Inside the Critics Circle: Book Reviewing in Uncertain Times

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Description

An inside look at the politics of book reviewing, from the assignment and writing of reviews to why critics think we should listen to what they have to say Taking readers behind the scenes in the world of fiction reviewing, Inside the Critics' Circle explores the ways that critics evaluate books despite the inherent subjectivity involved, and th

Reviews

"The countrys newspaper book review pages evaporated in the 21st century. . . . Those of us who remain occupy one of the most tenuous positions in an extraordinarily tenuous industry. That seems to be what attracted the attention of Phillipa K. Chong, a sociology professor at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. . . . Chong offers rare insight."---Ron Charles, Washington Post Book Club
"Phillipa Chongs precise, insightful and fascinating book focuses on journalist critics of fiction who write with an eye to newsworthiness as well as literary value, rather than academics."---Robert Eaglestone, Times Higher Education
"[An] exploration of how books get reviewed, what the consequences are, and whether any of it means anything at all. . . . Chong works diligently through the review process. . . . Useful reading for book critics and journalists who cover books." * Kirkus Reviews *
"Inside the Critics Circle allows academics the opportunity to reflect on how they enact their own roles as reviewers and provides valuable contributions to the sociology of culture, economic sociology, and the sociology of knowledge. . . . Sociologists who study cultural fields and valuation will refer to and cite this book for years to come."---Hannah Wohl, American Journal of Sociology
"[A] deep dive into the inner workings of journalistic book criticism in the Anglophone publishing field, and a must-read for critics and editors alike. . . . Impressively, Chong has managed in this study through substantial empirical data to draw a clear, detailed, and nuanced picture of a rather tricky profession."---Dana Hansen, Hamilton Review of Books
"Inside the Critics' Circle is an interesting inside look at the current state of (fiction) book reviewing in the United States, specifically as perceived by (presumably) significant actors in the field."---M.A. Orthofer, The Complete Review
"I perceived a book review still perceive it, most days as an avocation thats as much private as it is public. . . . This public-private feeling is a common one, according to Phillipa K. Chongs academic but engaging analysis of book reviewing, Inside the Critics Circle. An assistant professor of sociology at McMaster University, Chong endeavored to put some scientific rigor around the motivations of fiction reviewers by interviewing 40 of them, a random sample drawn from more than 1,000 bylines that had appeared in one of three major (but unnamed) national newspapers. What she uncovered is a lack of sense of purpose thats distinct from criticism in other disciplines."---Mark Athitakis, On the Seawall
"An insightful account of inner workings of writing and publishing book reviews. . . . Chong has the knack of presenting . . . ideas in an interesting manner with her sharp wit and clarity of thoughts."---Mohammad Farhan, The Hindu
"Inside the Critics Circle is first-rate academic research. . . . [This] is no small feat and constitutes a major victory for Phillipa K. Chong."---Dimitris Passas, TapTheLine Magazine

Author Bio

Phillipa K. Chong is assistant professor of sociology at McMaster University. Twitter @ChongSOC