book reviews

A thorough, and thoroughly amusing, review explaining one person's nominee for "Worst Book Ever".

What makes a good book review? Obviously they should let you know if a book is worth spending money on, but should book reviews also entertain? Claire Armitstead thinks so, but some of her readers don’t. As a reader, or reviewer, where do you stand on the debate?

New York Times’ Dave Itzkoff has said a mouthful that’s got the online book community buzzing madly…or rather just buzzing mad. The offensive statement? “I sometimes wonder how any self-respecting author of speculative fiction can find fulfillment in writing novels for young readers… where’s the artistic satisfaction? Where’s the dignity?” Wow.

A fairly sane and decently written essay on the state of literary journalism, a.k.a. book reviewing. Good points raised and pondered on the lit crit versus blog review debate and a few of the other factors contributing to the decline of the worthwhile book review.

The London Review of Books is holding a competition for young reviewers that those under the age of 26 might be interested in entering. Closing date is June 2nd, 2008.

When a celebrity ghost-written book sells many more copies than the entire Booker list combined, it makes one wonder about the future of the literary novel…and about the quality of book reviews that lavish praise on less than worthy titles. The solution to literary back-scratching lies in the lit blogs, where new and refreshingly open conversations about books thrive.

Nancy Pearl (from NPR's Morning Edition) reviews 6 sci-fi/fantasy favorites.

As if professional book reviewers weren’t harsh enough in their condemnation of the written word, the new wave of reviewers—bloggers and Amazon ciritcs—are decimating the endeavors of writers. “Online democracy makes the fiercest professional critics look like toothless kittens.”

If getting your "words" out to a larger audience is something that has some interest to you, then the information I am about to share with you may help you accomplish that mission. If the word “FREE” is at the top of your vocabulary and budget then we are a good match!

Is the literary apocalypse upon us? Sure, the newspapers' book review sections are dwindling, but does this indicate a decline in literary culture or merely point out that print media is being threatened by an increasingly electronic milieu wherein all might have their say?