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In the book I just completed (still up on site if you're interested ), I had Vietnamese characters speaking to each other. To me, it was obvious they would be speaking in their native language, and I thought no such explanation from me (author intrusion) was needed. Later, a Vietnamese character talks to an American. Because he's become a successful businessman, he has learned English, though he hasn't quite gotten down the use of contractions - a way to set his voice apart. And this same character speaks to an ethnic-Chinese Malaysian, who has had more of a worldly experience than the man from Vietnam, so he speaks in rather fluent English. It's the context of the characters that provides the background for the speech, obviating the need for the author to "explain." The reader will understand. In another story of mine, I have a Lebanese-American ISIS soldier meeting an Arabic sheikh. He speaks Arabic to the sheikh in the greeting, but then the author (me) states that the sheikh switches to English in talking with his acolyte. He does this so his Iraqi bodyguards will not be privy to the conversation. Again, I don't need to say why he does this - it's for the reader to figure it out.

It's a discussion-worthy topic that probably has classes devoted to it in Creative Writing courses. Thanks for bringing it up, Dirk.

I got about a 50% review rate from the Read and Review program, though it's supposed to be 100%. The fee (they have discounts occasionally) covers 30 book requests. Some of those scofflaws had the nerve to request another book when I used Choosy again. I politely told them, sure, I'll send you the next book after you give that review you promised for the first one. I wouldn't use that program again. Regarding Bookbuzz, I have no experience.

Another thing I forgot to mention is Editorial Reviews on your Amazon author page. Select a line or two from your best reviews and post them there. Author Central will explain how to do that.

Excellent!

There's an art to reviewing - sounds pretentious, but it's true, taking the literal meaning of the word. A reviewer is not a publisher's editor or agent and must take the story as presented, despite their own ideas of how they would do it differently. Suggesting a change in sentence structure, or even recommending rearranging a paragraph is fine. But not a rewrite of the story. Thankfully, I have not had such a reviewer, but I feel your chagrin. There are, however, a few reviewers I've encountered  here who want to rewrite almost every sentence. Not because of grammatical issues, but just because they prefer a different way to say the same thing. Reviews don't come from on high, so feel free to ignore the ones that don't help you attain the vision you had when starting out with the project.

Thanks, JP! You'll be invited to the premier!

Thanks, Randy! I noticed a couple of typos which were my fault. Should have had it reviewed by TNBW peeps before the posting!

My first book was self-published, but it probably doesn't represent enough of a sample for your study. And the result wasn't great. But I'll participate if needed.

Jeez, Dill. Chill out a little, okay? This is a writing workshop site. It's for honing one's ability as a writer. The name of the site says it all. It's not supposed to be a platform for supporting gonzo literature, though writers in this vein have certainly found following. I'm sure there are places on the Internet where like-minded writers can get together, drink espresso, and rant against the establishment as they look fondly (and misguidedly) back at such meetings of iconoclastic literary minds as the Algonquin Club. But it shouldn't be here. Here is where writers come because they want to publish their stuff, and reviews are supposed to help them get their foot in the door - so it won't be closed by the conventional wisdom types who guard that door. Once past the gatekeepers, they can go for the style they really want. Sorry, but you gotta pass the core curriculum before you can take the electives.

But we're in agreement on one thing: a reviewer who, by intention, arrogance, or stupidity crushes the life out of an aspiring writer has no place on this site. That's for the know-it-all agents and Big-Five editors to do. When I give a review - almost always in-line - I point out grammatical and punctuation errors, some of which I didn't realize until having joined this site. I want reviewers to do that for me, because I want to publish the damn thing and have to get it past the first checkpoint in the submission process, so that is what I do for the reviewee. I also make suggestions for phrasing, word choices, etc. - not as some expert, but as a reader. And also based on what editors have told me along the way.

I've been here since 2008, and I'm happy to have found this place. I've workshopped all my books here and I've learned a lot in the process. As has been expressed here by others, if I find a work that I find terrible, I don't review it. But there have been many pieces I've weighed in on that were REPLETE with grammar, punctuation, and phrasing issues because I saw the potential and/or I liked the premise of the story. So my reviews have looked like a patchwork of blue at times. But once I've committed my time to a review for the above reasons, I'm obliged to give the writer encouragement in my closing statement, despite the number of nitpicks I had to land on his chapter. Because I saw potential in it and want the writer to know that. Saying "good job" without backing it up in any way is a worthless comment, in my view. Perhaps not patronizing, but certainly not helpful without annotation.

You've expressed your opinions, and I think I know where you're coming from. I actually don't really disagree with what you've said in this thread, though I thought you could have been more measured in the way you said it. Karen probably means well and so was shocked at your diatribe against her. But your message was certainly delivered.

Congrats, Cobber! Agree the cover looks great. I read a good part of the book when it was up on TNBW but somehow missed the rest. Good luck with sales!  Jack

At the beginning of this thread was the suggestion to reciprocate reviews in order to get more reviews. And as Ann said, we're all busy doing things with our books and have to use our time wisely. I may not be the only one who feels this way, but I'll speak for myself. I'll give a new book a shot (if it's not in a genre I don't usually read). If I like it, I'll review an additional chapter. But if I get no reciprocation from the author, I'll move on, even if the book appeals to me. I have commitments to authors who do reciprocate, and I can't spend the time reviewing authors who receive but don't give. Perhaps that is one reason you've found your reviews diminishing, though I've found a falling off to be a natural phenomenon. But one thing you can do is to keep track of who reviews you and make a point of returning the review. We're all in this together, and if it's going to be a one-way street, the model doesn't work.

The skies were clear, but the jerry-rigged viewer I had didn't work. Those with the special glasses had an awesome sight, so I've been told. Me? Just got a little darker for a while. (Big yawn)