I’m pretty erratic with my review commenting so ultimately it depends on my mood and how much spare time I have in any given week. Sometimes I’ll leave a comment because I’ve read the book, am thinking of reading it, have read other books in the same series or by the same author, it’s a genre that I’m obsessed with, something catches my eye about the review (i.e. negative, a quote, etc), I’m participating in a Challenge/Discussion, I like the cover… Heck, sometimes it’s just plain dumb luck. I’ll be browsing a blog, click on a buy link and end up on Amazon, click on a reviewer’s profile only to end up on another blog and notice the review in this person’s blog roll. LOL It happens more often that you’d think.
However, out of all of the commenting I do, I’d have to say that reviews are what I comment on the most frequently.
What about you?
About the Blogger
I review Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance books with a focus all things werewolf. Based out of Ottawa, Canada
Owner, designer and main blogger behind Rabid Reads. Avid book reader, snowboard bunny, video gamer and Supernatural fan. I love all things paranormal, werewolves especially. Oh, and I’m Canadian, eh!
+JMJ+
I usually comment when I find a review helpful, to let the blogger know he touched upon an issue that no other reviews did so far and that I appreciated it. But I don’t always take the time to read reviews . . .
I’d say that I make a point to comment when I think the blogger will make a good friend and I hope to draw him over to my blog as well. But this actually rarely happens. Of all the blogospheres I’ve ever participated in, the book blogosphere has been the least friendly when it comes to returning comments and continuing conversations.
First off, I would only open a review if I’ve read the book or want to read it. Then, I don’t really bother to read the review. I skim through it. Depending on who the blogger is, I’d read more or less of the review. Then I comment whether I agree (if I’ve read it) or just a confirmation that I want to read the book if I haven’t read it.
It really depends.. Most of the times I read reviews because I’m already interested in the book, so if the reviews helped me, and I have the time to write a comment, I will.
Or maybe I’ve read the book, as well, and just want to share my opinion and talk about the title. If a review made me think or helped me decide, I’m more likely to comment..
There are times when reviewers criticise a particular thing, eg. a while ago someone mentioned that in Meljean Brook’s first Steampunk novel it was never explained how a certain exception could have existed: But that HAD been explained. The only reason why I didn’t leave a comment, was that I didn’t know the blogger and didn’t want to appear like a troll. (If she had known me, she probably would have known that I’m not, but.) – So, when such things happen, it also depends on who wrote the review..
I suppose that’s probably one of the most common replies when it comes to that question, though. *g*
@Enbrethiliel Ouch, I’m sad to hear that the book blogosphere hasn’t been kind to you. 🙁
@Arianne Cruz Sounds pretty standard to me.
@Patricia Possibly, but it’s still a good answer. 🙂
I’m exactly the same, Carmel. However I wouldn’t say the book reviewers are the least generous with the comments. We just have very little time to read everything through and comment on all the blogs we visit. 🙂
I do comment on a topic that caught my eye or review of a book I’ve read/will be reading or really like the cover. Again pretty standard. I also rarely comment on rants. I just don’t feel that strongly about something most of the time to engage into a heated discussion 🙂
I tend to leave comments when I’ve read the book and really liked it and want to tell others how good it was. Or if I’ve read other book by the author and I’m waiting to read the book being reviewed. Or if I used to read the author and stopped because I don’t like their writing style. Or sometimes the review is really good, funny or I just like it for whatever reason. lol
@kara-karina@Nocturnal Book Reviews Being a book blogger is a hectic gig; I mean, we have to read for hours then type-up the posts. I agree that it’s a very difficult balancing act.
@Mary Kirkland Exactly! Something about the post just calls to you. LOL
I’ve noticed that I usually comment on reviews if:
1) It’s a 1 or 2 star review of a book I loved.
2) It’s a 5 star review of a book I hated.
Those are the two most common things that actually spark something I have to say. Otherwise I’m not likely to leave a comment, except on a select few blogs.
@Enbrethiliel Aw, that sucks!
I know you left two or three comments on my blog awhile ago, we actually talked about the +JMJ+ (which I found fascinating) and, I think, a Julia Quinn novel, but back then your name didn’t link back to your blog. – I suppose that’s because I’m on WordPress, so many bloggers just leave their email and name, and not their URL.
Hmm.. In any case, I hope that is somewhat helpful in the future. 🙂
(And I’ve bookmarked your blog and will check out some posts later, now that I’ve found it to return the favor of your comments in the past.)
(Also, I feel creepy for having written this comment. XD)
I usually comment on reviews on books I’ve already read. I try not to read reviews on books I’ve not read yet because some people (IMO) give too much of the plot away and I don’t want to read a book report summing up the plot. I just want to know if they liked it or not. So I will skim to see the rating.
If it’s a blogger I’m friends with and have read their reviews over and over and I know they don’t spoil then I’ll read the review if it’s on a book that I’ve been on the fence about reading.
I usually comment on reviews for books that I have read or that I am on the fence about.
I rarely comment on blogs that don’t usually respond to comments.
There are blogs that I comment on daily regardless of the content, and those are blogs that follow me daily. With regard to other blogs I follow..if it is a book I am interested in or have read I will comment. Anyone who comments on my blog,I will comment back on their post. I follow many blogs and try to comment as often as I can.
+JMJ+
@Carmel @ Rabid Reads
Hi! Thanks for your reply–and for your return visit to my blog! =) (I’m afraid that I’m not reading anything this November, so it’s more of a movie blog and creative writing blog at the moment!)
I didn’t mean to sound as if I had an overwhelmingly bad experience with book blogging, since I did make some good friends through commenting. I’d just say that the ratio between comments left and comments returned isn’t as great as what I’ve experienced elsewhere. (But it’s still better–from my perspective–than the Horror blogosphere, although other bloggers there rave about their community. I guess another factor is that I expect one thing and am not really prepared for the other. Which is not any blogosphere’s fault, of course.)
+JMJ+
@Patricia
In that case, it was all my fault, wasn’t it? 😉 Thanks so much for remembering me, though! That’s really nice. =)
I hadn’t known that my URL wasn’t showing up when I comment on WordPress blogs. I’ll try to look into that. Thanks again!
@Enbrethiliel I don’t participate in other blogospheres so I don’t really have anything to compare my current experience to. I agree that book bloggers don’t comment as often but I have made quite a few lasting connections so I guess it evens out. 🙂
@Angie F Those two factors attract me as well. It’s always interesting to read a review when the blogger’s opinion is vastly different than your own.
@Jennifer TheBookNympho I live in constant fear of spoilers in others’ reviews. LOL
@Krista I’m more inclined to peeps who’ve commented on my blog in the past (for reasons other than giveaways) too.
@kimbacaffeinate I find it extremely hard commenting daily because when I do something else in my life gets neglected so instead, I try to comment every couple of days or at least once a week.
@Enbrethiliel Aah, no, that wasn’t want I wanted to imply. 🙁 Sorry if it sounded like I was blaming you or anything like that! I just thought it might be helpful in the future. And I’m not sure if it’s like that on all WP blogs (some are selfhosted, some are hosted on WP.com, some use livefyre, or other comment-plugins, so it differs) but it might be. *scratches head*
@Patricia
Oh, dear! That wasn’t what I was implying, either. I’m sorry that it came off that way.
It’s just that I can be kind of vocal about people who never return comments, and this was the first time it occurred to me that a good number of people who might love to return them don’t get the chance because I don’t leave my URL! *facepalm*
By the way, Patricia, I’ve been trying to find your blog again, but the link on your Blogger profile no longer works. Did you change URLs?