Do you rate/review books you didn't finish?

ALynnPowers · Post by **ALynnPowers** » 29 May 2015, 23:44

Show me a platform where I have the option to rate book chapters individually and I will be glad to do it.

Additionally, who said that would recommend a series if I hadn't read all of it? If I don't like the first book in a series, I wouldn't recommend that book. No discredit to the entire series. How would I know? I haven't read it. I've also never reviewed am entire series, either.

I really don't appreciate being attacked for asking a curious question.

sodipodium · Post by **sodipodium** » 30 May 2015, 23:19

I know it was already mentioned, but I think it's practically sinful to rate a book that hasn't been fully read cover-to-cover.

The authors work so hard to put out the material, I think that unless it's just so awful or horribly written that you physically cannot commit to just finishing the work, take the time to give it an honest review.

Eh, my $.02 anyway

zeldas_lullaby · Post by **zeldas_lullaby** » 30 May 2015, 23:23

sodipodium wrote:I know it was already mentioned, but I think it's practically sinful to rate a book that hasn't been fully read cover-to-cover.

The authors work so hard to put out the material, I think that unless it's just so awful or horribly written that you physically cannot commit to just finishing the work, take the time to give it an honest review.

Eh, my $.02 anyway

I disagree, but I fully respect everyone's opinion on this issue. (I'm in a clear minority!!)

Welcome to the forum! I love your avatar.

Alexandra Bayer · Post by **Alexandra Bayer** » 31 May 2015, 00:16

There have only been three books I haven't finished in my life, as far as I can remember. I always try to force myself to finish a book, no matter how bad it is. If I don't finish it, then I might spread word verbally on my opinion of it, but I won't write an actual review.

zanderlyrose · Post by **zanderlyrose** » 31 May 2015, 17:48

Myself I would try to finish the book. Some rare few books really are just so bad they aren't worth finishing. But If you are going to review them you should finish reading it. Who knows what other readers may like, love, or hate about a book. You can't give them a good idea if you don't finish. That said I would add to my review the point in the book where I would have put it down if I wasn't reviewing. Who knows if I keep reading maybe I will also be able to add a point in the book where I decided I was glad I didn't put it down.

ALynnPowers · Post by **ALynnPowers** » 01 Jun 2015, 04:46

I think it also depends on what kind of "review" you are doing. We all obviously consider different things when rating and reviewing books, and use different platforms for stating out opinions.

And also, HOW MUCH of the book do you read before you rate it? 1/4, half? 5/6?

I am also surprised that no one has brought up the issue of rating/reviewing books if they happen to be outside of the target audience for the book.

For instance, say you really love epic fantasy books with dragons and such, and you pick up this book that you think will be about dragons, but then it turns out that "Dragon" is just the name of clothing company and the book is actually a book for teen girls about fashion. You're not a teen girl and you have no interest in fashion, and you didn't observe in the book's description that the target age for this book is 11-16 (I'm just making up numbers here). Say you start to read this book and realize that this is not the book for you. It was not even intended for you to read.

Would you review it?

Ventis · Post by **Ventis** » 01 Jun 2015, 09:09

ALynnPowers wrote:Show me a platform where I have the option to rate book chapters individually and I will be glad to do it.

Additionally, who said that would recommend a series if I hadn't read all of it? If I don't like the first book in a series, I wouldn't recommend that book. No discredit to the entire series. How would I know? I haven't read it. I've also never reviewed am entire series, either.

I really don't appreciate being attacked for asking a curious question.

I'm sorry if I it came out as if I was attacking you or anyone. That wasn't my intention.

I did review a few books for which I'm wasn't a target audience, especially children or YA books. But I always try to review a book as objectively as possible. But maybe we're talking about different things here.

Comments such as 'I didn't like it', followed by 1 star - or, 'I loved it!' followed by 5 stars - are not 'reviews' for me. I don't see anything wrong in them, but they're personal comments, not reviews. Reviews should do more than that.

I did write quite a few in my language, including for books that were aimed at different audience (e.g. children books). I don't focus only on the plot, and I try not to be subjective. What I rate is:
- the quality of writing - syntax, vocabulary, style, speech patterns of different characters
- narration - narrator's voice, POVs, purpose of the scenes (not only plot, but also characterisation, relationship, atmosphere)
- characters - cardboard, drama queens vs. unique and realistic
- plot - cliched and predictable or trying to add something new

I don't need to read the whole book to judge these things. Nor it was ever required. As long as you could back up what you said with the quotes from the book, it was fine. A book won't suddenly improve in the part you didn't read. You may insist it could, but it just doesn't happen. I've never even heard of such a case. Besides, if the writing, narration, and characters are horrible, the plot will not be good either. The idea behind it might be good, but the execution is bad. Because if the author could write, the other things would work, too.

If you think my behaviour is dishonest or sinful, feel free.

Eric Morris · Post by **Eric Morris** » 01 Jun 2015, 12:55

I do not rate books I don't finish, at least not officially. I have no problem telling a person why I didn't finish, but a rating in a forum should be given by someone who did finish the book.

I absolutely hate The Hunger Games, and I did not finish the book, so I can tell you that I feel the book was poorly written, and that I felt I could spend my time more wisely than continuing my torture, but I have no idea what the details of the book are: did it get better? how did it end? what are the major themes of the book?

I don't feel equipped with enough knowledge to be objective and fair.

reyesmaribel47 · Post by **reyesmaribel47** » 01 Jun 2015, 14:09

I always try to finish a book whether I loved it or not. However, there has been an instance where the plot seemed to carry on for much too long in my opinion and I could not bring myself to read it. I made a review of this and I indicated my reasons for not having liked the book. But not to be completely biased, I attempted to highlight positive things about the book so not as to completely turn people away from it. I feel that people should make a strong attempt to finish a book if it is for reviewing purposes since others may pick their next read based on what you have to say.

zeldas_lullaby · Post by **zeldas_lullaby** » 01 Jun 2015, 18:50

ALynn, you raise an interesting question regarding rating a book when it was not what you expected. I think this is valid in the following instance, which has happened to me a lot lately with the YA books I read:

*if the book promises twists and turns and a surprise ending, with a major mystery, but the book completely flakes out and doesn't deliver.

I DON'T think that would be the same if you were hoping for a romance and got a mystery--in that instance, I'd rate it on its merits, but mention in the review that people other than the obvious target might like it. So I'd like, rate it high if it were good, but say, "This will appeal more to mystery fans than to romance fans."

I agree with Ventis that you can rate those aspects without reading the whole book. In a broad sense, we do this at the library/bookstore before we select a book: we flip through it to see if it's well-written. Not plotwise, but just wordwise (grammar, etc.).

jasmine12111 · Post by **jasmine12111** » 01 Jun 2015, 22:53

Never. The book could always get better or worse.

ALynnPowers · Post by **ALynnPowers** » 02 Jun 2015, 08:24

Hey everyone!

So I will give some back story, in the event that anyone even cares.

After I started reading the book for my most recent review (I gave it 3 out of 4 stars because it's very well-written), I entered it into my list of books on Goodreads. It was there that I saw where other Goodreads members had rated it. I was shocked to see that two 1 star reviews mention not finishing the book. One explains that the book didn't hold her interest, but the book was received in exchange for an honest review [maybe Netgalley works differently than Online Book Club, because when we receive free books in exchange for a review, we're required to read the whole book, so this was my first shock]. One review simply says "DNF." No explanation at all for why it wasn't finished. You can go there and see for yourself.

That is all.

Post by **bookowlie** » 02 Jun 2015, 08:36

ALynnPowers wrote:Hey everyone!

So I will give some back story, in the event that anyone even cares.

After I started reading the book for my most recent review (I gave it 3 out of 4 stars because it's very well-written), I entered it into my list of books on Goodreads. It was there that I saw where other Goodreads members had rated it. I was shocked to see that two 1 star reviews mention not finishing the book. One explains that the book didn't hold her interest, but the book was received in exchange for an honest review [maybe Netgalley works differently than Online Book Club, because when we receive free books in exchange for a review, we're required to read the whole book, so this was my first shock]. One review simply says "DNF." No explanation at all for why it wasn't finished. You can go there and see for yourself.

That is all.

Thanks for the backstory. It seems unfair that the person received a free book in exchange for an honest review, and then mentions that she didn't even finish the book.

-- 02 Jun 2015, 09:37 --

Adding that I meant unfair to the author who provided the free book.

ALynnPowers · Post by **ALynnPowers** » 02 Jun 2015, 08:39

bookowlie wrote:
ALynnPowers wrote:Hey everyone!

So I will give some back story, in the event that anyone even cares.

After I started reading the book for my most recent review (I gave it 3 out of 4 stars because it's very well-written), I entered it into my list of books on Goodreads. It was there that I saw where other Goodreads members had rated it. I was shocked to see that two 1 star reviews mention not finishing the book. One explains that the book didn't hold her interest, but the book was received in exchange for an honest review [maybe Netgalley works differently than Online Book Club, because when we receive free books in exchange for a review, we're required to read the whole book, so this was my first shock]. One review simply says "DNF." No explanation at all for why it wasn't finished. You can go there and see for yourself.

That is all.
Thanks for the backstory. It seems unfair that the person received a free book in exchange for an honest review, and then mentions that she didn't even finish the book.

-- 02 Jun 2015, 09:37 --

Adding that I meant unfair to the author who provided the free book.

I know... it seems like a sly way to get free books. Just rate that it wasn't interesting and give it a 1 star, but you get to keep the book and then read it at your leisure whenever you like!

Post by **bookowlie** » 02 Jun 2015, 08:49

It doesn't seem ethical to accept something from an author without following through on the exchange....an honest review based on reading the entire book. On Goodreads, author hold giveaways and request that the winners rate/review the book after reading. In this case, it is the author's hope, although not a requirement, that the winners will post a review. Although I am not a writer, it's obvious that Goodreads contests are designed for the authors to get more reviews of their book, not to mention generate "buzz". More reviews generally helps to increase sales.