Comments on: criticism of criticism: think first and speak second–or not at all http://htmlgiant.com/reviews/criticism-of-criticism-think-first-and-speak-second-or-not-at-all/ the internet literature magazine blog of the future Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:15:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rav http://htmlgiant.com/reviews/criticism-of-criticism-think-first-and-speak-second-or-not-at-all/comment-page-1/#comment-36312 Rav Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:23:48 +0000 http://htmlgiant.com/?p=17679#comment-36312 I think one of the reasons why so many online reviews aren't satisfactory is that there is an implicit pressure from the editor to only write sympathetic pieces; sometimes that pressure is even made explicit in the editor's statement. I've written a few reviews, most of which I'm not happy with in hindsight, and I think much of my unhappiness has to do with the fact that I wasn't honest enough. That is, even if I didn't like the book under review, I felt compelled to spend at least as much space extolling its (sometimes hard to discern) virtues as I did pointing out its flaws. There's a sense among readers and writers of poetry and literary fiction, and particularly small press lit fiction, that we're an embattled minority in the context of mass culture. As a result, we're reluctant to tear one another down. That's understandable, but there should be a distinction between criticism and promotion, if the former is to have any value. I think one of the reasons why so many online reviews aren’t satisfactory is that there is an implicit pressure from the editor to only write sympathetic pieces; sometimes that pressure is even made explicit in the editor’s statement. I’ve written a few reviews, most of which I’m not happy with in hindsight, and I think much of my unhappiness has to do with the fact that I wasn’t honest enough. That is, even if I didn’t like the book under review, I felt compelled to spend at least as much space extolling its (sometimes hard to discern) virtues as I did pointing out its flaws.

There’s a sense among readers and writers of poetry and literary fiction, and particularly small press lit fiction, that we’re an embattled minority in the context of mass culture. As a result, we’re reluctant to tear one another down. That’s understandable, but there should be a distinction between criticism and promotion, if the former is to have any value.

]]> By: Rav http://htmlgiant.com/reviews/criticism-of-criticism-think-first-and-speak-second-or-not-at-all/comment-page-1/#comment-123570 Rav Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:23:00 +0000 http://htmlgiant.com/?p=17679#comment-123570 I think one of the reasons why so many online reviews aren't satisfactory is that there is an implicit pressure from the editor to only write sympathetic pieces; sometimes that pressure is even made explicit in the editor's statement. I've written a few reviews, most of which I'm not happy with in hindsight, and I think much of my unhappiness has to do with the fact that I wasn't honest enough. That is, even if I didn't like the book under review, I felt compelled to spend at least as much space extolling its (sometimes hard to discern) virtues as I did pointing out its flaws. There's a sense among readers and writers of poetry and literary fiction, and particularly small press lit fiction, that we're an embattled minority in the context of mass culture. As a result, we're reluctant to tear one another down. That's understandable, but there should be a distinction between criticism and promotion, if the former is to have any value. I think one of the reasons why so many online reviews aren’t satisfactory is that there is an implicit pressure from the editor to only write sympathetic pieces; sometimes that pressure is even made explicit in the editor’s statement. I’ve written a few reviews, most of which I’m not happy with in hindsight, and I think much of my unhappiness has to do with the fact that I wasn’t honest enough. That is, even if I didn’t like the book under review, I felt compelled to spend at least as much space extolling its (sometimes hard to discern) virtues as I did pointing out its flaws.

There’s a sense among readers and writers of poetry and literary fiction, and particularly small press lit fiction, that we’re an embattled minority in the context of mass culture. As a result, we’re reluctant to tear one another down. That’s understandable, but there should be a distinction between criticism and promotion, if the former is to have any value.

]]> By: Eva http://htmlgiant.com/reviews/criticism-of-criticism-think-first-and-speak-second-or-not-at-all/comment-page-1/#comment-36278 Eva Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:20:32 +0000 http://htmlgiant.com/?p=17679#comment-36278 *Like* *Like*

]]> By: Eva http://htmlgiant.com/reviews/criticism-of-criticism-think-first-and-speak-second-or-not-at-all/comment-page-1/#comment-123569 Eva Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:20:00 +0000 http://htmlgiant.com/?p=17679#comment-123569 *Like* *Like*

]]> By: EC http://htmlgiant.com/reviews/criticism-of-criticism-think-first-and-speak-second-or-not-at-all/comment-page-1/#comment-36050 EC Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:35:40 +0000 http://htmlgiant.com/?p=17679#comment-36050 there's actually already a whole site out there called The Review Review, but it's purpose is mainly to review lit journals rather than, specifically, book reviews: http://thereviewreview.net/ A nice idea maybe but in this case too geared towards the reviewers flattering the journals so that they can get in some day. Also, for Justin: I like the critique but I think the fish rots from the head down: reviewing at the "top" is thoroughly corrupt and banal and idiotic and tired and next to useless. Well, just my modest two cents (devalued by inflation daily)... there’s actually already a whole site out there called The Review Review, but it’s purpose is mainly to review lit journals rather than, specifically, book reviews:

http://thereviewreview.net/

A nice idea maybe but in this case too geared towards the reviewers flattering the journals so that they can get in some day.

Also, for Justin: I like the critique but I think the fish rots from the head down: reviewing at the “top” is thoroughly corrupt and banal and idiotic and tired and next to useless. Well, just my modest two cents (devalued by inflation daily)…

]]> By: EC http://htmlgiant.com/reviews/criticism-of-criticism-think-first-and-speak-second-or-not-at-all/comment-page-1/#comment-123568 EC Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:35:00 +0000 http://htmlgiant.com/?p=17679#comment-123568 there's actually already a whole site out there called The Review Review, but it's purpose is mainly to review lit journals rather than, specifically, book reviews: http://thereviewreview.net/ A nice idea maybe but in this case too geared towards the reviewers flattering the journals so that they can get in some day. Also, for Justin: I like the critique but I think the fish rots from the head down: reviewing at the "top" is thoroughly corrupt and banal and idiotic and tired and next to useless. Well, just my modest two cents (devalued by inflation daily)... there’s actually already a whole site out there called The Review Review, but it’s purpose is mainly to review lit journals rather than, specifically, book reviews:

http://thereviewreview.net/

A nice idea maybe but in this case too geared towards the reviewers flattering the journals so that they can get in some day.

Also, for Justin: I like the critique but I think the fish rots from the head down: reviewing at the “top” is thoroughly corrupt and banal and idiotic and tired and next to useless. Well, just my modest two cents (devalued by inflation daily)…

]]> By: Jesse http://htmlgiant.com/reviews/criticism-of-criticism-think-first-and-speak-second-or-not-at-all/comment-page-1/#comment-36024 Jesse Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:10:14 +0000 http://htmlgiant.com/?p=17679#comment-36024 I singled-handedly killed this topic. I am a(burrito). I singled-handedly killed this topic. I am a(burrito).

]]> By: Jesse http://htmlgiant.com/reviews/criticism-of-criticism-think-first-and-speak-second-or-not-at-all/comment-page-1/#comment-123567 Jesse Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:10:00 +0000 http://htmlgiant.com/?p=17679#comment-123567 I singled-handedly killed this topic. I am a(burrito). I singled-handedly killed this topic. I am a(burrito).

]]> By: mike young http://htmlgiant.com/reviews/criticism-of-criticism-think-first-and-speak-second-or-not-at-all/comment-page-1/#comment-35977 mike young Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:30:07 +0000 http://htmlgiant.com/?p=17679#comment-35977 agreed agreed

]]> By: mike young http://htmlgiant.com/reviews/criticism-of-criticism-think-first-and-speak-second-or-not-at-all/comment-page-1/#comment-123566 mike young Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:30:00 +0000 http://htmlgiant.com/?p=17679#comment-123566 agreed agreed

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