Reading for me is really just an escape from my own life. Being able to lose myself in a good novel for a few hours really helps me get through my days. 

Bee – 2 September 2014

About Reviewing

How did you get started?

After finishing a book I always used to write a review for myself, mainly to have a quick summary available if I ever wanted to re-read the book. But after I discovered GoodReads I started uploading my reviews and got some pretty good feedback, that’s basically the main reason why I decided to start up a blog.

How do you review a book? Is it a read first, and then make notes, or do you make notes as you go along?

I take notes as I go along. That way I never forget to include important information in my reviews. Things I liked, disliked, stuff like that. Sometimes, for example if I really enjoy the book, I forget to take notes. Then after publishing a review I always remember too late  about either this flaw or that nice feature… so I try to always take notes.

What are you looking for?

As in books? Something original. Something that has you sit on the tip of your chair up to the last page.

If a book has a great plot, great characters, but the grammar is less than perfect, how do you deal with that?

Well, bad grammar really bothers me. So I would probably give it less stars and mention in my review that the book had poor grammar. Of course I would also mention (probably very excitedly) that the rest of the book was great.

How long does it take you to get through, say, an eighty thousand-word book?

On weekends probably a day. During the week… with breaks and all that included I’d say 3 days.

How did you come up with your rating system, and could you explain more about the rating system?

My rating system is simple really. Basically I take all the notes I’ve made while reading the book, write my review and then I analyze what I’ve written. I add all the good and bad points up, mix in some gut feeling and tadaa! There you have your rating.

What advice could you give to authors looking to get their books reviewed?

Don’t mass email bloggers. If you write a more personal review request to a blogger then they will probably be more willing to help you.

Also, don’t pick out random reviewers you find on a list. You should actually check if they like the genre you are offering them. Read bloggers’ review policies and maybe a review or two to see if their style suits you.

Do you get readers emailing you and thanking you for a review?

No… I hope they will start doing that, though. Would be kind of cool.

My advice to authors on getting a ‘bad’ review (hasten to add that might mean a perfectly honest, well written, fair review – just bad from the author’s point of view) is to take what you can from it and move on. Under no circumstances to ‘argue’ with the reviewer – would you agree with that?

I agree completely.

About Reading

We talk a lot about writing here on the blog, and possibly not enough about reading, which is after all why we’re all here. Why do you think people love reading? We’re seeing lots of statistics that say reading as a pastime is dying – do you think that’s the case?

Not at all. Maybe there are less people reading right now because other pastimes are available… but dying? I don’t think so.

Reading for me is really just an escape from my own life. Being able to lose myself in a good novel for a few hours really helps me get through my days. Not to be dramatic or anything, but I think reading is really good for people and it would be a shame if it would die out.

Maybe it will, but not in this generation. And I’ll read Harry Potter to my children as soon as they can understand me (probably sooner too).

About Writing

What are the most common mistakes that you see authors making?

Too many metaphors and adverbs. And this is for all authors out there, not only self-publishers. Metaphors are nice, if used well, but one in every sentence? No thank you, sir.

We’re told that the first page, paragraph, chapter, is absolutely key in making or breaking a book. Agents typically request only the first five pages of a novel; what do you think about that? If a book hasn’t grabbed you by the first five pages, do you put it down?

No. Yes. Depends… if I really hate the first few pages then sure, bye bye book. But i’m more of a person that finishes a book no matter what. It’s a habit I suppose, I just find it hard to put a book down.

Is there anything you will not review?

Lots. I received a request for a cooking book once. Wasn’t really my thing as I can’t even make sugar cookies without burning the kitchen…

About Publishing

What do you think of the oft-quoted comment that the “slush-pile has moved online”?

It’s the truth isn’t it? Everything is moving online these days.

Do you think attitudes are changing with respect to indie or self-published titles?

I haven’t been around long enough to really compare anything, but I respect self-publishers (Which is why I’m on the IndieView, duh?). Everybody I know also does. So I suppose yes, people do respect indie authors.

Do you have any ideas or comments on how the industry can ‘filter’ good from bad, aside from reviews?

Hmm. That’s a hard question. I really don’t know, reviews really seem the only option. Of course you have editors and publishers that refuse bad books, but then again some “bad” publishers might turn to self-publishing, which will probably lead to reviews.

Well, or you’d have to use magic… but I don’t think that’s an option.

End of Interview:

You can read Bee’s reviews at Let Books Bee.