Literary Criticism

                            Literary Criticism

            Everyone has different tastes in Music, food, Art and literature. The preferences are both a reflection and a composite amalgam of your age, education, life’s experience and other filters that creates a style or type that you prefer.

            Some of us can look at a Jackson Pollock mural and shudder. “Monkey splatter,” I say to my appalled artistic acquaintances. Others see deeper meaning in the conflicting swirls of paint and enjoy something many of us just don’t see. I am totally enamored of the French Impressionist school. Renoir is a favorite. Others see this style and silly, a vague attempt to portray the scenery around them in a blurry and other worldly fashion. To each his/her own.

          Ditto with choice of music. I can’t abide much of what passes for “modern music.” Others think that classical music, which I find ear soothing, to be boring  “elevator music.” The kids just think of us as aging dinosaurs who don’t know any better.

          It is so too with Literature. Age and gender are major factors in determining the subjects that you enjoy reading. I find historical novels fascinating. Others think them stodgy and boring. Romance novels don’t do it for me, though they are perhaps the most popular and certainly the most successful genre sold at the book store. Everyone has their favorite genre of material, to settle in comfortably with on a rainy day.

          I lead into this subject, because I appreciate all of the valuable criticism that I have received as I craft my own books and articles. As in any endeavor, there are those artistic creators who are somewhat thin-skinned. They see any form of criticism as a personal affront. The comments from friends, though meant to be helpful, are received in a similar fashion to telling someone that their youngest child is ugly and perhaps somewhat simple. OUCH!

          I look at these helpful comments from friends as an education. I have been fortunate to have friends of mine and my wife’s review several of my books and offer an in-depth analysis of what they think works and what they think I might wish to revisit and rework. In the real world, you have to pay a competent editor or reviewer a small fortune to get advice like this. We got it because we have some pretty neat friends who want to help. My warmest thanks goes out to all of them for their comments and suggestions. A good editor is a godsend for a writer. They can prettify something marginal and not make it look like putting “lipstick on a pig.”

         So, any comments you have of any written piece of mine, feel free to offer your comments and insights. If they are particular scathing, an e-mail would be preferred. No one likes to get a poke in the eye with a sharp stick in public. They will help me to do it better the next time.

        Muchas gratias, i vaya con Dios mi amigos.

                                             -30-

                                        (505 words)

                                   Joseph Xavier Martin