Reviews Discussion: Beating a Dead Horse

I'm the third Mayhemer to bring up reviews (are we tired of this discussion yet?). Rather than focusing on the ways reviews affect our reading and/or purchasing habits, or their subjective nature (these are great discussions, by the way; stop by if you haven't already),
I'd like to talk to the authors out there:


How do you deal with reviews? Do you read them? Avoid them? Enjoy them? Dread them? Do reviews affect the way you write? Do they affect the opinion you have of your own abilities as a writer? I've heard of bad reviews paralyzing authors, but I've been fascinated to learn that for some authors good reviews do the same.


Any advice for those of us new to the publishing world?

How Do Reviews Impact What You Read?

Before I even thought of actually dipping my size 9/10 feet (I know, Sasquatch) into the publishing pond, I read a lot of books. I rarely bought anything without reading at least a few reviews, unless I picked it up on a whim at the bookstore--I'm a sucker for a good cover! It got me to thinking of how reviews impact what we read and don't read. I have a few favorite authors, who, even if they receive a hailstorm of bad reviews on their latest endeavor, I'm still buying it! Generally, I'll be disappointed in the book overall, but there are always those special gems held within that makes me believe it was a worthwhile purchase.

A book can't please everyone and every book is going to get a few negative reviews, even the ones who garner gobs of awards. So, if a premise of an author's book intrigues you will you still buy it, in spite of a high number of negative write-ups or do you prefer to pass on that one?

I think with the dawn of e-books, it's a little easier to bite the bullet and buy a book you're unsure of, since in many cases the e-book price is lower, but I'm wondering what you think. Is it worth it? Do you take the risk and buy, get it from the library, or pass it up all together?