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Melissa Joulwan's avatar

This:

'By the end, it often feels like the review is more about showing how much the reviewer knows rather than telling us if the book at hand is readable, enjoyable, and recommendable.'

YES. I do like Ron Charles reviews in The Washington Post, but NYTimes and the freelance reviews in WaPo leave me cold. Stop showing off and tell me how the book made you *feel*.

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Deborah Begley's avatar

In a world where award winning books can sit on a shelf in a bookstore right beside the latest schlock with 100,000 amazon 5 stars, but only because it entertains …and for the same price…. book reviews like yours are immensely helpful.

(You pay more for gifted art and live music, but not the written word? Yet , this poor person is glad of it)

Help me avoid mediocre writing, formulaic stories, hidden propaganda, erotica, and unnecessary foul language. Point out books worthy of second reads or passing on to my teenage grandkids. Those that help the reader empathize with situations reflecting real people they would never meet in their own bubble.

Thought provoking, world building, changed my life kind of books. They are out there hidden among the over published, over promoted, trend of the moment, flash in the pan.

Thanks for helping me sort through the stacks to find them. Keep up the good work!!

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