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Re: Captions
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From: Diane Foote <dianebfoote_at_gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:02:11 -0600
"What do reviewers do when they absolutely disagree about author's opinions?"
What a great question!
I can't remember disagreeing vehemently with the opinion of any author of a children's book I've reviewed, although it's probable that I will someday. However, I have disagreed vehemently with a few authors of adult books that have been sent to me for review. I generally review parenting and adoption books for adults for Booklist, and often such books deal with issues people care deeply about, and differ about.
I don't believe a reviewer must agree with an author's opinion in order to write a favorable review (although I'm sure it helps). It is analogous to a librarian purchasing materials s/he may not personally enjoy or agree with. A reviewer can/should consider to what extent the opinion is supported, if the writing is effective, etc.
Sometimes when I personally disagree with an opinion stated in a book I'm reviewing, I can simply describe the opinion, perhaps noting if it's controversial, or if it means the book will have a limited audience. In both cases a book may still be worth purchasing, especially for a public library charged with offering many viewpoints and opinions. The idea is to let readers of the review decide if it's a book they'd like to read/purchase. My Booklist review of NURTURESHOCK by Po Bronson (the book that was the basis for the recent Newsweek cover story "Is Your Baby Racist?") is a good example of this approach.
In other cases, however, I've rejected the book, meaning, in Booklist's case, that the book will not be reviewed. For example, in one book about adoption, the author stated a gross generalization about birthparents, one that is understandable (if regrettable) among the general population but is unacceptable for someone purporting to be an expert on the topic to hold. That is, it's his/her right to hold/state the opinion, but impossible for me to recommend the book containing it for purchase.
I'm trying to figure out what makes the difference for me regarding which books I can still recommend, while disagreeing, versus which ones I reject. I don't have a clear-cut answer for that (yet); perhaps like all reviewing it's somewhat subjective and the decision gets made on a case-by-case basis.
It occurs to me only now, at the end of this post, that the original question may pertain to opinions an author holds OUTSIDE of a published book. In my case, this type of book would be WILLIAM SAFIRE ON LANGUAGE. I don't agree with his political point of view, but I love reading his columns/books about language and would probably review them favorably if I ever had the opportunity. Foote
On Sun, Nov 15, 2009 at 12:31 PM, Ruth I. Gordon wrote:
Also--please reviewers carefully examine captions--especially in those glossy illustrated nonfiction offers. We might have stronger school texts if everyone did that.
--Big Grandma (who has edited, reviewed, written, and vetted more than one work)
What do reviewers do when they absolutely disagree about author's opinions?
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:02:11 -0600
"What do reviewers do when they absolutely disagree about author's opinions?"
What a great question!
I can't remember disagreeing vehemently with the opinion of any author of a children's book I've reviewed, although it's probable that I will someday. However, I have disagreed vehemently with a few authors of adult books that have been sent to me for review. I generally review parenting and adoption books for adults for Booklist, and often such books deal with issues people care deeply about, and differ about.
I don't believe a reviewer must agree with an author's opinion in order to write a favorable review (although I'm sure it helps). It is analogous to a librarian purchasing materials s/he may not personally enjoy or agree with. A reviewer can/should consider to what extent the opinion is supported, if the writing is effective, etc.
Sometimes when I personally disagree with an opinion stated in a book I'm reviewing, I can simply describe the opinion, perhaps noting if it's controversial, or if it means the book will have a limited audience. In both cases a book may still be worth purchasing, especially for a public library charged with offering many viewpoints and opinions. The idea is to let readers of the review decide if it's a book they'd like to read/purchase. My Booklist review of NURTURESHOCK by Po Bronson (the book that was the basis for the recent Newsweek cover story "Is Your Baby Racist?") is a good example of this approach.
In other cases, however, I've rejected the book, meaning, in Booklist's case, that the book will not be reviewed. For example, in one book about adoption, the author stated a gross generalization about birthparents, one that is understandable (if regrettable) among the general population but is unacceptable for someone purporting to be an expert on the topic to hold. That is, it's his/her right to hold/state the opinion, but impossible for me to recommend the book containing it for purchase.
I'm trying to figure out what makes the difference for me regarding which books I can still recommend, while disagreeing, versus which ones I reject. I don't have a clear-cut answer for that (yet); perhaps like all reviewing it's somewhat subjective and the decision gets made on a case-by-case basis.
It occurs to me only now, at the end of this post, that the original question may pertain to opinions an author holds OUTSIDE of a published book. In my case, this type of book would be WILLIAM SAFIRE ON LANGUAGE. I don't agree with his political point of view, but I love reading his columns/books about language and would probably review them favorably if I ever had the opportunity. Foote
On Sun, Nov 15, 2009 at 12:31 PM, Ruth I. Gordon wrote:
Also--please reviewers carefully examine captions--especially in those glossy illustrated nonfiction offers. We might have stronger school texts if everyone did that.
--Big Grandma (who has edited, reviewed, written, and vetted more than one work)
What do reviewers do when they absolutely disagree about author's opinions?
---Received on Sun 15 Nov 2009 10:02:11 PM CST
