I have an annoying habit.
After, not before, I finish reading a book I read the reviews. Most people probably (I didn't poll for this, just guessing) read reviews before picking up a book to get a general idea of its readworthiness. Not me. I hate reading anyone's opinion on a book before I've sampled the story myself. Oh, I may skim through the ratings just to see if it's generally liked or just a horrible stinker.. but reading the actual text of the reviews colors how I see the book later. Or worse: gives away a story line.
I find ratings somewhat useful. If a book has a lot of "great, fantastic, 5+++++ stars" ratings combined with a lot of "boo, horrible, waste of time, hiss hiss" ratings then it probably is at the very least controversial enough to be interesting. After all, only a fascinating book could possibly inspire enough people to love it or hate it so much it leaves a mark on its ranking.
Ratings aside, reviews are fascinating to me -- not, not the good ones, I don't bother with those. If I liked the book then I don't need anyone else confirming its delectability. I love reading the bad reviews. The ones who think the book stinks (particularly if they go into great detail why) and the ones who violently disapprove of the author (and how could so many people love this drivel!). There is something delicious about a pointy, knife-twisting picking apart of a book, particularly when the person behind it claims to have never finished it (I couldn't stand it after 10 pages!).
(pick your favorite deity) bless Amazon for creating its review system, it is most entertaining to my twisted mind.
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You're not alone in this. I do it as well, with everything. I think the only reviews I read ahead of time are for things like digital cameras. Entertainment reviews (books, movies, music) I read after I've already made up my mind.
I don't think I'm looking for some sort of gratification that I did in fact pick something right. Or that I'm as smart as someone else. I think I read them afterwards because there is a chance I missed something in my reading, viewing, listening. There is a chance that reading a review afterwards will allow me to add to my appreciation for the work.
I think reading a review ahead o the experience endangers your own perspective of a thing. You risk going into a situation with someone else's notions.
Reading a review afterwards, however, can ellicit an added appreciation for a thing and not a preconceived appreciation had from someone else.
#My most recent favorite was going through the reviews for a book entitled 'The Ultimate Guide to Fellatio', or something like that. (Don't ask how I ended up there... no, I'm not a dirty dirty girl... it's a long story.) One reader found it highly offensive and offered as an alternative a book that provided "a Christian perspective on this topic" (!) Another read said she found the book to be "too dry". I'm intrigued.
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