Does snark have a place in literary debate?

Books culture has to allow for negative reviews, but there's no need for hostility, knowingness and contempt

Maureen Dowd launched the latest round in the niceness wars at the weekend, with a biting attack on those who want to accentuate the positive by following Walt Disney's advice in Bambi that "if you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all". She starts by pouring scorn on Buzzfeed's new books editor, Isaac Fitzgerald, and his suggestion that the "theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds