tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19717148.post5875213464429962913..comments2023-05-18T11:19:33.857+02:00Comments on animals stuck to the wall: On Literachure, Part DeuxEvilAuntiePerilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01278720691584010136noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19717148.post-58968857737435759522007-01-25T19:50:00.000+01:002007-01-25T19:50:00.000+01:00Hi bookwormom, thanks so much for wading through a...Hi bookwormom, thanks so much for wading through all that reading, and taking the time to comment. :-)<br /><br />I think you're onto something about Smith's view of readers as being typically strait-jacketed by their preconceptions. And I really want to think more about the education side of things, because I think that's important too.<br /><br />For me, the prescriptive tone in the second part set me on edge a bit. And I was nervous about the way it skirts the attitude that negative reviews are the consequence of the reviewer not fully appreciating the writer's vision. <br /><br />Of course in my case, it was mitigated by my general enjoyment of her writing style. And I really loved the way she talked about "failing better" and explained the personal side of writing in the first part.EvilAuntiePerilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01278720691584010136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19717148.post-23256668064747256192007-01-23T23:52:00.000+01:002007-01-23T23:52:00.000+01:00I struggled to read through both parts of Smith's ...I struggled to read through both parts of Smith's commentary. To my ear she drones & isn't as clear as I'd prefer. <br /><br />That being said, it seems to me she wants readers to be more open to shades of grey. Nuances in meaning and viewpoint and inflection. I came away feeling Smith thinks readers prefer literature wrapped up in neat little packages- easy on the eye and the palette and the mind.<br /><br />I hesitate to say this, but IMO critical thinking isn't a skill commonly taught. Great literature taught in schools is fed to children semidigested so they can repeat what they've heard on exams. I don't know where I'm going with this line of thought beyond this, though.<br /><br />I didn't agree with what she said about reviewers & criticism but I can't put a finger on why I disagree. Sad to say, my brain is stuck in low gear. Perhaps I've been opening too many shiny presents lately.Bob & Muffintophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12517851052183148808noreply@blogger.com