The Standard of Book Reviews
by Chawna Schroeder
During a CSFF (Christian Sci-fi and Fantasy) blog tour, I read through various reviews of the featured book and was somewhat surprised by the huge array of opinions. At one point I even wondered if we had all read the same book.
Yes, I know book reviews—or reviews of any type—are subjective. But how can one book spark both praise and condemnation for the same passage?
I finally realized that each book review is different because each reviewer applies a different set of standards. One reviewer studies the craft of the writing. A second determines his opinion from the book’s theology, while a third likes or hates the story purely because of the emotional experience provided.
This ultimately leads me to ask, what are my standards for a “good book”?
So here are five of my standards when judging a book:
- Reading Habits:
I enjoy fiction from many genres, from historical to science fiction to romance to thrillers. About the only genre I haven’t read is horror, because of an overactive imagination. But at the same time, I also favor science-fiction and fantasy, so though I try not to, the more mind-bending story will probably rank higher in my reviews.
In addition, I’ve enjoyed both CBA and ABA fiction. However, because I retain the stories unusually well, I tend to avoid books that may fill my mind with language or scenes I don’t want coming out in my own writing. So most of my reading is in the CBA market, and that becomes my primary point of comparison. So if I think something is original, I’m saying (unless stated otherwise) it’s unique within my current knowledge of CBA fiction.
- Readership:
The main group of people I hope to reach with this blog is conservative Christian parents and their young adults. Therefore, I slant my book reviews to cater to that group and consequently give extra weight to swearing, violence, sex/sexual innuendos, and magic—things that may not matter to a different reviewer.
I am also aware that many young adults read adult fiction. So I consider whether parents should worry about their teens reading this material. Therefore a well-written book with graphic violence or extensive swearing may rank lower in my reviews than a poorer-written book without those elements.
- Faith:
I am a born-again, conservative Evangelical Christian, if you want all the Christian jargon. More simply, I am someone who believes the Bible is completely true and is fully applicable to all aspects of life. Therefore I seek fiction that will build up that faith instead of supplanting ideas that clearly contradict it. Hence the second section I entitle “The Story.”
Yes, one of the main purposes of a story is to entertain—but at what cost? If that entertainment reinforces that which contradicts Scripture and could possibly hurt my own relationship with God should I absorb those principles into my life, is it worth it?
Not that occasionally reading a contrary story will hurt me. But because I seek to promote overall healthy fiction habits on this blog, what I consider theologically sound books will rate higher on my list than those that are not.
- Occupation:
Because I seek a career as a novelist, most of my training and higher education has been focused on creative writing. Therefore when I read, I read as a fellow craftsman. I take note of unusual tactics and the applications of the rules I’ve been taught, much in the way a landscaper might enjoy another’s garden or an architect would observe a house he is visiting—hence my first section, “The Writing.” I want to show what does and doesn’t work, why, and whether the virtues outweigh the flaws. One book may have character you fall in love with and a lousy plot. A second book may have an edge-of-your-seat plot and mediocre characters. Yet because of each book’s strong points, they may both be equally worth reading. Or not, depending.
- Personal Taste:
As much as I might wish otherwise, my personal taste can and does influence my reviews. So what am I especially fond of in a book?
· Something that challenges, encourages, or makes me stop and think, especially if it can make me laugh at the same time.
· Characters I connect with and pull for—so I have an extra-soft spot for underdog stories.
· Fast-paced plot—something that grabs me by the throat and won’t let go, thus providing me a small adrenaline rush.
· Happy endings—in a world where evil is so strong, I like being reminded the impossible is possible and there is a reason for hope.
· In short, I’m a very emotional person; I like stories that can challenge the mind, touch the heart, and tickle the funny bone, leaving me emotionally satisfied when I finish.
No one of these standards alone is enough for me to praise or condemn a book, which is why so many of my ratings fall between 2.5 and 4.5. Very few books are absolutely horrid or extremely excellent.
Of course, that could be just my opinion.