ny times book review

ny times book review

The Impact of Book Reviews on Readers

1. Introduction

Book reviews have been considered as one of the most effective ways of promoting a book. When we read a book review, we are basically getting a free sample of the content. A well-written book review can convey the scope, style, and content of a book to its readers and can be very effective in convincing the reader to purchase the book. This can mean that the difference between the review’s opinion and the reader’s opinion about the book can be non-existent if the reader chooses to purchase the book after reading a review the reviewer wrote. This can affect the reader either positively or negatively. In this essay, I will discuss the negative and positive effects of book reviews from a reader’s standpoint. I will also discuss whether or not a reader’s opinion of a book before reading it will actually be in agreement with their opinion after they finish the book, and if the impression the reader gets from the review affects how they feel about the book once they have finished it. Book reviews are an excellent means of creating awareness for a book and in some cases, they have a greater impact than any other form of publicity. According to a survey done on the Online Consumer Survey for Book Purchasing conducted by Insight Research Group, book reviews had the highest influence on readers to purchase a book in comparison to other factors such as the book being written by a favorite author, a recommendation from a friend, or even a large advertisement of the book in a store. For example, if a book receives a positive review in a magazine that the reader respects, the reader may be more inclined to purchase that book even if it is quite expensive. On the contrary, if it receives a negative review from a respected source, the reader may choose not to purchase the book even if it is relatively cheap or being offered at a special price.

2. The Power of Book Reviews

Where is the power in the book review and why do some recent reviews lead publishers to considering legal action? Part of the power lies in the fact that many possible consumers are influenced by the marketing blurb that often sits adjacent to reviews, or the review itself is written in such a way that it mimics marketing material. Negative advance reviews can result in the book being dropped by a retailer’s order, or the first print run being scaled back. Conversely, positive reviews help create the buzz that leads to a bestseller. All of this is observed by publishers to be so important that in some cases negative reviews have led to legal action. One recent example of this was when the publisher of John Twelve Hawks’ novel The Traveler took libel action against a newspaper that had published a damning review. Though libel law differs between nations the case does demonstrate the concern held by publishers over the potential financial impact of a negative review. Adding to the power of book reviews is the notion that they can be a form of support or attack for authors. Reviews can significantly affect the impact a book has on a reader and influencing the reader’s perception of the author. Often reviews that are somewhat comprehensive are used as a form of constructive criticism for the author, but other reviews can be scathingly dismissive of the author’s work. This was the case when author Alice Hoffman went on a rampage against the blogosphere after a bad review of her novel appeared on a number of blogs. Hoffman posted comments on several blogs, attempting to defend her work and even apologizing to the readers for it.

3. The Influence of the NY Times Book Review

Trying to find the real influence of any review is not always a simple task, so it is important to think about specific review outlets where consumers get their information. For readers who consider themselves ‘serious’, the New York Times is most often the destination for book review information. With an accountable, well-respected review section, the New York Times has taken an intriguing method to reviewing books. In his article “How Fiction Corrupts,” media and cultural critic of the NY Times, Michiko Kakutani, expresses his views on what fiction can do to shape the reader’s perspective of reality. Kakutani states that while fiction is an art form, it often serves as a vehicle for packaging ideologies and stances on issues in a way that seduces its audience and validates these positions as truths. He has been quoted as saying that he generally will not review a book he feels is bad because people are more likely to critique a bad example than to show proper form. The NY Times book review section puts forth the idea that reviewing is not just to inform readers of what books are good or bad, but to a tool to take a stance and influence people’s opinions on issues.

4. The Role of Book Reviews in Literary Culture

In general, one can assume that the reading of book reviews is often done when the reader is not fully convinced as to the quality of the book.

In a society where time is precious to all of us, the average reader cannot afford to read every book they are thinking about purchasing, and instead may turn to a book review to learn whether the book is worth their valuable time. The influences of family, friends, or colleagues can often also steer a person away from a certain book, and the reader then wishes to learn if the recommendation of others was, in fact, a good decision. In these cases, the reader will read a book review while already having a firm opinion about the book, and this will greatly influence their reaction to the review.

When considering the role of book reviews, we must first acknowledge the overwhelming presence of book reviews in today’s society. Wherever you turn, it seems that there is a book review waiting to bombard you. The task the reader must then take on is to decide whether or not to let this review influence their opinion on a particular book.

It is clear that book reviews are a significant factor in today’s literary culture. With the presence of the internet, there are literally millions of book reviews, both amateur and professional, posted on the World Wide Web as well as in literary magazines and newspapers.

5. Conclusion

Book reviews are a vital resource to readers, and both writers and readers benefit from such reviews. Book reviewing is a unique form of job, and book reviews are an essential tool not only for readers, but also for writers and publishers. The often timely nature of book reviews, they can act as pre-release promotion for readers who may be on the lookout for more work from a particular author. For self-published authors, book reviews are the most immediate way of getting feedback on their work. The fact that book reviews are often opinionated work, they allow debate between readers and reviewers about the opinions. Readers will often look at multiple reviews of the same work and may find they agree or disagree with particular reviewers. This can lead to a following of specific reviewers, where if they find their opinions are similar to a reader’s, they can find some form of direction in what books to read.