Ikhide deserves to be commended for what seems to me to be his commitment to the advancement of African Literature. What may be loosely described as my issue with his postings sometimes is that his criticism and commentary is mostly negative. It is possible to commend a literary work without agreeing with its author's posture or style. Chinua Achebe's Things fall Apart is widely acclaimed as a great book but Achebe has his critics. One hundred percent approval unanimity is not a requirement for great literary accomplishment.
I do suspect that Ikhide is mischaracterizing some who disagree with him sometimes as detractors when in fact they may not be. They simply do not agree with him sometimes and are assertive about their disagreement without being highly self-opinionated.
I do not believe that the book is dying. What seems to me to be happening is that the printed book is slowly giving way to the digital book. A similar change is happening with the print media. Information technology is changing how we live.
oa
Sent: Sunday, February 05, 2012 11:22 AM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Ikhide the Terrible (Book Critic)
i don't know anyone else who is blogging consistently about african literature, posting his opinions about what is coming out.
i teach african literature, a "professional," a "critic," etc etc. but you are one of a kind, and regardless of whether you like or dislike a book, are performing an invaluable cultural service, one that only the internet and your genes could have made possible.
even when i don't agree, i love your postings
KEEP IT UP!
ken
On 2/4/12 12:09 PM, Ikhide wrote:
--My detractors scoff at the idea that I am a critic. They are right; I am not a book critic. What I am is a consumer, a consumer of ideas. I read a lot of books and offer my views as a consumer of the books. If I like the book, I fawn all over the author. If I hate the book, I retch all over the book. It is my right, especially since I buy most of the books I comment on. I am a picky consumer, yes, that is what I am. I have a huge problem with being called a book critic because it assumes that all I do all day is sit around patiently waiting for someone to write a book so I can gleefully pee on the book. First of all, I don't think in the year 2012 people should be calling themselves "book critics"; that is so yesterday. The book is dying and ideas live everywhere now. We should have ideas critics. Let's start a new industry of media critics; there is money to be made in ether!
Read the rest of my rant here.
- Ikhide
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-- kenneth w. harrow distinguished professor of english michigan state university department of english east lansing, mi 48824-1036 ph. 517 803 8839 harrow@msu.edu--
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