“When blogging, I intentionally avoid using any sort of rating system. I don’t see a lot of value in an arbitrary number – I think the details are what matter, and are what will sway my decision to read (or not to read).”

Sally Saphire 19 June 2011

About Reviewing

How did you get started?

I’ve always been a voracious reader, but haven’t a regular audience to share my thoughts with since graduating university. A book blog seemed to be the ideal way to recreate that sense of community.

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 might make mental notes or bookmark a page, but I don’t really think of a review until I’m finished reading. I want to enjoy the book, to immerse myself in it, and to experience it as a whole. Only after I’m done, and I can reflect on it properly, do I begin to think review.

What are you looking for?

Primarily, I want to be entertained. I want a story that engages me, and characters I can care about.

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

I see grammar as the responsibility of the editor, not the author, so I don’t hold it against a review. Really, I can only think of 2 or 3 books where it was so atrocious that it affected my reading.

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

It depends on the genre (fiction is an easier read than non-fiction) and my familiarity with the author, but generally anywhere between 3 and 5 days.

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

When blogging, I intentionally avoid using any sort of rating system. I don’t see a lot of value in an arbitrary number – I think the details are what matter, and are what will sway my decision to read (or not to read).

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

I think the most important thing is to know your audience, and play to your strengths. Don’t send your YA novel to somebody who reviews erotica, and don’t send your gay romance to somebody who reviews Christian inspirational literature. Beyond that, be friendly and polite, have something to say about their reviews (even if it’s just to acknowledge you’ve been to their site), and recognize that reviewers are busy people too.

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

I get readers emailing me directly, as well as leaving comments on my blog or via Goodreads. It’s always gratifying to know that an author appreciated a review, but even more rewarding to know that you’ve helped bring a new reader to the book.

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 absolutely agree. I’ve seen authors get angry and defensive, and publicly berate the reviewer. They invariably make fools of themselves, and that reaction is what sticks with readers, completely overriding any positives that may have been in the review.

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 past-time is dying – do you think that’s the case?

Sadly, I think our collective attention span is slipping, as is our literary rate. TV has devolved into ad-libbed reality shows, pushing scripted dramas to the sidelines, and our instant gratification society, armed with instant messaging and its own bizarre language, does nothing to encourage people to pick up a good book. It’s unfortunate, because the advent of e-publishing, combined with the growth in independent publishers, has actually increased the availability of books worth reading.

About Writing

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

My old English professor once taught me to show, not tell, and it’s in the telling (at the expense of the showing) where the most common mistakes begin.

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?

It’s strange – I generally won’t give the cover blurb more than a paragraph to catch my attention, but I’ll stick with a book for at least the first 50 pages. Sometimes it takes that long just to become comfortable with the author’s voice, much less get a grasp of the plot.

There has been a lot of talk recently about the Page 99 concept, what are your thoughts on that idea?

I’ll plead the fifth . . . I think that talk has passed me by 🙂

Is there anything you will not review?

I won’t review anything that’s strongly religious, homophobic, or racist. Beyond that, if it’s a good story, I’m pretty open.

About Publishing

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

In a sense, that’s definitely true. With more and more authors self-publishing, it’s almost as if the major publishers can let the author take the risk, and then rush in to capitalize if they see a success in the making.

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

I think readers are definitely becoming more open to indie or self-published titles, especially when it comes to electronic publishing, which levels the playing field. Readers can pick a book based on the merits of the story, as opposed to the quality of the binding, and take a chance on that lower prices impulse read.

Do you have any ideas or comments on how the industry can “filter” good from bad, asides from reviews?

I’ve seen a lot of developments lately in regards to social media monitoring, which may be the future of filtering books. Aside from reviews and sales, it’s interesting to see what kind of ‘buzz’ a book generates, especially prior to publication. If the readers themselves are talking about it, that can have a much bigger impact than any major media attention.

End of Interview

Sally’s excellent review site is here.