Reviewing 101, 
right?
First you read the book, then you review it.
THE OTHER was a recent recipient of a ‘2′ rating and a very critical review from someone who admitted he/she stopped reading after just a few pages.
Fair enough. Stop reading if the book is not your cup of tea. But don’t review it. You haven’t read it.
I’m normally fairly thick skinned about reviews, all authors need to be. There’s all kinds of folks out there and all kinds of opinions. But an author has no way to undo the damage done by a very critical review by a non-reader.
Of its 36 reviews on Amazon, THE OTHER has received two other ‘2′ ratings. I suspect both readers expected it to be something it wasn’t. Fair enough. They didn’t like it. But at least they read it.
Why is it so important to read a book to review it? Because it may be that something you learn later on in the book might explain or enhance those opening pages. It may be that the book will hook you later on. In this particular case, all of the complaints expressed by the reviewer are completely explained later in the book.
Stop reading the book if it doesn’t grab you. It is the author’s job to try to hold you, but if he doesn’t, so be it. That’s gonna happen. But don’t review it. You didn’t read it.
R Lawson Gamble 
I agree with you. I don’t believe that ‘Did Not Finish’ is a review in itself. Of course, many reviewers disagree.
On Amazon I have received thirteen five star, three four star and one one star review. The one star was from an author who admitted that he only read 30% of the book.
I have resisted any type of contact, or retaliation, but I would expect more from a fellow author. ~ Dennis
Reblogged this on Books I've Enjoyed (and some I haven't) and commented:
I don’t read every book I “review”. I’m not giving a book review really it’s just my opinion on it.
According to the online dictionary the noun review is: A critical article or report, as in a periodical, on a book, play, recital, or the like; critique; evaluation.
I don’t want to “criticize” the books I post in my Reader’s blog. I just do a summary of the book and tell how easy or difficult is was to read. I don’t finish a book I don’t like,, it’s pointless, but I will state that I didn’t read the whole thing.