Your thoughts on book reviews?

[Jam-on-toast]

I have recently found unexpected entertainment in reading book reviews AFTER I've read the book. It's a bit like a book club back in the days, I guess, talking about the books we read and sharing our opinions. It is fascinating to discover what other people like and dislike about a particular book and compare it with my own experience. Some reviews are so akin to literary analysis, they read like a high school assignment, while others are simple bordering on primitive. I nod along some, frown at others... It never ceases to amuse me how different we all are.... and makes me forever grateful for the variety of books - and other entertainment - out there.

Do you read book reviews? Do you read them before or after reading the book?

 

[A-M]

I sometimes read the reviews. I am not a fast reader and have taken part in online Book Clubs on digi sites and through that have discovered some very good books to read and authors to buy more books of. with that I have enjoyed people's opinions on the books we have read.
I mostly read on my Kindle.

Olga, I would be interested if you started a Book Club here at O Scraps. But not one that we have to read the book within a month - just open threads to come back when we have finally finished to share things. There is a fun way to share spoilers so that not everyone sees what you share unless they really want to.

 

[Cherylndesigns]

I normally read the reviews before I start a book. Like you said, Olga, they're varied, and I often don't agree. I don't read them after I've read the book, but that sounds interesting.

 

[JeanneMN]

I really like reading them after because then I can review the review and ask myself if they really read the same book I did. My biggest pet peeve is people who put spoilers in a review.