I really thought I'd have the review of The Most Dangerous Animal published today, but I am still digesting, still mulling it over. I have already begun reading the next book on my review list, An Ocean of Air, by Gabrielle Walker. Sometimes getting on to other things, putting heavy things on the back burner, letting them ferment a little, makes for a better review (or article, essay, story, poem) when it's finally written. And The Most Dangerous Animal is heavy.
So I used this evening, tired as I was after my day job, to do some research on the evolution (devolution?) of the book review. Though I'm too tired to go into any great detail, I was directed to an article by Steve Wasserman a couple of days ago, entitled "Goodbye to All That." It was depressing, inspiring and intimidating all at once. Sad to see the dumbing-down of society, the plummeting of literacy, and with/because of it, the gradual disappearance of the newspaper book review section. Inspiring to read that there are people still who value thoughtful, thorough reviews of literature, people who recognize the importance of literature and criticism. And intimidating because I know it is now increasingly up to people like me to provide them. That puts me on the spot. I feel like a schoolboy on the stage, deeply engaged and interested, even passionate, but so new to it all that I half seek, half dread, the spotlight.
There are a number of other writers expressing great concern over the erosion of book review sections. Art Winslow, in a post at the Huffington Post entitled "The New Book Burning," though perhaps a bit dramatic, also laments their ongoing collapse. And then there's the NYT article by Motoko Rich, "Are Book Reviewers Out of Print." It, while troubled by the changes in print book reviews, does try to point to literary blogs as perhaps a new incarnation, an evolution (not necessarily vertically) of the book review. Am inspired by the story of Dan Wickett though.
Anyway, I will continue to review here on this blog. In fact I intend, over the next little while, to greatly sharpen the focus of Workwork|play. I want to focus mainly on reviews here, moving forward, with the occasional reflection on writing itself. I realize I have tried to include far too many subject areas on this blog, often leading to a loss of focus. But more on that later.
More reviews are coming...
