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Faint Praise: The Plight Of Book Reviewing In America (Volume 1)
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For More Than Two Hundred Years, Book Reviewers Have Influenced American Readers, Setting Our Literary Agenda By Helping Us Determine Not Only What We Read But Also What We Think About What We Read. And For Nearly As Long, Critics Of These Critics Have Lambasted Book Reviews For Their Overpraise, Hostility, Banality, And Bias.Faint Praise Takes A Hard And Longoverdue Look At The Institution Of Book Reviewing. Gail Pool, Herself An Accomplished Reviewer And Review Editor, Analyzes The Inner Workings Of This Troubled Trade To Show How It Worksand Why It So Often Fails To Work Well. She Reveals Why Bad Reviewing Happens Despite Good Intentions And How It Is That So Many Intelligent People Who Love Books Can Say So Many Unintelligent Things On Their Behalf.Reviewers Have The Power To Award Prestige To Authors, Give Prominence To Topics, And Shape Opinion And Taste; Yet Most Readers Have Little Knowledge Of Why Certain Books Are Selected For Review, Why Certain Reviewers Are Selected To Review Them, And Why They So Often Praise Books That Arent All That Good. Pool Takes Readers Behind The Scenes To Describe How Editors Choose Books For Review And Assign Them To Reviewers, And She Examines The Additional Roles Played By Publishers, Authors, And Readers. In Describing The Context Of Reviewing, She Reveals A Culture With Little Interest In Literature, Much Antipathy To Criticism, And A Decided Weakness For Praise. In Dissecting The Language Of Reviews, Pool Demonstrates How It Often Boils Down To Unbelievable Hype.Pool Explores The Multifaceted World Of Book Reviewing Today, Contrasting Traditional Methods Of Reviewing With Alternative Book Coverage, From Amazon.Com To Oprah, And Suggesting How The More Established Practices Could Be Revised. She Also Explores The Divide Between Service Journalism Practiced By Reviewers Versus The Alleged High Art Served Up By Literary Criticsand What This Fuzzy Boundary Between Reviewing And Criticism Really Means.This Is The First Book To Analyze The Field In Depth, Weighing The Inherent Difficulties Of Reviewing Against The Unacceptable Practices That Undermine The Very Reasons We Readand Needreviews. Faint Praise Is A Book Not Just For Those Who Create And Review Books But Also For Everyone Who Loves Books. By Demystifying This Hidden Process, Pool Helps Everyone Understand How To Read Reviewsand Better Decide What To Read.
⚠️ WARNING (California Proposition 65):
This product may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
For more information, please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
- Q: How many pages does 'Faint Praise' have? A: This book has one hundred eighty-four pages. It provides an in-depth analysis of the book reviewing industry in America.
- Q: What is the binding type of 'Faint Praise'? A: The binding type is paperback. This format is lightweight and flexible, making it easy to handle.
- Q: What are the dimensions of 'Faint Praise'? A: The dimensions are six inches in length, zero point six inches in width, and nine point zero two inches in height. These measurements make it a convenient size for reading.
- Q: Who is the author of 'Faint Praise'? A: The author is Gail Pool. She is an accomplished reviewer and has extensive experience in the field of book reviews.
- Q: What genre does 'Faint Praise' belong to? A: The genre is non-fiction. It critically examines the practices and issues in book reviewing.
- Q: Is 'Faint Praise' suitable for all readers? A: Yes, it is suitable for all readers who love books. The book demystifies the reviewing process for everyone.
- Q: What themes are explored in 'Faint Praise'? A: Themes include the influence of book reviews on readers, the culture of literary criticism, and the flaws in the reviewing process. Pool provides insight into why reviews can often mislead readers.
- Q: What is the primary focus of 'Faint Praise'? A: The primary focus is on the institution of book reviewing in America. It analyzes its influence and shortcomings over the past two centuries.
- Q: Does 'Faint Praise' address modern reviewing practices? A: Yes, it contrasts traditional reviewing methods with alternative book coverage. Pool discusses how practices could be revised for better effectiveness.
- Q: How does 'Faint Praise' help readers? A: It helps readers understand how to interpret reviews. The book provides insights that can aid in deciding what to read.
- Q: Are there any notable critiques in 'Faint Praise'? A: Yes, Pool criticizes the overpraise and bias found in book reviews. She highlights how these issues undermine the purpose of reviews.
- Q: What can readers learn from 'Faint Praise'? A: Readers can learn about the behind-the-scenes processes of book reviewing. It sheds light on how books are selected and reviewed.
- Q: Is 'Faint Praise' based on personal experience? A: Yes, Gail Pool draws on her personal experiences as a reviewer and review editor. This provides a unique insider perspective.
- Q: What audience would benefit from reading 'Faint Praise'? A: Both aspiring reviewers and casual readers will benefit. It provides valuable insights into the world of book criticism.
- Q: Does 'Faint Praise' include examples of book reviews? A: Yes, it includes analysis and examples that illustrate the points made about reviewing practices. This enhances the reader's understanding.
- Q: What is the publication year of 'Faint Praise'? A: The publication year is not specified in the details provided. However, it is a recent exploration of an ongoing issue in book reviewing.