She Treads Softly

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Books haven't been finished and reviews have been scarce due to a death in the family.
Your prayers are always appreciated.

6 comments:

Gilion at Rose City Reader said...: So sorry. You have my prayers during this difficult time.; January 17, 2011 at 10:40 AM
Lori L said...: Thank you...; January 17, 2011 at 10:49 AM
Jeanne said...: My sympathy.; January 19, 2011 at 7:19 AM
Lori L said...: Thank you, Jeanne.; January 19, 2011 at 9:48 AM
Lisa said...: I'm sorry to hear this.; January 22, 2011 at 9:14 PM
Lori L said...: Thank you, Lisa.; January 22, 2011 at 10:36 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.