A Word Please

How important are reviews to authors and readers?

For authors, they can be a vital part of marketing; particularly for those of us who are independent, self-published, unknown, struggling, potential superstars.

For readers, they can sway the decision to buy one way or the other, particularly when it comes to spending money on something written by an author unknown to him or her.

Given the importance many of us place on reviews, I thought I’d take a look at what some people have to say about the “best books ever written”. According to Newsweek, the #1 book ever is War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. Here’s what one Amazon reviewer had to say about the book:

(1 Star Review) Let me start by acknowledging that Leo Tolstoy is often regarded as one of the preeminent authors of all time. Let me follow that with the acknowledgement that many consider “War and Peace” to be the greatest triumph in human literature.

This book is horribly boring. While other lengthy works, like Les Miserables, excite and build intrigue, War and Peace does nothing of the sort. It ambles on, like a wounded victim hoping to be put out of its misery. After a thousand pages, that is exactly what I did. I threw the book clear across the room in disgust with what was a lethargic, uninteresting, and needlessly convoluted tale.

Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri is #10 on Newsweek’s list. Here’s what a different Amazon review had to say about this book:

(1 Star Rating) I last read Dante’s “Comedy” in college. I thaught it might be rewarding to read it again, 40 years later. Now everybody finds out what a low-brow I am. “The Comedy” is a collection of nonsense from an age so seeped in religious nonsense that nothing was in excess in the name of God. Considered a “Classic” by generations of Christian zealots. I consider it (brace yourselves) trash.

And, according to Random House, the best novel ever written is Ulysses by James Joyce. An Amazon reviewer had this to say about it:

(1 Star Rating) Ulysses is the sorriest excuse for a novel I have ever come across; don’t waste your time. I’m all for challenging reads, but not for gibberish which academics persist in labeling erudition. I find absolutely nothing redeeming about this book, but those who enjoy taxing their brains to ridiculous measures; drawing (more than likely inaccurate) conclusions from an incomprehensible conglomeration of words; and imposing meaning where none exists because few things in the text will limit whatever perspective they want to take are welcome to it.

Of course, these books are hugely popular, so a few bad ratings won’t hurt them. They do, however, give us something to think about. Humans have largely varying opinions on just about everything, including what constitutes great reading. Maybe reviews should come with yellow caution tape reading: Opinions expressed here might unnecessarily sway future readers.

Tags: best books ever, book reviews, classics, Dante, Divine Comedy, James Joyce, Reviews, Tolstoy, Ulysses, War and Peace