Frequent readers of the Book Examiner have noticed, no doubt, that there has been a dearth of book reviews on the site for the last several weeks (the last one was for Anita Shreve's Testimony).
This isn't because I haven't been reading -- God forbid! I may as well stop breathing or stop drinking extremely cheap Burgundy, both equally unlikely events.
Rather, I've been experiencing something of a book review epiphany (or, as fellow Simpson fans will appreciate, an epipha-tree).
After compiling my list of the top 20 most annoying book reviewer clichés, posting that list plus about 30 more over my computer as a not-so-subtle reminder, and purging myself of all 20 forbidden words in two breathless paragraphs, I indulged myself by surfing about the Internet in search of fellow book reviewers in thrall to reviewerspeak.
That I found them was no surprise (and in such high-falutin' places as the New York Times Book Review and the Christian Science Monitor, one of which printed a word that should be drawn and quartered, tarred and feathered, then burnt at the stake -- "unputdownable"). The shocker came when I realized, with the same sort of cold horror I experience when the bottle is empty and it's still 24 hours until grocery shopping day, that the majority of book reviews -- I'd say at least 95%, and this is including mine as well, folks -- don't say anything useful at all.
Nothing! Useful! At all!
I don't mean that they are badly written -- some made me sick with envy at their turn of phrases -- or that the reviewers hadn't read the books. What struck me again and again was the feeling, after reading a review, that I still had no idea what the hell the book was about. Not necessarily the bare bones of the plot, but what the writing was like, which other author the writer's work resembles, the book's atmosphere and feel, which other books that, if I like them, I'd be sure to at least be passably interested in this one: in short, everything that determines whether I want to read a book or not.
All this was left out in nearly every review I read -- including mine.
The earth shifted beneath my feet; the heavens opened; lightning struck; the clouds rolled; and I asked: What is the purpose of a book review, anyway? And why doesn't it seem like any of us are achieving it?
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In an ideal world, where everyone sits about in laundry-detergent-commercial-white robes listening to Schubert and re-reading Proust for the tenth time and eating organic couscous out of recyclable bowls and saying witty and memorable things every day of the week, a book review would, without hype, gush, or apology, give the reader five things:
1. A brief, accurate, and unbiased precis of the setting and plot of the story without giving away what the rabbit in the hat looks like
2. A specific evaluation of the author's writing ability, including which writers the author's style resembles, and, as the exalted John Updike recommends in his Six Rules for Book Reviewing, a taste out of the author's pot with a few moderately lengthy and representative quotes
3. Which works this particular book most resembles in both plot and feel.
4. How the book compares to the authors previous works (if any) and to other books cut from a similar cloth
5. A final verdict on the book stated clearly and unequivocally and with the particular reviewer's caveats laid out for consideration.
Now, yank yourself back to the Real World; what does the typical book review consist of? One of two manifestations:
Version A:
1. A wordy, sometimes incorrect, sometimes rambling summary of the book that often incorrectly elevates subplots to the level of the book's main storyline
2. No comments on the author's writing ability, how it compares to other works, or what books it resembles.
3. A wishy-washy conclusion along the lines of "A highly enjoyable and readable work from a fresh new voice in American fiction."
Version B:
This version of the typical book review, also known as the bitchy review, covers the above three points, but with the sole purpose of making fun of the author, the book's plot or main arguments, and generally making as many cutting remarks as the word limit allows. This type of review is a particular favorite of liberals reviewing books written by conservatives or of conservatives reviewing books written by liberals. These reviews have no intention of telling you anything useful about the book; rather, the entire focus of the review is on how witty and well-written the reviewer's put-downs are.
It wouldn't take Strunk and White to figure out that neither Version A or Version B is worth a thing. No one wants to approach a book review as if they are panning for gold, searching tediously for one nugget of usefulness out of a reviewer's silt. Reviews such as these don't serve the reader (or, in the end, the author or the publisher).
So why the hell do book reviewers write this way? I know why I've done it in the past -- because everyone else does.
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Perhaps I felt that by aping everyone else's style I would manage to leap over the magic line that divides "amateur book reviewer" from "professional book reviewer;" perhaps I thought being snarky would get me hired by the New York Times Book Review; perhaps I even feared that somehow, somewhere, Harold Bloom, like the Eye of Sauron, would see if I was doing something lacking his literary blessing and strike me dead. Or, maybe, after a lifetime of reading book reviews, I simply wrote mine in an identical manner because it seemed like a good idea.
But now that I'm convinced that the format and content of the majority of book reviews aren't achieving any sort of useful purpose, it doesn't seem like a good idea anymore.
And so -- ta da! -- I am announcing a brand spanking new format for reviews on the Book Examiner page, a format inspired by the review I wrote for the Watchmen movie.
What struck me about the comments I received for that review was how readers addressed specific aspects of the film instead of unleashing the usual insipid string of "It was totally awesome" comments. Why? Because the review listed specific things for people to consider as opposed to wordy generalities. It was also set up in a way that made it easy for readers to scan the separate sections of the review, with each point standing out with its own header. The idea is that if book reviews were set up in this way, the information in them would be easier for readers to find what they are looking for, ponder it, discuss it, question it, and, ultimately, be moved to read the book themselves if they haven't. Because that's what this is all about, folks-- the love of books. And if book reviews are getting in the way of book fiends uniting with their one true love, it's time for the reviews to change.
Here are the headings that will be included in each upcoming Book Examiner review. If you see any you think are worthless or can't believe I left something so obvious out, let me know -- leave a comment below or send it to michellekerns@surewest.net.
The Book Examiner Book Review format:
Title
Author
The genre(s) this book fits most comfortably within
The basic plot
How does this author write? (this should include at least one representative sample) Whose writing is it most similar to?
What feel does the book have?
What worked magnificently
What failed miserably
How does it compare to other books within the same genre(s)?
How does it compare to the author's other books?
What books are most similar to this book?
If you like this book, you will probably like....
If you hate this book, you will probably like....
What to drink while reading this book (you knew I couldn't leave this out)
Continue your journey into the Dark Heart of Book Reviewing with The Aftermath of 'The top 20 most annoying book reviewer cliches' and 'What's the purpose of a book review?'
Comments
I love the new format for the book review. Its just perfect!!!Keep up the great work...by the way the Watchmen and Twilight review were the best reviews that I have read primarily because we agreed on most of the same things. I'll be looking forward to the many reviews to come!!1
Interesting thoughts, and I like them. What I despise most about the majority of book reviews out there is that you can just find a rewording of the back cover and a plot synopsis giving away all the parts of the book that are fabulous in the reading. There are very few reviewers that I actually love because they talk about the elements of the book. They share how the book made them feel and why they would suggest reading it, or consider it a possibility for the TBR pile. I want more "thought felt" reviews. :) And to the people that I do love their reviews, I hope they never stop.
Good post. I'd add two things:
One, no reviewer should EVER be allowed to critique the writing in a book by quoting a single sentence or passage. Even Ted Williams struck out once in a while, you know?
Second, John Updike had a great, pithy quote about reviewing:
Review the book, not the reputation. Submit to whatever spell, weak or strong, is being cast. Better to praise and share than blame and ban. The communion between reviewer and his public is based upon the presumption of certain possible joys in reading, and all our discriminations should curve toward that end.
"...(and in such high-falutin' places as the New York Times Book Review and the Christian Science Sentinel, one of which printed a word that should be drawn and quartered, tarred and feathered, then burnt at the stake -- 'unputdownable')."
Did you mean the Christian Science Monitor?
And yes, that IS an awful word!
I'm a local author (and haven't been reviewed by anyone in town, so I'm not taking potshots). I've received reviews like A & B on various books, and they've always left me saying, 'hunh? Where did that come from?'
One thing I (the author) look for in the reviews of my books is a sense that the reviewer is a person (1) who has read widely and thus can compare my books to others in the genre and (2) who is willing to look beyond reputation (as JohnO said above) and (3) has actually thought about the book after finishing it and wants to share those thoughts with readers (positive or negative). And another thing I appreciate is a review that is simply well-written (I've been surprised by a few that weren't).
I'll be interested to see how your guidelines work out .... perhaps you can set a new trend for reviewers?
As publisher (I run By Light Unseen Media), I can tell you exactly what book reviews are for, from a marketing standpoint.
The absolute TOP reason that people will decide to buy a new book is "recommendation from someone that they trust." This often means a friend, relative, or other person whose opinions can't be controlled. But book reviews serve as the next best thing. Readers have a perception that the reviewer is impartial, and if the reader enjoys the reviewer's style, he or she will generally trust that reviewer's judgment. That's why publishers are so anxious to get books reviewed.
There's also the pure exposure factor (it takes roughly seven repetitions before a new name sticks in a customer's mind as something to try). Also, many readers read reviews to find out enough about the book to determine that (a) it sounds like something they'd enjoy and (b) it doesn't sound like something they definitely don't want to waste time on.
It's a little secret of the book marketing world that a lot of high-volume reviewers simply parrot the press material that goes out with the review copy, and said material is usually written with that in mind.
I agree with your points Michelle. People want substance -- people with brains, anyway. They hate useless fluff. They despise pretense over substance. They want something that makes them think, something that intellectually challenges them, something that exposes truths that seem blindingly obvious after careful consideration but that never occurred to them before. People crave this….
Yes, people can be persuaded by various reviews, etc. But thinking people normally only trust trusted sources. If they hear that Twilight was the best movie ever, and they actually see it, they’ll know not to trust the people who say that. They may like them and cordially praise the movie’s good points, but their conscience and their judgment will quietly condemn the unsaid failings that dominate whole sections of the movie, and they’ll remember the “good review” that induced them to pay good money for a lousy movie (i.e., a movie that destroyed the potential of an interesting story….). And what happens next? These misled souls ferret out reviewers that provide substantive commentary and insights that correctly depict a movie (or book) and they regularly return to partake of their advice, like a wise parent that always has a new lesson to teach.
So blaze the path and watch how other reviewers follow your lead -- yes, even the hoity toity New York Times Book Reviewers and the NPR writers that seem to copy some of your article ideas (Ouch, Google reveals all!!!).
Michelle,
This is great. It's made me think how I review books and what I should do differently. While I won't steal all of your ideas, I will borrow a few for my reviews. Keep up the good work. examiner.com/x-1361-Seattle-Books-Examiner
Michelle,
Good column. I'd like to suggest you read a few reviews by E.R. Bird "Ramseelbird" who reviews children's literature at amazon.com. This reviewer writes insightful and meaningful book reviews. I can't add a link here but do a quick search for Neil Gaiman's Graveyard Book and you will find a link to read all her reviews. I've been following this reviewer for years and she has never steered me wrong. She incorporates many of the items you mention in your new format.
Love your columns.
Great column. you hit the nail on the head as to why I don't read those "high-falutin'" book reviews anymore. I find that the book reviewing blogs have more things to say and are better are critiquing books than the professionals in many ways. They provide me with a synopsis, what they liked about the book, what they hated, and why they would recommend it and for what types of readers.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this and for changing your review format to meet the needs of readers everywhere.
Michelle, Thanks for a really good article. I keep a reading journal and decided that writing reviews might be fun. I was searching for instruction and your article provided that. I now have a format to try and a list of cliches to avoid. You have saved me from reading dozens of reviews that would have bored me senseless.
Thanks for the tips, Michelle! I'm new to the Examiner team and although I write my own book reviews for fun and for family and friends, to go online with it at least three times a week seemed a bit daunting at first. I appreciate the insight and the cliches to avoid (although I'm sure I'll still sneak in one or two -- guilty pleasure!) and I would love to use your format for my reviews, if that's okay...
Nice! I just started a book review blog and your articles certainly give me a lot to think about. I haven't really been using all those cliques, but I was starting to think that I needed to -- to be more like the professionals. I'm still experimenting with my style. I'd love it if you gave me some feedback. www.jennifersellers.blogspot.com
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