Les Semaines December 8 [posted late]: My Brilliance

So I wrote what I thought was a rather good response to a discussion about the value (or not) of negative reviews. However the women poets list I'm on didn't think so, as it received a reverberating silence (wait, did I use the wrong fork?). You think I'm brilliant, don't you? Here's what I said:

My problem with a lot of negative reviews is that, well, here's a quick way of putting it. The reviewer loves sushi. They think sushi is really the only good kind of writing; however, this book is a curry book! Look at the mix of spices! And it's Hot! It's *horrible* writing. They do the wrong things with rice, it's physical temperature is not cool, the spice-heat in it has nothing to do with wasabi, and where, where, is the fish?

Most negative reviews I come across are like that--instead of seeing that something is a curry and saying why and how it's a good or bad curry the reviewer says how it's bad sushi. It's annoying.

Especially as I believe there's room for a lot of different writing cuisines out there.

Well, aren't I clever? Huh?

Of course, I am in a revisioning and getting over flu stupor, so I'm probably kidding myself. Also I haven't been eating enough protein. Also, I have been reading too much fafblog for anyone's mental health. Far too rich a diet for someone recovering from flu, however mild.

Please note that I am a great fan of sushi and of curries. Some of my best friends are sushi and curry, though not together.

Jim has now gone out foraging.

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For my listening, reading, and writing adventures, and to see word I wrote down that eventually became a published poem, see Les Semaines.