If most reviews say more about the reviewer than what’s being reviewed, consider the Amazon One-Star review. These are generally a breed apart. A one-star review essentially says the work has such little value it should never have been released on the public. As a psychological road map, it’s invaluable. Take a look at these, all from Amazon. Grammar, writer’s own.
HERMAN MELVILLE – MOBY DICK
I have read a lot of books in my life but this was the most miserable reading experience I ever had. There was absolutely no story. It was all about fishing… If you want to be a sailor this might be the book for you but personally I think it is a colossal waste of time. – ONE STAR!
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE – COMPLETE WORKS
Shakespeare may be a genius, but cmon, this is the worst reading material i have ever seen. – ONE STAR!
CHARLES DICKENS – GREAT EXPECTATIONS
after reading this book i think dickens would benifit from very low expectations. and by that i mean a lot of people will be returning this book and giving bad reviews. all the classics always in my opinion, are very bad – ONE STAR!
Booker Prize-winner A S BYATT – POSSESSION: A ROMANCE
Frankly, I would rather read the terms of my home and auto insurance policies than read this book. – ONE STAR!
CHARLOTTE BRONTE – JANE EYRE
I enjoy classic Victorian era romance , and this by far is the worst book I have ever read. – ONE STAR!
J D SALINGER – THE CATCHER IN THE RYE
It’s not that it was above my head, it was just plain old poorly written in my humble opinion. The grammar was beyond horrible. I think my 10 year old son could’ve done a better job. – ONE STAR!
JOHN STEINBECK – THE GRAPES OF WRATH
I should have known that a book you can buy togehter with Cliff’s Notes is going to be boring. I read “East of Eden” and thought it was great. I was hopeful that “Grapes of Wrath” would be just as good. No luck. It’s dull as heck. – ONE STAR!
EMILY BRONTE – WUTHERING HEIGHTS
The book is filled with nasty, disgusting, wicked, cruel people. Every single person, and yes, ESPECIALLY NELLY, hateful, jealous, manipulative, lying, conniving, nasty Nelly, every single one of them are foul. – ONE STAR!
DANIEL DEFOE – MOLL FLANDERS
I had to read this for a book club, and a fifth of the way into it, I began to wish I were blind, so I wouldn’t have to continue. – ONE STAR!
F SCOTT FITZGERALD – THE GREAT GATSBY
If I wanted to read about lame, rich, full of themself people going to parties, I’d pick up People magazine. – ONE STAR!
ERNEST HEMINGWAY – THE SUN ALSO RISES
If you liked Sienfeld but thought it was to funny, this book is for you. A book about nothing, that takes 200 plus pages to get there. – ONE STAR!
Ha! Brilliant!
I’ll give this blogpiece one star – but it’s a gold one. And a smiley face.
That’s genius.
At the other end of the spectrum, have you ever seen the (fake) glowing reviews for A Whole New World, that CD put out by Katie Price and Andre Jordan a few years back?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B000JU8FXK/ref=cm_cr_pr_redirect?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&pageNumber=2
Glad to see none of yours are up there – although you would have been in very good company.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bruges-Martin-McDonagh/dp/0571242316/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1255739771&sr=8-1
Saw this last week. I think it fits the bill.
Fun post! … <>
What’s interesting about those is that some of them actually make logical sense…like the Gatsby one. That’s not to say that Gatbsy isn’t a good book, just that as far as an evaluation on the part of the individual reading it, said evaluation makes sense.
And that is all from me. This was entertaining. Thanks :P
SMD – you’re right – I think they do all make sense to the individual writing them. It’s interesting to see what aspect of each book has been chosen as worthy of critique.