Thoughts and debate-When to Rate & Review

     I have had this on my mind off and on for awhile and is now to a point that I feel I must share some viewpoins I have and to perhaps get some of yours in return.

     I keep seeing a lot of people rating and reviewing books they have never read.  The more I see this the more it bothers me.   If a person doesn't like a author, genre or book summary people will give it a one star and flat out state they did not and will not read it.  Honestly, if you don't want to read a book, fine but don't negatively affect the stats of a book you never read.

     Then there is the flip side.  A person loves an author and automatically gives all their books 5 stars.  I see this a lot on Goodreads with sequels in particular.  Patrick Rothfuss even made an amusing review of his own when he kept seeing people rating his upcoming book.  He flat out says he isn't done writing it even!



     I have no problem with them shelving the book as a favorites or a 'will not read,' etc.  I don't even have a problem under the review options stating your opinion.  But why rate it?  This affects stats of the book and is not fair to the book, author, publisher or potential buyers.

     One author in particular jumps out at me for both these highs and lows.  Kiera Cass.   I see people who love her book and are off rating The One at five stars.  OR those that refuse to read it rating it one star.   It isn't even out yet!  Then there are those who are angry at her for some comments apparently made back with her first book that put some readers off.  That is fine, but why  fault the book?  By giving it one star, you are saying the book is bad.  The author is another story.  Maybe there should be a rate the author system or something.

     Then there are DNF's.  We all have them, but at what point can we fairly judge a book?  I see reviews where people flat out admit they don't like the genre, read 5 pages and stopped. Then leave a 1 star and a hateful rant...Um, you didn't even give the book an honest chance, in my opinion.   Now I have, on extremely rare occasion only read 1 or 2 chapters then stopped. But if that is all I read I will not rate and review usually.  There is so much to a story and while the first few chapters are vital they do not make or break a book.  For me, personally, I insist on at least 50 pages (or 25%) of the book/story, before I feel entitled and knowledgeable enough to make anything close to a sound review.  The book simply dissapears from my shelves.  Now I can understand a brief blurb about why you didn't finish.  In fact, those can even be appreciated.  It is those that act as if they read the book, know the ending, understand the characters, and just use it as a negative rant that bother me.

     Now these are just my opinions, as I said before. his is most assuredly not meant to start any drama.   I am willing to bet that some who take a look at this do exactly what I said bothers me.  This is not a hate rant to you.  This is not meant as a lecture.  This is me stating an opinion, seeking others and hoping to perhaps get some new insights.  Let me know your thoughts.  I value each and every one, even those radically different from my own.