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Re: Discouraged by new book

Good afternoon everyone,
I've just re-read Jeff's post that got us all going. ...appropriately very basic, almost text book style and form...

I think there is a distinction to be made here between a "text" book and an "interest" book- if we can have those very general divisions. Let's go away from our collective areas of expertise. Suppose you read both the daVinci Code and The Dead Sea Scrolls, An English Translation in which there was commentary by a very well respected theologian. Would you review them from the same perspective? Would you review the first with the idea that it is a theological treatise put forward to the masses in the guise of a mystery thriller or would you review it as a piece of entertaining fiction with some interesting questions? How would you approach the second? What if you don't agree with the conclusions of this eminent academician? Does content become more important than style and form?


Also, I confess I'm an inexperienced reviewer which automatically means I've a lot to learn. What is the purpose of a review? To boldly give your opinion of the book? (and yes, you grammarians, Star Trek's intro has corrupted me.) To give my opinion of its benefits to readers which might be different from the first? To discuss whether or not the purpose of the book has been satisfied?

Suppose I read a book and like 95% but there is one aspect about it that I don't like, and I don't mean a spelling error or a typo, something significant. Do I let it go by? The posts, with one exception that I've found, seem to split this group into two very distinct groups: tell only the good stuff and let the bad stuff wither away from lack of publicity (which BTW, means you'll find it at boxstore book outlet in the bargain bin) or tell it like it is and incur the wrath of editors and fellow writers until eternity. For a new guy, it's tough to choose what we as a profession think is the best way.

I suppose this leads to another question- who should be reviewing any particular book? A professional reviewer who may or may not know much about gardening? A green trade professional with expertise in the same area as the book's topic but doesn't know much about writing? Anybody who writes the author for a book to review?
Does the author have a say in who does the reviews? Could they say, "Please don't give Dan Clost a copy because I don't like what he says."?

jes muddlin thru this one
Dan
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