tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16051148.post5488391754181776836..comments2024-01-21T04:43:03.895+00:00Comments on The Cat Flap: PN 08Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16051148.post-66228516208956837352008-09-14T21:29:00.000+01:002008-09-14T21:29:00.000+01:00Reviews of poetry collections are especially diffi...Reviews of poetry collections are especially difficult and time consuming. Critics are dealing with a writer's heart, and, often, long years of dedicated work. <BR/><BR/>If the reviewer is conscientious and objective (through his acquired filter of what works and what doesn't, etc.), he runs the risk of hurting someone and, god knows, poets are sensitive, but it's that very sensitivity that makes some poets great, even immortal.<BR/><BR/>If the "critic" panders, the review is worthless to the reading public. It becomes nothing more than an advertisement, a litany of kudos that reads like blurbs written by strangers who are hired to praise. <BR/><BR/>Ideally, I think the best critics are those respected and well versed in their subject who might reside in a different county, state, or country and are not a friend, fan, acquaintance, or colleague of the poet. The critic should spend an inordinate amount of time reading and evaluating and writing about the writer's work.<BR/><BR/>Poetry reviews (and poems!) should appear regularly in newspapers, small and large, and in journals that are read by the masses (not just poets). And, good reviewers should be paid well because it's one tough job.<BR/><BR/>So, who reads poetry and poetry reviews? Well, right now, mainly poets. How can that be changed? That's the ultimate challenge.Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02519135582314362806noreply@blogger.com