Should writers review?
Posted by elena | Posted in General, Literary musings | Posted on 27-10-2009
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If I were the type of person who liked to use graphs, I would draw you one showing the direct relationship between my decrease in blog posts and increase in working hours per week. Suffice to say I do not like graphs, and I believe I have effectively conveyed a basic rundown of what said graph may look like.
For those of you who aren’t aware, I recently did a guest post for the lovely Angela over at Literary Minded, on Mic Looby’s Paradise Updated. I’ve also read a few books, including The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Damned Good by Australian author JJ Deceglie (review will be up soon!) and Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer (again, review will be up soon).
I’ve also been making feeble attempts at my own writing, perhaps another excuse-errr, reason for my blog-neglecting. I was having a nice little chat to my creative writing tutor this evening after class, and mentioned how awkward it was to review my course coordinator’s novel. I am praying that he hasn’t, and will never, read it. I haven’t even met him, except over the odd email here and there. This got me thinking. After having your creative writing workshopped by twelve or so relative strangers plus your published author-tutor, you start to look at reviewing books in a new light. As soon as I start think myself of “a(n aspiring) writer”, it’s impossible for me to even begin to review another’s work. Who the hell am I to judge? Do I need to stop being “wannabe writer” Elena and go back to “judgemental book reviewer” Ms. Pulp? (Nickname from Sam Cooney – sorry mate, it seems to have grown on me.) I suppose Beryl Bainbridge will never read my review, but in hindsight I didn’t really have anything of value to say about the book and probably should have just left it alone.
To my fellow bloggers, are you in it purely for your love of books, or are you a writer at heart? And does this ever do your head in, particularly when you’ve got a harsh review to write? Should I just man up and publish my own writing on With Extra Pulp?
Currently Reading/Book-Bender
Ah, there’s nothing like living paycheque-to-paycheque (or is it paycheck-to-paycheck?) and spending your hard-earned money that was intended to go towards your own place on books.
I recently bought:
Snowed Under by Wender Kid German author Antje Ravic Strubel, which I’m also currently reading.
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman because, well it was on sale, and part of the Books Alive program, so I ALSO got a free copy of 10 Short Stories You Must Read This Year.
I bought Lolita by Vladmir Nabokov and have been DYING to sink my teeth in it as well as The Art of Fiction by David Lodge. Technically it’s an assigned text but Meh (yes, with a capital ‘M’).
I’m currently almost finished Proust’s second volume, In The Shadow of Young Girls in Flower, which is taking forever because, well, it’s friggin Proust. I don’t have to defend myself.
Also halfway through is Heliopolis by James Scudemore. Weird and entertaining so far.
And finally decided to read the Earthsea Quartet by Ursula Le Guin after recommendations from so many people. Still waiting to see what’s so amazing about it, but apparently its awesomeness will only be revealed once I have read a decent way through it.
Books I Got For Free
I received A Guide to Shorthand from my mother, and Life of Pi by Yann Martel from a good friend as birthday presents a few weeks ago. And my mum, who clearly has not forgotten my love of books, also gave me a brand new copy of Tootle, one of the Little Golden Books. This is how it went down.
Mum: Here you go, Happy Birthday!
Me: You already got me a present.
Mum: But you love this book.
Me: (looks at book) Ummm Mum I already have this book. I’ve had it for years.
Mum: Elena, Kelvin found that book in the gutter and brought it home.
Me: *silence*
Besides the reviews I promised, stay tuned for an upcoming Graphic Novel Week! There will be reviews, guest reviews from people who know more about the genre than myself, and also an interview with the authors of Blank: The Graphic Novel (you know, the one that’s entirely online?) It’ll be swell. Promise.
Elena! I’ve missed you!
Actually, I think that writers make the best critics, at least when it comes to critiquing things like writing (I’m forever editing books in my head as I read). I think that having been through so many writing workshops, I know what good writing is–even if I’m not always able to produce it myself.
Yes definitely! Writers know how hard it is to create something good, so can appreciate when a really great piece of writing is produced, as well as send up a collective groan for truly crap pulp fiction (ahem Twilight and Da Vinci Code – oh for the trees lost in your name).
PS – don’t look a gift gutter book in the mouth – maybe it was a book crossing??
I don’t know about reviewing the book in a definite form such as a blog post, but reviewing the book in their own head space is something that writers should do, definitely. Unless you get paid for it, or you really, really want your opinion out there on the interwoobles then writing reviews seems slightly pointless given the overwhelming tide of such reviews that exist around the place. But thinking critically of books is always a useful thing to do, and if a review is the way that that comes out then all the better. (:
Of your purchases I’ve read Gaiman’s latest (which I didn’t think was his greatest, but it was a fun read), and Lolita (which will blow your mind in the ways it uses the English language and sound). Happy reading!
@J.T.: Awwww thanks!
I’m glad you think so. Writing workshops are fun! (provided they aren’t soul-crushing). You make a good point about knowing what good writing is. And I guess we need to remember that writers do what they do for their readers as well as themselves.
@Lea: hahahaha yes, many trees have gone to waste over abominable books. I’ve been accused of being a snob for not liking Dan Brown but I turn my nose up at those people. ;)
@Phill: I hope my reviews aren’t pointless! I write them because I love thinking and writing about books. And I like to think I offer something unique in my reviews, but perhaps you disagree, in which case I would recommend that you don’t read any of my other posts :)
I’m hoping/expecting that Lolita will blow my mind. Thanks for your comment ^_^
Oh no, I didn’t mean to say that your reviews are pointless! I very much enjoy reading them. Looking at my comment it kind of comes out a bit harsh/unfounded. There’s value to writing reviews no matter who reads them, and where they are posted. I think I was just a bit grumpy yesterday. My apologies! (:
@Phill: Don’t worry I wasn’t offended or anything, and I understand the point you were making. I feel like gig reviews are pointless, which is why I stopped writing them. ^_^
Hola Elena,
It was great to meet you today (if only briefly)! And it’s great to see your snazzy work here!
From that little cover of The Great Gatsby, I must tell you that that classic was such a thrill to read, I couldn’t put it down… I only discovered it this year.
Actually, I wrote about it on my blog some time back.. thought you might like a lookie: http://thisisbridgetonsafari.blogspot.com/2009/06/jay-gatz-holly-golightly-and-elliot.html
xx Bridget.
Hi Bridget!
Thanks for dropping by! It was great to meet you today as well! Heading over to your blog now to have a looksee ^_^