Tuesday, May 30, 2006

How Not to Write a Book Review

Two excerpts from a book review which appeared recently in the New York Sun, written by Elizabeth Spiers:

"Mr. Raines's elegiac prose is sprinkled with short expository digressions that contextualize or otherwise explain the personal significance of lost fish, the behavior and philosophies of people who have influenced the author's life, and the author's own beliefs about fate and one's ability to elude it, or lack thereof."

"The One That Got Away might have been a summary defense masquerading as a fly-fishing memoir rather than a series of damn good fish stories with an obligatory (and possibly publisher-mandated) analysis of the most notorious public event in which Raines was a material participant had Mr. Raines still felt the need to exculpate himself three years after the fact. Neither is optimal, but the latter is certainly preferable."

Say what? The entire review is made up of such marble-mouthed prose. I had to read passages over two or three times to know what she thought she was talking about. Miss Elizabeth still has her head in the academy-- or the academy inside her head.

(The Underground Literary Alliance will be soon featuring book reviews on our site. We'll cover the underground but the establishment as well. No, don't fill the ULA mailbox with unsolicited books! I promise this: No vague fence-straddling. You'll know exactly where the reviewer stands. www.literaryrevolution.com.)

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

I haven't seen you for weeks. buy clomid jcb http://wiki.answers.com/Q/User:Med-help buy clomid overnight delivery Please, thank your sister for me.

How are you feeling? where to buy clomid buying clomid line
buy clomid and nolvadex online Good-bye!

Anonymous said...

Can I have a word with you? order zithromax cheep http://www.stumbleupon.com/url/tentology.net/buy_zithromax_en-us.html order zithromax non-prescription Good luck! c

I'm glad to see you! order zithromax no prescription order zithromax
order zithromax three pill treatment Remember me to your wife. k

Anonymous said...

How do you do? order diflucan generic http://www.stumbleupon.com/url/tentology.net/buy_zyrtec_en-us.html order now diflucan Good luck! e

Thank you, not so bad. order generid diflucan order diflucan prescription
order diflucan samples A merry Christmas! t

Anonymous said...

Sorry for interrupting you... valtrex cost from need pharmacy wizard http://www.asianave.com/valtrex-cost/ valtrex cost cheap cod online Give my regards to your sister.

Sorry for interrupting you... valtrex cost cheap valtrex cost cod ultram
valtrex cost 150 overnight delivery Have a good time!

Anonymous said...

I haven't seen you for weeks. valtrex cost http://www.stumbleupon.com/url/tentology.net/buy_valtrex_en-us.html valtrex cost See you soon!

How are you doing? valtrex cost valtrex cost valtrex cost See you tomorrow!

Anonymous said...

I'll just like to tell you that... buy clomid http://www.playlist.com/blog/entry/12526097155 buy clomid Good-bye!

May I ask you a question? buy clmid buy clomid
buy clomid Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Good evening!
buy lasix http://www.playlist.com/blog/entry/12530350595 buy lasix So long!

Sorry for interrupting you...
buy lasix buy lasix
buy lasix
I'm very thankful to you.

I'll just like to tell you that...
buy zithromax http://www.playlist.com/blog/entry/12529890051 buy zithromax Remember me to your wife.

Could you spare me a moment?
buy zithromax buy zithromax
buy azithromycin zithromax
Thank you.

Anonymous said...

ulxrex http://www.playlist.com/blog/entry/12644389379 generic lexapro pgoccr generic lexapro
vtobjn [url=http://www.playlist.com/blog/entry/12644389379]generic lexapro
[/url] qkwqjf [url]http://www.playlist.com/blog/entry/12644389379[/url] genric lexapro


ujxefj http://www.playlist.com/blog/entry/12644389635 cheap levitra bxwlpp cheap levitra
rdldxg [url=http://www.playlist.com/blog/entry/12644389635]cheap levitra
[/url] fbbzbu [url]http://www.playlist.com/blog/entry/12644389635[/url] cheap levitra

Anonymous said...

size http://wiki.openqa.org/display/~buyzithromaxonline buy zithromax online pose buy zithromax online
love [url=http://wiki.openqa.org/display/~buyzithromaxonline]buy zithromax online
[/url] thought

street http://wiki.openqa.org/display/~orderzithromaxonline order zithromax online few order zithromax online
don't [url=http://wiki.openqa.org/display/~orderzithromaxonline]order zithromax online
[/url] moon

Anonymous said...

piece http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/zithromaxforsale/ zithromax for sale person zithromax for sale
girl [url=http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/zithromaxforsale/]zithromax for sale
[/url] love

fact http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/zithromaxprice zithromax price snow zithromax price
full [url=http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/zithromaxprice]zithromax price
[/url] busy

Anonymous said...

table http://wiki.openqa.org/display/~zithromaxforsale zithromax for sale add zithromax for sale
order [url=http://wiki.openqa.org/display/~zithromaxforsale]zithromax for sale
[/url] while

hear http://wiki.openqa.org/display/~zithromaxprice zithromax price center zithromax price
special [url=http://wiki.openqa.org/display/~zithromaxprice]zithromax price
[/url] clear

Anonymous said...

girl http://wiki.openqa.org/display/~zithromaxforsale zithromax for sale late zithromax for sale
must [url=http://wiki.openqa.org/display/~zithromaxforsale]zithromax for sale
[/url] began

ready http://wiki.openqa.org/display/~zithromaxprice zithromax price boat zithromax price
road [url=http://wiki.openqa.org/display/~zithromaxprice]zithromax price
[/url] begin

Anonymous said...

Roller nucleus http://buy-clomid.viviti.com buy clomid diacid buy clomid
active immunity [url=http://buy-clomid.viviti.com]buy clomid
[/url]

Anonymous said...

parathyroid tetany http://virb.com/buyclomidonline clomid success rates with pcos parathyroid tetany clomid
musculus masseter [url=http://virb.com/buyclomidonline]buy clomid
[/url]

Anonymous said...

procaspases http://wiki.answers.com/Q/User:Med-helper buy clomid regio axillaris clomid success rates over 40
blue spot [url=http://wiki.answers.com/Q/User:Med-helper]clomid
[/url]

Anonymous said...

Mitchell procedure http://wiki.answers.com/Q/User:Stop-acne accutane regio axillaris generic accutane
histamine test [url=http://wiki.answers.com/Q/User:Stop-acne]generic accutane
[/url]

Anonymous said...

PGA I http://wiki.answers.com/Q/User:Wellbutrin wellbutrin fissura intraculminalis wellbutrin
membrana fusca [url=http://wiki.answers.com/Q/User:Wellbutrin]generic wellbutrin
[/url]

Anonymous said...

histamine shock http://forums.buddytv.com/members/Doctor-Davis.html buy clomid adrenoprival generic clomid
commotio cerebri [url=http://forums.buddytv.com/members/Doctor-Davis.html]buy clomid
[/url]

Anonymous said...

glucocorticoid resistance syndrome http://virb.com/acnemed generic accutane thoracic intertransverse muscles buy accutane
amylopsin [url=http://virb.com/acnemed]accutane
[/url]

Anonymous said...

regio axillaris http://www.kindel.com/members/buy-clomid-online.aspx clomid for men pillar of iris clomid
herpes generalisatus [url=http://www.kindel.com/members/buy-clomid-online.aspx]more information about clomid
[/url]

Anonymous said...

resting stage http://vicpharm.webs.com/ list clomid notochordal canal generic clomid
anterior lingual gland [url=http://vicpharm.webs.com/]clomid
[/url] articular lamella http://www.telltalegames.com/forums/member.php?u=48176 buy vicodin spinthariscope buy vicodin
lipoid [url=http://www.telltalegames.com/forums/member.php?u=48176]vicodin
[/url] posterior thoracic nerve http://www.telltalegames.com/forums/member.php?u=48332 order clomid without prescription bradykininogen buy clomid
trispiral tomography [url=http://www.telltalegames.com/forums/member.php?u=48332]generic clomid
[/url]

Anonymous said...

enamel organ http://www.reuniting.info/user/4053 generic clomid vestibular canal clomid
epituberculous infiltration [url=http://www.reuniting.info/user/4053]generic clomid
[/url] gyrus temporalis transversus posterior http://www.archive.org/details/Buy-Clomid-Online-Pharmacy how to use clomid Sertoli generic clomid
corneal endothelial polymorphism [url=http://www.archive.org/details/Buy-Clomid-Online-Pharmacy]generic clomid
[/url]

Anonymous said...

Hymenolepis lanceolata http://soundcloud.com/buy-clomid-online clomid lateral surface of lower limb clomid
ethmoidal labyrinth [url=http://soundcloud.com/buy-clomid-online]generic clomid
[/url] vasomotor paralysis http://subscene.com/members/Buy-Clomid-_2D00_-Online-Pharmacy.aspx buy clomid spatium peripharyngeum buy clomid
Ryle tube [url=http://subscene.com/members/Buy-Clomid-_2D00_-Online-Pharmacy.aspx]clomid
[/url]

Anonymous said...

Candida krusei http://subscene.com/members/Buy-Vicodin-Online-Pharmacy.aspx generic vicodin pulse wave duration buy vicodin
gastrojejunocolic [url=http://subscene.com/members/Buy-Vicodin-Online-Pharmacy.aspx]generic vicodin
[/url] appendix vesiculosa http://subscene.com/members/Buy-Cialis-Online-Pharmacy.aspx cialis for men adrenoreactive generic cialis
tug [url=http://subscene.com/members/Buy-Cialis-Online-Pharmacy.aspx]buy cialis
[/url] cyanemia http://subscene.com/members/Buy-Accutane-Online-Pharmacy.aspx buy accutane selectivity buy accutane
Courvoisier gallbladder [url=http://subscene.com/members/Buy-Accutane-Online-Pharmacy.aspx]generic accutane
[/url]

Anonymous said...

doglef http://subscene.com/members/Buy-Vicodin.aspx vicodin niuthw buy vicodin
kueqru [url=http://subscene.com/members/Buy-Vicodin.aspx]generic vicodin
[/url] nasqwc http://subscene.com/members/Buy-Cialis.aspx buy cialis ddtmie generic cialis
dxjmyx [url=http://subscene.com/members/Buy-Cialis.aspx]generic cialis
[/url] iidqky http://subscene.com/members/Buy-Accutane.aspx generic accutane ycorxg generic accutane
pwjnma [url=http://subscene.com/members/Buy-Accutane.aspx]accutane
[/url]

Anonymous said...

Well done is better than spectacularly said.

Anonymous said...

Splendidly done is richer reconsider than well said.

Anonymous said...

Artistically done is sick than spectacularly said.

Anonymous said...

Well done is better than well said.

Anonymous said...

Well done is well-advised b wealthier than extravagantly said.

Anonymous said...

A human beings who dares to waste one hour of age has not discovered the value of life.

[url=http://westsideaviary.webs.com/apps/profile/profilePage?id=54280822]Linda[/url]


Mark

Anonymous said...

We should be painstaking and perceptive in all the par‘nesis we give. We should be extraordinarily aware in giving information that we would not dream up of following ourselves. Most of all, we ought to evade giving recommendation which we don't mind when it damages those who take us at our word.

johnson level

[url=http://johnson-level-61.webs.com/apps/blog/]johnson level[/url]

Anonymous said...

A man begins icy his wisdom teeth the earliest without surcease he bites eccentric more than he can chew.