The importance of the critical review
“There was this exotic species of journalist known as ‘Books Editor’, now sadly nearly extinct, whose sole remit was to read books, commission reviews, and attend launches”
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The lit fest season is here, and like some migratory birds seen only in winter, books and authors are enjoying more conversational space, beyond the editorial equivalent of a wildlife sanctuary — the reviews section.A quarter century ago, when I got my first byline as a book critic, almost every respectable newspaper and magazine had at least one weekly page, if not more, devoted to book reviews. There was this exotic species of journalist known as ‘Books Editor’, now sadly nearly extinct, whose sole ...