An ethics point has arisen in the book review process on sites such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, Books-a-million, etc. I saw the other day where over 600 reviewers had given a book five stars. Could that be? I was tempted to buy it just to see if it was that good.
I have had authors send me their books and outright ask me to give them a five star review and have been incensed if I don't rate it that high or somebody we both know didn't give five.
Freedom to judge a book by your own standards is important to me. I love giving five stars. I read around thirty-five books a year and try to review each one on those sites. But I'll be damned if I'm going to give books a higher grade than I think is coming to them.
My criterion for five stars is did the writing reach the highest level for that genre? Could the book have been better? If so, it gets four stars. If it doesn't hold my interest but I finish it--three stars. If I don't finish it--I don't write a review. If I put it in the Goodwill box or send it to the library I don't write a review. Anything below three stars should be discussed with the author.
Here's to honest high ratings in this new world of book publishing, distributing, reviewing. Do I hear an Amen?
Amen from me!
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