ON REVIEWING BOOKS

I came into book reviewing on a whim and a prayer. Being newly retired, I was looking for something interesting to do and saw an 'advert' on Facebook for a well known site. That is how I 'met' Helen Hollick who is now not only my 'boss', but a very good friend too.

After a year or so, Helen formed her own site and invited me to join her. No brainer! That was less than three years ago and Discovering Diamonds is now one of the top review sites and many of our reviewers are authors themselves, so they know what they are talking about.

What does it involve?

I get sent a book, I read it and I write down what I thought of it. Sounds simple, but there is so much more to it. What I say about a book  is not for my ego, nor for the author's, but for the potential reader. The reviewer gives a background to the story, names the main characters but does not give away any spoilers. OK, in history we know the fates of most of the actual people, but this is fiction and authors have their own views on certain individuals or situations and many of their characters are fictional.  I then state things that I liked but also what I deem to be 'faults' in the book. I'll come to those in a moment. I then have to make a subjective judgement on how good the book is from wonderful to, well, not very good. The 'not very good' ones don't make it to the blog, but I can nominate what I thought were wonderful to our monthly Book of the Month competition.

What makes  a book worth recommending?

Good writing, to start with. Style (or 'Voice') is so very important; the writing has to grab the reader. Characterisation, whether factual characters or fictional ones. They must be believable, they may be strong or weak, goodies or baddies. Even minor characters have their moments. Plot. It should be plausible and have no holes. If the book is the second (or more) in a series, there should be some backstory for the reader who has not read any previous volumes. Dialogue is something that must also be looked at very carefully. However many hundreds of years ago the action takes place in, there are many occasions when inappropriate words or phrases are used. We know what they mean, but would any of the characters actually say that? It is very off putting to have the hero call for the 'barkeep' whilst in a Viking tavern! Yes, I have actually seen that!

What spoils a book?

Obviously, the writing to start with. As good writing can enthrall a reader, bad writing can make them put the book down and never open it again.  Research, too, is vital. If a battle took place on a certain date, for example, then that is how it should be. There are exceptions to this rule, but the author needs to explain the reasons why they have changed it, usually in a section of Author's Notes at the end. But that is an extreme; accurate descriptions of clothing, food are also vital - one is reminded of the old saw about eating rabbit stew with potatoes  in a book about, say, King Alfred! Plausibility, too is important - the plot holding together, characters acting in a way that belies the alignment that the author has already established.

Impartiality

There are many periods of history that really do not interest me at all, but if a book lands on my doorstep (or onto my Kindle) that is set in one of those periods then I must give it a fair review and put aside my prejudices. The same rules as cited above apply to every book I review because I have to think, 'will a fan of this period/genre enjoy this or not?'
I have made many author friends through this work, but even they are not exempt. I will not say how wonderful it is just because I happen to know the author! Unless it is, of course! But you get my meaning.

What do I get out of this?

Apart from a free book? You will often have heard sportspersons on X hundred grand a week say, 'I would still be doing this if I wasn't paid for it' - well, that applies to me; I get nothing financially for it (apart from a free book, of course!). I do it because I really love doing it and that is the honest truth. I have made friends a-plenty within the writing fraternity and I believe my reviews are respected by those who have received them. I get occasional bad feedback, but when I do get feedback it is usually good and have been often asked for advice when I have criticised some aspect of the book. Incidentally, authors, receiving a 'thank you' from you is almost as good to me as it is to you getting a good review! I also enjoy very much helping to promote books and authors that have impressed me with their work - the world we work in is populated almost entirely by what we call 'Indie' authors; authors who do not have a publishing contract with a mainstream publishing house and all the benefits of that behind them. They do it all themselves; writing, editing, proof reading, marketing and publicity - or pay from their own pocket for these services. they deserve  some help no matter how small. But don't run away with the idea that Indie authors aren't good enough to warrant a publishing contract, or that they have indulged themselves in 'vanity publishing'; simply not so.

A small selection of some of the best I have read...there are many others!

What are my personal tastes in Historical Fiction?

Anything pre-Conquest suits me well. I also have more than a passing interest in all things Richard III. unsurprising, then, that I really don't like the Tudors - not a single one of 'em! but, thanks to excellent historical fiction, my horizons have broadened; the Napoleonic Wars make exciting reading, good World War 1 drama has brought a lot of truths home and even the dim and dull (to me) Victorian era has life breathed into it by some great authors.

One final point

It doesn't matter what sort of book you have just finished, if you have enjoyed, then do please leave a review on Amazon or GoodReads. It doesn't have to be an in depth analysis - a simple 'I really enjoyed this book' and an appropriate Star Rating will suffice. Believe me, author's appreciate it.

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