On the Beauty of Subjectivity

Evaluating Contradictory Book Reviews

You know what they say about opinions! If you don’t know, maybe ask google the question “Why are opinions like assholes?” Too lazy to open a search bar? Oh, fine, it’s because we all have one, and if you’re feeling really colorful, it’s also because they all stink.

Despite the common knowledge that everyone’s opinion is different, and that every work of literary criticism is an opinion, book reviews are still very much treated as an authority on whether a book is worth our time as a reader. As a writer, it can feel like a court of public opinion is passing judgment on our hearts and souls. Despite all the feelings evinced by reviews, every ardent reader who’s ever checked out a review knows that opinions on a book can vary dramatically, even opinions on the same book, even opinions on the same part of the same book.

Why do I bring this up now? During February, both Literary Titan and Book Viral published editorial reviews about my forthcoming essay collection, Geri o Shimasu: Adventures of a Baka Gaijin. Both reviews were positive, but interestingly enough, both reviews picked out a specific story to reference, one as a standout piece in my collection, and the other as a weak point.

“No Soup For You!” is an essay about restaurant etiquette in Japan generally and more specifically about a time where my friends and I inadvertently offended the waitstaff at our local restaurant so much that they ghosted us right there in their own restaurant. If you’re wondering how that’s possible, you’ll have to check out the book.

Book Viral marked “No Soup For You!” as a standout, calling it:

A wry look at food, hierarchy, and the unspoken rules governing something as simple as ordering a meal.

Alternatively, Literary Titan had the following to say:

Some stories echo familiar themes, and at times, the humor reaches a bit too far. “No Soup for You!” had great potential, though it lingered a little longer than necessary on a simple joke.

Interestingly enough, both reviewers recognized the crux of the story as a simple misunderstanding, but one saw that simplicity and lauded as an entertaining example of a complex, hierarchical society. The other felt like the story was a simple gag story that was drawn out longer than necessary.

Are they both right? Are they both wrong? I have no idea. Each reviewer is their own person who reads a book and gets their own lessons from it. I can’t say Literary Titan’s criticism isn’t valid. Perhaps, to that reader, they got my point immediately and felt I beat a dead horse. Maybe that person lived in Japan too and didn’t take the same lessons as I did. Maybe I managed to communicate my point more successfully to the Book Viral reviewer. Not only is it impossible for me to know, but it’s not really my place to know or to do anything about it other than go on with my day with the knowledge and understanding that every time I or anyone else reads a book, it’s a personal journey.

The contrast between these two opinions of the same story is an excellent example of the subjectivity of book reviews. What one reader may find riveting, another might consider dull. This disparity highlights an important truth: opinions are personal, just like your asshole. Each opinion is shaped by a unique set of experiences, preferences, and tastes. One person’s “standout” is another’s “slow.”

So what do we learn from this? No book review should be taken as gospel. Each long-worked editorial review, each hastily scribbled Goodreads response, and each social media post are simply one person’s reaction. It's essential as authors to recognize that the parts of our work that resonate with one individual may not have the same impact for someone else, and that's okay.

If you’re an avid reader looking for your next favorite book, before deciding whether to read a book, it’s worth considering a range of opinions—and ultimately, trusting your own judgment. After all, your experience with a book will be different from anyone else’s, and that’s what makes reading so personal and rewarding.

And if you’re a writer, like me, trying to make sense of the public’s perception of your hard work, remember that you don’t like every book you read. Some books that you don’t like are even massively popular, and it feels as if they are universally beloved except for you. Even as reviews are critically important for us indie authors, we can’t take them personally.

Also, one last tip… if you can find something negative in a review that might appeal to someone else, use it! For instance, a one-star review left for Compendium on my Amazon book page called it something like “[a] heavy-handed environmental allegory.” Ok, so that person doesn’t want to be reminded that climate change is real, even on fictional planets thousands of light years from here, but whatever. Other readers will gravitate towards stories where the environment is front and center. What can you do with those terrible reviews that might activate potential readers? Use them.

I hope this post highlights how completely subjective it all is. If you want to check out the full Book Viral and Literary Titan reviews, I’ve linked to them below.

Full review of Geri o Shimasu by Book Viral
Full review of Geri o Shimasu by Literary Titan