USA Africa Dialogue Series - Arthur Krystal: Should Writers Reply to Reviewers?

"And while we're on the subject, let's put to rest another misconception: A bad review is not—I repeat, is not—better than no review at all. Where does such homiletic bunk come from? Yes, it's better to be indifferently noticed than completely neglected, but the law of diminishing returns kicks in once the reviewer begins to lord it over the book. And while a bad review will sell more books than no review at all, it will not sell many and certainly not enough to compensate the author for seeing his or her work publicly slighted or, worse, mangled."

- Arthur Krystal

Great, funny and insightful reading of book critics from a writer's standpoint. Many thanks to the dozens of African writers that sent this to me privately and anonymously with the helpful note: "Ikhide! Read this and weep, ignoramus olosi!"

Enjoy!

 

- Ikhide

 

Stalk my blog at www.xokigbo.com

Follow me on Twitter: @ikhide

Join me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ikhide