1. When you dislike a book, do you say so in your blog? Why or why not?

Yes, definitely. What’s the point of writing reviews if you’re not going to be honest? Readers with good sense knows that my opinions are just that—opinions.

2. Do you temper your feelings about books you didn’t like, so as not to completely slam them? Why or why not?

I rarely dislike a book enough to slam it, and I haven’t read a book like that since I started keeping this blog. In fact, I can only think of two in my entire life. Most of the time, I’m well aware that the things I dislike about a book are exactly the things that others might be drawn to, so I’m not likely to rant about them (at least, I hope not!)

3. What do you think is the best way to respond when you see a negative review about a book you enjoyed?

I’m not sure that’s something that requires a response. If it was a book someone read through my recommendation, I might leave a comment regretting that the reviewer didn’t get the pleasure out of it that I did.4. What is your own most common reaction when you see a negative review of a book you loved or a positive review of a book you hated?

Sometimes I feel a little disappointed when others don’t share my (positive) views about a book, especially if we usually have similar opinions. I don’t really care if others like a book I hate, although sometimes I’m puzzled by what they see in it.

5. What is your own most common reaction when you get a comment that disagrees with your opinion of a book?

Nothing, really. I’ve never gotten a mean comment disagreeing with me, and if the person is nice, I’m happy to hear their opinion.

6. What if you don’t like a book that was a free review copy? What then?

That hasn’t happened so far, because LibraryThing Early Review copies take so long to arrive that by the time they do, I’m no longer particularly interested (which is why I stopped requesting books through the program.)

I’d like to think that I’d still be honest, though.

7. What do you do if you don’t finish a book? Do you review it or not? If you review it, do you mention that you didn’t finish it?

I write about every book I read, even those I abandon, simply because this blog is meant to track my reading and my responses to what I read. I won’t write an actual review of a book I don’t finish (how could I?) but I usually talk a bit about what made me decide to give up on it.

It’s something that doesn’t happen that often—I may leave a book I’m not enjoying aside for a month, or a year, but I plan to come back to it; it usually takes something more than just boredom before I’ll permanently sever my relationship with a book.

(From Dewey, via Superfast Reader.)

ETA: This isn’t exactly part of the meme, but I thought I’d mention that I’m often as or more intrigued by a really bad review than by a good one. A review that really pans a book makes me want to read it for myself, to see if it’s as bad as the reviewer says it is. I rarely actually do so, though (the notable exception being The Da Vinci Code, and yes, it was.) Does anyone else feel this perverse urge?