After reading a book, I like writing down my thoughts about the story, organizing and re-organizing those thoughts, figuring out what I liked or didn’t like, analyzing which parts “worked” for me and which ones didn’t. A personal reading journal, so to speak, and I organize them into a short review that I share online. Sometimes people respond and share their views; other times they read my reviews and it helps them make a decision to read (or not to read!) a specific story.
Writing the notes and sharing the reviews work together and I take them seriously. I’m not a “paid professional” reviewer, but I try to do my reviews as professionally as I can. Which leads me to what I think of as my first and only duty as a public reviewer:
Write a personal, honest, attributable review of the book within its genre and assign an overall rating.
From this duty, I have derived the following approach to writing my book reviews.
That’s it, that’s my approach to reviews. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them, or at least that the review helps you figure out if a book is one that you might enjoy. The list below includes the title, author, a link to the book review itself, the year that the book was published, any series information and/or the order in a series, the date of my review, and my rating.

Title | Author | Review # | Published | Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fire on High | Peter David | PWBR00001 | 1998 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Red Sector | Diane Carey | PWBR00002 | 1999 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Vectors | Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch | PWBR00003 | 1999 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Infection | John Gregory Betancourt | PWBR00004 | 1999 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Perchance to Dream | Robert B. Parker | PWBR00005 | 1991 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Deathright | Dev Stryker | PWBR00006 | 1993 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Where The Bodies Are Buried | Janet Dawson | PWBR00007 | 1998 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
End Game | Dev Stryker | PWBR00008 | 1994 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Motion to Suppress | Perri O'Shaugnessy | PWBR00009 | 1995 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Ruined by Reading: A life in books | Lynne Sharon Schwartz | PWBR00010 | 1996 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
The Black Shore | Greg Cox | PWBR00011 | 1997 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
The House on Mulberry Street | Maan Meyers | PWBR00012 | 1996 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸 - 5 |
Biblioholism: The Literary Addiction | Tom Raabe | PWBR00013 | 1996 | 🐸🐸⚪⚪⚪ - 2 |
By the Rivers of Babylon | Nelson DeMille | PWBR00014 | 1978 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸 - 5 |
Hit Man | Lawrence Block | PWBR00015 | 1998 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Devil in a Blue Dress | Walter Mosley | PWBR00016 | 1990 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Dying To Get Even | Judy Fitzwater | PWBR00017 | 1999 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸 - 5 |
Field of Thirteen | Dick Francis | PWBR00018 | 1998 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Perilous Relations | Carole Epstein | PWBR00019 | 1997 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
The Conquered | Daffyd ab Hugh | PWBR00020 | 1999 | 🐸🐸⚪⚪⚪ - 2 |
Perish Twice | Robert B. Parker | PWBR00021 | 2000 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Hearts and Bones | Margaret Lawrence | PWBR00022 | 1997 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
The First Virtue | Michael Jan Friedman and Christie Golden | PWBR00023 | 1999 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Deadly Decisions | Kathy Reichs | PWBR00024 | 2000 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
The Mist | Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch | PWBR00025 | 1998 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Double or Nothing | Peter David | PWBR00026 | 1999 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
The Collected Short Stories | Jeffrey Archer | PWBR00027 | 1998 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Coffee Break Mysteries | William S. Shepherd | PWBR00028 | 2011 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
When Is Enough, Enough | Laurie Ashner and Mitch Meyerson | PWBR00029 | 1996 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸 - 5 |
Shadowland | Meg Cabot | PWBR00030 | 2000 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸 - 5 |
Darkest Hour | Meg Cabot | PWBR00031 | 2001 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Keziah Dane | Sue Grafton | PWBR00032 | 1967 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Sanctuary | Meg Cabot | PWBR00033 | 2002 | 🐸⚪⚪⚪⚪ - 1 |
Equal to the Challenge | Department of National Defence (Canada) | PWBR00034 | 2001 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
An Open Book: Coming of Age in the Heartland | Michael Dirda | PWBR00035 | 2003 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Killing Floor | Lee Child | PWBR00036 | 1997 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
The Staked Goat | Jeremiah Healy | PWBR00037 | 1986 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸 - 5 |
So Like Sleep | Jeremiah Healy | PWBR00038 | 1987 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Blunt Darts | Jeremiah Healy | PWBR00039 | 1984 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
The Punisher | D.A. Stern | PWBR00040 | 2004 | 🐸⚪⚪⚪⚪ - 1 |
Fresh Blood 3 | Mike Ripley and Maxim Jakubowski (Editors) with Lee Child | PWBR00041 | 1999 | 🐸🐸⚪⚪⚪ - 2 |
Under the Dragon's Tail | Maureen Jennings | PWBR00042 | 1998 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Poor Tom is Cold | Maureen Jennings | PWBR00043 | 2001 | 🐸🐸⚪⚪⚪ - 2 |
Let Loose the Dogs | Maureen Jennings | PWBR00044 | 2003 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸 - 5 |
Blood Money | Thomas Perry | PWBR00045 | 1999 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Until Proven Guilty | J.A. Jance | PWBR00046 | 1985 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Payment in Kind | J.A. Jance | PWBR00047 | 1991 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Grave Secrets | Kathy Reichs | PWBR00048 | 2002 | 🐸🐸⚪⚪⚪ - 2 |
Snap Shot | Meg Chittenden | PWBR00049 | 2003 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Beyond the Great Snow Mountains | Louis L'Amour | PWBR00050 | 1999 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Get Your University Degree at Home | Kevin Paul | PWBR00051 | 1999 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Hush Money | Robert B. Parker | PWBR00052 | 1999 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Malice Domestic | Mollie Hardwick | PWBR00053 | 1986 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Riding the Snake | Stephen J. Cannell | PWBR00054 | 1998 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
The Best of Sisters in Crime | Marilyn Wallace (Editor) | PWBR00055 | 1998 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
The Edge | Dick Francis | PWBR00056 | 1988 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
The Eleventh Commandment | Jeffrey Archer | PWBR00057 | 1998 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Where Lawyers Fear To Tread | Lia Matera | PWBR00058 | 1987 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
The Year's 25 Finest crime and mystery Stories (6th edition, 1996) | Joan Hess (Editor) | PWBR00059 | 1997 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Foul Ball! Five Years in the American League | Alison Gordon | PWBR00060 | 1984 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
The Dead Pull Hitter | Alison Gordon | PWBR00061 | 1988 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Striking Out | Alison Gordon | PWBR00062 | 1995 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸 - 5 |
Perilous Friends | Carole Epstein | PWBR00063 | 1996 | 🐸⚪⚪⚪⚪ - 1 |
One for the Money | Janet Evanovich | PWBR00064 | 1995 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Two for the Dough | Janet Evanovich | PWBR00065 | 1996 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
The Corpse at the Haworth Tandoori | Robert Barnard | PWBR00066 | 1998 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
The Glory Hole Murders | Tony Fennelly | PWBR00067 | 1985 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
The Closet Hanging | Tony Fennelly | PWBR00068 | 1987 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
The Hippie in the Wall | Tony Fennelly | PWBR00069 | 1994 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
1-900-DEAD | Tony Fennelly | PWBR00070 | 1996 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Death du Jour | Kathy Reichs | PWBR00071 | 1999 | 🐸🐸⚪⚪⚪ - 2 |
Three to Get Deadly | Janet Evanovich | PWBR00072 | 1997 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Double Jeopardy | William Bernhardt | PWBR00073 | 1995 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Four to Score | Janet Evanovich | PWBR00074 | 1998 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Dying to Get Published | Judy Fitzwater | PWBR00075 | 1995 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Murder in C Major | Sara Hoskinson Frommer | PWBR00076 | 1986 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
N is for Noose | Sue Grafton | PWBR00077 | 1998 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Extreme Justice | William Bernhardt | PWBR00078 | 1998 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
The Midnight Before Christmas | William Bernhardt | PWBR00079 | 1998 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Fools, Knaves and Heroes: Great Political Short Stories | Jeffrey Archer and Simon Bainbridge (Editors) | PWBR00080 | 1989 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
The Face-Changers | Thomas Perry | PWBR00081 | 1998 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Catch Me: Kill Me | William H. Hallahan | PWBR00082 | 1977 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Night Passage | Robert B. Parker | PWBR00083 | 1997 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Pathways | Jeri Taylor | PWBR00084 | 1998 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Hot Wheels | William Arden and Robert Arthur | PWBR00085 | 1989 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Mortal Memory | Thomas H. Cook | PWBR00086 | 1993 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Scarpetta's Winter Table | Patricia Cornwell | PWBR00087 | 1998 | 🐸⚪⚪⚪⚪ - 1 |
The Continental Op | Dashiell Hammett | PWBR00088 | 1974 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Taxed to Death | Debra Purdy Kong | PWBR00089 | 1995 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
The Best of Ellery Queen | Edited by Francis M. Nevins, Jr. and Martin H. Greenberg | PWBR00090 | 1985 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
The Arbor House Treasury of Detective and Mystery Stories from the Great Pulps | Compiled by Bill Pronzini | PWBR00091 | 1983 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Rough Stuff | G.H. Stone | PWBR00092 | 1989 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
HTML: The Complete Reference | Thomas A. Powell | PWBR00093 | 1998 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
HTML Web Magic (2nd edition) | Raymond Pirouz | PWBR00094 | 1998 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Creating an HTML 4 Web Page (3rd edition) | Paul Mcfedries | PWBR00095 | 1997 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Using HTML 4 (4th edition) | Lee Anne Phillips | PWBR00096 | 1998 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
The Ashes of Eden | William Shatner | PWBR00097 | 1996 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸 - 5 |
The Return | William Shatner | PWBR00098 | 1997 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Avenger | William Shatner | PWBR00099 | 1997 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Trace | Warren Murphy | PWBR00100 | 1981 (PB), 2013 (E) | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
High Five | Janet Evanovich | PWBR00101 | 2000 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Hot Six | Janet Evanovich | PWBR00102 | 2001 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Seven Up | Janet Evanovich | PWBR00103 | 2010 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Hard Eight | Janet Evanovich | PWBR00104 | 2010 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
To the Nines | Janet Evanovich | PWBR00105 | 2003 | 🐸🐸⚪⚪⚪ - 2 |
Ten Big Ones | Janet Evanovich | PWBR00106 | 2010 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Eleven on Top | Janet Evanovich | PWBR00107 | 2010 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸 - 5 |
Twelve Sharp | Janet Evanovich | PWBR00108 | 2007 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Lean Mean Thirteen | Janet Evanovich | PWBR00109 | 2009 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Fearless Fourteen | Janet Evanovich | PWBR00110 | 2008 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Finger Lickin' Fifteen | Janet Evanovich | PWBR00111 | 2009 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Sizzling Sixteen | Janet Evanovich | PWBR00112 | 2010 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Smoking Seventeen | Janet Evanovich | PWBR00113 | 2011 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
RASC Observer's Handbook, 2018 | Edited by James S. Edgar | PWBR00114 | 2017 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Big Box Reuse | Julia Christensen | PWBR00115 | 2008 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Explosive Eighteen | Janet Evanovich | PWBR00116 | 2011 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Notorious Nineteen | Janet Evanovich | PWBR00117 | 2012 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸 - 5 |
Change: What Really Leads to Lasting Personal Transformation | Jeffrey A. Kottler | PWBR00118 | 2013 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸 - 5 |
Rogue Island | Bruce DeSilva | PWBR00119 | 2010 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Takedown Twenty | Janet Evanovich | PWBR00120 | 2013 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Top Secret Twenty-One | Janet Evanovich | PWBR00121 | 2014 | 🐸🐸⚪⚪⚪ - 2 |
Tricky Twenty-Two | Janet Evanovich | PWBR00122 | 2015 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Turbo Twenty-Three | Janet Evanovich | PWBR00123 | 2016 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸 - 5 |
The Clockmaker's Daughter | Kate Morton | PWBR00124 | 2018 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
X | Sue Grafton | PWBR00125 | 2015 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
The Two-Night One-Night Stand | Ryan Ringbloom | PWBR00126 | 2018 | 🐸⚪⚪⚪⚪ - 1 |
A is for Alibi | Sue Grafton | PWBR00127 | 1982 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
B is for Burglar | Sue Grafton | PWBR00128 | 1985 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
C is for Corpse | Sue Grafton | PWBR00129 | 1986 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
D is for Deadbeat | Sue Grafton | PWBR00130 | 1987 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
E is for Evidence | Sue Grafton | PWBR00131 | 1988 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸 - 5 |
F is for Fugitive | Sue Grafton | PWBR00132 | 1989 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
G is for Gumshoe | Sue Grafton | PWBR00133 | 1990 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
H is for Homicide | Sue Grafton | PWBR00134 | 1991 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
I is for Innocent | Sue Grafton | PWBR00135 | 1992 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
J is for Judgment | Sue Grafton | PWBR00136 | 1993 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
K is for Killer | Sue Grafton | PWBR00137 | 1994 | 🐸⚪⚪⚪⚪ - 1 |
L is for Lawless | Sue Grafton | PWBR00138 | 1995 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
M is for Malice | Sue Grafton | PWBR00139 | 1996 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
O is for Outlaw | Sue Grafton | PWBR00140 | 1999 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
P is for Peril | Sue Grafton | PWBR00141 | 2001 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
RASC Observer's Handbook, 2019 | Edited by James S. Edgar | PWBR00142 | 2018 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸 - 5 |
Q is for Quarry | Sue Grafton | PWBR00143 | 2002 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
R is for Ricochet | Sue Grafton | PWBR00144 | 2004 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
S is for Silence | Sue Grafton | PWBR00145 | 2005 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
T is for Trespass | Sue Grafton | PWBR00146 | 2007 | 🐸🐸⚪⚪⚪ - 2 |
U is for Undertow | Sue Grafton | PWBR00147 | 2009 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
V is for Vengeance | Sue Grafton | PWBR00148 | 2011 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸 - 5 |
W is for Wasted | Sue Grafton | PWBR00149 | 2013 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Y is for Yesterday | Sue Grafton | PWBR00150 | 2017 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Kinsey and Me | Sue Grafton | PWBR00151 | 2013 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
The Book Thief | Markus Zusak | PWBR00152 | 2006 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Booked to Die | John Dunning | PWBR00153 | 1992 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
The Bookman's Wake | John Dunning | PWBR00154 | 1995 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
The Bookman's Promise | John Dunning | PWBR00155 | 2004 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
The Sign of the Book | John Dunning | PWBR00156 | 2005 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
The Bookwoman's Last Fling | John Dunning | PWBR00157 | 2006 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
The Holland Suggestions | John Dunning | PWBR00158 | 2014 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Unlucky in Law | Perri O'Shaugnessy | PWBR00159 | 2004 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
The Lolly-Madonna War | Sue Grafton | PWBR00160 | 1969 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
The Burglar | Thomas Perry | PWBR00161 | 2019 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Bear | Marian Engel | PWBR00162 | 1976 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
The Enemy | Lee Child | PWBR00163 | 2004 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
The Horizontal Man | Helen Eustis | PWBR00164 | 1946 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
No Second Chance | Harlan Coben | PWBR00165 | 2004 | 🐸🐸⚪⚪⚪ - 2 |
The Ninja Daughter | Tori Eldridge | PWBR00166 | 2019 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
The Perfect Girlfriend | Karen Hamilton | PWBR00167 | 2018 | 🐸⚪⚪⚪⚪ - 1 |
Blue Moon | Lee Child | PWBR00168 | 2019 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
A Discovery of Witches | Deborah Harkness | PWBR00169 | 2011 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Shadow of Night | Deborah Harkness | PWBR00170 | 2014 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
The Book of Life | Deborah Harkness | PWBR00171 | 2014 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
The Burning Edge | Rick Mofina | PWBR00172 | 2012 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
A Spy In The House | Y.S. Lee | PWBR00173 | 2016 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸 - 5 |
Winterhouse | Ben Guterson | PWBR00174 | 2018 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Zap! | Martha Freeman | PWBR00175 | 2018 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Two O'Clock, Eastern Wartime | John Dunning | PWBR00176 | 2001 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
The Word Is Murder | Anthony Horowitz | PWBR00177 | 2017 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
The Last Librarian | Brandt Legg | PWBR00178 | 2015 | 🐸⚪⚪⚪⚪ - 1 |
Fablehaven | Brandon Mull | PWBR00179 | 2007 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Rise of the Evening Star | Brandon Mull | PWBR00180 | 2008 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Grip of the Shadow Plague | Brandon Mull | PWBR00181 | 2009 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary | Brandon Mull | PWBR00182 | 2006 | 🐸🐸⚪⚪⚪ - 2 |
Down The River Unto The Sea | Walter Mosley | PWBR00183 | 2018 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
The Wives | Tarryn Fisher | PWBR00184 | 2019 | 🐸⚪⚪⚪⚪ - 1 |
Keys to the Demon Prison | Brandon Mull | PWBR00185 | 2010 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck | Mark Manson | PWBR00186 | 2016 | 🐸🐸⚪⚪⚪ - 2 |
The Great Gatsby | F. Scott Fitzgerald | PWBR00187 | 1925 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
Murder at Hawthorn Cottage | Betty Rowlands | PWBR00188 | 2018 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸⚪ - 4 |
The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle | Stuart Turton | PWBR00189 | 2018 | 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸 - 5 |
The Twelve Apostles | William J. Coughlin | PWBR00190 | 2016 | 🐸🐸🐸⚪⚪ - 3 |
From Lindsey B: That’s definitely a meaty list, but I’ll bet it gives you a good guideline for putting together consistently quality reviews. I’m sure readers will appreciate your thoroughness!
Thanks Lindsey, I hope so!
Thanks to some feedback I got from a listserve discussion, I added to the “disclosure” clause above that I will identify if it is a genre that I don’t usually read and/or don’t usually enjoy. I suspect that will be rare, as if it isn’t something that interests me, I probably won’t read it in the first place! For example, I rarely enjoy horror so that is probably out, as is historical romance. Most of my reads will likely either be classic literature (part of a personal challenge to myself), mystery / crime fiction, or science fiction.
There was also a great debate on another discussion forum about only posting elsewhere if it was a “4.00 or 5.00” star review. The argument was that you weren’t helping authors if you posted less than that. I can’t imagine a concept more offensive to me as a reviewer to say “only post glowing reviews” or “only 5 stars”. If I read it, I review it; if I review it, I rate it. There are no other factors in there that can / should / would influence the outcome. I don’t care if it is a book by my wife even, I’m honestly going to read and rate it.
As for my “duty to authors”, I’m not a PR person. I’m not their agent. I’m not their editor, publisher, midwife, lover or third-grade teacher. I’m reviewing the book — my primary duty is to the reader, not the author. And, even if there is a “secondary” duty to the author, those obligations are already met by (a) being impartial; (b) being honest but respectful; and (c) considering the book on its merits. After that, my duty (such as it is) to the author is done.
PolyWogg