The Internet loves giving opinions, whether we want to hear them or not. And while constructive feedback can help authors become better writers, graciously receiving it isn’t always easy—especially if it’s poorly delivered.
Book reviews range from heartwarmingly positive (“A masterpiece!”), to truly insulting (“A turd with a cover.”). Most authors will have their time with both, and it’s important to remember you aren’t alone in that. There isn’t a single Pulitzer Prize Winner on Amazon that’s gotten by without gathering plenty of harsh commentary and one-star reviews. In fact, one-star ratings make up 16% of all reviews for the 2017 winner, Less.
And remember, one bad review doesn’t take away from all the positive reviews you’ve received. Get back on that promotion horse and go get yourself some more reviews! If you need a place to start, try us out at Pubby, where our members give an average book review rating of 4.8 stars. Now those are some positive vibes!
So in the spirit of being in this together, let’s take a look at some bestsellers with some awful reviews.
J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings
Written in stages between 1937 and 1949, The Lord of the Rings wasn’t fully published until 1955. It is one of the best-selling novels ever written, with over 150 million copies sold.
The Lord of the Rings has had a profound and wide-ranging impact on popular culture, beginning with its publication, but especially throughout the 1960s and 1970s, during which time young people embraced it as a countercultural saga. “Frodo Lives!” and “Gandalf for President” were two phrases popular amongst United States Tolkien fans during this time.
But not everyone’s voting for Gandalf:
Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park
This bestseller began as a screenplay Crichton wrote in 1983, about a graduate student who recreates a dinosaur. The story was originally told from the point of view of a child, but Crichton changed it after everyone who read the draft said it would be better if were from an adult perspective.
In 1993, Steven Spielberg liked the story so much that he adapted the book into the blockbuster film Jurassic Park. But some readers didn’t like it as much as Mr. Spielberg:
J.D. SALINGER’S THE CATCHER IN THE RYE
Read by millions, loved by many, confusing to some, The Catcher in the Rye was first published in 1951 and to this day, 1 million copies are sold each year, with total sales of over 65 million. The novel was on Time‘s 2005 list of the 100 best English-language novels written since 1923.
But not everyone’s impressed…
J.K. ROWLING’S HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN
In 2004, J.K. Rowling became the first person to become a billionaire by writing books. To this day, she is the most highly paid author, and even she has critics…
And then sometimes this happens…
MARGARET ATWOOD’S THE HANDMAID’S TALE
Atwood’s dystopian novel has been adapted into movies, TV shows, and even an opera. Her novel inspired the creation of a political group, The Handmaid’s Coalition, which formed in response to legislation and actions aimed at limiting the rights of women and marginalized groups. Activists dressed in red cloaks and white hats (as described in the novel) lobby and protest in order to bring awareness to politicians and laws that discriminate against women and women’s rights.
Pretty sure Atwood wouldn’t let these get her down…
So whether someone ordered the wrong book, didn’t finish reading it, or just straight-up didn’t like it, don’t get down. You can’t control others’ reviews, but you can control how you respond to them. Learn from constructive feedback, and laugh off the rest.
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