All About Book Review Sites
So, SAW Publishing is a book review site. We’re other things, too—but from the very outset, book reviews, centered around the twin standards of good and great literature, have been part of the Sheep Among Wolves identity.
Comically enough, I don’t personally enjoy reviewing books. I hate making decisions—and the entire SAW grading system is built around decisions. I hate criticizing people—and the whole red-flag system forces me to criticize a wide range of content issues. I don’t like slowing down and making notes while I read. And I don’t like coming up with a synopsis, once the reading’s done.
On the other hand, I do like books.
And I appreciate other people’s reviews and recommendations from time to time when I’m trying to decide whether I want to read a book, myself. So here’s a few thoughts about book review sites (my own included!)—their pros, their cons, and their ultimate role in a reading diet.
Book Review Sites: The Pros
- Book review sites let you FIND books you didn’t know existed.
- Book review sites give you another reader’s OPINION on the content and quality of a book.
- Book review sites (usually) provide a more DETAILED synopsis than a sales website/back cover blurb, giving you a better chance to identify the books you’ll enjoy.
- Book review sites let you FANGIRL! (Sometimes just in the comments section—but who doesn’t like fangirling in comments?)
- Book review sites show you you’re NOT ALONE. (Whether it’s by promoting a book or by legitimatizing red flags.)
Book Review Sites: The Cons
- Book review sites are QUALTIATIVE—my opinion of a good book may not have any similarity to yours.
- Book review sites with a large reviewer base sometimes lack CONSISTANCY from review to review.
- Book review sites with a single reviewer sometimes struggle to cover more than a narrow SELECTION of books. (That may, or may not, be a con—totally depends on what you’re looking for.)
- Book review sites can (I only said CAN!) create a culture of unnecessary CRITICISM.
Book Review Sites: Their Ultimate Role
Like all other tools, the ultimate role of book review sites is to help you accomplish a goal. For a Christian reader, that goal is to find worthwhile, God-honouring reading material.
In spite of some limitations, book review sites can be a valuable assistant in reaching this goal.
Not all sites are alike—which is just fine! I value the reader feedback (even when I indignantly disagree with it!) of user review sites such as Goodreads. I appreciate the structured, and fairly consistent, approach of team review sites such as Common Sense Media.(Did you know they review books as well as movies? I only discovered that very recently!) And I appreciate the personal touch and dependability of single blogger review sites such as Old Fashioned Book Love (where for some reason I always want to read every single book that gets reviewed!)
What About You?
How have book review sites impacted your own reading journey? Have you found them generally helpful? Generally unhelpful? Something in between.
I’d love to hear specifically what review sites you find yourself coming back to again and again!
If you’re interested in a more detailed analysis of the Sheep Among Wolves review system, see our previous post:
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