I’ve recently decided to start reviewing books again. This was kind of a spur-of-the moment decision. I got an email asking if I’d be interested, and shot back a “Why not?” before I remembered, “Oh yeah, I promised myself I’d never do that again.”
I started reviewing books for a fairly well-read newspaper as soon as I graduated with an undergrad degree in creative writing. The letters “B.A.”, I reasoned, made me perfectly capable of composing 500-word articles deeming a work worthy to be read or not. And so, for a few years, I composed a slew of what I thought were clever and thoughtful little critiques.
These days, when I get up the nerve to open my drawer full of old publications, I cringe at the sight of them.
Okay, they’re not all bad. Some are all right. But they’re certainly written by someone who has just spent four years in creative writing workshops, learning to ferret out everything that’s WRONG with a piece and line up these faults for all to see, like shamed prisoners en route to the guillotine.
Once I started to see what I was doing in my reviews, I gave up writing them. And I started to think hard about reviewing. What are reviews for? What makes a good reviewer? A poor one? I kept mulling this over as I published my first novel and watched the reviews crop up. A good one sent me flying (usually for celebratory chocolate). A scathing one left me inconsolable.
The thing is, we need book reviews. Especially now, when most newspapers have had their Books sections seriously trimmed or eliminated altogether. We need thoughtful reviewers to tell us where a book fits and who would enjoy it or not, and to give it context in the world. I don’t believe in praising books that don’t deserve it, but nor do I believe in slagging a book. I side with the editors who advise reviewers that if they can’t say anything nice, not to say anything at all. No reviews are almost as bad as negative ones, except it doesn’t tarnish a writer’s reputation.
And I think this is especially important now, when there are so few book reviews published — or at least, book reviews that get read by large numbers of readers. If an author gets slagged in one of, say, three reviews he gets, it could potentially take a toll on his career.
Maybe I’ve just gotten soft. But I’m okay with that. Now as I dip my toes back into the book reviewing waters, I’m feeling much more prepared for my role. Excited, even.
And you? Any thoughts on book reviews? I’d love to hear them.
