She Treads Softly: bad reviews

Friday, April 30, 2010

bad reviews

I am allowed, on my own blog, to have an opinion. My blog, my thoughts. End of discussion. (edited)

5 comments:

Chrisbookarama said...: It's ridiculous for someone to try and talk you into liking a book. It never works. And you're absolutely right about it being your opinion.; April 30, 2010 at 5:36 PM
Lori L said...: Thanks, Chris - it really is ridiculous.; April 30, 2010 at 5:59 PM
Lori L said...: She's still taking swipes at me (sigh). I commented on the older post for those interested.; May 2, 2010 at 11:19 AM
Lisa said...: I'll have to go look! I'm kinda wishing I remembered the book well enough to post my own review.; May 4, 2010 at 5:32 PM
Lori L said...: I edited the post and took the link to the infamous review out, but you remember what book it was Lisa, LOL!; May 4, 2010 at 6:46 PM

John Updike's six rules for reviewing:

1. Try to understand what the author wished to do, and do not blame him for not achieving what he did not attempt.

2. Give him enough direct quotation--at least one extended passage--of the book's prose so the review's reader can form his own impression, can get his own taste.

3. Confirm your description of the book with quotation from the book, if only phrase-long, rather than proceeding by fuzzy precis.

4. Go easy on plot summary, and do not give away the ending.

5. If the book is judged deficient, cite a successful example along the same lines, from the author's oeuvre or elsewhere. Try to understand the failure. Sure it's his and not yours?

To these concrete five might be added a vaguer sixth, having to do with maintaining a chemical purity in the reaction between product and appraiser.....Review the book, not the reputation.... Better to praise and share than blame and ban. The communion between reviewer and his public is based upon the presumption of certain possible joys in reading, and all our discriminations should curve toward that end.