There is an old saying … that never judge a book by its cover. It is a metaphorical phrase which simply means never form an opinion of a person or a “Thing” based on its external appearance. Used originally in George Eliot’s The Mill on the Floss, this idiom has come a long way since then and today it is frequently used in literary circles and within the reading communities.
A book cover may or may not complement the story, the writing quality, author’s talent etc. and therefore as a reader you need to be cautious in judging the book based solely on its aesthetic appearance.
I believe, just like a book cover even book ratings can be deceiving. Readers should not succumb to ratings because they can be ambiguous at times, especially when a particular book has fetched several low ratings but zero or few corroborative reviews.
As a published author I am quite active on self-publishing websites and various social media platforms. I frequently check ratings and reviews of some of the lesser known books which I feel would be good reads, and every time I encounter reasons for poor rating which have nothing to do with the quality of writing, the content itself or writer’s natural endowment. Some of these are mentioned below –
- The book was too short or too long.
- I didn’t like this character.
- The cover didn’t complement the story.
- Formatting was pathetic.
- The beginning was kind of drag or the ending seemed rushed.
- The subject was familiar.
- It didn’t have a happy ending.
Offering poor rating for the above is not justified. Except for #4 and to a certain extent #5, the rest of them are deeply subjective, a matter of personal taste. What one person loves about a book, another may hate. One reader may dislike a particular character while many others may adore. Unfortunately, book reviews on these platforms are rarely read. A typical buyer checks out the rating before hitting the “Buy” button. A couple of bad ratings can pull down the average score and thereby reduce the sales drastically.
Incidentally, reviews fall into 3 categories –
- Vague or discouraging reviews
- Offensive reviews
- Reviews with constructive criticism / appreciation
A genuine reader will always offer constructive feedback ( #3 ). This person will mention the reason/s for disliking / liking a book. It not only helps the concerned author to improve, but also allows other potential buyers to know the reason for low rating. It does not damage the author’s credibility or the book’s overall self-worth.
As for reviews #1 & #2, authors can simply ignore them as there will always be someone out there who will either keep on posting discouraging reviews or offer hostile feedback. On the other hand verified buyers / readers should always opt for #3 type reviews. As mentioned above, it helps the author as well as other readers, and that is what an honest review is all about. It doesn’t matter if your review is good or bad, what matters is explaining the reason/s for the same.
Readers should understand that writing a book demands sweat and blood which every writer gives it with a smile. Agreed, some of them may seem below par, some outright shoddy, but remember, it has been brought to life with the same passion and dedication.
So, as a reader, don’t rate a book poorly without offering a reason/s for the same.