Blogcritics Comments on Treading The Waters Of Blogosphere Reviews

Comment by Kanani on Treading The Waters Of Blogosphere Reviews

Wed, 5 Mar 2008 23:16:50 EST

and do look at the National Book Critics blog, Critical Mass. There's a post about John Updike on the Safety of Criticism.

Comment by Kanani on Treading The Waters Of Blogosphere Reviews

Wed, 5 Mar 2008 23:04:07 EST

Dear Everyone, Thank you for your comments. Actually, I ended it with three links. Two are embedded in the article, the third is a reference to Christine Thomas of Literary Lotus blog, who writes excellent blurbs and reviews as well. I think for a lot of people, reviewing books is a way of sharing --not necessarily showing how much they know. Sometimes they take info right off the book jacket! But by and large, they're very excited and want you to know. Publishers love this, especially since the amount of money for PR is negligible (especially with first time authors), and few can go to someone a firm like Goldberg McDuffie. So bloggers now fill that role. I agree, there's a lot to be desired even in mainstream magazine and newspaper review sections. With the downsizing of newspapers and editorial departments are going some very good writers, and the sections just get smaller.

Comment by Matthew T. Sussman on Treading The Waters Of Blogosphere Reviews

Wed, 5 Mar 2008 21:02:02 EST

"The editor wrote me back... "your piece was a review." I responded, "No, it was a recommendation." Same cat, different breed. I guess I'll have to learn to meow better." Kind of odd to end a good article with a rumination on a rather clear-cut Blogcritics house style.

Comment by Mark Saleski on Treading The Waters Of Blogosphere Reviews

Wed, 5 Mar 2008 20:53:05 EST

as i've said before, part of the reason i took up writing was because i was really sick of "the jaded reviewer", where the writer has seen and heard it all and never, ever...has anything good to say. worse yet is the reviewer who has always disliked the "target" of the review and spends several paragraph coming up with clever ways to put the material down. sure, there are some poorly written things out on the blogger side of the net, but the 'legit' writer world isn't immune either.

Comment by Kevin Eagan on Treading The Waters Of Blogosphere Reviews

Wed, 5 Mar 2008 20:46:50 EST

Mark, The Death of The Critic sounds like an excellent book. And Kanani, thanks for the thoughtful analysis on the state of blog reviewers. I also find bloggers to be a mixed bag in terms of content, not just in reviews, but in other forms of commentary. For my part, I try to put the book or album in a social context when I write my reviews, and let the analysis fall in place. In a few years, I think we're going to see a lot more social commentary & scholarly analysis on the role of the blogger, and I love to read articles like this that start to set the tone.

Comment by Mark Saleski on Treading The Waters Of Blogosphere Reviews

Wed, 5 Mar 2008 20:24:43 EST

this is so weird. i get home. i read the paper. i read this review of the book The Death Of The Critic...and then i stumble on your article. syncronicity...or something.

Comment by James Carson on Treading The Waters Of Blogosphere Reviews

Wed, 5 Mar 2008 19:41:21 EST

Whether it's a review, an article or an opinion piece, I'm more inclined to seek out a writer's work if it's well written. Which is why I'll be looking out for more from you in future.