Was it hard for you to read this book?

[Wuducynn]

Hmmm telling them "it gets much better from there" seems to me to be 1. Automatically assuming they will agree with you that they won't like it. And 2. Giving an negative spin to The Gunslinger before they've even started.

Doesn't seem helpful to me. I would just tell someone that the quality of The Gunslinger is slower and more dreamlike than the rest of the series.

[Jean]

Hmmm telling them "it gets much better from there" seems to me to be 1. Automatically assuming they will agree with you that they won't like it. And 2. Giving an negative spin to The Gunslinger before they've even started.

Doesn't seem helpful to me. I would just tell someone that the quality of The Gunslinger is slower and more dreamlike than the rest of the series.

I suppose when people ask for advice, they want the opinion of the one they're asking. Moreover, that if they ask this or that particular person, it is because they already know that person's tastes, otherwise there'd be no point in asking. Thus:
1. They understand that it's only a personal opinion they hear, not a universal truth;
2. They correlate the negative opinion they've heard with what they already know of this person likes and dislikes, which may or may not be similar to their own.

I am generally inclined to assume that if people ask for my opinion it's because they want to hear it, and that they are mature enough to be able to form their own opinion even after hearing mine.

[Wuducynn]

I suppose when people ask for advice, they want the opinion of the one they're asking. Moreover, that if they ask this or that particular person, it is because they already know that person's tastes, otherwise there'd be no point in asking. Thus:
1. They understand that it's only a personal opinion they hear, not a universal truth;
2. They correlate the negative opinion they've heard with what they already know of this person likes and dislikes, which may or may not be similar to their own.

I am generally inclined to assume that if people ask for my opinion it's because they want to hear it, and that they are mature enough to be able to form their own opinion even after hearing mine.

None of what I said presupposed that they don't know that it's your own opinion. Everything I said still applies as far as I see it. Most folk I've known when looking for an opinion will often say "well maybe I'll just skip on that then". I have to then say "well you know, that IS MY opinion only. You may disagree."