Janet Maslin's review of Dalton Conley's 2008 book, "Elsewhere U.S.A.", offers a well structured and highly contextualized analysis of the major problems the work contains.
The critic begins her review with the largest problem she identified in the text: the fact that "Mr Conlan shows himself to be a much more acute observer than analyst." In other words, the book doesn't live up to the expectations it should have met. It was supposed to analyze the problems of disconnect in the U.S. but instead ends up merely observing them. This is Maslin's "but."
Maslin also provides the names of some works that the book aspires to be like but is not. These two things provide an effective beginning in giving the reader a taste of what the book is like comparatively, and also showing her opinion of the book.
Structure is well utilized in this review, and focuses on the book's major problems, descending to its lesser ones. Maslin highlights the few redeeming points toward the end, and weaves in quotes as well as contextual examples to keep the review from becoming tedious. Voice is not a significant contributer to the review, but her voice is not incendiary in a way that would possibly agitate readers against the review. Instead, the piece calmly, logically, dissects the flaws of the Conley's book in an extremely professional way that is insightful and readable.
You make my defense article look like macaroni pasted on construction paper.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jellen. Maybe I'll make you a fruit loop necklace for my next review.
In other words, this is very succinct and in-depth analysis. I dig it.