UK Book Club discussion

Just been told by GR that I'm now in the top 1% of reviewers on GR. Doesn't mean they are any good but I enjoy banging down my thoughts.

Do you always write a review? I try to, as reading GR reviews and particularly those of friends, is a major factor in my process of choosing books.

I write reviews of books I've read :)

That's great Ian....congratulations.....I think reviews can definatly help in deciding on a book, especially if it's from someone who you have previously had great recommendations from.

I got an email too Ian! I try to add something to each book I finish.

I sometimes will write a review, but they tend to be short, mostly about how i enjoyed the read. I get a regular email from gr with updates, so see other people's reviews. Some motivate me to want up read the books.

Ian - top 1% - congrats :)

I'm in top 1% too.
They are clearly going on quantity not quality of reviews....

I love writing reviews and posting them on goodreads.

Not very often and even then it'll only be a couple of lines.

I simply don't know what to say most of the time.

I write reviews, sometimes very short, but generally of all the books I've read.

Ian wrote: "Just been told by GR that I'm now in the top 1% of reviewers on GR...."

Me too, but as the email also says there are 20,000,000 members, that means we're in the top 200,000, which sounds a little less impressive. :(

Also, in GR parlance "top" just means largest number of reviews, with no measure of quality or popularity as far as I can tell, and it gives an advantage to those who've been around longest, whereas "best" involves votes.

However, I always write reviews - primarily for my own reference, though when other people like them, that's a bonus.

Cecily wrote: "I always write reviews - primarily for my own reference, though when other people like them, that's a bonus. ."

This. Though sometimes I forget or can't summon up the energy. But mostly I try to write a quick review. How useful they are to other people I have no idea.

I seem to be the only person not in the 1% :(

We are the ones in 200,000. I still like it lol. Well done all. I get frustrated when I don't do a review soon after reading cos my memory is so crap I forget what I was thinking when reading. Catch up reviews therefore tend to be much shorter.

I prefer writing my reviews a while after I've read the book, I like the perspective from a few week later because it will be the overall impression a book has left, I find it harder to judge when I've only just finished reading.

Ian wrote: "Just been told by GR that I'm now in the top 1% of reviewers on GR. "
Me too lol! Def. quantity not quality in my case.
When I do write them I try not to repeat what has been said before so mine are often quite short and may not make a lot of sense if read in isolation. Like you Ian I often do catch up ones and they are even shorter. Do like reading other's though. Usually have a quick look at the stars before reading (unless they don't bear any relation to what I anticipated) then read the reviews after!

I really enjoy writing reviews although mine are quite short. Usually a quick comment on writing style and characters & why I liked book. I must admit I love reading reviews on my books.

Diana wrote: "I really enjoy writing reviews although mine are quite short. Usually a quick comment on writing style and characters & why I liked book. I must admit I love reading reviews on my books."

Do you ever contact reviewers Diana? I've had mails a couple of times about critical ones and given more feedback to the author.

I write reviews but I do tend to write as I Find. if A book is rubbish I will say so. No matter how big the author

I write reviews on my site, and post to Amazon. I've slacked a little on Goodreads, simply because every time I drop by I end up spending hours browsing this site.

Since I joined Goodreads I have started to write reviews and I really so enjoy putting my thoughts down. I'm still a 'novice' but think I am improving and developing a 'style'. I just started a new blog where I post reviews of books, as well as theatre and other events I attend.

Elaine wrote: "...I'm still a 'novice' but think I am improving and developing a 'style'..."

Some reviewers have a distinct style, and that can be good, as you know what to expect. However, there are many fantastic reviewers on this site who are so original that their style is that they don't have a single, consistent style.

My reviews often attract authors who want to send me their works. Some I accept.
I enjoy leaving reviews; writing something about the plot and characters and then my personal feelings and reaction to both. In my review I note that if my thoughts are favorable to the book's plot etc, it is a personal reading preference and not a reflection on the author's writing abilities. I've read too many extremely negative and even cruel reviews and I wonder, why? What is the kick in knocking and slamming a writer like that? I do endeavor to use some humor. One thing I learned from an old-time professional newspaper book reviewer (remember those?), she said, "If I can't give you at least three stars, I won't write a review at all. I read books that are of interest to me." Thank goodness the majority of reviews for my three books have been positive. That's a blessing.
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