Someone you know writes a book, and it stinks. What do you say to him or her?

I would tell him/her/it that it sucks.
I may be more or less diplomatic about it.

Don’t waste your time finishing the book and be honest, but do it diplomatically. Is there a successful author whose work you don’t particularly like? You could say: “well, I did not particularly care for your novel, but I don’t like anything (enter author name here) has ever written and look how many awards they have won and how many thousands of books they have sold.” Perhaps, at least they will feel they are in good company.
See ya…..Gary/wtf

This is ultimately the problem with self-publishing…

You could pull the “It has such a nice cover”, but I’d agree with @whatthefluther that you should tell them that it’s not really the kind of book you like.

This was published by a vanity press? I’d try to make a few specific critcisms without saying I liked it. I’m not noted for tact around my relatives. +GQ

I agree with the others about diplomatically saying that you did not like the book. I would, however, make an effort to finish it as a courtesy. I would also make an effort to find something that I could honestly say was good about the book.

I would congratulate them on having followed their dream of writing a book. Then move on, I am sure they don’t expect a critique from a family member. If they do, then be honest in a diplomatic way. Since they asked your opinion then you can give it.

i doubt they wrote the book hoping to learn nothing from the experience. let them know what you think. diplomatically of course. read the whole thing if you can, be there to help them improve.

don’t forget to be right about your criticisms. ;) it would suck if they’ve written an international best seller but you just don’t like it by taste.

I would encourage them…to never inflict another waste of time on me again!1 out of 500 stars! Actually,I would just say some bland comment.Why smash their dream?

I would send a written thank you note for them thinking of you by sending you a copy of the book. Say that you can appreciate how much time and effort they put into the book, and that you admire the fact that they had a dream and saw their project through to completion.

Then, hopefully, you will be off the hook for ever having to comment on the book. I wouldn’t volunteer an opinion about the writing or content. If pressed, say it was an interesting book, and that it led you to a better understanding of what editors do at major publishing houses. The fact that it’s not good is like telling a relative their baby is ugly.

I have a good friend who writes amateur sci-fi that I can’t even wade through. I tell him it’s just not my style of literature and that it’s not something I would ordinarily read on my own. Of course, what I really mean is that bad literature is not my style and that I don’t normally read stuff that sucks, but I never phrase it quite like that. I let him think that I’m just very picky about the books I enjoy.

I would tell him I thought it was a gret work of literature.

“Interesting.”

I’ve had this problem a few times. One time I was asked to review a Holocaust memoir by a colleague. The book was horribly written but heartfelt. I could not, in all good conscience, give it a bad review but I was very judicious in my praise. It is a ticklish situation. I might say, “How wonderful that you got your book finished and published. It’s not my type of novel really, but I am so happy for you.” (Oh – and I would skim it all quickly so you do get the whole story to CYA.)

Thanks for the suggestions so far! I’ll probably finish the book, just skimming through as much as I can. It really is quite abysmal. :( Meanwhile, I’m taking notes on some of the comments you’ve all suggested and will be sure to use them! I like @PandoraBoxx ‘s idea about writing a letter and will do that as well since this relative lives several hours away and we only see each other once or twice a year.

Yeah, the best way to go is to definitely say something along the lines of “It’s not the type of book I usually read/It’s not exactly my favorite genre but it was interesting.”
I use that excuse all the time when friends of mine have me listen to their god awful music. Works beautifully.

I’ve had this problem with theatrical productions that are the babies of friends of mine. I always try to find something I liked about it—whether it was the costumes or the set or whatever and just respond with “yeah, I really liked the (x aspect).” Oftentimes, their own intimacy with or pride in the work will fill in the blanks for you. So you throwing out a positive comment about something small will be processed by them as another feather in their cap of many feathers. To them, it probably doesn’t matter so much what your feather looks like so long as they get to add a feather.

You’ll have to hope that he or she won’t try to go into details with you. If that happens, you might have to play like you are too inarticulate to say anything else about how you felt about the book. Chances are, though, your relative will take your initial compliment and run with it.

I’m reading the work of someone that I kind of know. this is a first time experience for me and so far I’m really enjoying it.
On the other hand, a guy in my class asked me to proof his work. I did and he got so mad at me he never “spoke” to me again. For the rest of the class he completely ignored me. I don’t know what I could have done differently.

Ha! I wouldn’t even bother reading it if it was corny and I’d tell them it sucks, that’s what I’d say.

If I cared enough about this author I would read it as they most certainly will ask your opinion and I would want to know cover to cover what it was that person had invested so much of their time and hard work into. Chances are having taken years to write that book, that author may have evolved and written parts of that book under different mind sets and the final chapters may just be a bit more engaging and worth reading. Either way I would just express your admiration to their dedication and hard work and withhold any negative opinions. Leave that to the critics who are paid to tell it like it is.

Good answers. You can get out of it by the wrong genre ploy.

The I haven’t read it yet will meet with dissapointment.

One sneeky ploy is to let someone else lower the boom. Another would be to redirect to the efforts of getting it published. – hmm yes, it does sound like it was hard to get he publishers to accept it. Anyways it’s your first book, and if you keep it at…

My son has no problem telling me he doesn’t like my singing. (He’s in a band)

This book smells very bad, did you right it while sitting on the toilet?

When I am at karate class, sometimes we have to work on our techniques with a partner, and our sensei says, “When you’re giving your partner feedback, tell them what they’ve done right and what they could improve upon.”

So what could they improve upon for next time? Tell them. Be gentle, and start with what is OK with their work, but be honest. I think it does adults no favours to let them slog through something without proper feedback.

Nothing. If they ask you if you’ve read it then be honest, but perhaps gentle.

I had this happen to me. I just told her that she has had a very interesting life. Her writing was just the opposite, but I didn’t mention that.

I just tell people I don’t read, works for me.

Post an excerpt.

Q: Would you continue to read the book and pretend to like it to spare your family member’s feelings?

I would probably read enough of it to determine whether or not I liked it. There’s no point in pretending to enjoy a book I didn’t like, and I’m sure the author…family member or not…would value your honesty more than your hypocrisy. J.K. Rowlings published a series of books that became quite popular. What would you bet that someone in her family probably thought it was total rubbish. So what?

Q: Is there a way to avoid reading the rest of the book without later coming across as a jerk?

Yes. Simply stop reading the book. You come across as more of a jerk lying than being honest about your feelings. If the author is worth his salt, he’d value whatever constructive criticism you have (as long as you don’t lay it on too thick). Or, your relative might really appreciate one less family member kissing ass. Whatever you do, you should still get an autographed copy…it might be worth something someday.

Tell them what they need to work on.Give them actual feedback.Your helping them just by doing that.After all,practice makes perfect! ;)

I’m about halfway through the book, and I’m sure I can find positive things to say about it that will not be dishonest. The author is someone with a good sense of humor, and not prone to theatrics. I just wish someone else in our family would also read it so I can get another perspective! My sister-in-law is planning to start it soon, and I can’t wait to hear what she thinks of it. She’s an even pickier reader than I am.

Also, I figured out what genre the novel is supposed to be emulating, and that makes it a little more palatable.

Maybe suggest a professional editor?

Honesty is the best policy. Think Simon Cowell.

Fact from fiction, truth from diction. I would start off by praising the person on 5 things they did well with the novel (even if I had to dig deep to find the) then I would say “However…”, and tell them where I believe the book was weak or could have been better. I will also tell them that was just me and the sales of the book will be the proof of the pudding. If I found it that bad I could not stick with it while still playing attention enough to comment on it.