Sunday, April 26, 2009

Poll Results Are In!

The results are in for the Reviewer Handicap, in which I asked what type of book review was most difficult for you to write.

A total of 105 people voted. My thanks to each and every one of you. Let's see the breakdown of the votes:

  • 10 people said that they read reviews, they don't write them. Thank you, All Powerful Ten, you help keep this book blogging community in business, and we appreciate you!
  • 22 people said that the most difficult review for them to write was of a book that they read and hated. Not me! I find that the more a book engages strong emotion within me, the easier it is for me to write about it. Unfortunately it's extremely easy for me to become very sarcastic when reviewing a book I hated, and it's something that I work to keep a lid on. I'd rather keep my mouth shut than risk knowingly hurting someone's feelings.
  • 24 people said that the most difficult review for them to write was of a book they loved so much that it left them speechless. Not me. Once again, it's that strong emotion thing. I may splutter around for a while, but sooner or later I'll kick into gear...to the point where I can hear people yelling, "Shut up already!"
  • 49 people (or 46% of the people who voted in the poll) said that the most difficult review for them to write was of a book they didn't care for one way or the other. I would whole-heartedly agree. If absolutely nothing really engaged my interest in the book, I'm going to find it very difficult to work up enough interest to write the review!
Once again, I'd like to thank all the folks who voted in this poll. I appreciate your continued participation. Although I may come right out and say how I voted in the poll, that doesn't mean I think my answer is the "correct" one. Polls to me are all about opinions. As far as Kittling: Books' polls are concerned, there are no wrong opinions...just differing ones of equal value!


6 comments:

  1. Very interesting poll, Cathy. I'm with you. I voted for the lukewarm books. What do you say? Thanks for all of your polls. They're fun, and always interesting.

    Lesa
    http://lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com

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  2. Thanks, Lesa. I'm glad you enjoy them!

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  3. The polls are fun to take and I love to see the summary posts. Thanks for doing these.

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  4. I'm interested that so many people think it's harder to write reviews of a book they didn't care about one way or the other. Huh. I always have something to say--except when I'm speechless with love and admiration!

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  5. This was an interesting question, Cathy! It was great to see the All Powerful 10, who read, but don't write reviews :)

    I gave some thought as to why the "I loved it so much I was speechless" answer called to me. Maybe I'm afraid I won't do the book justice, or I'll be seen as gushing in my praise. I guess I should "just do it" and write reviews for those amazing books!

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  6. You're welcome, Beth!

    Jeanne--different strokes for different folks...right? :)

    Dawn--For some reason I don't seem to care if I sound as though I'm gushing or that I might not give the book justice. Perhaps it's because the words will flow, one way or the other. But when I read a book that I'm sitting on the fence about, I hate the feeling of sitting here waiting for inspiration to strike. Sometimes it's a long wait!

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Thank you for taking the time to make a comment. I really appreciate it!