“A book arrives that in the opinion of the reviewer outrages a principle of politics or philosophy or history or art, and will lead its readers into error or illusion, and will coarsen discourse or experience—for such are the stakes in books, the power of books, and the real nihilism is to deny it.”
Leon Wieseltier at The New Republic defends his own frequently “negative” criticism, specifically of Franzen’s Freedom.
One response
1. Perhaps book review readers should be more critical of the reviews.
2. TNR would not allow me to comment without subscribing. Tsk, tsk.
3. I just read “The Corrections” for the second time, and it was funny, but not overly impressive. I will definitely wait for a free copy of “Freedom.”
4. Malcolm Gladwell is indeed, half-assed, and I find him quite tedious to read.
5. If you lock me in a room and play The Beatles or Earth, Wind and Fire for 15 minutes, I will tell you anything you want to know JUST TO STOP THAT HIDEOUS SOUND.
Happy Friday!
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