John,
I agree that it is completely appropriate for a reviewer to know the author she/he is reviewing. I didn’t say anything to contradict that, or mean to, when I said that an Amazon review and a journal review are different birds.
I look at it this way: When established writers publish books, The Times of New York finds it nearly impossible to come up with a “neutral reviewer” of any standing. The bigger the name, I assume, the more impossible it is to come up with someone who doesn’t know, or couldn’t gain by praising or slamming, the name.
Few of us are well known. We're poets, damn it! It's easy to get people to review us from Palookaville. But it's okay, in my book, if reviewers know the reviewed. Concentric circles, in fact, indicate a level of familiarity and understanding that is rare in Palookaville circles.
Also, I’m a trusting sort. So, when I read Susan’s review of David’s book at Amazon, I assume she is giving it to me straight. That’s just the way I am.
With a firm handshake across the Atlantic!
Rick
Last edited by Rick Mullin; 01-04-2011 at 10:16 PM.
Reason: Remembering how the Internet works with humor, I deleted my joshing with John about his anglocentric weltanschauung.
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