From: Lindsay <linds_na>
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 09:57:49 -0700 (PDT)

In response to Brenda's question about ever "regretting" reviews ... my last reading of my own reviews before submitting them is always to make sure that this is a review I can live with. That means: is it true to my opinion today? If I feel differently in ten years, I still want to be able to look at my review and think: well, I did have a case for thinking that way, and I expressed it clearly and helpfully. Any review boils down to one person's well-informed perspective -- I read all reviews with this grain of salt, and expect other's to read mine this way. Then, there's no need for worrying about regret, if I can trust other's opinions enough to disagree with them respectfully, and others can do the same with mine.

This leads into Steven's question about testing out books on children before reviewing. Children have as varied opinions as adults do on books, and since I don't have enough time (who does?) to try out every book, I have to trust my own sense of what kids will like (and isn't this what we all do each day in our jobs?). When I have a specific question about a certain aspect or part of a book: that's when to take the time to solicit kid responses.

NIna


Nina Lindsay, Children's Librarian Melrose Branch, Oakland Public Library 4805 Foothill Boulevard Oakland, CA 94601
(510)535V23 linds_na at oak2.ci.oakland.ca.us
Received on Mon 14 Sep 1998 11:57:49 AM CDT