More than just opining …

… Nicholas Lezard: putting the case for professional critics | Books | The Guardian. (Hat tip,, Dave Lull.)

A really good book review is an exceedingly minor but genuine work of art. To tell enough of the plotline without giving away anything, to provide snapshots of the key characters, then tack on some pertinent analysis, all the while keeping your own readers' attention, leaving them with a sense of what your experience of reading the book under review was – that's not as easy as some – perhaps many – may think. It is certainly a good deal more than telling everybody what precious you felt about the book.