Comments on: Reviewing Allegiance http://reading.kingrat.biz/afflatus/reviewing-allegiance Books make me happy. Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:45:45 +0100 hourly 1 By: King Rat http://reading.kingrat.biz/afflatus/reviewing-allegiance#comment-880 King Rat Tue, 16 Oct 2007 05:08:33 +0000 http://reading.kingrat.biz/archives/441#comment-880 I don't specifically have a problem with #5, other than it makes a lot of work for a reviewer. And so, I'm not going to do it unless it's convenient. I suppose if I were a professional reviewer, getting paid, I might. In that case, the money is an incentive, and also I assume that I would be reviewing books for which I have better background information. E.g., I'd have read a fair number of the author's previous work before I read the latest. But since I review nearly <strong>everything</strong> I read here, I don't intend to go through a lot of work to find examples for stuff for which I am less familiar. But for a professional publication, I don't think it's such a bad idea. My biggest problem is with #6, particularly bolded parts. That just sticks in my craw. I don’t specifically have a problem with #5, other than it makes a lot of work for a reviewer. And so, I’m not going to do it unless it’s convenient. I suppose if I were a professional reviewer, getting paid, I might. In that case, the money is an incentive, and also I assume that I would be reviewing books for which I have better background information. E.g., I’d have read a fair number of the author’s previous work before I read the latest. But since I review nearly everything I read here, I don’t intend to go through a lot of work to find examples for stuff for which I am less familiar. But for a professional publication, I don’t think it’s such a bad idea.

My biggest problem is with #6, particularly bolded parts. That just sticks in my craw.

]]> By: ksaugustin http://reading.kingrat.biz/afflatus/reviewing-allegiance#comment-879 ksaugustin Tue, 16 Oct 2007 05:00:32 +0000 http://reading.kingrat.biz/archives/441#comment-879 Nope, misread point (5). My brain actually transposed "his" and "yours". Doesn't allude to any subconscious emotional issues on my part, does it? ;) Nope, misread point (5). My brain actually transposed “his” and “yours”. Doesn’t allude to any subconscious emotional issues on my part, does it? ;)

]]> By: ksaugustin http://reading.kingrat.biz/afflatus/reviewing-allegiance#comment-878 ksaugustin Tue, 16 Oct 2007 04:55:06 +0000 http://reading.kingrat.biz/archives/441#comment-878 I had a lot of problems with 2 of Updike's points...(1) and (5). While I readily admit that all readers are individual in their likes and dislikes, and those are often a reflection of their own life experiences, putting all the blame on the reader is more than a little unfair. Was Updike gently saying that ALL reviewers are dross? Is this a variation of the "if you don't like it, it's because you're stupid/crass/primitive/blind/wilful" type comment from Laurell K Hamilton? It seems so. Perhaps he should have grown a thicker skin himself. I had a lot of problems with 2 of Updike’s points…(1) and (5). While I readily admit that all readers are individual in their likes and dislikes, and those are often a reflection of their own life experiences, putting all the blame on the reader is more than a little unfair.
Was Updike gently saying that ALL reviewers are dross? Is this a variation of the “if you don’t like it, it’s because you’re stupid/crass/primitive/blind/wilful” type comment from Laurell K Hamilton? It seems so. Perhaps he should have grown a thicker skin himself.

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