The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-06
January s, 1906.
CURRENT CONTRIBUTIONS
TO THE WORLDS READING
Some Of the 7ribulations Of a Reviewer Of Books---New Things in
Fiction NeuD Book by Geosge Wasson. Is
.HE TRIALS OF A BOOK-RE-
VIEWER, INCLUDING A FAN

HE TRIALS OF A BOOK-RE-I
VIEWER, INCLUDING A FAN
TASTIo DREAM.-No position
in life is without its trials-not even
likewise, no position is without its com
pensations. But in the way Of '~9trials''
the book-reviewer gets it "a going and
q coming He is, in the first place,
between two fires {not to put it more
strongly). He is trying to serve the
reading public-to tell that public some
thing about books that are coming from
the publishers, and to express an opinion
broadly as to the worth Of each to the
class Of readers to which it especially
appeals. At the same time he must try
to avoid giving serious ofense to the
publishers; he must be "diplomatic'';
publishers are the sources of book pub
Lefty and newspapers are mediums Of
publicity. The conclusion is obvious.
Theoretically, a book-reviewer ought
Ito be absolutely fair, regardless Of con-
sequences; practically, the problem is
not 50 easy. For the most part, the
Lack Of time, lack Of space and limited
capacity for work combine to make this
necessary. AS snap judgments cannot,
in the. nature of the case, more than
approximate fairness, the reviewer usu-
ally prefers to give the book the benefit
of the doubt. This is a real 'ttrial,'
for a reviewer, of course, would like to
be regarded as infallible, tho in his few
sane moments he sees the hopelessness
of such desire. '~
Possibly it is this disposition to give
the publisher and the author the benefit
Of the doubt that brings upon the re-
viewer one of the worst of his tribula-
tions, one that makes the really con
scientious reviewer gnash his teeth and
tear his hair-if he have any Of either.
This supreme tribulation is to be asked
whether the reviews he publishes are
provided by the publishers. One who
for the first ~ofense and the stake with
out absolution for the second. Publish
ers, some of them, do send brief reviews
along with their books, and they are
thankfully received, often serving as
guides to salient and important points
which might easily be overlooked, and
often supplying valuable information
about the. books or their authors. But
such 8 review is seldom used by a re.
viewer with a conscience, unless 1t is
purely descriptive and a description OF
the book is all that it is desired tc
print. 1t is not fair to an overworke6
reviewer to assume, because, he gives
two, or three or four book reviews {
day, that he has not found in the books
themselves the basis for what he say,
about them. The charitable and con
siderate thing is to assume that he ha,
consumed much midnight gas in orde:
to find out what a book has to tell, i,
order, in turn, that he may tell tn
) public about it. One who values the re
viewers services even at a low fgur'
will not add to the reviewer burden
the charge Of being a bribed court.
Reviewers are more often "jo1lied'
:, THAN bribed or "ssi~nauenced." An anus
= > ing specimen of ".jollying'' is the fol
lowing letter which was recently re
ceiyed in advance of a book from
! western publishing house:
can editorial copy off,.
) Is sent to you today with our com
elf you were a nice little girl, thi
would doubtless be an event Of create
, , Importance in your large blue eyes. al
nice little girls regard a new. -.
Thing. @72f 80
. i. g But even If you are not a nice littl
girl, you car be nice to u book, sa
nice things about it and send us a cir
a ping Of your nice review.
"Yours very truly,