The Sunday Symposium: For Your Review

The Sunday Symposium is a weekly feature in which I'll be discussing various bookish topics and asking for your commentary, as well.  This week's topic is reviews...what you like about them, what you don't, what type really catches your eye...that kind of thing.

I enjoy reading reviews of all types:  short and succinct, a detailed analysis of the setting and plot, and even the one liners like "Oh my gawd, you  must read this NOW!"  They serve to help me decide whether a particular book is something that I need to read very soon so I can jump on the bandwagon and discuss along with everyone else.  They also let me know if I should pass on a book, even though I'd been pretty excited about it prior to reading the review.

I know some people despise long reviews and refuse to read them because they're afraid of spoilers or simply reading yet another summary of the story in the text of the review.  I can understand that.  But I also know others who can't stand the gushing reviews for books that tell you nothing about the story, other than that the reviewer loved it.  But there's got to be a middle-ground that makes everyone happy, right? 

I have several go-to reviewers that I frequent because I know that a) I enjoy their reviews and b) we tend to have similar opinions on books, and they're less likely to steer me wrong than anyone else.  Is it the same for you?  Do you prefer reviews from someone your own age or do you read a wide range of reviews before deciding to read a book?

Do you like the more detailed reviews that point out flaws in the writing, as well as highlight the wonderful world-building or complex cast of characters?  Do you prefer those that hint at something great within the pages of the book without ever really revealing why the reviewer feels that way so that you're left to draw your own conclusions?  Or do you not read reviews at all and hope that the synopsis you read is true to the story?

I'll be honest, I've almost stopped reading summaries entirely.  All too often, there are spoilers included in them, especially in subsequent installments in a series, and I'd be better off reading without them.  And although I do enjoy reading reviews from real teens and love them for taking the time to review the book in the first place, they just don't give me quite what I need to know as an adult reading YA.  Also, sometimes I won't read ANY reviews for a book before I've read it because I'm so afraid of reading something spoilery.  At that point, I'm just reading the review so I can discuss the book with someone else.  :)

So, here I am, just a reviewer, entreating you to share your thoughts on reviews so that I might make mine better and more enjoyable.  Without you guys, there's really no point....so tell me what you want to see in my reviews!  :D

Labels: reviews, the sunday symposium