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bitesized comments can bite
Reader comment on: The Scorn of the Literary Blog

Submitted by PD Smith, Jun 14, 2007 07:14

As a British reviewer, writer & blogger I enjoyed this article very much. I agree with a lot that you say, especially about the pointless obsession with objectivity (since when has literature been objective?).

But I have to take issue with you regarding the "bitesized commentary" jibe. I regularly write 200-word bitesized commentaries for The Guardian in the UK. Take it from me, you can certainly say a lot about a book in 200 words! That's not to say that a longer review isn't desirable. But hey, even print readers want a succint review sometimes. And you can pack a lot of bite into a bitesized review...

peterdsmith.com


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