This week's Saturday question:
...do you receive review copies of Christian books? If so, do you review them honestly? How do you handle it when you don't like a book but are obligated to provide a review? Who do you see your first commitment being to in book reviewing (besides God)? Yourself? The author? Your readers? Does your review change based on the spiritual content of the book or is it solely based on technical or artistic merit? Have you ever had a negative experience with an author after giving them a negative review? (please don't name names)
Do I review Christian books?
Yes
Do I review them honestly?
I review books. I don't know what dishonest reviewing is.
How do you handle it when you don't like a book but are obligated to provide a review?
I am a book reviewer. My obligation is to do what I do, review the book. If the review rating isn't stellar then so be it. I love all books, maybe not the execution of the story. It is a feat to complete a book, so I give every book at least that respect.
Who do you see your first commitment being to in book reviewing (besides God)? Yourself? The author? Your readers?
The book. I am a book reviewer. My first commitment is to the book, more importantly the story.
Why do I say that? I believe that a book has its own life, almost an eternal life if the book is worthy of constant reprinting. Just like a piece of art or a piece of music, the book defines a culture and it deserves a certain level of respect. When I review a book I don't just look at story, but its build, its cover, its pricing and the story. I use a five point rating system and 4.5 for Romantic Times Magazine book reviews. 4 points in the rating is comprised of the story. The last point goes to the extras that make the book a keeper.
Second to the reader. Third to the author. God above all others of course.
Does your review change based on the spiritual content of the book or is it solely based on technical or artistic merit?
When it comes to Christian Book reviews orthodoxy is important and I include it in my rating regarding theme. What separates a Christian book from an inspirational title is its orthodoxy without it what's the difference between the two?
Have you ever had a negative experience with an author after giving them a negative review?
I had an author upset with my review, because she thought I revealed too much of the story. I only used the summary the publicist and the back cover provided.
