Stop & Chat is a weekly discussion post here at Read. Sleep. Repeat. where we talk about what ever tickles my fancy!
Happy Saturday guys! Today I want to talk about something that REALLY bugs me.
Holding Punches!
As book bloggers we all live by one code above others.
Always be honest with your reviews.
But being honest, I found, can mean a lot of different things for a lot of people. I recently did a DNF Stop & Chat post and the replies I got were magnificent and fueled by so many intense emotions! I absolutely adored it! But a few of the comments got me to thinking about ARC’s. Now I know there are many bloggers who will not DNF a ARC no matter what, and I get that I swear. You received a book for free, for a honest review. I totally get not making the DNF call (even if I don’t agree), but it’s what happens after that torturous read that bugs me. The “negative” review. Too often lately I’ve heard “I tried not to be too mean” or “ahh I got this ARC and I HATE IT! What do I do?!” and it made me question how many other people totally alter their review techniques when it comes to ARC’s.
I’m not attacking anyone, and I’m not singling our anyone either, but be honest. How many times have you received a ARC, hated it, and then reviewed it the exact same way you would a book thats 3 years old and you picked up from the library? Why, do people feel this urge to try and cushion the “I totally hated this book!” blow? In what universe is a publicist feelings more important than the bare truth our readers have come to expect from us?
And just so you know, the first ARC I ever received was one I totally loathed! So yes I know that anxious feeling that a lot of people have when faced with this dilemma, but I didn’t hold back any punches on that review because, well because I’m a very direct person. I’m not saying you have to set off a atomic bomb and go all swearing and author bashing. I’d never suggest anything so tacky. But I think it’s time for some people to realize that maybe, just maybe, their holding some punches.
