Reviews
Thanks, Susan, for taking the time to say a few words about Trials of Edgar Poe. If I were still actively reviewing, your kindness would prevent me from saying what I really think about The Best Disguise in print for fear of raising people's suspicions....! I admire the book a lot & hope others are stepping in to give it the critical attention it deserves.
I think the best reviews help clarify what a book is about, how it's written, what the writer's perspective is, rather than issue a summary judgment. Beyond miscellaneous pieces, I reviewed poetry regularly for Pleiades (8 years) & Antioch Review (most issues from '99-'09). I thought of myself not as someone upholding standards but as an experienced reader condensing my encounter with someone's collection into 500 or so words.
Reviewing in any forum is very important--especially when you consider all the very good collections that go unreviewed or insufficiently noticed.
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