Comments by Alexander Rothenberg Most recent public comments by Alexander Rothenberg https://nowcomment.com/users/23422 The editors are the ones who make things happen for the reviews. They put all the pieces together. They connect the right book to the right reviewer. https://nowcomment.com/documents/56405?scroll_to=636839 https://nowcomment.com/documents/56405?scroll_to=636839 Mon, 12 Dec 2016 19:47:40 -0500 I also agree, reviews hold a specific point of view of a certain place in time. It is important to look back and learn from these past reviews. https://nowcomment.com/documents/56403?scroll_to=636838 https://nowcomment.com/documents/56403?scroll_to=636838 Mon, 12 Dec 2016 19:41:09 -0500 Audiences of the publication house tend to determine what books will be reviewed. These books could either be garbage or masterpieces. https://nowcomment.com/documents/56358?scroll_to=636837 https://nowcomment.com/documents/56358?scroll_to=636837 Wed, 14 Dec 2016 00:09:28 -0500 A verdict just establishes the reviewer's opinion. However, evidence of the opinion needs to be present, along with feedback on what the author could have done better. https://nowcomment.com/documents/56357?scroll_to=636835 https://nowcomment.com/documents/56357?scroll_to=636835 Mon, 12 Dec 2016 19:30:17 -0500 Sounding authoritative might be mistaken for pretentiousness. While knowledgeable, the reviewer has to appeal to a wider audience sometimes and being too authoritative might push people away. https://nowcomment.com/documents/56401?scroll_to=636830 https://nowcomment.com/documents/56401?scroll_to=636830 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 21:09:26 -0500 I don't think that the editor agonizes too much over which books to review, rather the person who will review it. The best candidate may not always be the right candidate. https://nowcomment.com/documents/56400?scroll_to=636829 https://nowcomment.com/documents/56400?scroll_to=636829 Tue, 13 Dec 2016 07:23:37 -0500 I agree, which makes the job of reviewing even more difficult. As there are only so many well-written reviewers and so many that are knowledgeable. Along with deadlines and other obstacles, it must be impossible to always find the perfect candidate for https://nowcomment.com/documents/56400?scroll_to=636828 https://nowcomment.com/documents/56400?scroll_to=636828 the review. Tue, 13 Dec 2016 07:22:50 -0500 This phrase is indicative of reviews that say only good or bad things without any actual critique. As far as reviews come. Readers want to be engaged and have substance to the points the reviewer is making rather than just seeing "it's great." https://nowcomment.com/documents/56402?scroll_to=636827 https://nowcomment.com/documents/56402?scroll_to=636827 Mon, 12 Dec 2016 19:06:11 -0500 With writing short reviews you have to say alot without writing alot. You can not go into as much detail as a long review can. https://nowcomment.com/documents/56401?scroll_to=636826 https://nowcomment.com/documents/56401?scroll_to=636826 Mon, 12 Dec 2016 19:00:41 -0500 Time will never be on the reviewer's side because most times the reviewer is not doing just one thing. In the case of book reviewing, a reviewer may be doing multiple books. Having to read multiple books and write thoughtful reviews for each is a https://nowcomment.com/documents/56401?scroll_to=636824 https://nowcomment.com/documents/56401?scroll_to=636824 Difficult task. Deadlines for these also pressure the reviewer, causing for somethings being overlooked within the books being reviewed. Mon, 12 Dec 2016 18:47:34 -0500 True, yes that makes more sense. https://nowcomment.com/documents/56400?scroll_to=636823 https://nowcomment.com/documents/56400?scroll_to=636823 Mon, 12 Dec 2016 18:42:18 -0500 The reason given is that Assia made the first move. Whether that is actually true is still a mystery, I feel like. As there were bias in the reporting. https://nowcomment.com/documents/56408?scroll_to=629480 https://nowcomment.com/documents/56408?scroll_to=629480 Sat, 03 Dec 2016 20:49:35 -0500 A femmer fatale is a mysterious and seductive woman who lures their lover into risky situations. Hughes blames his relationship failings on Assia, portraying her negatively. In reality it's Hughes's desperation for novelty that is the problem. https://nowcomment.com/documents/56408?scroll_to=629479 https://nowcomment.com/documents/56408?scroll_to=629479 Sun, 04 Dec 2016 06:19:46 -0500 Everyone's taste is different and it is nearly impossible to be completely objective. So reviewes may vary depending on the reviewer. That being said, an author's work/career could be on the line from said reviews. https://nowcomment.com/documents/56400?scroll_to=621363 https://nowcomment.com/documents/56400?scroll_to=621363 Mon, 12 Dec 2016 18:42:18 -0500 The way Pool sees book reviewing, is that not many are equipped to handle it. Meaning that being assigned a book to review may not mean you are versed in the subject matter. So the editors who assign the reviewes may just go with the best writers, who may https://nowcomment.com/documents/56400?scroll_to=621362 https://nowcomment.com/documents/56400?scroll_to=621362 The way Pool sees book reviewing, is that not many are equipped to handle it. Meaning that being assigned a book to review may not mean you are versed in the subject matter. So the editors who assign the reviewes may just go with the best writers, who may not be the most knowledgeable. Mon, 21 Nov 2016 06:52:50 -0500 This bothered Pool because going into a review like this, takes away from the experience. With only focusing on what you're going to say instead of the contents within the book, it is hard to review the book as a whole. https://nowcomment.com/documents/56359?scroll_to=621361 https://nowcomment.com/documents/56359?scroll_to=621361 Mon, 12 Dec 2016 17:43:16 -0500 Those who get hired as revieweres might have a knack for writing, however lack critical prowess. https://nowcomment.com/documents/56359?scroll_to=595654 https://nowcomment.com/documents/56359?scroll_to=595654 Thu, 20 Oct 2016 07:54:33 -0400 The reviewers https://nowcomment.com/documents/56359?scroll_to=595653 https://nowcomment.com/documents/56359?scroll_to=595653 From what Pool states, reviewers are of many other professions. Some are lawyers, authors, editors, professors, etc. There are some that Pool considers to be professional, salaried reviewers belonging to a publication. This is an important question for Pool because reviewers can be anyone, Pool does not want people to be steered away from reviewing because they believe they need certain degrees. Sat, 15 Oct 2016 19:17:16 -0400 This important fact fits well at the end because it leaves the reader with a thought provoking conclusion. Rather than just another event listed throughout, it builds to this and is more impactful. https://nowcomment.com/documents/56408?scroll_to=591125 https://nowcomment.com/documents/56408?scroll_to=591125 Tue, 11 Oct 2016 08:47:00 -0400 World vs marriage https://nowcomment.com/documents/56408?scroll_to=589975 https://nowcomment.com/documents/56408?scroll_to=589975 Using the word "world" in this instance, gives the relationship a mythical presence. It's usage, coincides well with the quote from Ted Hughes. Sat, 08 Oct 2016 21:57:01 -0400 ... https://nowcomment.com/documents/56358?scroll_to=585380 https://nowcomment.com/documents/56358?scroll_to=585380 Pool's answer addresses that, the book page, if part of a larger publication, will review based on the publications views. So in that case, whatever the audience of that publication is, will be reviewed. Which could be poorly written books of mass appeal or niche interest books. Wed, 14 Dec 2016 00:09:28 -0500 The statement is hard to stay, for the reason that, there is no discernable point in time when book reviewing was thought as useful. Pool states that eversince it's birth, book reviewing has been lamented. Pool gives numerous examples starting from 1800. https://nowcomment.com/documents/56357?scroll_to=581240 https://nowcomment.com/documents/56357?scroll_to=581240 Fri, 23 Sep 2016 06:24:15 -0400 The view of Anne Frank the writer, rather than victim, gives new perspective to an unfamiliar aspect of her life. Prose changed the reviewers mind, to see the diary as a meticulously thought out work of art full of emotion. https://nowcomment.com/documents/56406?scroll_to=573658 https://nowcomment.com/documents/56406?scroll_to=573658 Wed, 14 Sep 2016 12:52:34 -0400 The inclusion of witty and dumb in this instance, is to showcase the skills Monroe had as an actress.She was a very confident person, who also didn't take herself too seriously, as opposed to her acting teacher Lee Strasberg. https://nowcomment.com/documents/56356?scroll_to=569677 https://nowcomment.com/documents/56356?scroll_to=569677 Sun, 25 Sep 2016 15:29:16 -0400 The last paragraph does a great job of summarizing all the previous content, in few words. It tells the reader who would actually benefit from reading the biography. https://nowcomment.com/documents/56355?scroll_to=562784 https://nowcomment.com/documents/56355?scroll_to=562784 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 22:27:01 -0400