tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post2350482721885812213..comments2023-09-29T05:32:04.308-07:00Comments on StrangePegs: Taking Out the Trash ( a further reflection on objectivity)Andrew Leonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-4491937103288238332012-09-28T11:46:40.124-07:002012-09-28T11:46:40.124-07:00PT: Yeah, I agree with that to a certain extent, b...PT: Yeah, I agree with that to a certain extent, but I also think it's important to be explicit about whether it's a book you enjoyed or a book you thought was a good.<br /><br />L.G.: Well, yeah, it is okay to like whatever for whatever reason. What I'm saying is that we shouldn't try to make something into more than it is just because we like it. It's a great thing to like a book, but it's a better thing to know -why- we like a book.<br /><br />Sarah: Um... I don't agree with that at all. I like a lot of things I don't buy, so that wouldn't work for me. Also, I decide to not buy things that I know I might like but are also not worthwhile. Like buying candy. Sure, I'll like it, but there are better things.<br /><br />And you may be confusing literary criticism with paid reviewers? I don't know. Literary criticism is necessary and valid. We need people with the skills to look at the parts of what's written and explain why they work and what the author was doing. This is not the same as the "critics" who actually don't do criticism but are just being paid to give their opinions. Generally speaking, those people are no better at being objective about what they read than anyone else.<br /><br />What I'm saying is that we need more people that can approach books objectively, not that we need more "critics."<br /><br />David: I'm glad you liked it! Bookmark away!Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-14486008957530484572012-09-28T09:00:11.744-07:002012-09-28T09:00:11.744-07:00This is absolutely perfect. I'm the same way w...This is absolutely perfect. I'm the same way when it comes to reviewing. Even if something doesn't work, I look for the things that do. Bookmarking this post, yo! :)David P. Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17259276981865439853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-62459377321435668112012-09-28T05:29:09.705-07:002012-09-28T05:29:09.705-07:00Kristine Kathryn Rusch once talked on her blog abo...Kristine Kathryn Rusch once talked on her blog about how at the writing workshops she and her husband runs they only allow two valid responses when attendees read each other's work. <br /><br />1. I liked it and I would buy it.<br />2. I didn't like it and I wouldn't buy it. <br /><br />As far as I'm concerned any so called criticism that goes beyond that is entirely useless. And as I've said elsewhere, literary criticism has been harming literature for far too long now.Sarah McCabehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10985261436020635823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-32930836296181102402012-09-27T15:09:39.200-07:002012-09-27T15:09:39.200-07:00Subjectivity is such a difficult thing to nail dow...Subjectivity is such a difficult thing to nail down. There are so many variables in why we like or don't like something. It isn't always about an ideal in quality. Sometimes it's an emotional thing we feel for something. And I think that's okay. Writers are basically entertainers in my mind, and if someone finds a book entertaining, whether it's deemed to have prize-worthy writing or not, is a win. Luanne G. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15762881276976395955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7658526372996117205.post-33696328487127553932012-09-27T13:48:51.955-07:002012-09-27T13:48:51.955-07:00I think it's important to keep in mind the gen...I think it's important to keep in mind the genre and the audience of the book. When reviewing "The Hunger Games" I know it's not up there with "Ulysses" in the writing department, but it was an exciting read which I think was the point of it and it did a good job to cater to its audience. When I panned the latest Amanda Hocking book it was mostly because it wasn't as good as others of that genre, including self-published ones I'd read. Apples to apples as they say.PT Dillowayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09394481476862013009noreply@blogger.com