Peer reviews, what's the point?
So many of my writer friends and colleagues have books out or coming out soon. It's an exciting time, but Spring 2013, when mine will probably appear, seems a long way away...
Vanessa Gebbie's novel 'The Cowards Tale' is published by Bloomsbury in early November; Tom Benn's novel 'The Doll Princess' is out in January and D.W. Wilson's 'Once You Break a Knuckle' collection of short stories is currently out to buy in Canada. Or on Amazon, of course.
So should writers review each other's work? And how about writers who know each other? Chris Cleave in The Guardian a couple of weeks ago thinks this is definitely problematic, which undoubtedly it is. But it's also a blurry area. Is it ethically dubious to review somebody's work if you have only exchanged friendly emails, met at a reading, had a drink together in a bar? On the subject of reviewing peers, he wrote: "The fear makes me honest about books I do like, and silent about books I don't."
David Maybury took the subject of whether writers should review other writers on his blog: "Personally, I believe that yes, they should, that it is part of a duty to literary engagement that every writer become involved." He believes that writers' generosity in this field has helped Childrens Books Ireland to thrive as well as the magazine that he co-edits, Inis , to grow a dedicated readership.
Perhaps I know D.W. and Tom too well to review their books and it mean anything. I did a year long MA with them and I drank, with Dave at least, in a year's worth of bars. Vanessa I have only met once, at a reading years ago, and she has been supportive of my writing since. She has also written a letter of recommendation for me (the one that helped me get into UEA in fact). Too close?
I like her and I like her writing, does that mean I struggle to be honest? And if so, do peer reviews have a point? I'm veering towards thinking so. Maybe they're not the most brutal reviews in the field, but the appreciation and respect for the writing and craft and work that's gone into books that they display counts for something. There's an understanding that makes the review worthwhile in a different way, I think.
Anyway, I plan to review Vanessa's here. I expect it to go places, this one. Vanessa is one of the most talented writers I've met, with or without the recommendation letter, and I expect to be blown away.
And I promise to be honest.
Vanessa Gebbie's novel 'The Cowards Tale' is published by Bloomsbury in early November; Tom Benn's novel 'The Doll Princess' is out in January and D.W. Wilson's 'Once You Break a Knuckle' collection of short stories is currently out to buy in Canada. Or on Amazon, of course.
So should writers review each other's work? And how about writers who know each other? Chris Cleave in The Guardian a couple of weeks ago thinks this is definitely problematic, which undoubtedly it is. But it's also a blurry area. Is it ethically dubious to review somebody's work if you have only exchanged friendly emails, met at a reading, had a drink together in a bar? On the subject of reviewing peers, he wrote: "The fear makes me honest about books I do like, and silent about books I don't."
David Maybury took the subject of whether writers should review other writers on his blog: "Personally, I believe that yes, they should, that it is part of a duty to literary engagement that every writer become involved." He believes that writers' generosity in this field has helped Childrens Books Ireland to thrive as well as the magazine that he co-edits, Inis , to grow a dedicated readership.
Perhaps I know D.W. and Tom too well to review their books and it mean anything. I did a year long MA with them and I drank, with Dave at least, in a year's worth of bars. Vanessa I have only met once, at a reading years ago, and she has been supportive of my writing since. She has also written a letter of recommendation for me (the one that helped me get into UEA in fact). Too close?
I like her and I like her writing, does that mean I struggle to be honest? And if so, do peer reviews have a point? I'm veering towards thinking so. Maybe they're not the most brutal reviews in the field, but the appreciation and respect for the writing and craft and work that's gone into books that they display counts for something. There's an understanding that makes the review worthwhile in a different way, I think.
Anyway, I plan to review Vanessa's here. I expect it to go places, this one. Vanessa is one of the most talented writers I've met, with or without the recommendation letter, and I expect to be blown away.
And I promise to be honest.
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