A quandary about bad books

[Talysia]

I've been wondering about this for a while, so I wondered if anyone could help me with a little quandary. Do you have to read bad books to better appreciate the good ones? Or is it better to ignore reviews and find your own way?

I mean, there have been times when I've been put off reading a book by bad reviews, or by people saying that it's terrible - for whatever reasons - and I'd imagine that a lot of people are the same. I know that it's a different matter if you pick up a new book without hearing a review or word of mouth and find out that it's bad, but in these other cases should you let a bad review put you off? Especially if you learn to better appreciate a good book because of it? On top of that, if you only read books that someone else recommends, do you limit yourself in some way?

This is my quandary. I know it would be foolish to read everything just to improve your appreciation of books in the future - you'd have to either be a true scholar or booklover to do so - and reading should be an enjoyable experience. Should you let a bad review of a book put you off, as you might find that you like certain parts of it despite its flaws, or should you find your own way?

Sorry if it seems like an odd question. I guess I'm just trying to find a balance between improving my appreciation of books and improving my enjoyment of them.

 

[Locksmith]

Well, it depends who's reviewing the book and what they say is bad about it. Reviews can be good in letting you go into a reading experience with eyes open as to what you're getting, but they're someone else's opinion and you wont necessarily agree with it. So I wouldn't avoid books just because someone else didn't like them. Even where you've previously agreed with someone, you wont necessarily always do so. There are a number of people on Chrons who seem to enjoy the same books I do, but then they'll love some other book I've read and disliked. The web is a big place, so I like to get some second and third opinions.

So, I tend to like to make up my own mind if I think from reading reviews that the subject/style are likely to be to my liking, even if the reviews are "bad". But I certainly wouldn't read books that are universally panned for the sake of it. Life's too short.

 

[The Ace]

I've read a lot of bad books, you just don't know until you have. That's why I get most of my books secondhand or from libraries.

 

[j d worthington]

My suggestion -- if you're going to go by reviews, go by those who write thoughtful reviews... that is, reviews that actually show some deliberation on the book in question. The "it's great" or "it stinks" sort of thing isn't really helpful, as it simply tells you that person's preferences, not a lot about the book itself (I'm talking about quality rather than plotline, etc.): whether it has anything to say, is well (or badly) written, shows careful planning on the writer's part or not, can withstand more than one reading, etc. While this isn't a guarantee on whether or not you will personally like a book, it does tend to help winnow through the crap and find books that have more to them than a bit of fluff.

As for learning good books from bad... again, that depends on what you mean by those terms. Entertainment? Something that deeply moves? Something that is thought-provoking? Emotionally satisfying? Something that sticks with you for years, and grows with you? Something you will find yourself returning to and enjoying new levels, or simply being lost in the story and the writing again? On this sort of thing, the only way to learn what your definition of good books are is by expanding your reading. And as for learning what makes a good book from a bad in the larger sense... reading more bad books is really not helpful there, but reading large doses of the world's best books is... and you'll likely find that you learn to appreciate books on more levels this way, as well... but it does make one more demanding in some ways....

 

[bruno-1012]

I tend not to read book reviews and more or less pick up just about anything new.

I have more experience with film reviews and when I check these out I find myself in total opposition to the position of the reviewer.

No examples to give at the moment but I have found myself on occasion asking if the reviewer even saw the film!

Just because a reviewer says a book is bad doesn't make the statement true (or vice versa).

Thinking about it though I would generally read reviews of 'mainstream' books - and lets not get into that argument here - and have picked up a couple based on those.

One good one was 'The Pearl Fishers' by Robin Jenkins which I picked up after reading the review. Mainly because it was a republished Scottish book rather than a glowing review.

At a rough guess, the number of books purchased by me after reading a review would be about 3 per 1000.

 

[Talysia]

Thanks for the replies. Looks like I've got a lot of things to think on.

 

[Jack]

You can go your own way, go your own way
You can call it another lonely day
You can go your own way, go your own way

Read what you like, suggestions are a good template to branch out from – But you should never allow others to tell you what to read and what to like – Popular is not always ‘good’ and vice versa – Personally I dislike such books as Goodkind ect, are they bad? Afraid it’s all down to you in the end.

 

[Nesacat]

Read what you care to read. There are always going to be 'bad' books and 'good' books no matter how many reviews you read.

There people here who share my interests and I would give what they say consideration in choosing to read a book, especially if I'd never come across it before.

But then I also pick up many, many books based on no reviews at all. Some I may never wish to read again. Others I might not finish. And again there will be some I'd be happy to ask others to read.

I'm with the Ferret ... go your own way. Use reviews and suggestions as places to start expanding your horizons if you wish. And as JD said look at how much thought has gone into the reviews. In the end go with what you care to read. What you enjoy may not be what anyone else enjoys and where's the wrong in that.

I personally dislike the Harry Potter Books as well the Thomas Covenant books but they get very good reviews and some people whom I respect a great deal like these books. It's just the way I feel.

 

[Fried Egg]

I try to work out whether the reviewer is looking for the same thing in a book as I am. Often I can tell other people's criticisms simply don't apply to my me because they're comming at it from a different angle.

As for intentionally reading books you know are going to be bad just to increase your appreciation of other books? Hell no! Life is short and there are probably more good books than you could ever read in a life time. Every bad book you read is one less good book that you will read. It's hard enough avoiding bad books as it is without deliberately seeking them out! You will no doubt encounter more than your fair share without trying so don't worry about it.

 

[manephelien]

Try and find reviewers who tend to like the same kinds of books as you do, based on reviews of books you've already read. However, you're unlikely to find anyone who likes all the books you like and dislikes all you dislike, but it's a guide when buying books.

However, if you buy second-hand books fairly cheaply or use a good library, it might be fun to sometimes read something you're unsure about, who knows what gems you might find...

 

[Talysia]

I completely agree about buying second hand books and the library. As for reviews, I've read so many in different places (in newspapers, on tv, and even on forums) that I started to lose track a bit of why I read. I've had trouble with finding the right books in the past (that's why I like my local library so much), so it's tough to know whether to trust the reviews or just keep trying.
I think from now on, I'm just going to disregard any reviews I read, in favour of just trying my luck. As has been said, finding a good book is hard enough.

 

[Pyan]

However, if you buy second-hand books fairly cheaply or use a good library, it might be fun to sometimes read something you're unsure about, who knows what gems you might find...

Agreed, MP - that's how I discovered Lois Bujold.
But I was induced to read Scott Lynch from recommendations from Rune and nixie...

Sometimes you just have to close your eyes and pick - sometimes you'll be lucky, sometimes not - but that's what makes it so fascinating!

 

[Jack]

‘And as JD said look at how much thought has gone into the reviews’

Don’t encourage him nesa – It will only end badly.

‘if you buy second-hand books fairly cheaply’

Second-hand bookstores are a great idea ‘unpronounceable named type person’, they are relatively inexpensive and usually run by nice people that also know their books very well – Well some are nice – Most of the time that is. And Fried Egg has some good points, and JD and others that have posted. Never go to Libraries though, I’m lazy and the whole giving the book back thing is no fun! They smell funny too and there’s usually some form of scary shafted with a cactus lady standing there glaring at you – But that may just be me – Ah hell it is me. Ha ha!
Try small series to start with as a suggestion – Some tend to go on and go on, book after book into infinity and beyond! But then again you may like that style, even like libraries (Sadist), but it’s only you that can make that decision.

 

[Talysia]

Lol, you've got such a way with words, Jack! You raise a good point, though. I've been trying to find a good small series for a while now after getting a bit tired of the usual books.

 

[Pyan]

Never go to Libraries though, I’m lazy and the whole giving the book back thing is no fun! They smell funny too and there’s usually some form of scary shafted with a cactus lady standing there glaring at you –

Don't listen to him, Tal!
If you can think of another way to try twenty completely new (to you) authors, for up to four weeks, absolutely free, then I'd like to hear about it!

 

[Jack]

Ah hah! No. Yah Pyans right mmmummble mmmummble – She’s really scary though and she glares at you – and you start to feel all guilt ridden and you have no idea why, you even start inventing reasons ‘why’ she’s glaring at you! Lots of really good small stories out there – Not so many single novels in fantasy in store (Waterstones, that sort of thing) Um Trudi canavan or Emily Gee are alright, but again don’t listen to me M’lady of Autumn, I only know half of what I’m saying at any given time.

 

[tangaloomababe]

I pretty much ignore reviews, for both books and movies. I read or go to a movie because it sounds interesting. I read a blob, if I like the blob I read a few pages to see if I like the style. I have had bad books but I tend to just get it over with and read it as fast as I can, then not recommend it to anyone. If someone tells me a good book, I am more inclined to go on their advise than a review.
I try to look for books that are NOT the flavor of the month but rather something a little different, it has worked well up to now.

 

[shadow9d9]

I read a bunch of reviews before buying all books... I generally look for the mediocre reviews rather than the glowing reviews and see if I care about what they criticize.

 

[gully_foyle]

I rarely read book reviews in mainstream press, because someone is being paid to have an opinion and, for me, that invalidates their opinion. Having said that, it was a review of Iain M Banks' The Algebraist in the New Scientist, of all places, that made me buy it and brought me back into the SF fold.

I love getting my books in secondhand bookshops, but sometimes I have to branch out and get something nice and shiny and new. Also, I occassionaly need a change from pre 80s SF.

Libraries? I agree with all the opinions, i.e. lots of free books vs having to return books and scary mildewed librarians. But then, I have not borrowed a book from a library (non university) for aeons, so maybe I should get down to my local library and give it a try.

As for how to discover what to read, well that's why I joined the Chronicles. I have received many excellent recommendations here.

p.s. A friend borrowed a library book and was halfway through when a bunch of toenail clippings fell out of the book. Ewwww!

 

[Talysia]

Yes, I've found lots of great books by since I've joined Chronicles, too.

Oh, and Gully - I've never found toenail clippings in a library book yet. That's just disgusting!