On Reviewing and Reviewers

"Some have it at first for wits, then poet's passed,
Turned critics next, and proved plain fools at last."
A. Pope. 1688-1744

Reviewing is a skill, a craft, an art. A good review can send sales into astronomical figures. A bad review can spell death - sometimes quite literally as in a famous case (possible apocryphal) of a first time published author who, when given a bad review, committed suicide.

A reviewer may adore one book and then frown in perplexity over another that has made it to publication. In this business of writing we learn very early on that the selection and execution processes are subjective and imperfect and sometimes downright unfathomable.

Reviewing space is limited, particularly in the case of children's books. If your book isn't published by a large company, it's unlikely to even get a look-in. Yet reviews are particularly important when many school libraries are being reduced (some even disappearing), publishers going international and cutting local lists, good book shops finding it harder to stay afloat, and more young readers turning instead to blogging and chatting on the net. The truth is that unless you happen to be J.K. Rowling, or a famous criminal, movie, rock, or sport star who has just penned a book, for many writers these are perilous times.

I have judged a number of literary competitions, taken creative writing workshops, taught Writing for Children and Young Adults, written reviews, and it strikes me that all share certain qualities. What I mean by this is that all my judgements are subjective. Regardless of who the writer is, new or experienced, published or not yet published, I have learnt that each must be ‘handled with care'. There is a very funny scene in the film "Running with Scissors' where a ‘would be' poet destroys a fellow writer with some pungent comments. Most writers know what it is like to have a piece destroyed by careless or ill informed criticism. Whatever the quality of the piece, it is the writer's ‘baby' - the baby may need surgery to become acceptable; but intrinsic to all is the intent.

So what makes a good review? Too easy to dismiss a book that ‘doesn't strike a chord'. But then to our amazement, another reader loves it. Thank heaven for individual differences. We are all familiar with the reviewer who spends most of his precious space on his own ideas and only the last few paragraphs on the book s/he's supposed to be evaluating. Or the reviewer, who happens to be the writer's mate, and is therefore hardly objective. While a reviewer's dislike can be irrational, or actuated on ‘gut instinct, it can also occur because of unfamiliarity with the audience, or the writer's intention, misreading the text, or just being smart at the author's expense. I have learnt over the years that it is often the inexperienced reviewer who most often falls into these traps.

So I'd like to start with the suggestion that, similar to any workshop situation, that a reviewer who begins with a negative be given a sharp slap over the wrist. Reviewers who dislike a cover, or a new medium, or even as once happened in my case, the idea of using ‘teacher notes' as their primary criticism in a book intended for an educational market, needs to be reminded of the essentials of a good review. So here are some suggestions that I think should be followed:

1. Read the whole book. That is the very least you owe the author. You can't make a judgment on what they have done until you know all of it. Recognize the projected audience and the author's intentions.
2. Don't review in genres with which you are uncomfortable. ‘One man's meat is another's poison.' Cliched? But true. There is no point having someone who loves literary fiction condemn a novel aimed at reluctant boy readers who want lots of facts and fast paced action.
3. Outline the good points first. Only then criticize clearly but gently. A bad book takes as long to write as a good one. You can and should point out shortcomings or failures, but don't criticize the book for not being something it was never intended to be. Nor should you damn any book for its cover, illustrations, photos or addendum. The writer may have had little to do with them.
4. Know your guidelines. Some magazines and newspapers don't want plot summaries, some do. Some want you to recommend a book, others don't. If possible, compare the book to others in the genre. That helps any reader.
5. Be precise. If this is the best book you have ever read, say so, and say why. Find the words to say what you mean. The author did, and so should you.
6. Given that reviewing is always subjective, try and keep your personal biases out of it as much as possible. If that isn't possible, remember to state them in your opening paragraph.