Flap Off: Bad Taste in Books
In which I flap off about a stoopid question and you: a.) Weigh in. b.) Tell me to F*** off. c.) Ignore me completely. d.) All of the above.
Question: Do I have bad taste in books?
Answer: Probably! And if you have ever loved a book others didn’t, or hated a book others loved, then you may have bad taste in books too!
So, as I was telling Logan and Linds, I really can’t stop rubber-necking over the sight of the train wreck that is this whole Be Nice and YA Mafia debacle. I’ve followed every possible link to the end of the Internet and back. The journey has been so long and intense, with me consuming blog posts, vlogs, and comments ranging from amusing to snarky to completely off the wall, that I even put Frodo Baggins to shame. There is nothing I won’t do to complete a good quest for knowledge. Yay me!
Anyhoo… seems like it is safe to say that a lot of people had opinions to share on the whole bad reviews front, myself included. It also seems like a good majority of people were saying some pretty obvious things, such as, “Reviews are for readers, not authors,” or “I’m not intentionally trying to hurt the author’s feelings; I’m just being honest about my thoughts on the book.”
I’ve paraphrased the above, but I also agree with the general line of thought there.
Even more surprising is the sudden popularity of posts in which authors claim to like their bad reviews. Well, maybe they don’t like them, but they understand why bad reviews are a necessary evil.
It’s not my intention to continue to beat the dead horse of this discussion, regardless of the fact that intentions are more often that not misconstrued, but I did want to take some time to point out the fact that sometimes… I just have bad tastes in books. There, I said it.
*sigh of relief*
Reviews work in very mysterious ways. You can read a bad review and still decide that you want to read the book. Right? I’d say even the opposite is true. You can read a glowing review and still never feel motivated to pick up so and so highly praised book. Why? Because that is just the way various tastes in books works.
You can say what you want about a book you think is bad, but if I read it and I like it, well then it isn’t bad to me. Ya dig?!
I have often felt bad about not liking a book that is a huge success among some of my favorite reviewers. *cough* Tyger Tyger, Wither *cough* I’ve also felt bad when a book I LOVED was just okay for others. Don’t you know you’re supposed to love everything I do? But now that I think about it, why waste time worrying over something you did or didn’t like. The world just isn’t built to make everything agreeable for everyone.
When I share my thoughts on why a book didn’t work for me, I admit to getting pretty passionate (nicer looking word for ‘raving lunatic on a rantpage’) about why I think the book wasted my time. But I often say, just because I didn’t like it, doesn’t mean you won’t. If fact, I hope your opinion will differ. It is never my intention (there’s that pesky little word again) to turn anybody off from reading a book they really want to read just because it didn’t work for me. I mean, who the fuck am I?
I’m just a reader. I like to read. And even though I often like to pretend reading is my job, it’s not. I know my reviews are not professional literary critiques (btw, I do believe in the argument that works of literature and works of fiction are different). The books I review for my blog are not the books I read for class, therefore I’m not trying to do some profound literary analysis on them. And even if I were, they are still just my 2 cent musings.
Regardless of what I think or like, I read and review for fun, for leisure, for pleasure. I try to read a variety of genres just to have different experiences with stories. Sometimes I like S&G stuff that has no point but to maybe make you smile, sometimes I like deep Shakespearean stuff that makes your heart bleed. Sometimes I like stuff in the realm of Stalker is the new Vampire, and sometimes I loath it.
I really don’t know what decides these things for me. I can say I’m a mood reader. I’ll read something emo when I’m happy because I think I’ll be able to handle it better, and I’ll read fluff when I’m down because I’m desperate for a laugh. There have also been times when I want my books to match whatever mood I’m in.
Usually, after I finish a book, I write down my thoughts, publish my post, then go out and look up other reviews of the book to compare opinions. Yeah, I’m that nerdy when it comes to books. I’m lurking on your reviews more times that you’d probably care to know about. Why? Because regardless of whether I liked a book or not, I read it, I spent time with it, we had a relationship, and sometimes, I just not ready to end that relationship, dammit! Oddly enough, I spend more time reading reviews for books I didn’t like than books I did like. Crazy, huh?
And call me shallow minded, lacking conviction, or whatever, but my initial thoughts about a book can and often do change, sometimes making me view the book more positively or more negatively. Shockingly rare, I know, but it does happen.
But is it really so wrong to like something, discuss it, then decide hey, you’ve got a point I didn’t consider and that changes my perceptive?
Or is it really so wrong to love a book that you know is bad for many reasons, the main being the name Renesmee, but you still stand by your liking of it?
All I know is that I don’t purposely go out and try to hate on books. That is not why I read. How in the world could that be any reader’s intention (bonus points for you if you’ve counted up all the times this word is used)? If I like a book that is considered bad, I’ll tell you why I liked it just as I would with a book that is fawned over but didn’t impress me.
Bad reviews or bad tastes aside, I’ll like what I like, thank you very much. And if that is not enough for you, well, all I can say is hey, not everyone liked Jesus even though he was a super cool guy. (another paraphrase).
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go see a little hobbit about a ring that is now rightfully mine. 
This was such a GREAT post. The whole thing with blogs…with book blogs, they are a way for us to express ourselves. We're not casting judgement, we're giving our opinion.
And yes, I totally agree with you about seeing other people's pov. That is why me and Ang at Vampires and Tofu did that joint review. Everyone has such differing opinions and that is the beauty of creating book dialogues.
It's almost like we need to define the word “blogging” to encompass what we're NOT trying to do.
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HAHA, okay, weirdly enough (and please don't think I'm being all high and mighty or something) but the other day I was thinking about how my taste in books was GOOD xD I mean, I dunno, I don't want to sound ridiculous, but I just found it funny that we have like, opposite ways of thinking.
Also: “I've also felt bad when a book I LOVED was just okay for others. Don't you know you're supposed to love everything I do?” That's SO ME (again, relating to my opinion on my opinion on books… whew, Inception-esque enough?)
Just wanted to also say I'm totally a moody reader too, and there are definitely times I go back and rethink my opinions, whether changing them more positively or negatively.
ANYWAYS… apologies for this rambly, long, and pretty much irrelevant comment, just wanted to say I loved this post, you did a great job!
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Taste is taste – it's neither good nor bad, just yours! I like a lot of popular books that I can discuss with friends and family, but I also like a lot of really odd books that make me appreciate the discretion of an ereader.
As for my reviews, they are always my take on a book, and I'm completely upfront about that. I never say a good is good or bad, because that's objective and (as you said) a matter of taste. What I will say is that I liked it, or that I recommend it, and why.
When reading a review, that's exactly what I look for. I want to know what reviewers (as readers) took from a book. I've stumbled across a lot of great reads that held absolutely no appeal for me, until I saw another review point out this or that about the book.
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Great post! When I write my reviews I always say what I liked most about it or how it made me feel. I'm honest and even when I don't like the book, I always try to be nice about it. But your right, we all have different tastes and sometimes a book I like, might not appeal to others.
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Great post, Missie!
I have hated some books which others love and loved books which others seem to detest. Being individuals, we all have different taste in books. We can't really control that.
My reviews are my personal opinion – others may or may not agree with it. Like you, if I write a negative review, I mention that my opinion should not deter others from trying out the book.
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@Pam, I really enjoyed the comparative review from you and Ang. Good job.
@Audrey, It's weird that sometimes I take it so personal when someone doesn't like a book that I love. If I'm affected that deeply, I can certainly understand it may disappoint the author.
@Sally, Objectivity in reviews. Good point. I think that is why authors have such a hard time with reviews, because objectivity is often left out. I'm guilty of it. All of this has stirred great insight on how to approach reviewing.
@Savy and Misha. Yup. I agree.
Thanks for the great comments, everyone.
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Great Post M!
I felt the same way when I didn't love/get/thought was passable a couple of books (this was before I discovered that maybe I am just not a YA Reader on a whole) aka Infinite Days and tried (did not finish) Tyger, Tyger. Luckily every book I haven't liked I can point to someone who ADORED the book (so I point away and say please go with their review not mine LOL)
Then I know I have bad taste because I tend to love snarky, fun chick lit reads. Are these great works of art? Nope! Do I love them? Yep! Will they get a 5 if I laugh out loud so much I tear up? YEP!
Taste is just a POV
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“Because regardless of whether I liked a book or not, I read it, I spent time with it, we had a relationship, and sometimes, I just not ready to end that relationship, dammit! ” PERFECT!!! Yes, the book was temporarily my BFF, my honey-o-the-mo, or that bitchy girl who sat across from me in sixth grade! That's why I get so personally involved in my reviews. Although, I'll be honest and say that if I find that the 'relationship' is not worth my time, then I will end the relationship before I've finished reading. That's why you won't see too many bad reviews on mine, because if I don't finish, I don't review. Is that bad?
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Fabulous post Missie! I've been trying to stay away from the whole YA mafia debacle but it's been hard to miss and sometimes it just makes me feel like I'm back in high school. The internet makes it so easy to express an opinion and then not have to deal with the repercussions of that opinion if you don't want to, and I think sometimes people use the word “opinion” as an excuse to be unprofessional. Yes, it's your opinion, you're welcome to it and should be able to express it any way you want on your blog, but when I think it comes to reviewing books, it's also important to express those thoughts in a way that's still honest without being insulting. Whoops, didn't mean to go on a tangent there.
Loved everything you said, especially the line Linds quoted above, and I love reading everyone else's thoughts about books I've read. Personal Demons is one that a lot of people hated, but it just kind of made me laugh in a “this is so ridiculous I have to love it” kind of way, and so that's what I posted in my review:)
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You go girl!
I totally agree with you. When someone hates a book that doesn't mean I'm going to hate it too. And indeed if the reader hates the book, that's the readers opinion. I don't think this would be a fair world if we only get to read the positive raving reviews. We need to read the bad ones too. And come on, some of them are pretty funny! 
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Awesome post. Bravo!
I think people need to lighten up and realize so much of who we are influences what we like in a book. So of course some of us may love or hate something others love or hate. Lets all take book reviews with a grain of salt, a smile, and a good attitude.
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Missie, you summed this up so nicely. I am a total mind-changer with my opinions. A well written review or post can easily sway me, which is one reason I like to cover all my bases in my own reviews. There are things I like and don't like about EVERY. SINGLE. BOOK. I read. Those elements will mean different things to different readers. It's the nature of the beast.
I love your reviews for their honesty. You don't mince words, but you're not overly apologetic if you didn't like something. I LOVE THAT. You are awesome.
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Such a super post to spark a great discussion Missie! I agree with all you have said. I feel its important to post opinions on books, good and bad. I like to read a broad spectrum of reviews. It gives me a better idea of what I may or may not like about the book. I especially like to see what others have to say AFTER I've read a book.
I actually tend to follow bloggers who have rated books in the same way I have. It helps give me a GPS guide steering me to books I will enjoy. Then, if I read only books I enjoy I won't have to write and negative review – hehe!
Recently, I read Here Lies Bridgett and LOVED it! So many bloggers had negative things to say about this book, I almost felt a little self conscious saying I enjoyed it. Anyways, the point I'm trying to make is it works both ways.
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Oh, FANTASTIC post, Missie!!! And, so many other people have pointed out really good points in their comments as well!
I think we all have different opinions on our choices of reading genres and books, not to mention, just like you said, emotions really play into reviews as well. There was one review that I rated higher than I probably normally would because I was still coming off a really bad book before it! Was it right.. hell no! But, that's the way it was! So, people have to take reviews a little lightly. Not to mention, we all look for different things in books when we read. We will usually spend more time highlighting the things that mean the most to us (or bother us) in a review. It's an opinion, a reaction, a feeling… and like you said (perfectly) a relationship!
If everyone was meant to like the same things and feel the same way about everything .. eHarmony would not exist! LOL! We need and have choice and opinions — and I for one completely enjoy finding that we're not all the same! I don't expect people to feel the same way I do about everything! Juju at tales of whimsy.com commented perfectly on the way I feel about reviews.
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When people view their blog as a marketing tool and they build their blog around the business model of treating everyone as a potential client then I get their need to be nice.
But you're right, most of us are just trying to get our opinion out and well, everyone has something to say!
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I love this post and all of the commentors!!! I think that all of us love certain kinds of books and certain authors…but due to blogging and reviewing I have read more unique and different books than ever before. I love reading varying opinions but they don't really matter to me if I love what I am reading. And I just make sure I always love what I am reading…
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Readers, Thank you all for adding your thoughts. They have been great mind fuel for me.
And yes, I love how Juju put it. Perfectly stated.
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I know for myself (and Kelli), that reviewing books, blogging, and making new reading buddies is a HOBBY… a release… something that we enjoy!
I never want to hurt anyones feeling but I don't want to lie either… Usually you can get a “feel” for the type of books a blogger enjoys and I usually stick to the blogs that I share a common reading interest with… lets just face… All I want to do is read and talk about all the yummy characters
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Its so funny how people get so worked up in tizzy’s over reviews. I have a review from over a year ago that has snarky cat gals calling me a bitch for not liking the book…..I never know (especially with the YA books) what will cause a poop storm
I agree with you that sometimes after thinking about a book and reading other reviews your thoughts can change. I mean remember I changed my word after I read your comment and realized that I really didn’t want to use that word. I think I read more Neg. reviews than I read good, I want to know why the reader hated it and find out if I will hate it too…Great thoughts to ponder..
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Great post
When it comes to reviews I need to read bad ones. I mean yes I like the good ones but do I buy a book if I only read good ones? No way! Everyone can't like a book, and many times I have finally found that negative review and seen both sides of the book. Then I will make my mind up
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Yes… you have terrible taste in books. You didn't like Tyger Tyger!
I do struggle to put out a good review. One that balances what I liked and didn't. I'm not a writer in any way so I admit I worry about it a lot. I do worry if I unduly influence someone to get a book and they don't like it. Then, I tell myself to get over myself and I know it wasn't just me alone that influences the buying of a book. However, I do cringe when someone doesn't like a book I loved as if I had something to do with it. *sigh* I so need to get over myself sometimes.
As for if I have good or bad taste? I don't know. I'd have to have a different taste to compare. Therefore, I declare my taste mine and not of someone else! It's not good nor bad, but unique as I am! Yes, you have permission to barf now. ;D
Btw, ignore tomorrow's post on my blog… you'll understand why if you see it.
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I adore this post Missie. Please never stop this feature or I'll stalk you and take every elevator I see in your presence down exactly one floor only.
I'm pretty much just a huge book dork. Sure I want everyone to love everything I love and loathe everything I loathe, but, really, I just want to talk about books.
My sister and I have totally opposite tastes in YA books. She loves fairies and sensitive boys and I think fairies are satan spawn and I want alpha men. But we have the best book conversations! We can discuss all the things we love and hate and at the end of the day we're both happy because we're not fighting over who gets the fictional guy. Mine all mine!! (yeah, remember I already said I was a dork).
Now I'm going to get really corny. Ready? I just like being immersed in the joy of reading. I love being around enthusiastic readers. Even if we don't agree on why we're getting all excited, we can all bond over the same feeling of a book making us super happy…or totally pissed off. (Oh my gosh I'm going to barf at the sappiness overload).
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That picture at the end cracks me up! Nice photoshop work!! Wow…never heard of the YA Mafia. Yikes! I'm going to check out Holly Black's post.
There's books I like and books I don't. Sometimes I look at glowing reviews of a book I read that I didn't like and think…what's wrong with me? What didn't I get? I do the same on a book I like that someone didn't. We all have our own personal tastes.
If we don't like a book than say it in the review — but state why. Writers wanting to be authors (and becoming them) need a thick skin. Not everyone is going to love your book, but it's important we're not hurtful personally toward the author. Like saying: “Your writing sucks!” Say what you may not have liked about the plot, what didn't work, why you didn't like a certain character because…And I agree reviews can often distort the reading experience. I do this for the joy of reading. I want readers to check out books I like and want to promote.
Ultimately readers should make their own choice on reading a book we loved or didn't care for. Readers have the poooower! Keep up the good work! Let the force me with you! (Okay, I couldn't resist!)
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Love this post!
I am like you I will still read a book if even it gets a couple of bad reviews or not read a book even though it is getting glowing reviews. It is all about what i feel like reading. I am definitely a moody reader.
Sometimes I even like bad books. I clearly know the writing or the concept is bad but I still enjoy it because of how it made me feel.
And by the way you don't have bad taste in books. You liked The Piper's Son. Now if somebody didn't like my Thomas Mackee, well then that would be bad taste…..joking….kind of
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Fab post! I hate it when I don't like a book that everyone else seems to like. It does make you feel like there's something wrong with you. I didn't like Tyger Tyger either. I don't think anyone has a bad taste in books. Just like I don't think any book is bad either. Every reader is different and books strike people different ways. Also, how I feel about a book depends on what mood I'm in and even what book I read right before this one. If I've read a string of great books, a blah one will seem extra disappointing. And as for Breaking Dawn, I have a lot of issues with the book, but I don't think it's bad. I'm not a Renesmee name fan although I like the point that she needed a unique name. I ended up loving the book for all the extra insight into the Cullen clan and the process of changing into a vampire. And I even liked the ending (although it took awhile to like it) because I didn't want to see anyone hurt.
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So well said. Of course not every book is going to be perfectly suited to everyone. I just love reading other people's reviews and opinions on books I've read, whether they agreed with me or not.
I am totally a mood reader as well. I've been wondering these past few months, when I've been so busy and stressed with school, whether this has affected my feelings about books at all. I have a feeling I would be a lot less crabby in some of my reviews if I wasn't in school…
I counted five times you wrote the word “intention.” Yes, I counted. Probably could've just used “Edit” then “Find.”
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In total agreement! Sometimes I read a book, do a review, look on Amazon or something and am amazed that I didn't really like this apparently heavenly book! Well, sometimes I check out the reviewers' other reviews and realize he/she is probably related to the author, then I feel better. But sometimes not.
My tastes, my opinions, my ideas… all mine. No one's forced to read them and agree. I always try to point out the positives and give an idea of the book, though, because, as you said, one reviewer's crap is another reader's ultimate pleasure
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Why people can't accept that we have different tastes is beyond me. A review is a unique opinion. If yours doesn't jive with mine, so what? I love getting a different perspective. It makes things interesting.
I'm happy to respect others' opinions and always interested in any review that is honest, informative and respectful.
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love this post to death.
'Usually, after I finish a book, I write down my thoughts, publish my post, then go out and look up other reviews of the book to compare opinions. Yeah, I'm that nerdy when it comes to books. ' ME TOO! I also LOVE reading one star reviews of my fave books ~ AND often I agree with them on the critical points BUT I DON'T CARE b/c if I loved the book/characters I can overlook all the parts that might annoy other people to pieces.
ALSO I totally buy books that I read negative reviews for. sometimes I just have to try them for myself.
and likewise, if theres a billion GLOWING reviews I'm can be completely UNINTERESTED if the premise doesn't appeal to me.
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I view book blogs as an online equivalent to going to a book club. It's great to be able to read how people see the same book in a different way, and someone else might bring up a topic I hadn't thought about, or not thought about in the same way. I find it fascinating.
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