Really interesting thoughts Josephine - it has reminded me that I used to review (back in the mists of time when I was a graduate student) and made me wonder if I almost have a duty to my fellow poets to say more when I post about books I'm enjoying. It is also the case that I don't always know if what I want to say is of enough value to share. I'm particularly loving Anthony Anaxagorou's Heritage Aesthetics at the moment and have wanted to share this online but keep starting and then giving up on trying to encapsulate the thoughts and feelings I have about the (mostly excellent) collection. Maybe I will try again.
I firmly believe that the basic problem is in assuming that reviews have to be evaluative, and that the reviewer is therefore setting themself up as a 'judge' or an authority. If people simply think of themselves making a thoughtful and personal (and truthful) response to the book, then it all becomes perfectly possible. D A Prince said at a discussion in Aldeburgh that she never wrote anything in a review that she wouldn't feel able to say to the poet if she met them in person. Another excellent principle!
Really interesting thoughts Josephine - it has reminded me that I used to review (back in the mists of time when I was a graduate student) and made me wonder if I almost have a duty to my fellow poets to say more when I post about books I'm enjoying. It is also the case that I don't always know if what I want to say is of enough value to share. I'm particularly loving Anthony Anaxagorou's Heritage Aesthetics at the moment and have wanted to share this online but keep starting and then giving up on trying to encapsulate the thoughts and feelings I have about the (mostly excellent) collection. Maybe I will try again.
Thanks for sharing :)
Challenge accepted
I firmly believe that the basic problem is in assuming that reviews have to be evaluative, and that the reviewer is therefore setting themself up as a 'judge' or an authority. If people simply think of themselves making a thoughtful and personal (and truthful) response to the book, then it all becomes perfectly possible. D A Prince said at a discussion in Aldeburgh that she never wrote anything in a review that she wouldn't feel able to say to the poet if she met them in person. Another excellent principle!