The post opened my eyes to what readers are looking for when they visit your blog. I never gave it much thought but this reader named Alvin let it be known he thinks a book blogs and book reviewers couldn’t be about unbiased as any other form of reviewing or critic. Biased articles or opinions in the music and movies industries are viewed as uncredentialed : lacking credentials : not credentialed source of how good or bad a work is. In the sum of things, it’s saying that everyone is somewhat biased; if that is the case, then there’s no such thing as an honest book review as Amazon’s been enforcing for the past three years. Bought, given away, or however the reviewer or blogger obtained the book; the person is still writing their personal opinion not how the story may or may not appear to a different reader. An unbiased review can be written. It can be done but one has erase all their perceived ideas of what is a good story. And there aren’t many people who can do that.
Unbiased also means no nitpicking sentence structure, falling in formation of the author’s writing style not your or society’s idea of what the writing style could be. Remember you’re reading with a blank slate. No precieved notions. You’re going with the flow.
Frankly, I never gave it much thought as to whether book reviewers or bloggers could be allowed to be biased. I have always believed in diversity and believe you can find some great reads in every culture if you care to look for them.
The reader clearly states the public doesn’t want to know your personal opinion. Keep it to yourself. They don’t care what your personal likes and dislikes are. They’re counting on you as a blogger or reviewer to write not about what you like, but write unbiased reports on things that aren’t necessarily your personal cup of tea.
Comment about biased book bloggers and reviewers
Alvin wrote:
“Hi there, I’m really glad I’ve found this book blog. Nowadays bloggers publish just about bias books, gossip, and internet stuff and that’s boring and quite annoying. Nothing original. It’s hard to find a good book blog with interesting content; this is what I read here. I think real book bloggers could be like any other critics: Not be bias. If you are, then you aren’t a book blogger. You’re simply an avid reader who post about what you like to read. Book blogging isn’t about you and your preference. It’s about telling the public about the books not what you likes to read. Your reading taste is about you and your personal preference? Thanks for making this blog interesting with all kinds of books not just your personal preference in books, and I’ll be visiting again because you aren’t so bias as so many book blogger are. Do you do newsletters by email?”
In the sum of things, it’s saying that everyone is somewhat biased; if that is the case, then there’s no such thing as an honest book review as Amazon’s been enforcing for the past three years. Bought, given away, or however the reviewer or blogger obtained the book; the person is still writing their personal opinion not totally in fullness how the story may or may not appear to a different reader. An unbiased review can be written. It can be done but one has erase all their perceived ideas of what is a good story. And there aren’t many people who can do that.
Unbiased reading and reviewing also means no nitpicking sentence structures. It means falling in line with the formation of the author’s writing style not your or society’s idea of what the writing style could be. Remember when writing an unbiased report; you’re reading with a blank slate. No preconceived thoughts or notions are allowed. You’re going with the flow and seeing where it lead you. You write a simple, non opinionated report on what the novel is about and let others decide if they want to read it or not.
I prefer to read this way, therefore, my own thoughts won’t get in the way of my reading. You would be surprised at the gems you find when you get off the beaten path in the literary world.
unholypursuit
The Novel: UnHoly Pursuit: Devil on my Trail 
Much respect to Alvin and his viewpoint, but I disagree 100%.
” I think real book bloggers could be like any other critics: Not be bias. If you are, then you aren’t a book blogger. You’re simply an avid reader who post about what you like to read. Book blogging isn’t about you and your preference. It’s about telling the public about the books not what you likes to read. Your reading taste is about you and your personal preference?”
He wants to redefine blogging AND reviews. Blogs are PERSONAL sites for the OWNER’S content of preference. Somewhere on the blog should be the function of the blog…as per the owner’s interests. No blogger owes anyone anything. People visit and follow because the content interests them. Once there is a following, bloggers should work to at least maintain the quality of posts that attracted visitors to begin with.
For the last seven years, I’ve reviewed books for authors, publishers, and focus groups in almost every genre from children’s books to tech books. Some requests came from those who browsed my reviews on my blog, Goodreads, and Amazon because of the highlights/points I covered in the reviews, and no, they were not all four/five star reviews. No one asked me to omit any references to my personal opinions. In fact, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have received review requests without the personalization.
Reviews ARE personal opinions which is why people move heaven and earth to get them. If there are readers looking for “unbiased” reviews, perhaps they should browse more academic sites for clinical data instead of blogs.
No two people will read the same book the same way. Five blogger reviews could bring out five different aspects of a book, all valid. To say the reviews are biased because they are personal is ridiculous. We need book reviews from book readers…period.
I’m African-American and might key into different things a Caucasian would not in an African-American story. Doesn’t make my review better or biased, it’s just different, and THAT’S what we need more of. Bloggers reviewing on the nuances of the story as they saw them, not a literary analysis.
Hope Alvin never comes across my reviews… he won’t be happy! 😀 😀 😀
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Like or dislike, I allow, invite and encourage every visitor to state their own opinion on whatever issue they feel they would like to comment on. A academic site isn’t going to review a book or article if isn’t historical or pertaining a subject bearing a social issue. I learned their protocol when I was contacted by a group regarding the academic study of covet criminal behavior such as gang stalking.
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Obviously, I’ve thoroughly missed the point of his and your posts, and we’re talking about two different things. No harm, no foul.
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🙂 No, I don’t think there were any any points were missing. Nor do I think any harm or fouls occurred. I see it as each perspective serving their purpose. It may be approached differently but each serve a purpose. I understand Alvin to be talking about diversity in literature and you are speaking of accomplishing a much needed part of independent publishing. Getting reviews. Which are harder to get than having a tooth pulled without Novocaine. Where would Indie authors be without blogs like yours? In the dark, They have very little recourse as things stand and would have less if there were less book bloggers and reveiwers. Unless they have thousands of dollars to shell out. Most Indies and small press companies can not afford a Kirkus review nor a NetGalley giveaway. Both are quite pricey. I see it as you are both talking about the same thing but different avenues of achieving it. I may be wrong and isn’t proud to say so but that’s how I see it.
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I totally agree, that different people see different things when reading a book. There experiences in life due to circumstances do play a role in what they read, see or how they process it. What you wrote is exactly why I said an unbiased review is next to impossible to achieve and I don’t know why Amazon started its ungenerous way of gathering reviews. Now, it can be done but like I said one have to strip away all notions and read it just as it’s written. Sometimes when finished; Sometimes I liked it and sometimes I don’t. I call these summaries rather than reviews. Because that’s pretty much what I do. I read it with no opinion one way or the other and summarize the story. No, that can’t be accomplished with every single book I read.
I don’t know but I think Alvin is saying that many reviewers and bloggers won’t accept some books and review if it doesn’t fit in the topic they like to read and there need to be a greater sense of diversity in literature. Far too many minorities authors and their works aren’t being reviewed all because of this extremely narrow view of what’s good writing. Some years ago I was privileged to read the work of a woman named Olla Mae Balsom, a former slave, so many sci-fi authors used her format in creating their work but she never got credit for it because society was biased in rating the work of a former slave but when the idea was presented by others, nonblack males it because the standard for sci-fi story.
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Maybe I didn’t explain myself very well but things like the Olla Mae situation is kind of what I’m talking about.
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Where on earth did you find her work? I have heard of her but only copies of her work can be found. She is considered the mother of modern day scientific work. H.G. Wells and many other sci-fi writers used her descriptions and format.
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In a historical library featuring rare and unusual books. It was hard to even find her name among 19th century writers let alone what she wrote.
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We agree to disagree is fair enough. As a guy who have spent lots of money on books based upon the reviews and summaries and opinions of others I have a commercial right not to be presented someone’s personal opinion. I’m an African American guy who visited many blogs and read many reviews and most i read are biased. For example some won’t accept certain genres. Some do not per se say they won’t review a black or minority writer’s work but their blog speaks for itself. I can’t say anything about yours for I haven’t visited it yet. I was speaking on the great diversity I see on this blog which is rare in the blogging world. Yes, everyone has a right to their own opinion and I respect that but supposed everyone said exactly whatever comes to mind. The world would be at war. Sure, one is entitled that freedom in private not public. I was calling things as I see them. No disrespect meant to your blog nor what you do.
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Alvin, Denise has a very vital point of what blogging is. Bloggers are to write about whatever subject they choose. They are not obligated to present anyone’s opinion but their owns. To avoid the pit falls you mentioned I suggest reading a book’s excerpt before investing in it. Read the preface or prologue, they often gives a good indication what a book is about. The sample read is another excellent place to go to learn if you wish to invest in the book or not. Keep reading. You’ll find lot of diversity out of there.
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Alvin blogs are not civil rights movement forums.Yes, some are discriminatory. People blog about they like or believe in.
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Awhile, I agree, blogs aren’t Civil Rights forum but they can be turned into one. It’s for each blogger to decide.
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Yes, I have seen hundreds of blogs without an ounce of diversity. Diversified blogs attract more readers.
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That’s true. More people visit if there’s something they can relate to on your blog.
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As a book reveiewer I won’t deny I’m biased. Some books I accept and some I decline:. 😀 it’s nothing personal.
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Most critics are very biased. In the art world, the critics are biased, nasty, rude, and ruthless as can be. But however, book bloggers aren’t exactly book critics. Bloggers do serve a useful purpose, but I do feel their bias maybe undermining a lot of minority authors.
On Thu, May 28, 2020 at 7:43 PM
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Yes, I feel that minority authors are overlooked which is why I personally, tries to read a wide variety of books and posted them on my blog.
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Hi dear, if you are interested to read my Canada Book Award winning “Climbing Over Grit” I would love to hear your review. Much love from Toronto.
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I think Denise is right. Blogs are not journalist editorial posts. They are people’s personal or professional opinions. I do believe minority writers are left out of loop because only a few makes the best seller’s list and this is where most bloggers select the book they present from.
Alvin should have looked beyond the reviews in deciding what book to buy. A lot of bane books have lots of reviews because the big publishing houses have deep pockets for marketing. The thousands of reviews are not always attached because the book is good. It’s all about widespread marketing or a celebrity is paid to endorse the book.
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I will keep that in mind.
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💗
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I have to agree with Alvin to a degree. But I must disagree to an extension too. Book bloggers are not exactly book critics. If so, and they give their opinions, then you’re a reviewer.
But on the other hand, like Nesisa said, blogs are personal spaces online. A person can blog about whatever they want. I can’t say you can write badly whatever you want about someone’s work without getting sued.
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Thanks for visiting and thanks your comment. 🙂
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