Just to clarify, I read reviews and I don't mind reviewers who give a terrible or great review. The problem of reviews is the length a reviewer reads before typing up their opinion to be shared for future readers.
Let's take for instance a random review. A random reader has finished all the way to the end of a novel and feels downhearted that the novel had to end. To prolong that feeling, they(he/she/it) decide to write a review so that future readers can know about the greatness of the novel. The problem starts here. How does a reviewer decide what a new reader should know about and how long the reader should go before dropping? Is the length of reading based on the development of the character during a certain point in the novel? Does a reader need background knowledge before they read a novel? Should a reviewer need to mention the amount of time they've waited for the next chapter to come out and how lucky the new reader is to not have to wait? Does a reviewer need to clarify their bias on a novel since they've waited for each chapter and expect their daily/weekly/yearly dose of enjoyment to always be good?
Whatever my point was with these rhetorical questions, I just wanted to state that reviews are flawed and someone *cough*Tony*cough* has to change it to better fit the website. Reviews based on chapter-by-chapter don't have enough information to give a reader an informed opinion needed to read a new story. I know NUF and NU don't have enough staff to warrant a system of user input and feedback, so I'll just wait until I die for a new update to emerge.
P.S. I can't explain it very well, but what nags me about reviews is how imprecise the reviewer is. He/she/it may not format their reviews in a structural and easy-to-understand manner. He/she/it may start with a like/dislike of a novel, the dissing of other reviews, or a hook(eye-catcher) for some reason. Reviews, to me, are more about insightful views on a story and how a reader may benefit from reading it. I would cite a professional review, but that would be too high an expectation for readers who read for a hobby and not necessary for Novel Updates. I just want some kind of template so that people who review know that they're reviewing it for the sole purpose of informing others how a novel can be useful in growing to be a better person. Maybe I'm just reading too much into it (pun intended).
As a side note, if Tony ever does update the reviews, may he include blobs for Westeller's obsession/passion/enjoyment.
Any opinions/questions/concerns I should've addressed? I may or may not respond if I want.
The Problem of Reviews
Author
AMissingLinguist
[Not Here][Blank Sect][Nuffian #N], Male
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