what makes a good book reviewer

Our views were contained in a post a few years ago. Here are thoughts of Harriet Allan, Fiction Publisher at Penguin Random House New Zealand:

"...an ideal reviewer leaves aside all agendas, friendships, jealousies, prejudices about the author, publisher, subject, or whatever, and reviews the book. Critics who deserve the name have this intelligence... They deserve respect because they give respect, not just to the author and their work, but to their own readers.

"...the following traits are as much on display as their converse:

• A good reviewer’s insight outweighs his/her ego.
• A good reviewer does not review everything except what’s in the actual book.
• A good reviewer understands readers want to know about the book they can buy, not the book the reviewer would have written.
• A good reviewer is a good writer.
• A good reviewer doesn’t settle scores.
• A good reviewer is constructive.
• A good reviewer is good for the industry."

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