I think, especially as COVID has turned our world upside down, reading is something more and more people are turning to. It is not only an enjoyable pastime, but it takes readers away from the stresses of the world and gives them some element of hope in a world that sometimes feels lacking in that regard.
Mary Lanni – 11 January 2021
About Reviewing
How did you get started?
I started reviewing in 2015. At the time, I was in library school and had the opportunity to attend the American Library Association national conference in San Francisco. While I was browsing the expo, I came across a table with a sign asking for reviewers of children’s books. I was looking for every opportunity to enhance my resume, so I signed up. Over five years and more than 500 professional reviews later, here I am!
How do you review a book? Is it a read first, and then make notes, or do you make notes as you go along?
For longer books (middle grade and YA), I take notes as I go through the book to help me keep track of specific character names and thoughts I have as I read. For picture books and elementary school nonfiction, I take notes once I’ve finished reading.
What are you looking for?
Regardless of the target audience, I am looking for a clear plot, believable and sympathetic characters, and diversity of culture and background whenever I can find it. Like everyone, I have specific genres that I prefer, but I regard all books from this perspective while I’m reviewing them, even if the book is not one I would have picked up off the shelf for myself.
If a book has a great plot, great characters, but the grammar is less than perfect, how do you deal with that?
This is something that happens a lot when I review independent books. I try to overlook editing errors to get to the heart of the plot. If the plot is strong enough, I will make sure to note this in the review along with a note suggesting heavy revision and improvement. However, if both the plot and editing are weak, I will send a message to the author directly instead of publishing a review. I would much rather wait on a review until a book has been cleaned up than to give a bad review!
How long does it take you to get through, say, an eighty thousand-word book?
Usually, a book of this length will take me about a week to get through. The more compelling the plot and the better the writing, however, the quicker that book is likely to be read.
How did you come up with your rating system, and could you explain more about the rating system?
I don’t love rating books by stars, but I do it because that is how many review sites are operated. Essentially, a three means that the book covers all the bases of a compelling plot and structure with some forgiveness of grammatical and other errors. A four means that I was very involved in the story and it is clear that effort went into cleaning it up and making it look good. A five is reserved for books that hit all the other marks and do something else to knock my socks off. This can include extensive research, a riveting story that I can’t get out of my head, or several other things. I prefer to return a book to its author in lieu of giving a review less than a three.
What advice could you give to authors looking to get their books reviewed?
Please, please make sure you have looked over your story to make sure it has, at the very least, a clear plot and is free from as many grammar mistakes as possible. When one of your main characters’ names is spelled wrong, it makes me think that the book was completed in haste. Also, please provide as much time as possible to allow for a reviewer to give your book their undivided attention. And last but not least, politeness goes a long way when asking for a review!
Do you get readers emailing you and thanking you for a review?
I have received messages on Goodreads in response to reviews I have left there, but as my email address is not publicly posted, I don’t receive emails directly.
My advice to authors on getting a ‘bad’ review (hasten to add that might mean a perfectly honest, well written, fair review – just bad from the author’s point of view) is to take what you can from it and move on. Under no circumstances to ‘argue’ with the reviewer – would you agree with that?
I think arguing with the reviewer, either publicly or privately, is not a professional approach to the situation. Asking for clarification, however, is completely acceptable, though I would recommend it be done privately instead of through a public forum.
About Reading
We talk a lot about writing here on the blog, and possibly not enough about reading, which is after all why we’re all here. Why do you think people love reading? We’re seeing lots of statistics that say reading as a pastime is dying – do you think that’s the case?
I think, especially as COVID has turned our world upside down, reading is something more and more people are turning to. It is not only an enjoyable pastime, but it takes readers away from the stresses of the world and gives them some element of hope in a world that sometimes feels lacking in that regard.
About Writing
What are the most common mistakes that you see authors making?
APOSTROPHES. It is a huge pet peeve of mine to see apostrophes misused!
We’re told that the first page, paragraph, chapter, is absolutely key in making or breaking a book. Agents typically request only the first five pages of a novel; what do you think about that? If a book hasn’t grabbed you by the first five pages, do you put it down?
If I have elected or been asked to review a book, I give it well over fifty percent before I will consider abandoning it. To date, that has only happened once. However, when I am reading a book for pleasure, I need to be “in it” by page 20 or it’s a no-go.
Is there anything you will not review?
I specialize in literature for children and teens but will occasionally review an adult novel. I prefer not to review books with heavy religious or profane subject matter.
About Publishing
What do you think of the oft-quoted comment that the “slush-pile has moved online”?
I haven’t heard this comment before, but I think there is some truth to it. With self-publishing becoming so easy and inexpensive, it makes sense for authors to put their work online if it doesn’t grab the attention of an agent or publisher. That said, though, I don’t feel that these independent books are all bad. I have come across several that are excellent even if they are not backed by a big-name publisher.
Do you think attitudes are changing with respect to indie or self-published titles?
I wouldn’t say that yet because of how books are purchased for libraries and reviewed by big name organizations. However, I think with proper, targeted efforts, the tendency to treat indie books differently can change.
Do you have any ideas or comments on how the industry can ‘filter’ good from bad, aside from reviews?
I don’t think so at this point. Reading is so subjective that even reviews can send readers in the wrong direction. However, with enough reviews, people can filter to see if a book is of interest to them even if the general public does not agree.
End of Interview.
Visit Mary Lanni’s website to check out her reviews.
