Discussion: Don’t Rate A Book Before You Read It Please
How is someone possibly able to rate a book without reading it first. Unless you can see into the future and are able to see how the book is, you have no right rating a book before you have even read it.
You can express your opinion if you think you are going to like it or not based on the synopsis – I have no problem with that. What I have a problem with is someone rating a book a 1 star because they don’t like the sound of the book.
You don’t have to like every book that there is known to man, but please, please don’t rate a book a 1 star because you don’t like what it is about. You haven’t even read the book at this point, you really don’t know what it is about, however you give it a 1 star and complain because you think it’s something you won’t enjoy.
I am highlighting this because recently the synopsis for Holding up the Universe by Jennifer Niven was released and people became animals. I have never seen a reaction like this before and it made me feel sick.
Here is the synopsis for those who haven’t read it.
From the author of the New York Times bestseller All the Bright Places comes a heart-wrenching story about what it means to see someone—and love someone—for who they truly are.
Everyone knows Libby Strout. She’s the girl who was so heavy she had to be lifted out of her house by a crane. After being homeschooled for years, she’s ready to rejoin the human race, aka the junior class of MVB High. She’s free, she’s strong, and she’s going to get through this—or so she lies to herself. (Okay, fine, she’s terrified out of her skull.)
Everyone knows Jack Masselin, too. He may not be the most popular guy in school, but he’s got swagger. What no one knows is that Jack has a secret: his brain is different, or maybe a little broken, and he can’t recognize faces. Even his own brothers are strangers to him. But he’s made it this far, and he just has to keep it up: Be charming. Be hilarious. Don’t get too close to anyone.
Until he meets Libby. When the two get tangled up in a cruel high school game—which lands them in group counseling and community service—Libby and Jack are both pissed . . . and then surprised. Because the more time they spend together, the less alone they feel. Because sometimes when you meet someone, it changes the world, theirs and yours.
Jennifer Niven delivers another exhilarating, heart-wrenching love story about finding that person who sees you for who you are—and seeing them right back.
I look at this and try to think to myself, what is wrong with the synopsis? Why are people getting so upset? And you know what? I cannot think of anything.
I am not a skinny person and I have no problem with this at all. I actually want to read it, because it sounds interesting.
Some of the things that I am reading are vile not only are they attacking the book, but also the author. Quite a lot of people are saying that a ‘skinny’ author should not be writing a book about a ‘fat’ person. Well if you are saying that should an author not write a book about a vampire or angel because they are not one? NO! Because this is a thing called fiction.
Some people are saying that it is dehumanizing fat people, how exactly. Do you know that some people actually need a crane to get them out of the house or that you know fat people do fall in love?
Also, the fact that the male protagonist has Prosopagnosia, which people seem to think is a mental disorder, however it actually a cognitive disorder. So yes. People are upset that the synopsis used the words ‘broken’ for his brain, well it isn’t a normal brain for one, there is something different about it, also maybe the character himself feels broken.
From the synopsis that I have read, it’s not romanticising a mental illness or being fat at all.
As I am writing this now and looking at goodreads, all I want to do is throw my laptop across the room. How can people be so insensitive towards the author? Why are people being so vile and ignorant? Why bring down an author’s book before you have even read it?
What I am also quite frustrated with, is author’s reactions, instead of sticking with a fellow author they have turned their back and left her for the dogs and some joining them, which is upsetting.
Nevertheless, I hope people stop rating books before they have read it, because disgusting things like this happened and it not only brings down the book, but the author as well which is never what you want before a book is published.
NOTE: Not wanting to read a book and noting its flaws regarding racism, homophobia, ableism etc is okay. That is totally fine. Actually, it’s more than okay. We need to know about this. However, when a book hasn’t even been read by one person or even a few people – then how could it be review and talked about? What I am highlighting here, is that rating a book just from a synopsis isn’t right. Let
