don't leave me asking for more

[seraphcelene]

Kurt Vonnegut died yesterday at the grand old age of 84. I’d like to feel sad that he died, and in a way I am because the world just lost an amazing human being. On the other hand, Kurt Vonnegut made an awesome run of it. His life and his work were spectacular examples of human potential realized.

lostakasha has beautiful things to say and some things that are not quite as shiny.

Thinking about KV and freedom of speech and the like I started to think about an argument I had yesterday with a book reviewer. I’m not going to go into the details except to wonder if my expectations for well written book reviews are out of line. Just because a book is beautifully written should I expect a review of the book to also be well written? Am I making a presumption when I critique the writing in your review the way that you critique the writing in the book?

Joyce Carol Oats, long ago, opted not to write negative reviews. When it comes to fanfiction I agree. This is for fun, not profit and you don’t owe me anything. Books ... well, people buy books and people make a living from writing books.



Personally, I don’t trust the masses of writers that seem to be publishing, so I fall back on reviews to help me determine if I’ll be buying a book, checking it out at the library or bothering with it all. Part of my agreement with the book reviewer is that you know enough about books and the craft of writing to be articulate about what works and doesn’t work. I agree to trust your word because I assume that you have a good grasp of literature and, in most cases, the English language. But that’s not always the case and it’s okay. You don’t have to have an advanced degree or a large vocabulary. You don’t have to dress your words up in a coat and tails, be basic tell what you liked and what you didn’t like. Tell me in plain English, you don’t have to qualify anything or use one single solitary clause if you don’t want to or if you don’t know how. Oh, and you’ve got to be objective. I want a review where the reviewer reads, takes a step back, contemplates, and then writes the review.

But maybe I’m asking for too much.



And we also have today's poem that is not actually a poem at all; it's a song.



Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup,
They slither while they pass, they slip away across the universe
Pools of sorrow, waves of joy are drifting through my open mind,
Possessing and caressing me.
Jai guru de va om
Nothing's gonna change my world,
Nothing's gonna change my world.

Images of broken light which dance before me like a million eyes,
That call me on and on across the universe,
Thoughts meander like a restless wind inside a letter box they
Tumble blindly as they make their way
Across the universe
Jai guru de va om
Nothing's gonna change my world,
Nothing's gonna change my world.

Sounds of laughter shades of earth are ringing
Through my open views inviting and inciting me
Limitless undying love which shines around me like a
million suns, it calls me on and on
Across the universe
Jai guru de va om
Nothing's gonna change my world,
Nothing's gonna change my world.

Comments

[gloss]

I don't think you're expecting too much from the book reviews, but I'm probably not the best person to opine on such things. *g*

[seraphcelene]

of course you are!! I love your opinions. You're articulate and intelligent!

[lostakasha.livejournal.com]

I want a review where the reviewer reads, takes a step back, contemplates, and then writes the review.

Word.

And thank you... it's been quite a day. :)

[seraphcelene]

*smooch*