Feature & Follow Friday #15
Feature & Follow Friday is a weekly social blog hop between book bloggers. There are two regular hosts: Parajunkee and Alison of Alison Can Read, and two special guest hosts every week. If you want to join in, click on either of their blogs to get the details. The FF question of the day is:
Q: Have you ever bought a book BECAUSE of a bad review?
No, never. It would never occur to me to do so. But that may be in part because I rarely read reviews to find books to read. I rely on word of mouth, or browsing the library shelves far more than I do reviews.
I'm sure I'd learn about a lot more books if I followed reviews more closely, but my feelings about the utility of reviews in general are mixed. If the reviewer has different tastes than you, then the review won't be valid for you as a reader. Even if the reviewer is like your reading clone, the review analyzes the book and reveals the plot in a way that takes away from the reading experience.
But theoretically, I like the idea of buying a book because of a bad review. You could do it to support the author, or as some (largely pointless) gesture of spite towards the reviewer. It also could be pragmatic--if you know you never agree with the particular reviewer, than a bad review from her is practically a recommendation.
Exactly how I feel about some reviewers - if they pan something, then I know I"m going to like it!
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday! Old follower!
Here's our FF
Jamie@Addicted2Heroines
I feel that way about some movie critics too. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI basically use reviews to gauge if there's an overall like or dislike of a book around the blogosphere. So I agree with you, in that they don't affect my buying of books.
ReplyDeleteYes, I can tend to follow the crowd in gravitating towards books that "everybody" loves. I've been surprised to not like them in a number of cases, but at least I was exposed to them.
DeleteYeah, I haven't either!
ReplyDeleteHere's my Friday Hops
Have a GREAT weekend!
Old Follower :)
Thanks for reading by, Jessica! Hope you have a good weekend too.
DeleteI totally agree with you! It's better to borrow them from the library
ReplyDeletethan to spend your hard earned money on what may, or may not be crap!
New follower
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/2012/04/feature-follow-friday.html
Library all the way!
DeleteI am always drawn to badly reviewed books as I have found that I usually dislike the books everyone raves about.
ReplyDeleteMy FF
Negative reviews are your positive reviews!
DeleteGreat answer! New follower via GFC. Here is my FF: Mom Reads My Books
ReplyDeleteThanks Amie!
DeleteHi there :) just hopping through. Wouldn't occur to me either.
ReplyDeleteHere is my choice...
Feature & Follow
Yeah, this question had never occurred to me. Thanks for hopping by!
DeleteHmm, never thought a bad review could be a rec. :D Here's mine.t
ReplyDeleteSometimes contrariness works!
DeleteI do get what you mean about reviews- sometimes when I really, really want to read a book (like Insurgent atm) I avoid all the reviews until after I've read it because I don't want to ruin any part of it!
ReplyDeleteNew follower :-)
My FF: http://pocketfulofbooksblogger.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/follow-friday.html
Yeah, I prefer to go in with no knowledge at all. I don't even want to read the jacket copy!
DeleteHey there! Hopping through. :) Wow, I often read books because of negative reviews. It's like.. if people have that strong opinions about books there must be SOMETHING about it. *g
ReplyDeletePatricia // My FF
I'll agree, controversy is interesting!
DeleteI admit, a bad review sparks my curiosity and I need to see what all the fuss is about! But I think that's just me :/
ReplyDeleteTara @ Hey, Tara
No, I don't think you're alone in this ;)
DeleteI could definitely find myself in your answer :)
ReplyDeletehttp://thedailyprophecy.blogspot.com/2012/04/feature-follow-1.html#comment-form
Heh, really negative reviews, just like the really positive ones make me curious. I wouldn't read a book to stick it to the reviewer, lol, or just to support the author unless it would be one I really loved for some reason. But extreme reactions to a book will make me curious about it as well, that's just how I'm wired I guess :)
ReplyDeleteOlder follower. Have a fab weekend!
My #FF
Controversy piques my interest too. But I don't know that I'd spend money to satisfy it.
Deletei feel like everyone has their own opinion and it doesn't necessarily mean that you won't like it just because someone else doesnt.
ReplyDeletenew follower,
Kristin
youngadultbookhaven.blogspot.com
Everyone's opinion is different, have a great week-end.
Deletehttp://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2012/04/feature-follow.html
Very true. It makes you question what the use of reviews is!
DeleteNew follower and great answer! Negative reviews usually sway me in one way or another but in the end I usually read the book based on my standings. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteShortskie
My Follow Friday
In the end, it's key to have faith in your own taste and judgement!
DeleteNew follower hopping through! Great post! I followed you through GCF - you can return the favour over at http://www.bethebooks.blogspot.com :) Happy Friday!
ReplyDeleteThe weekend went all too quickly. Thanks for reading!
DeleteFollowing via Feature & Follow - nice to meet you!
ReplyDeletehttp://books.rachelcotterill.com
Nice to meet you too!
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteNew follower, nice to meet you!! I have never bought a book just BECAUSE it received a bad review. It just doesn't make sense to me why anyone would do that. But after reading your answer, I can understand at least one reason why--to support the author. I have read books with bad reviews and have loved most of them, I just wouldn't seek one out intentionally. My FF:http://bellesbookbag.blogspot.com/2012/04/feature-follow-friday.html
Nice to meet you too!
DeleteNice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading!
ReplyDelete