To Write, or Not Write, a Book Review

This post could also be titled, “A Book Review Discussion Without End.”  In as many days, I’ve come across three separate blogs discussing the pros and cons, the ups and downs of positive and negative book reviews.  If you want to go off and read these posts before mine, go right ahead.  I’ll wait.  Each post has its merits and is well-worth the read.

http://greenembe.rs/2015/01/15/a-product-should-be-reviewed-good-or-bad/

https://theclaymoreandsurcoat.com/2015/01/15/attention-those-blogging-about-reviews/

https://litworldinterviews.wordpress.com/2015/01/15/safe-reviewing/

Great, you’re back!  Let’s continue …  But first, a caveat:

This post on reviewing is for I would call creative writing only:  memoirs, fiction, poetry.  In the case of manuals, self-help, or how-to books, 1-star reviews are sometimes well-deserved.  Even if the majority of reviews are positive, there is often a shelf-life for certain kinds of how-to books.  Buy with extreme caution.

Because I taught First Year Composition (one semester only; I swear the experience sped up the graying of my hair), I…