"Any reviewer who expresses rage and loathing for a novel is preposterous. He or she is like a person who has put on full armor and attcked a hot fudge sundae."
Vonnegut must have really enjoyed reading novels and respected them despite what they offered, enough that he was willing to bash those who raged against them for whatever reasons they may have. In the above quote, he uses "hot fudge sundae" to represent the novel. The novel is something written by an author to make a point, or to just express their imagination in words through a story. All the novel aims to do is give the reader something to enjoy, something written for the audience. Whether one likes the novel or not, one should at least have respect and keep their mouth shut if they did not enjoy the piece. Like a sundae, all the novel does is give one something to enjoy. If one doesn't, then don't bother mentioning it, much less whine about it. Those who criticize novels are like people putting on a full suit of armor and smashing the sundae, which is completely unnecessary. It's like the famous saying: "If you don't have anything good to say, then don't say it."
While I firmly believe in the power of constructive criticism, I think the comments you made here are quite good. Indeed, good writing should be savoured... like good icecream, as you have noted. Perhaps criticism would be best suited for media where the writer could actually defend himself. Perhaps new media and new technology will make this a reality. Wouldn't it be cool to 'comment' on a chapter of a novel and to later get a response from the writer?
ReplyDeleteI think the hot fudge sundae-writing idea works really well. Writing can be hot/cold at the same time, there's lots of things added in the writing, and you get a feeling of fulfillment/satisfaction when you're finished.
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