Review of a book about book reviewing.

disputantum

16 years ago

At The New Republic:

First the editors' rant: The Battle of the Book

Next the review: Critical Condition

I logged off the site and could read the articles, so if anyone has a problem I don't know what it is.

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Comments (5)

veer
16 years ago
joseph, no problem reading the articles but I do wonder if James Wolcott is paid per word; such verbosity.
Do RP'ers glean most of their choices from book reviews on Amazon? I tend only to go there as a site of last resort preferring to get recommendations for new work from the weekend 'Books' sections of the 'quality' UK newspapers. Word-of-mouth is no good in this neck of the woods as I don't know anyone who reads anything more demanding than women's mags.
woodnymph2_gw
16 years ago
I for one do not go to Amazon to read book reviews, or only rarely. Like Vee, I get my suggestions via word of mouth (friends) or in the "books" sections of "quality" newspapers.
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I have been thinking about your inquire for a couple days Pablo, and have a few thoughts to throw out in the ethers. These are my opinions and observations, for I have not read the book you have spoken of. From all I have learned the best way to deal with soil borne diseases is to have a healthy soil. A healthy soil with adequate organic matter as well as a healthy microbe population with plenty of carbon/nitrogen (food/fuel) to maintain said "herd" balance. Since the microbe herd feeds on all organic matter, any disease organisms will be attacked and fed upon like everything else. In this way any disease is kept in check/minimized to my understanding. The question then becomes what happens when a gardener injects/sprays a booming population of new organisms incorporated within ACT into said soil or on plants? IMO, the balance is completely wiped out through this addition of microbes. Until the balance is again reached, one that the soil can sustain without added amendments there will be chaos in said soil. All carbon/nitrogen will be immediately consumed by this migration of new tenants, thus there will be now a need for additional organic matter to maintain this new level of microbes. Any soil borne disease is given a "get outta jail free card" until such time as they are again seen as food for consumption. This has been my one issue with ACT, and I have yet to see any answer to the question; "How is this massive addition of micro-organisms good for the soil unless more organic matter is added as well"? Air borne diseases are a different monster; and as I have said I deal with them for the most part with milk. For my observations ACT is very good for my plants, they grow larger and healthy when mixed with the proper amendments. Humic and Folic acids aid in dealing with insects and aid in the manufacture of nutritional food; and I have a "fire breathing dragon" to covenant with all other mammals that make the mistake of thinking I grow vegetables for them as well. With well-cured compost my garden grows well. My neighbors testify with their complains of diseases/pests found here; I have no such problem with themÂ Blutranes
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carolyn_ky
16 years ago
I only go to Amazon to order or to look up a book or an author. I get recommendations here, from bookclub brochures, from friends, or by browsing in the bookstores and library.

My daughter and I drove to Lexington (75 miles away) on Saturday to go to a wonderful independent bookstore, theoretically to buy a gift card for someone on my Christmas list, but we spent quite a lot of time looking at books (I only bought two), checking out the stationery and gift item shelves, and eating lunch in the cafe beside an open fire. It's enough to make me cry that we no longer have such a shop in town.
georgia_peach
16 years ago
I rely on a variety of sources. I prefer to read opinions from all walks of life, rather than limiting to a certain venue, group or class of people.

For ideas on what to read, I visit bulletin boards, a few bloggers and reviewers, and rely on word-of-mouth.

I try to save critical reviews for after I've read a book; then I'll look for newspaper and online reviews. I find it helps to get some perspective and context on the reviewer. So when I read Amazon reviews, I look at the other books that person has reviewed to get a sense of what that person's worldview or personal slant on things may be. I much prefer an open-ended dialogue with other readers than critical reviews, though. I'm not a student anymore. I'm just a middle-aged woman in search of a good book to read.
disputantum
Original Author
16 years ago
Forgot: The Judge, review of a book of reviews by a book reviewer, in the same issue.

I read reviews, but I rarely use them for a Consumer Reports-style buying guide. The long ones, like the two I posted, usually provide as much as I want to read on a topic.

Review of a book about book reviewing.

Comments (5)

veer

woodnymph2_gw

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Review of a book about book reviewing.

Comments (5)

veer

woodnymph2_gw

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carolyn_ky

georgia_peach

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