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RE: Up for discussion in November: Reviewers Choice? Reading (and Writing) Professional Reviews
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From: Cynthia Grady <gradyc_at_sidwell.edu>
Date: Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:51:13 -0500
I read reviews in about 6+ journals every month with middle schoolers in mind. And I've written reviews for publication on and off for about 10 years. When a book of fiction or poetry receives varied reviews, I have a few strategies to help me with purchase decisions. First, I review the reviews. If the review itself is not a work of excellence, I will disregard the reviewer rather than the book under review, but I will have to keep looking before I make the purchase. If a book receives a lukewarm review in one journal and if the favorable review is not specific in its analysis, I won't buy the book.
For the most part, I wish reviewers (of fiction) were more specific. I would like to see a reviewer: analyze the book in the context of similar works, and in the context of the author's body of work; analyze the writing style in relation to the piece-- is the point of view chosen the best one? Is free-verse (or whatever) the best format for the subject of the poem? What about setting? How does it effect plot or characterization? While we have to include a plot summary, I would rather that be a sentence or two and the rest be literary analysis.
I find, myself included, that reviewers of fiction use a short-hand-- "thinly drawn secondary characters" for example. While we all know what that means, it isn't exactly useful, except as a kiss of death. Like a two-dimensional, flat painting in a picture book, a 'thinly drawn character' might be just the right thing for a story, depending on who is telling the story and how it is being told, and what kind of story it is. And if the characters are flat, or the setting is not memorable, I wish the reviewer would tell how that is so and what that means to the story. If it is meant to be a condemnation of the piece, then say so.
As a reviewer, I want to be respectful of the writer and what has been created, and I always have trouble writing about a book that doesn't hold up to literary standards. But, literary standards exist, and it's the reviewer's job to let us know how the books fare. As a school librarian with limited time and money, I want the reviewer to be direct and specific.
I've gone on too long, and haven't said anything about reviews for nonfiction works, but maybe another day.
grady
Cynthia Grady, Head Librarian Sidwell Friends Middle School 3825 Wisconsin Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016 (202) 537 - 8157 gradyc_at_sidwell.edu
Message-----
From: Kathleen T. Horning
Sent: Monday, November 09, 2009 1:47 PM To: ccbc-net ccbc-net Subject:
Up for discussion in November: Reviewers Choice? Reading (and Writing) Professional Reviews
Our topic for discussion for the first part of November is Professional Reviews, as described below: ** Book reviews are often the go-to resource for librarians as they decide on which of the newest books published for children and teens to purchase. But a book that receives a starred review in one journal may have underwhelmed a reviewer for another. How do you navigate the sometimes varied opinions about a book? What information do you find most helpful when reading professional reviews? Is there information you wish would be covered more thoroughly? If you write reviews, what kinds of things do you think about as you carry out the responsibility
of assessing the quality and potential usefullness of titles? We want your opinion on what makes a good book review during the first half of
November. Certainly discussion of issues concerning authenticity and stereotyping,
as raised a few days ago by Debbie Reese, are an important part of this discussion, so please feel free to continue with this thread, as well as
any more general comments you want to make about how you use reviews for
book selection.
Later this month we'll talk about some of the trends we have observed in
children's and YA books published in 2009, and in December, we'll ahve our usual round-up of favorites of the year. I encourage you to share your recommendations of outstanding books at that time.
Cheers, KT
Kathleen T. Horning Director Cooperative Children's Book Center 4290 Helen C. White Hall 600 N. Park St Madison, WI 53706
Phone: 608-263-3721 FAX: 608-262-4933
horning_at_education.wisc.edu http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
Nancy Bo Flood wrote: Thank you, Debbie,
On the Through the Tollbooth blog that begins tomorrow, Monday, I do emphasize your comments made about the continued presence of stereotyping of American Indians in Peter Pan in Scarlet. I hope readers will comment and add insights - or objections.
Someone asked about topics of discussion for this month since there was some amount of "open time." I suggest that in honor of the discussion begun by Debbie Reese, we continue to celebrate Native American books that are done well, that are written by or illustrated by Native Americans or Alaskan Natives. A few months ago we all described a favorite character. Perhaps this week we could each describe a favorite book. We could each read a recommended book to our students or children.
It is Native American month and though I am not a fan of "token months," this week while our President is meeting with tribal leaders
from across the country, we could celebrate as well. Given the paucity of books by Native Americans available in libraries and in bookstores, we could each request one from our local library and/or bookstore.
Nancy Bo Flood
Date: Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:51:13 -0500
I read reviews in about 6+ journals every month with middle schoolers in mind. And I've written reviews for publication on and off for about 10 years. When a book of fiction or poetry receives varied reviews, I have a few strategies to help me with purchase decisions. First, I review the reviews. If the review itself is not a work of excellence, I will disregard the reviewer rather than the book under review, but I will have to keep looking before I make the purchase. If a book receives a lukewarm review in one journal and if the favorable review is not specific in its analysis, I won't buy the book.
For the most part, I wish reviewers (of fiction) were more specific. I would like to see a reviewer: analyze the book in the context of similar works, and in the context of the author's body of work; analyze the writing style in relation to the piece-- is the point of view chosen the best one? Is free-verse (or whatever) the best format for the subject of the poem? What about setting? How does it effect plot or characterization? While we have to include a plot summary, I would rather that be a sentence or two and the rest be literary analysis.
I find, myself included, that reviewers of fiction use a short-hand-- "thinly drawn secondary characters" for example. While we all know what that means, it isn't exactly useful, except as a kiss of death. Like a two-dimensional, flat painting in a picture book, a 'thinly drawn character' might be just the right thing for a story, depending on who is telling the story and how it is being told, and what kind of story it is. And if the characters are flat, or the setting is not memorable, I wish the reviewer would tell how that is so and what that means to the story. If it is meant to be a condemnation of the piece, then say so.
As a reviewer, I want to be respectful of the writer and what has been created, and I always have trouble writing about a book that doesn't hold up to literary standards. But, literary standards exist, and it's the reviewer's job to let us know how the books fare. As a school librarian with limited time and money, I want the reviewer to be direct and specific.
I've gone on too long, and haven't said anything about reviews for nonfiction works, but maybe another day.
grady
Cynthia Grady, Head Librarian Sidwell Friends Middle School 3825 Wisconsin Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016 (202) 537 - 8157 gradyc_at_sidwell.edu
Message-----
From: Kathleen T. Horning
Sent: Monday, November 09, 2009 1:47 PM To: ccbc-net ccbc-net Subject:
Up for discussion in November: Reviewers Choice? Reading (and Writing) Professional Reviews
Our topic for discussion for the first part of November is Professional Reviews, as described below: ** Book reviews are often the go-to resource for librarians as they decide on which of the newest books published for children and teens to purchase. But a book that receives a starred review in one journal may have underwhelmed a reviewer for another. How do you navigate the sometimes varied opinions about a book? What information do you find most helpful when reading professional reviews? Is there information you wish would be covered more thoroughly? If you write reviews, what kinds of things do you think about as you carry out the responsibility
of assessing the quality and potential usefullness of titles? We want your opinion on what makes a good book review during the first half of
November. Certainly discussion of issues concerning authenticity and stereotyping,
as raised a few days ago by Debbie Reese, are an important part of this discussion, so please feel free to continue with this thread, as well as
any more general comments you want to make about how you use reviews for
book selection.
Later this month we'll talk about some of the trends we have observed in
children's and YA books published in 2009, and in December, we'll ahve our usual round-up of favorites of the year. I encourage you to share your recommendations of outstanding books at that time.
Cheers, KT
Kathleen T. Horning Director Cooperative Children's Book Center 4290 Helen C. White Hall 600 N. Park St Madison, WI 53706
Phone: 608-263-3721 FAX: 608-262-4933
horning_at_education.wisc.edu http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
Nancy Bo Flood wrote: Thank you, Debbie,
On the Through the Tollbooth blog that begins tomorrow, Monday, I do emphasize your comments made about the continued presence of stereotyping of American Indians in Peter Pan in Scarlet. I hope readers will comment and add insights - or objections.
Someone asked about topics of discussion for this month since there was some amount of "open time." I suggest that in honor of the discussion begun by Debbie Reese, we continue to celebrate Native American books that are done well, that are written by or illustrated by Native Americans or Alaskan Natives. A few months ago we all described a favorite character. Perhaps this week we could each describe a favorite book. We could each read a recommended book to our students or children.
It is Native American month and though I am not a fan of "token months," this week while our President is meeting with tribal leaders
from across the country, we could celebrate as well. Given the paucity of books by Native Americans available in libraries and in bookstores, we could each request one from our local library and/or bookstore.
Nancy Bo Flood
---Received on Mon 09 Nov 2009 03:51:13 PM CST
