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

[zeldas_lullaby]

But when you're expecting Goosbumps and getting Stephen King

HA HA HA. That is hilarious, but let me tell you that even Goosebumps scares me [bleep]less.

It's essential when you write your review that you not downlist the book because it is more adult-oriented than you might wish. Personal preferences for a particular genre should not be used as criteria for judging a book. Just sayin'

I don't think that graverobber would do that, since she mentioned that those books are fine for people who prefer that type of romance.

I have personally had a couple of instances where I could tell pretty quickly that I wasn't going to like a book. But I stuck it out to the end in hopes that something amazing would happen only to be let down or see it just accelerate into something worse. In those cases, I probably could have given an accurate rating, but I just don't have enough confidence in myself to do it!

Do you know what I do when I'm not feeling confident? I watch The Neverending Story. I'm not making that up, nor saying it in jest. That movie has a way of making me feel confident!!

[Jcarey13]

Honestly, I've never not finished a book that I started. If by some chance I never finished a book I started, no I wouldn't rate it. Not only does it give new readers a bad review, but it would be an unfinished review/rating. I couldn't see myself misleading others because I chose to rate a book I didn't finish.
Personally I don't pay attention to ratings others give regarding books, I'll read them, but they won't decide if I'll read the book. There are books that I've read that had a horrible review and it ended up being one I absolutely loved. That's how I end up finding new authors or new genres to read.

[Gravy]

But when you're expecting Goosbumps and getting Stephen King

HA HA HA. That is hilarious, but let me tell you that even Goosebumps scares me [bleep]less.

R. L. Stine has a sick mind
One of the most memorable murders I've ever read came from his mind

[sir_LEMMY]

I usually try to finish the book before reviewing, because I feel that I cannot actually review the plot and character development if I stop reading halfway through. At the same time, if the author's bad use of metaphors is simply unreadable, I would review on that while making sure to state that I am unqualified to actually review the plot, etc.

[zeldas_lullaby]

R. L. Stine has a sick mind
One of the most memorable murders I've ever read came from his mind

He really does. I'd ask about the memorable murder, but I'm afraid to! I tried to read one of his books as a teenager, and it was a traumatic experience!

I'm abnormally sensitive to scary stuff, though: books, movies, roller coasters... So I'm not the best gauge of what's scary--it's all scary to me!! Like, there's not even a continuum. It's either not scary, or it is scary!!

-- 24 May 2015, 18:10 --

I usually try to finish the book before reviewing, because I feel that I cannot actually review the plot and character development if I stop reading halfway through. At the same time, if the author's bad use of metaphors is simply unreadable, I would review on that while making sure to state that I am unqualified to actually review the plot, etc.

That's what I'm saying!!

Welcome to the site!

[moderntimes]

I usually try to finish the book before reviewing, because I feel that I cannot actually review the plot and character development if I stop reading halfway through. At the same time, if the author's bad use of metaphors is simply unreadable, I would review on that while making sure to state that I am unqualified to actually review the plot, etc.

I still maintain that it's not necessary to finish a book to know the basic premises of the plot and how it's developed. Not necessarily the ending, of course, but the writing modes and texture and such. When I review a book I only provide the very most scant sections of a plotline, so as to not provide spoilers. I make it a point to not tell more of the plot than can be gleaned from the flyleaf or back cover synopsis.

If an author is creating a good plot or a ratty one, such can be learned without finishing the book. If the plot is drab and uninventive, it's not something that becomes suddenly apparent on the last page. It's usually evident in the first few chapters.

If someone has read a book that had a terribly developed plotline, poor charaterizations, bad dialogue, awful narrative till halfway and then -- surprise! -- the book suddenly seemed to have been written by someone else, and became awesome? Or vice versa, started out terrific and wilted halfway through, please list the title of the novel. Because I've never seen this. A book is either good, bad, or indifferent all the way through, as I see it.

Couple years ago, as I said, I reviewed 60 private eye novels for the annual awards for best of the year, and to be faithful to my charge, I did read all the books completely through. That is fifty-eight to be accurate. And not ONE book reversed itself and became bad after starting good, or vice versa. So I stand by my concept that it's not necessary to finish a novel to review it fairly.

Any exceptions, I'd sure like to hear about them.

[bookowlie]

Honestly, I've never not finished a book that I started. If by some chance I never finished a book I started, no I wouldn't rate it. Not only does it give new readers a bad review, but it would be an unfinished review/rating. I couldn't see myself misleading others because I chose to rate a book I didn't finish.
Personally I don't pay attention to ratings others give regarding books, I'll read them, but they won't decide if I'll read the book. There are books that I've read that had a horrible review and it ended up being one I absolutely loved. That's how I end up finding new authors or new genres to read.

Well said. I also find great reviews on sites like Amazon can be misleading. If there are only a few reviews, there is a good chance the author paid a less than reputable site for a high review or, just as likely, the reviews are from family and friends. In one case, I looked up a book on Goodreads that I already read and didn't like. There was 1 review....the author reviewed and rated his/her own book.

[zeldas_lullaby]

To Modern Times:

Oh, OK, I see what you're saying. I generally don't comment on plot in a DNF, though, because if I really hate the writing, I don't even make it far enough along to get a grasp on the plot's direction. Also, it's just a courtesy to the author, lest the plot really does wind up amazing despite the horrid writing.

To Book Owlie:

I personally have paid for reviews, but not GOOD ones, just honest ones. To defend authors, the problem is that it can be like pulling teeth to get anyone to leave your book a review!! Case in point, my aunt. I see her maybe twice a year at most. I saw her several months ago. She said, "I loved your book. I read it in two days."

And I said, "Thanks."

That was the extend of our conversation on that topic, although we did speak of other things. Anyway, she did not leave a review.

Also, Goodreads allows authors to review their book, with it being pretty clear that it's the author, so I think that's OK. It's says something like, "author's review," doesn't it? Did you consider adding a review of that book you disliked on GR?

[SparklingOne]

I don't, but maybe I should. If I did it would only be in a constructive fashion though. I've read some terribly unfair reviews. Sometimes even when choosing new books I will check reviews from multiple sources, and download a sample. Review bullying seems to be a thing now evidently.

[susan-1]

I cannot rate/review a book before finishing it.
But if a book contains different independent chapters I can rate/review the chapter that I have finished it.

[1rskrypka]

No, it's not fair to the readers, or the author. If I do review anywhere, when I don't finish a book, I state that in the review and why if it is something I feel strongly about. For example, if a book is extremely violent and I don't finish it for that reason, I state that in the review that I did not finish it because of that. Although, I have to be honest, I rarely never finish a book. It bothers me to not read it until the very last page.

[Kbuckle1]

I feel like that is a very unfair thing to do. Reading is not like a piece of food in which you can take one bite of something and know instantly if you do or do not like it without finishing the food. It's an experience, a story, and an adventure. If you don't like the story that's obviously perfectly ok but I don't think you should be able to rate it based on just a piece of it. I make myself finish books no matter how much I dislike them just for the fact that I never know what may happen on the next page and my opinion could completely change of the entire story.

[IlovePaulWalker]

I may, it really just depends, i do try to read them though

[jacob_schrimpf]

While I often make snap judgements based on the first few chapters of a book, I do my best to see a story through to the end and would never post a review on a book I haven't finished. I don't think it's fair to the author to review a book without taking the entire book into account. Often, the most moving or compelling moments of a story come at the end so reviewing a book without finishing it is an injustice to the author.

[jsind]

It is absolutely absurd to make comment about a book unless one finishes it. There are books especially novels which holds enough punch and enlightening towards the end. In case one feels the book is not worth reading , it is better to leave reading further, but wisely refrain from making a comment about it.