What does a reviewer look for in a book?

[Mari]

Clark, this question is currently directed to you, because you are the reviewer on record. There may be other reviewers who are members of this group, so everyone, please jump in. I know that every author must ask that question before sending someone he or she hopes will review his or her existing book or ARC. What criteria do you use to decide what you will, or won't, read and review?

[Jo Linsdell]

Personally, I tend to pick ones that seem interesting from the book blurb. If it's a genre I normally read I'll give it a go, although that doesn't mean I don't occassionally try something new. For example I recently reviewed a Christian science fiction that normally won't have interested me and was surprised to find that I enjoyed it. I'd agreed because it was written by a friend and she'd managed to get my interest by telling me a bit about the plot (lots of twists and very original idea).

[Clark Isaacs]

Hi Jo:

Thanks for your input and I am sure that Mari got some good advice about what you use. Also, welcome to the site and stay in touch!

Clark

[Mari]

Thank you, Jo! I love books that catch me by surprise, refuse to follow a formula and send me directions I never would have thought to go. I ask one thing of an author--well, maybe more than one, but don't bore me. If I were a reviewer I'd probably have a quirky requirement.
:-) Mari

[Clark Isaacs]

My criteria are rather simple. I will not review a book laden with sex. It does not fit into the audience that I have selected to read my reviews. You see, I select where I will have my reviews published and if they are not wholesome and family oriented, I do not care to send them reviews.

Further, if I cannot get through 3 chapters without mentally correcting grammar, spelling, or phrasing, I will set the book down, even if it is without sex. We get many books and they are from places where editing is a lost art.

We have several people who pre-read books now, they give me a synopsis of the book and whether it is worthy of a review. There are about 85,000 books being published each year now, it is impossible to read or review them all. I rely upon the major publishing houses to send me catalogs of books which will be forth coming and when I do read them I find there are so many which are out of my area of thinking. My preferences are pretty broad, but I do look at every book which comes in, I catalog it in Library Thing and then read a chapter to see if I should go further. If I go further, then I set it up in my system to read in the order in which it came. On my shelf for reading I have about 25 to 50 books at all times. I try to get Galleys so I can review before publication. Where necessary, I have been know to critique the rough copy and give ideas to the author for correction.

What is now happening in the field is interesting, to say the least, that is these Ning website and some others which I have stumbled upon. Authors are emerging before publication and we are getting contact with them while they are still writing or selecting publishers. This is great and I welcome the opportunity to get involved. A publicist I work with in NYC told me that I should become a 'book doctor' as I have some good advice in make good novels better. She told me that there is good money in offering that kind of service. I have considered this, but truthfully, how many hours in the day am I able to work? Right now I start me day at 7 AM or so and end at 4:30 (Martini Time). LOL

Let me know if I have answered your questions and if not what else would you like to know?
Clark

[Jo Linsdell]

I second that about erotic books. I don't tend to read them and won't publish a review of one to my site. That doesn't mean that there aren't some good erotic writers out there. Just not my thing.
I love reviewing books about the writing industry as, being an author myself, I love to learn something useful to my own writing career along the way.
I also like chit lit and easy reads as being a fulltime mummy to a one year old, I don't always get as much time to read as I'd like.
Books with a connection to Italy and travel also get my interest.
I'd love to review gluten free cook books as I'm celiac and love to find out new recipes and help promote any action to draw attention to new research and spreading the understanding of this condition.
These would have to be my top of the list but I'm happy to look at other work too.