Comments on: A Stalker’s Notebook – The Paradox of Book Reviewing by Charles Tan

By: Damon Cap

Damon Cap — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:18:48 +0000

I will be honest, the only times I really will read a review (besides this site) is when I have already completed the book. I think for me the term review tends to really mean “start of a discussion” if that makes any sense. Just my take though on the whole process. That holds true for books mostly and I think reviews can and need to be seperated by media when you talk about them.

For a video game per say, I will want to read the review and it will affect if I purchase the game or not. Is it a money thing? I dont know but games are more expensive.

Movies, well another area will I will read a review and it will influence my decision if I go or wait for it to show up on HBO.

DVDs, would already have read the movie review if not it would hold the same if it is a direct release to video.

Music, would rather just hear a sample than read a review. If I already have heard the album or own it then the review agains becomes a jumping off point for discussion.

Television reviews since most television is free I want to make my own accessment regardless, so it becomes a discussion jump off point again.

When I write my reviews (if you can call them that) I try to give the reader parts of what I liked as well as an overall feeling of my experience. So it is if you like what I have liked in the past you may like what I have just recommended.

By: Jay Tomio

Jay Tomio — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:35:24 +0000

To answer the (last) question,no,and generally I never have. I think it’s more having to do with that I don’t need any new more sources, and now i trust my sources enough where I don’t need to read a review, they can just mention it. Even beyond that I’ve always tended to be an impulse buyer, and if I want something I rarely find myself needing a second opinion (I would imagine books would be labeled as ‘minor’ purchases when considering most budgets).

These days, I rarely buy any new book and most of my purchases are much older and specifically targeted (thus, again no need for any other opinion). I think for me, I’m just old enough where purchasing decisions weren’t net aided and I kind of (for the most part) carried on with that. I mean, I do research if I’m buying land or something, not a book.

By: Kaolin Fire (GUD Magazine)

Kaolin Fire (GUD Magazine) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:00:01 +0000

I strive, with the reviews I write, to make my personal bias very clear, painting a picture of the book/magazine that while obviously colored, still gives enough of a feel for the object that a reader hopefully comes away with an idea of whether they would like it on its own terms, rather than mine. I try to figure out what niche of people would actually like the book. There’s not a book out there that _somebody_ wouldn’t like, for some reason or other (be it kitsch, irony, or a downright “fun, fast read”).