Happy Reading

Being a book reviewer for many years I am always open to discovering a new author or a new topic. Many of my reviews in the past have been on contemporary authors whose main subject of attention is the mystery genre. These then have been the books and authors that garner the most attention from the constituency that I serve. When a patron approaches me at my place of business and comments on a previous review, I am encouraged to post more entries. Often, the readers will tell me about a new author they have just discovered and encourage me to read it.

As is the case with so many reviews, albeit books, music or restaurants, the efficacy of the review depends on who the reader is and who the writer is. It is very predictable to say that no one these days takes any review on any topic verbatim. Reviews are always subject to interpretation and for every positive review you read, undoubtedly there will be a negative to accompany it. My advice to those of you who read reviews is this. Unless you have actually read the book, eaten at the restaurant or listened to the album, don’t write a review and don’t take what you read as verbatim.

If you are someone who goes to the same restaurant each week and has a great meal one day, it does not necessary follow that you will have succeeding great meals every time you go. There are so many things which affect the outcome of the meal and they can change from moment to moment. So what to do?—See for yourself. Go to a restaurant that interests you and have a meal. If you feel inclined to write about it—do so. If a reader is motivated to try out the restaurant-so be it. They will come away with their own thoughts about their own experience, which may or may not be the same as yours.

As for this reviewer, I have always made it my mainstay to refrain from negative commentary. This is not to say that anything I have read, listened to or consumed has not been negative. Rather it is to offer readers an opportunity to explore the book for themselves.

Many years ago I had a reader give me a profusely negative comment about a book I had reviewed. My response to her was thank you. Number one, she was drawn to my blog. Number two, she had an opinion that differed from mine. Number three, she gave me pause to think about things from a different perspective. All good!

This then is my last entry in the book review blog. This is my tenth year. Although I have been retired for several years, I have continued giving reviews of contemporary books because I thoroughly enjoyed it. As of this juncture, it has become exceedingly difficult to discover titles or authors who are about offering promise and hope. Even some of the "tried and true" authors whose writings have been prevalent in my blog are not toeing the mark.

An article I read several years ago spoke about the fact that every story adheres to several basic templates. The characters, setting and plot may differ but there are several elements that remain stagnant. Rarely have I come across either a storyline or author who differs so drastically from the norm as to enlighten my experience. Lately, the storylines appear to be more mundane than ever.

My impetus then is to start writing The Great American Novel. Over the years I have compiled a list of topics and ideas and I am looking forward to putting those ideas down on paper.

Perhaps someone new will take over my slot here at the library. If not, you can explore other book reviewers throughout the web. Suggestions include Booklist, New York Times, and Amazon to name but a few.

It has been a great pleasure to write this blog and I will be forever grateful for the opportunity. It is entirely possible that I may have motivated someone else to write a blog as well. That is a good thing. In any event— to my loyal supporters and readers--Happy Reading!

Ladybookbug!