Nathan Key

Don't Panic

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Why I'm in love with 1 Star Reviews

1/19/2009

 

This morning when I was skimming through some Amazon book reviews of Frank Viola's Pagan Christianity, I realized something interesting about myself- I naturally gravitate toward 1 Star Reviews. Perhaps it's because these reviews are often more spicy, contrary, and provocative than any of the other reviews out there, but moreover it's because readers who really hate a book, and still find time to leave feedback for the rest of us detailing why, are generally a good source of information about whether or not the book is going to resonate with me personally.

You see, single star reviewers- unless they resort to one sentence write-offs like, "I hated this book, don't buy it."- are sometimes the most detailed of all reviewers. In an attempt to debunk the content or prove why the book is a waste of time, they etch out a rebuttal based on their own research or their own opinion. And in doing so, they give a focused summary of the content with a running commentary that usually reveals the bias of the reviewer. Reading about the content of the book under the lens of a clearly stated bias is a great way to get a good understanding of the material without getting sucked into the worldview of the author.

So, as long as you read each review and ask yourself "Does reviewer sound like he's on the same page as me when it comes to style preference, orthodoxy, and interests?" These negative reviews often make a lot more sense and are a lot more useful than the 5 Star Fanboy Reviews that often make up the majority of each book's review section.

I've even come up with a little catch-phrase that I like to throw around whenever I'm looking at reviews: Skip to the Naysayers!

When I Skipped to the Naysayers, I discovered out how controversial The Shack was, and I actually decided to read it. Prior to this, I had no interest in it at all.

When I Skipped to the Naysayers, I found a wonderful a stroke of irony surrounding the critics of Jesus Wants to Save Christians (who are probably the intended audience of Rob Bell's book); they are so wrapped up in Americanized Christianity that they fail to understand the content and will also fail to be "saved" by the message.

When I Skipped to the Naysayers, I realized that the only people who hated the movie Hotel Rwanda were a racist who was disappointed with the minimal levels of carnage and violence simply because he hated Africa- and this other guy who wanted the R-Rated gore-fest so that Westerners would realize how bad it really was over there.

What it really comes down to is that single star reviews, when they are the minority view, give me a better idea of what's to love & hate about a book (or movie) before I buy it.

And besides, I love the controversy:
I love to see contrary opinions and whether or not they hold water.

Chris link
1/19/2009 07:14:40 am

Skip To The Naysayers sounds like a great name for a 1-star review blog...

I tend to agree with you here.

javejavor link
1/19/2009 09:34:56 pm

Hey, i think you´re absolutely right there, Nathan!. I usually go to Amazon to check out the reviews after having read the book/seen the movie and often the "I hate that thing" reviews are interesting, to say the least.
Concerning "The Shack": I read, based not on Amazon, but because I was given it by a non-Christian friend who loved it. Haven´t talked to her about it yet. Still, in my opinion, it is a highly interesting analysis. Wasn´t in love though with the actual writing. Even if I´m not English-speaking, the writing in itself (especially the descriptions in the first chapters) sounded clumsy and hastily written. This does not undermine the interesting "theological" middle chapters in any way whatsoever, but it is certainly no masterpiece when it comes to the story written around the theological side of it.

Nathan link
1/19/2009 09:51:49 pm

Stylistically, I think THE SHACK would have been a better book without the attempt at flashback. It could have just begun at the beginning with the tragedy / investigation and then moved onward from there.

Flashbacks are better left to LOST (the TV show).


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    About Nathan

    Nathan Key likes to think about faith and philosophy and talk about it with others. He lives with his family in New Hampshire. He doesn't always refer to himself in the third person.

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