Elisabeth Carvalho <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: I'm not too sure about the discussions that preceded, but I agree with Gilbert that the review of Holy Warriors by Pratap Mehta, is disingenuous to say the least. It is no secret that most reviewers earn their bread and butter, trying to be psuedointellectuals pontificating over material they themselves are incapable of putting together. Never having published anything of note, most reviewers spend their time in tiny offices (if they are lucky) at major publications writing out book reviews when they're not doing food reviews. As such, they are much like air stewardess' who having failed to launch their acting careers spend their life harassing passengers on discount airlines.
Dear Elisabeth, You have taken Pratap Mehta to task for what you consider to be specific flaws in his review, and that is your prerogative. But I do think you are wrong in stating that "most reviewers earn their bread trying to be pseudointellectuals... in tiny offices ... at major publications." Reviews of fiction, at least here in the USA, are written largely by freelancers who are handpicked by editors for having themselves been published; nonfiction books in specialised fields such as music are reviewed not in the popular press but in scholarly publications, by very knowledgeable people with excellent credentials. That has been my experience. I must also add that I have been flying since 1953, and have yet to meet the kind of air stewardess you describe. You must have had a terrible experience with one particular person, but in general I have found them to be very helpful even in quite stressful conditions. Regards, Victor __________________________________________________ _____________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list ([email protected])
