Comments on: The Critic and the Poster http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2008/11/19/the-critic-and-the-poster/ A School Library Journal Blog Sun, 05 Aug 2012 22:26:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Heidi Estrin http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2008/11/19/the-critic-and-the-poster/comment-page-1/#comment-661 Heidi Estrin Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:25:58 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2008/11/19/the-critic-and-the-poster/#comment-661 Besides responding to Marc's question about reviews, I'd also like to say thanks for mentioning my podcast, The Book of Life (bookoflifepodcast.com), where Marc's interview about Unsettled will appear in future. In addition, I'd like to clarify that there are 2 different podcasts we discussed when I met with Marc: my own, The Book of Life, and a new podcast from the Association of Jewish Libraries (called simply AJL Podcast). The AJL Podcast has a book giveaway contest running through 12/12/08, so check that out at jewishlibraries.org/podcast (click on Contest). Besides responding to Marc’s question about reviews, I’d also like to say thanks for mentioning my podcast, The Book of Life (bookoflifepodcast.com), where Marc’s interview about Unsettled will appear in future. In addition, I’d like to clarify that there are 2 different podcasts we discussed when I met with Marc: my own, The Book of Life, and a new podcast from the Association of Jewish Libraries (called simply AJL Podcast). The AJL Podcast has a book giveaway contest running through 12/12/08, so check that out at jewishlibraries.org/podcast (click on Contest).

]]> By: Heidi Estrin http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2008/11/19/the-critic-and-the-poster/comment-page-1/#comment-662 Heidi Estrin Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:22:26 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2008/11/19/the-critic-and-the-poster/#comment-662 While I think professional reviews are often better structured in terms of critique (rather than a gut response), I would not discount consumer reviews. I find it very helpful to hear about readers' direct, unfiltered responses to books. Also, it's important to remember that professional reviewers are also humans with unique, personal responses to what they read. Much as they may try to be impartial, their own experiences and attitudes will affect their reviews. So I don't think we have to choose between professional and user reviews - they can all help us form an overall impression of a book we've not yet read. That's why I'm glad sites like Amazon include the professional and user reviews all in one place, making it easy to look for overriding themes among the various opinions. While I think professional reviews are often better structured in terms of critique (rather than a gut response), I would not discount consumer reviews. I find it very helpful to hear about readers’ direct, unfiltered responses to books. Also, it’s important to remember that professional reviewers are also humans with unique, personal responses to what they read. Much as they may try to be impartial, their own experiences and attitudes will affect their reviews. So I don’t think we have to choose between professional and user reviews – they can all help us form an overall impression of a book we’ve not yet read. That’s why I’m glad sites like Amazon include the professional and user reviews all in one place, making it easy to look for overriding themes among the various opinions.

]]> By: VickieNJ http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2008/11/19/the-critic-and-the-poster/comment-page-1/#comment-663 VickieNJ Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:31:50 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2008/11/19/the-critic-and-the-poster/#comment-663 I personally think professional reviews should be weighted somewhere between 95 and 100%, and consumer or non-professional reviews 0 to 5%. There are too many people with an ax to grind or a poorly-though-out opinion to give them much consideration. My only exception is if a children's or YA books leaves me cold, I then sometimes look for reviews by children or teens. I may have missed something they liked in a book due to my advanced age (I am 52). I personally think professional reviews should be weighted somewhere between 95 and 100%, and consumer or non-professional reviews 0 to 5%. There are too many people with an ax to grind or a poorly-though-out opinion to give them much consideration.

My only exception is if a children’s or YA books leaves me cold, I then sometimes look for reviews by children or teens. I may have missed something they liked in a book due to my advanced age (I am 52).

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