review pubs merely voice the opinion of single
reviewers, and these reviewers don’t know more than the average person in
regard to what should be available to readers. If a book gets a rave or starred
review from these all important publications, then in essence that is what
readers will have available in libraries and bookstores.
Unfortunately, a great
many fine, quality books will be ignored and get no reviews or publicity
because they aren’t offered by the big publishers who heavily advertise. It
appears that the major review publications give special preference to the
publishers who advertise with them—not at all surprising. Readers should check
out some of the internet review sites for buying recommendations. Also, why not
request that your library order books from smaller, independent publishers that
you think might be a good read.
The internet is now offering readers real alternatives. This
is wonderfully democratic. A great many small independent publishers are making
a variety of books available to readers. If you read a book you like, speak up
and be a reader reviewer. Tell other readers why you would recommend a
particular book. Write and be counted! Your opinion matters! But one caution:
take this as a serious responsibility. Of late, it has been noted that some
individuals bash books, sometimes books they haven’t even bothered to read.
This is highly destructive, much in the way that hackers attack the internet.
What is your thinking on this topic? Your comments pro and
con are welcome here.
