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xina
Joined: 22 Mar 2007
Posts: 6627
Location: minneapolis
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 Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 10:10 am Post subject: |
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| jaime wrote: | | If I want a constructive review of a book I visit dearauthor.com, if I want nasty and glib bitching about a romance Mrs.Giggles will do. |
Yes, but Dear Author has a couple reviewers that write book reports instead of reviews. Recently, I finished a wonderful book and went to DA to check out their review. If I hadn't read the book first, so much of the review contained spoilers and details that I, as the reader, should have found out for myself. Way, way too much was revealed.
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jaime
Joined: 23 Sep 2011
Posts: 356
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| Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 1:17 pm Post subject: |
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| xina wrote: | | jaime wrote: | | If I want a constructive review of a book I visit dearauthor.com, if I want nasty and glib bitching about a romance Mrs.Giggles will do. |
Yes, but Dear Author has a couple reviewers that write book reports instead of reviews. Recently, I finished a wonderful book and went to DA to check out their review. If I hadn't read the book first, so much of the review contained spoilers and details that I, as the reader, should have found out for myself. Way, way too much was revealed. |
That's true and that's why dearauthor always has their reviews under a spoiler cut and it's your decision to click on the spoiler cut or not. Often I read reviews only after I have read a book to compare my opinion of it with the reviewers and because of that I don't have a problem with their detailed reviews. That site has a lot going for it besides their professional and thoughtful book reviews - it brings a lot of books to my attention that I would otherwise never have come across, gives really good technical advice and lists book deals.
This site here has many professional reviews too - though sometimes also some really cringe-worthy ones: badly written and personal bias showing in an off-putting way.
I also really like "Smart Bitches Trashy Books" - they are smart, witty and informative. |
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xina
Joined: 22 Mar 2007
Posts: 6627
Location: minneapolis
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| Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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| jaime wrote: | [
That's true and that's why dearauthor always has their reviews under a spoiler cut and it's your decision to click on the spoiler cut or not. Often I read reviews only after I have read a book to compare my opinion of it with the reviewers and because of that I don't have a problem with their detailed reviews. That site has a lot going for it besides their professional and thoughtful book reviews - it brings a lot of books to my attention that I would otherwise never have come across, gives really good technical advice and lists book deals.
This site here has many professional reviews too - though sometimes also some really cringe-worthy ones: badly written and personal bias showing in an off-putting way.
I also really like "Smart Bitches Trashy Books" - they are smart, witty and informative. |
Well, we all have personal preferences as to reviewers. Personally, I cannot stand the long-winded review. I think a talented reviewer is able to condense their thoughts to give precise information. I would rather spend my time reading the book than the lengthy review. I also dislike "reviews" where the reviewer DNF the book. Not a review. I don't even bother to read them. And lastly, I don't read reviews where I have noticed the reviewer loves every book they read. Sort of Harriet Klausner-like. They mean nothing to me. To each her own, and all that. 
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"As you wish"
~The Princess Bride |
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jaime
Joined: 23 Sep 2011
Posts: 356
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| Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 6:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | Sort of Harriet Klausner-like. |
Ha! Depending on my mood I believe that Harriet Klausner is either not really reading the books she "reviews", or really a robot. |
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ChrisReader
Joined: 05 Sep 2009
Posts: 685
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| Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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jaime said | Quote: | | Often I read reviews only after I have read a book to compare my opinion of it with the reviewers |
That is exactly what I do if it is a book I am certain I will read. I actively avoid all reviews and discussions because I am afraid of being spoiled. I'll take a quick peek at the "header" of the review either here or at D.A. to see the grade given but otherwise will wait until after I have read the book. If I don't know anything about the book until I see a review I'll read along and if I am intrigued enough won't read the whole review if it seems spoilery.
Right now I am avoiding all reviews and talk of the latest Iron Sea novel by Meljean Brook because I don't want any twists or plot points given away. |
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xina
Joined: 22 Mar 2007
Posts: 6627
Location: minneapolis
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| Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 8:20 pm Post subject: |
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| jaime wrote: | | Quote: | | Sort of Harriet Klausner-like. |
Ha! Depending on my mood I believe that Harriet Klausner is either not really reading the books she "reviews", or really a robot. |
I can't imagine that anyone takes her (or it's) reviews seriously anymore, but I suppose there are some. I can't believe there is really a Harriet sitting around reading and loving everything she reads. She probably skips around in a field of daisies every single day.
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"As you wish"
~The Princess Bride |
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nic919
Joined: 11 Jul 2009
Posts: 59
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| Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 12:59 pm Post subject: |
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The mysterious Harriet Klausner... I think she is the spam bot equivalent of a reviewer, with a vague understanding of the book review. I get more from the publisher excerpts than I do from her reviews.
I usually read reviews from AAR, SBTB, DA and The Good, The Bad and The Unread because they don't universally praise all books and sometimes the differing opinions on each site are quite interesting. SBTB tends to do less reviews but I love it when they take a DNF or a review of a bad book and make it hilarious.
Mrs Giggles can be fun as well, even if I don't necessarily agree with her opinion. She has never liked this series from Hoyt and while I have overall liked the books, I can see why she doesn't like them. They are not as good as her Prince trilogy. |
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stl_reader
Joined: 03 Aug 2011
Posts: 155
Location: Missouri
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| Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 1:49 pm Post subject: |
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I would respectfully request that further non-Elizabeth Hoyt posts--interesting as they are--be continued in a more appropriate thread or maybe a new thread.
It's disappointing to come back expecting to see new comments regarding Scandalous Desires, only to find that the latest posts have nothing to do with SD at all!
Thanks very much, everyone. |
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Susan/DC
Joined: 26 Mar 2007
Posts: 1598
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| Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 2:23 pm Post subject: |
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| stl_reader wrote: |
I enjoyed Mickey, though. I liked the accent. |
Actually, Mickey's accent was a problem for me. Not a big one, but a problem nonetheless. How did he have an Irish accent when he was born and brought up in St. Giles? Even though his mother was Irish, most people take on the accent of their surroundings, so for him to sound so Irish sounded false to me. I actually believed his accent as Michael Rivers more than his accent as Charming Mickey.
Not a criticism of Hoyt but an example of bad copyediting, I think it was in this book that the hero is described as "viral". Perhaps the heroine catches passion from him rather than a cold, but I think what was meant was "virile".
Did not like that Silence thinks to herself that she submits to him when they make love. To my mind submit indicates coercion or unwillingness, not to mention a power imbalance. If she is not an equal participant, then to me it is not making love but merely engaging in sex.
Also did not like that Silence thinks of the impact her ruined reputation will have on the Home but that she dismisses it. I understand her love for Mary Darling, but she was diminished in my eyes when she throws over everything she and her siblings have worked for so quickly and seemingly so easily.
I generally like Elizabeth Hoyt's books a lot, but this one is not high on my list. I'm very much looking forward to Winter's book, however. |
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msaggie
Joined: 22 Mar 2007
Posts: 629
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| Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 4:21 am Post subject: Elizabeth Hoyt's Scandalous Desires |
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| Susan/DC wrote: | Actually, Mickey's accent was a problem for me. Not a big one, but a problem nonetheless. How did he have an Irish accent when he was born and brought up in St. Giles? Even though his mother was Irish, most people take on the accent of their surroundings, so for him to sound so Irish sounded false to me. I actually believed his accent as Michael Rivers more than his accent as Charming Mickey.
Not a criticism of Hoyt but an example of bad copyediting, I think it was in this book that the hero is described as "viral". Perhaps the heroine catches passion from him rather than a cold, but I think what was meant was "virile".
Did not like that Silence thinks to herself that she submits to him when they make love. To my mind submit indicates coercion or unwillingness, not to mention a power imbalance. If she is not an equal participant, then to me it is not making love but merely engaging in sex.
Also did not like that Silence thinks of the impact her ruined reputation will have on the Home but that she dismisses it. I understand her love for Mary Darling, but she was diminished in my eyes when she throws over everything she and her siblings have worked for so quickly and seemingly so easily.
I generally like Elizabeth Hoyt's books a lot, but this one is not high on my list. I'm very much looking forward to Winter's book, however. |
I am really late to this party, but I would agree with all that Susan/DC said above, and my opinion of this book is also echoed by Leigh's review here at AAR, as well as Mrs Giggles' at her website. I don't think Mickey works as a hero for me - his initial treatment of Silence, which caused such pain and subsequently ended her marriage, was based on a whim - and he hasn't really been shown to have reformed in his character enough (telling's not quite enough for me). And I am someone who loves Patricia Gaffney's To Have and To Hold which has a really badly behaved hero in Sebastian. This is by far the weakest book in the series. I quite liked Notorious Pleasures, but my favourite Hoyt book is probably still The Serpent Prince. I am looking forward to Winter's story though. (However, his name, Winter, makes me think of M.M. Kaye's heroine from The Shadow of the Moon) |
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