I also cannot stand this phrase. A lot of books I've read lately have a theme that basically goes something like, "certainty is dangerous and curiosity is necessary." I feel this in my bones and I think that's what you're saying here too. How many times has a bookclub discussion expanded my view of a novel, both in positive and negative ways? Almost always. And I'm a better reader for it.
Plus, this phrase seems endemic of our culture right now...disagreeing with someone respectfully is an art form that is dying. If you truly felt completely certain that a book was above all criticism wouldn't that opinion withstand even the harshest critique? It's a false confidence that can't bear to hear a dissenting view.
Yes I completely agree! “Certainty is dangerous and curiosity is necessary” is a perfect summation of what I was feeling when I wrote this. You put it better and more succinctly than I could. I know most people use this phrase lightheartedly but I still hate it!
I also agree that disagreeing with someone respectfully is an artform that’s dying. Certainly is playing a part in our society being so divided on political issues, for example.
Echoing a few comments above I think that this desire to block criticism is in part a reaction to how bad faith so much criticism is. I agree with you on this: “tearing a book apart and putting it back together was a reverential act”. But I see almost no one around me who puts anything back together. To criticize something then leads to it being “problematic”, which then supersedes any other thing about it and I believe that THAT is why people feel they will just plug their ears instead because to acknowledge any criticism is to now be “complicit” in whatever that is unless you eschew it. “This book/person/show/movie/article is BAD and something-ist, denounce it or you are also bad.” I think that making it a joke (“please don’t ruin this lol”) or plugging the ears is a passive way of escaping that dynamic.
Also, could be that those of us who enjoy good critique and find it strengthens our understanding and appreciation are just abnormal 😆
Yes to all of this Jessica! I think you are absolutely right that the type of criticism we most often see is dismissive--it's not the rigorous analysis you and I clearly love. Additionally I think that a lot of people who really pan books do it in a tone that suggests they're just a better reader than everyone who loves it, and I really dislike that. So I can certainly understand the lighthearted "just let me love this!" For me, the phrasing matters too and I actually like "please don't ruin this" much better than "I will not accept criticism on this." Maybe that will catch on!
I think that good faith and charitable but real pushing back on this is an important contribution so thank you for publishing this. I used to just ignore or sort of soft tolerate knee-jerk 'thought terminating' kinds of contributions or critique in conversation (online and in person) but also watched it grow and grow and grow until it became the norm (around me) and I engage directly with it now (in a constructive way!) because I do think it matters.
Loved this! I've also been thinking a lot about the (seemingly endless) romance discourse and how much I want to read thoughtful criticism about what particular titles are doing well or not, rather than the "is this massive genre good or bad, as a monolith". I very much understand the defensive impulse--I've certainly had those conversations!--but I'm hoping we can eventually get to the point where we dive into all the nuances of a sprawling genre instead of seeing it as a walled city that has to be besieged or defended at all times.
Oh yes!! Such a good point! I think maybe we needed to go through a period of “all reading is good reading” and “love what you love” in the book world to shake off our collective snobbery and/or shame. And I don’t disagree with either phrase but there is also room to discuss the flaws and merits of individual books!
I was having all these thoughts as I was listening to Monday’s episode of CR! Love Meredith and Kaytee and highly respect the work they do, but I don’t agree with “not accepting criticism” about certain books. I actually find it really interesting when someone totally disagrees with me about a book - and want to know more. Reading taste is so personal and so much about a reader’s reaction to a book can be driven by their own lived experience.
Yes! I love them and enjoyed listening to their conversation, but I just kept thinking how differently I feel! I am particularly curious why people dislike a novel when I think it was perfect. I can even think of examples from your show! PASSING and THE REMAINS OF THE DAY are perfect novels to me and I enjoyed hearing why you and Susie didn’t love them. It reveals so much about reading taste and, like you said, personal experience.
YES! I remember those 2 books specifically. I’m also always interested in getting a handle on other people’s reading taste and hearing where they differ from me is helpful. I’m also not precious about whether other people like the books I like or not. I feel kind of emotionally disconnected from that.
Totally agree! I’ve definitely felt an instantaneous gut punch when someone tells me the didn’t like a book I love but it’s the briefest feeling for me and then I just want to know more.
Enjoyed this a lot, and basically agree with all of it.
I do find that I have one specific variation on this, which is not "will not accept criticism of this book" but instead "do not want to read criticism of this book." This generally happens with books that I like despite knowing that they are deeply flawed, and I just don't want to see people dunking (correctly) on a thing I enjoy. But even in that case, it's clearly good for the critical reflection to exist; it's just about what I personally want to engage with.
That makes sense! I’m a word nerd so I do prefer that phasing. For me, sometimes I’ll have a short period after finishing a book I love when I feel that way, but I eventually find myself seeking how those critical reviews. I can’t resist!
I was so excited to read this today and I've been equally enjoying reading some of the comments. As you know from our behind the scenes talk (thanks for sharing the link:) I feel the same as you. I've heard that phrase tossed around here and there and every time I hear it I've wondered why someone else's criticism of a beloved book would, could or should matter. I say that from a place of genuine confusion and curiosity, not from judgement. Meredith and Kaytee's conversation helped illuminate what they (and I think other readers) mean when they say that and I do have a better understanding now of what people mean when they say it, but I just don't feel that way. The book I would say holds such a special place in my heart and is an all time favorite is A Little Life by Hanya Yanigarhara and I've heard so much criticism about it, especially from many close book club friends, and it didn't phase me. In fact, as you said, it made me love it more. I'm here for your overthinking of internet phases!!:) PS I absolutely decided to read Stoner because you hated it😅
Thanks, Renee! I am right there with you. I thought Kaytee and Meredith's discussion was so helpful because I previously just hadn't understood the phrase at all. With their breakdown I was able to better understand and empathize, but I just feel so differently! I also can't imagine encountering a negative review that would matter so much. And even if it did change my mind, I would be okay with that!
Thank you Sara for sharing this post. There’s some very cool meta themes happening with the contents and the engagement of it. I agree that the specific words “I will not accept criticism of this books” only serves to shut down conversation in the public reading space. For me the spirit of that phrase is more closely “I choose to ignore criticism of this book” because I am an insert-myself type of reader, so when I LOVE a book it’s usually because I identify so closely with one of the characters. Criticism in this case feels like a personal attack (even though I know it’s really not). Usually it takes some time and distance in order for me (if ever) to check out criticism. Also I am well within the reader-imposter camp of the public reading space. My mind looks like this “Wow these are REAL readers. Look how confident they are that they’ll critique this book that someone spent years working on. I’ve never written a book. Who am I to critique a novel publicly? These readers must all be smarter than me.” You mentioned in another comment how you are now at a point that you’re very confident in your taste which allows you to appreciate all literary criticism. I don’t think I’m there yet in my reading journey, so there are a few books that I choose to keep sacred and ignore the negative criticism. So much to think about! 😊
Well first, you are absolutely a real reader and more than entitled to your taste and opinion on your books, KeriAnn! I hope this space can help continue to build you up! But I totally understand that. There are definitely literary circles that I would probably feel some imposter syndrome in and feel less confident defending my own opinion, so I totally get that! I think for me, what you're articulating comes down to the nitty gritty of the language (which is why I poke fun at myself for taking this too literally!). But I think there's a real difference in saying "I choose to ignore criticism" (or perhaps, better yet, just ignoring it!) than "I refuse to accept criticism." In my opinion, the latter can be just as condescending as approaching someone with negative takes on their favorite book. But I hear you on all of this. I have definitely had times where I relate so much to a character that when someone says "I hate this book," I think, "omg you must hate ME!"
This is so interesting to me! I haven't listened to the podcast you mentioned, but I've become more ardent in refusing criticism over the years, because I see the ways in which people bring outside ideas into a book and hold a book to that standard. There are so many books that people claim to dislike or say if anyone reads this they are 'xyz', and I've later come into those books and discovered that the prevailing social conversation for that book isn't aligned with what the book is actually doing. So this is sort of the opposite of what you wrote about, in defending your position to dislike a book, but I see it as the same thing. People might shut out what's not working to engage with what worked for them, which is fine to me, if you can articulate that. I do this quite a bit. I will also add, I think a lot of people are really bad at understanding their own blind spots and you see it all over the place in internet criticism these days. Appreciate you posting this and finding the call to finally post it. It's really fun watching your thinking evolve and the ways you remain true to your position/viewpoint!
Ok I love this, Poonam! I agree that even though we're talking about this from opposite angles, it's really the same thing. What I dislike is dismissiveness and certainty. Whether that means someone says "I will not accept criticism of this" or "this book is terrible and if you like it you are [fill in the blank]." I do not enjoy that type of conversation at all. I think for me, this doesn't mean that there are certain BOOKS I won't engage with criticism of but that there are certain TYPES OF CRITICISM I won't entertain (okay those all caps were unnecessarily aggressive...). Maybe this is what you're saying to some degree too?
That's it exactly! The bar for the types of criticism I will consider is very high, lol. And I'm okay with that. It makes for a more peaceful/engaging reading life.
Oh! And I will add, the reason I shut out so much criticism is because so many people are really bad at it! I love when I find someone who is good at thinking through ideas and then articulating it. I'm always happy when I find genuine criticism I can work with.
Really enjoyed this piece, and find your writing and reflecting has been really helpful to me in thinking through my own responses to art and criticism. Thank you for pieces like this one!
Enjoyed reading your response. I do think reactions that go beyond disagreeing reflect what is happening in our society. On the spectrum with book banning and having political leaders who threaten the livelihoods of those who do not verbally support them.
Yes! I don’t want to equate what podcast hosts or readers on instagram are saying with book banning or these political divisions. But I do think that we have a larger problem in our society with a refusal to engage with ideas we disagree with—and it certainly hasn’t gotten us anywhere good.
I don’t think I really use this phrase, but to me “I won’t accept criticism” means: you can tell me why you didn’t like the book, but it probably won’t change my mind. I agree that it’s maybe closed minded to say “I won’t hear any criticism” but I think “accept” is alright for a few select favorites!
But I do appreciate your points on the value of criticism for thinking through our reactions. It reminds me of a phrase my dad often says: “you should have strong opinions, weakly held” meaning you should always have a point of view, but always be willing to engage with it and change it if you’re presented with new information.
I should add that I take the meaning of “accept” as: ‘to recognize as true/believe’ and not ‘to receive willingly.’
I think some of the confusion in this phrase has to do with how varied the English language is, and how many different meanings can be ascribed to one word!
This is so interesting! When I hear this phrase it seems to be more in the line of “I refuse to hear/engage with any criticism of this book.” That was definitely the gist of the (albeit snarky) podcast conversation and it definitely feels like the case when people message me telling me not to share negative opinions about certain books. But I do agree with you that I have books that it would be impossible, or at least very difficult, to get me to change my mind about! But those I feel so confident in I’m perfectly happy to hear other people’s critiques! Overall though, I know this is a case of me overthinking a silly phrase…but that’s what I love to do 🤣
Perhaps I’ve been misinterpreting it! I don’t tend to read many reviews/comments on Instagram except for a select few profiles, so maybe I’m just not seeing this level of stubbornness.. in which case I totally agree with you 😂
All real readers should always welcome criticism of any book, positive or negative as it can only enhance your feelings about the book, either way. I agree with all your points in this essay and wish more readers in my life would too! A negative criticism of a book can always deepen your understanding of why you liked or disliked it as well. I find all the criticism helpful and appreciate the Currently Reading podcast because they do review books they didn't like as well,but do it respectfully which is important. It must be difficult for you, but don't listen to all the negative comments as people have their opinions but should be kind in sharing. That's how you're doing it and doing a great job! thank you.
"Discussion, interrogation, and dialogue are what make the analysis of art worthwhile. Allowing varying views to add a piece to the puzzle of our own understanding is enriching, not limiting." YES! (And really, I could "YES!" and "THIS!" myself all through this piece.)
I always appreciate discussing books with readers who have similar thoughts, but I live for a dissenting opinion! I like the challenge and the way it forces me to see a different POV, it deepens my thinking and provides new angles to explore.
Also, I think the way we communicate on the internet tends to leave us always assuming the worst from people. (There is a lot of worst coming from people on the internet so it's not an unreasonable assumption 😏) A good faith conversation of opposing thoughts is much different than a bad faith one. I wonder if/how that affects the whole "I won't accept criticism" stance. I can't help but assume it's a factor. Not to mention it's somewhat challenging to have deep, thoughtful discussions on many of the platforms where books are being discussed.
Thanks, Stephanie! And I completely agree with your last paragraph here! Maybe I would be more okay with the phrase "I will not accept criticism of this over the internet" 😂 But this is also why I like exploring these kinds of things. These internet phrases start to become ubiquitous and then take on a life of their own and I think we should interrogate the way we communicate online more frequently and rigorously.
So interesting to read this after just listening to the Currently Reading episode on this yesterday (in fact, until I got to the point in your post where you mention that episode, I was thinking what a fun coincidence it was that two of my favorite sources for bookish discussion were talking about this same topic). I think the way you think through it is really fascinating and feels very true to your English teacher/analytical reader self. I definitely feel that I do this with certain books; I'm ready and willing to hear other people's thoughts - positive and negative - after I read in order to better understand the book, gain perspective on certain aspects of it, parse out the meaning of elements I didn't quite understand, and even hear an opposing point of view about a character or a writing choice. But for me, with a book I have a very strong emotional reaction to, one that I feel is flawless (for me), I'm less willing to subject my feelings about the characters and story or my thoughts about the quality of writing to "criticism" of it. I think for me it comes down to not wanting my vision of the book, my perception of its perfection to be marred in any way. For example if I thought a storyline was perfect and a reader I admire talks about plot holes or pacing issues it makes me question my own reading of it and might decrease my love for the story itself. But often I can avoid this by not reading through negative reviews of a book I love.
This is why I love talking about these sorts of things! The way we all approach books and reading can be so different! I definitely understand what you're saying here and doing think it's wrong--I just feel completely differently! Personally, I can't imagine not being curious about what other readers think of the books I adore, even if their views are more negative. For me, engaging with differing opinions over so many years has made me confident in my own taste so that when someone does point out "flaws" in a book I think is perfect, I can wrestle with what they're saying without necessarily interfering with my own opinion of it. That being said, I think there is a lot of mean spirited criticism out there and I think that impacts this conversation too! When people read publicly in front of such a large audience (like Meredith and Kaytee) I know they get a lot of push back on the things they love and share, so I can also understand just drawing a line to avoid the any unnecessarily vicious attacks! Finally, a large part of my issue with this is the phrasing. I think the phrase itself is condescending. Not everyone cares about exacting word choice, but to me, it matters! Someone emailed me and said that after listening to the podcast, they had the thought that a more accurate phrase could be "this book is sacred to me." I love that! This phrase doesn't suggest that people are wrong to critique the book, but it does clue other readers in that this book is special and all discussions ought to be handled with care.
Thanks for penning this down—I agree with you on all counts. Except that I find myself shying away from writing critical reviews on Goodreads lest they hurt the author’s feelings. We all know what a labor of love a book is. Only if there are hundreds of reviews already, will I ever feel comfortable leaving a critical review. I wonder how you feel about this?
Thank you! Great question. I don’t leave reviews on goodreads so I’m not speaking from personal experience but I do think it’s okay to leave negative reviews there. Books are a labor of love, yes, but so is all art and entertainment and for some reason we feel less comfortable being negative about books. Places like goodreads are for readers, and negative reviews help other readers determine whether they want to read something—often negative reviews actually make me want to read a book more! All that being said, I think there are some really unfair, mean spirited reviews on goodreads and I don’t enjoy that. I also think if you don’t want to write negative reviews there (especially for less widely read books) that’s totally fine too!
"Recently I’ve noticed an uptick in online readers expressing that they “will not accept criticism” on favorite books. I’ve heard this on Instagram and podcasts, and most notably (and personally) had it said to me directly when I have shared my less than glowing feelings about some of the internet’s favorite books."
Yeah. And it seems to be one-sided. The Catcher in the Rye and 1984 (oh irony of ironies) are "shit" but A Little Life, All Fours and Intermezzo are genius. I think this is the inevitable result of less reading, more tribal-social cohesion, less critical thinking, higher sensitivity to sacred shibboleths and the rise of social media. Oh, and of course ideology.
I also cannot stand this phrase. A lot of books I've read lately have a theme that basically goes something like, "certainty is dangerous and curiosity is necessary." I feel this in my bones and I think that's what you're saying here too. How many times has a bookclub discussion expanded my view of a novel, both in positive and negative ways? Almost always. And I'm a better reader for it.
Plus, this phrase seems endemic of our culture right now...disagreeing with someone respectfully is an art form that is dying. If you truly felt completely certain that a book was above all criticism wouldn't that opinion withstand even the harshest critique? It's a false confidence that can't bear to hear a dissenting view.
Yes I completely agree! “Certainty is dangerous and curiosity is necessary” is a perfect summation of what I was feeling when I wrote this. You put it better and more succinctly than I could. I know most people use this phrase lightheartedly but I still hate it!
I also agree that disagreeing with someone respectfully is an artform that’s dying. Certainly is playing a part in our society being so divided on political issues, for example.
Echoing a few comments above I think that this desire to block criticism is in part a reaction to how bad faith so much criticism is. I agree with you on this: “tearing a book apart and putting it back together was a reverential act”. But I see almost no one around me who puts anything back together. To criticize something then leads to it being “problematic”, which then supersedes any other thing about it and I believe that THAT is why people feel they will just plug their ears instead because to acknowledge any criticism is to now be “complicit” in whatever that is unless you eschew it. “This book/person/show/movie/article is BAD and something-ist, denounce it or you are also bad.” I think that making it a joke (“please don’t ruin this lol”) or plugging the ears is a passive way of escaping that dynamic.
Also, could be that those of us who enjoy good critique and find it strengthens our understanding and appreciation are just abnormal 😆
Yes to all of this Jessica! I think you are absolutely right that the type of criticism we most often see is dismissive--it's not the rigorous analysis you and I clearly love. Additionally I think that a lot of people who really pan books do it in a tone that suggests they're just a better reader than everyone who loves it, and I really dislike that. So I can certainly understand the lighthearted "just let me love this!" For me, the phrasing matters too and I actually like "please don't ruin this" much better than "I will not accept criticism on this." Maybe that will catch on!
I think that good faith and charitable but real pushing back on this is an important contribution so thank you for publishing this. I used to just ignore or sort of soft tolerate knee-jerk 'thought terminating' kinds of contributions or critique in conversation (online and in person) but also watched it grow and grow and grow until it became the norm (around me) and I engage directly with it now (in a constructive way!) because I do think it matters.
Yes this is exactly what I’m feeling too. Thanks for articulating it so well!
Loved this! I've also been thinking a lot about the (seemingly endless) romance discourse and how much I want to read thoughtful criticism about what particular titles are doing well or not, rather than the "is this massive genre good or bad, as a monolith". I very much understand the defensive impulse--I've certainly had those conversations!--but I'm hoping we can eventually get to the point where we dive into all the nuances of a sprawling genre instead of seeing it as a walled city that has to be besieged or defended at all times.
Oh yes!! Such a good point! I think maybe we needed to go through a period of “all reading is good reading” and “love what you love” in the book world to shake off our collective snobbery and/or shame. And I don’t disagree with either phrase but there is also room to discuss the flaws and merits of individual books!
I was having all these thoughts as I was listening to Monday’s episode of CR! Love Meredith and Kaytee and highly respect the work they do, but I don’t agree with “not accepting criticism” about certain books. I actually find it really interesting when someone totally disagrees with me about a book - and want to know more. Reading taste is so personal and so much about a reader’s reaction to a book can be driven by their own lived experience.
Yes! I love them and enjoyed listening to their conversation, but I just kept thinking how differently I feel! I am particularly curious why people dislike a novel when I think it was perfect. I can even think of examples from your show! PASSING and THE REMAINS OF THE DAY are perfect novels to me and I enjoyed hearing why you and Susie didn’t love them. It reveals so much about reading taste and, like you said, personal experience.
YES! I remember those 2 books specifically. I’m also always interested in getting a handle on other people’s reading taste and hearing where they differ from me is helpful. I’m also not precious about whether other people like the books I like or not. I feel kind of emotionally disconnected from that.
Totally agree! I’ve definitely felt an instantaneous gut punch when someone tells me the didn’t like a book I love but it’s the briefest feeling for me and then I just want to know more.
Enjoyed this a lot, and basically agree with all of it.
I do find that I have one specific variation on this, which is not "will not accept criticism of this book" but instead "do not want to read criticism of this book." This generally happens with books that I like despite knowing that they are deeply flawed, and I just don't want to see people dunking (correctly) on a thing I enjoy. But even in that case, it's clearly good for the critical reflection to exist; it's just about what I personally want to engage with.
That makes sense! I’m a word nerd so I do prefer that phasing. For me, sometimes I’ll have a short period after finishing a book I love when I feel that way, but I eventually find myself seeking how those critical reviews. I can’t resist!
I was so excited to read this today and I've been equally enjoying reading some of the comments. As you know from our behind the scenes talk (thanks for sharing the link:) I feel the same as you. I've heard that phrase tossed around here and there and every time I hear it I've wondered why someone else's criticism of a beloved book would, could or should matter. I say that from a place of genuine confusion and curiosity, not from judgement. Meredith and Kaytee's conversation helped illuminate what they (and I think other readers) mean when they say that and I do have a better understanding now of what people mean when they say it, but I just don't feel that way. The book I would say holds such a special place in my heart and is an all time favorite is A Little Life by Hanya Yanigarhara and I've heard so much criticism about it, especially from many close book club friends, and it didn't phase me. In fact, as you said, it made me love it more. I'm here for your overthinking of internet phases!!:) PS I absolutely decided to read Stoner because you hated it😅
Thanks, Renee! I am right there with you. I thought Kaytee and Meredith's discussion was so helpful because I previously just hadn't understood the phrase at all. With their breakdown I was able to better understand and empathize, but I just feel so differently! I also can't imagine encountering a negative review that would matter so much. And even if it did change my mind, I would be okay with that!
Thank you Sara for sharing this post. There’s some very cool meta themes happening with the contents and the engagement of it. I agree that the specific words “I will not accept criticism of this books” only serves to shut down conversation in the public reading space. For me the spirit of that phrase is more closely “I choose to ignore criticism of this book” because I am an insert-myself type of reader, so when I LOVE a book it’s usually because I identify so closely with one of the characters. Criticism in this case feels like a personal attack (even though I know it’s really not). Usually it takes some time and distance in order for me (if ever) to check out criticism. Also I am well within the reader-imposter camp of the public reading space. My mind looks like this “Wow these are REAL readers. Look how confident they are that they’ll critique this book that someone spent years working on. I’ve never written a book. Who am I to critique a novel publicly? These readers must all be smarter than me.” You mentioned in another comment how you are now at a point that you’re very confident in your taste which allows you to appreciate all literary criticism. I don’t think I’m there yet in my reading journey, so there are a few books that I choose to keep sacred and ignore the negative criticism. So much to think about! 😊
Well first, you are absolutely a real reader and more than entitled to your taste and opinion on your books, KeriAnn! I hope this space can help continue to build you up! But I totally understand that. There are definitely literary circles that I would probably feel some imposter syndrome in and feel less confident defending my own opinion, so I totally get that! I think for me, what you're articulating comes down to the nitty gritty of the language (which is why I poke fun at myself for taking this too literally!). But I think there's a real difference in saying "I choose to ignore criticism" (or perhaps, better yet, just ignoring it!) than "I refuse to accept criticism." In my opinion, the latter can be just as condescending as approaching someone with negative takes on their favorite book. But I hear you on all of this. I have definitely had times where I relate so much to a character that when someone says "I hate this book," I think, "omg you must hate ME!"
This is so interesting to me! I haven't listened to the podcast you mentioned, but I've become more ardent in refusing criticism over the years, because I see the ways in which people bring outside ideas into a book and hold a book to that standard. There are so many books that people claim to dislike or say if anyone reads this they are 'xyz', and I've later come into those books and discovered that the prevailing social conversation for that book isn't aligned with what the book is actually doing. So this is sort of the opposite of what you wrote about, in defending your position to dislike a book, but I see it as the same thing. People might shut out what's not working to engage with what worked for them, which is fine to me, if you can articulate that. I do this quite a bit. I will also add, I think a lot of people are really bad at understanding their own blind spots and you see it all over the place in internet criticism these days. Appreciate you posting this and finding the call to finally post it. It's really fun watching your thinking evolve and the ways you remain true to your position/viewpoint!
Ok I love this, Poonam! I agree that even though we're talking about this from opposite angles, it's really the same thing. What I dislike is dismissiveness and certainty. Whether that means someone says "I will not accept criticism of this" or "this book is terrible and if you like it you are [fill in the blank]." I do not enjoy that type of conversation at all. I think for me, this doesn't mean that there are certain BOOKS I won't engage with criticism of but that there are certain TYPES OF CRITICISM I won't entertain (okay those all caps were unnecessarily aggressive...). Maybe this is what you're saying to some degree too?
That's it exactly! The bar for the types of criticism I will consider is very high, lol. And I'm okay with that. It makes for a more peaceful/engaging reading life.
Oh! And I will add, the reason I shut out so much criticism is because so many people are really bad at it! I love when I find someone who is good at thinking through ideas and then articulating it. I'm always happy when I find genuine criticism I can work with.
So so true!
Really enjoyed this piece, and find your writing and reflecting has been really helpful to me in thinking through my own responses to art and criticism. Thank you for pieces like this one!
Thank you!
I feel the same way! Sara, you’re making me a better reader and reviewer.
Enjoyed reading your response. I do think reactions that go beyond disagreeing reflect what is happening in our society. On the spectrum with book banning and having political leaders who threaten the livelihoods of those who do not verbally support them.
Yes! I don’t want to equate what podcast hosts or readers on instagram are saying with book banning or these political divisions. But I do think that we have a larger problem in our society with a refusal to engage with ideas we disagree with—and it certainly hasn’t gotten us anywhere good.
I don’t think I really use this phrase, but to me “I won’t accept criticism” means: you can tell me why you didn’t like the book, but it probably won’t change my mind. I agree that it’s maybe closed minded to say “I won’t hear any criticism” but I think “accept” is alright for a few select favorites!
But I do appreciate your points on the value of criticism for thinking through our reactions. It reminds me of a phrase my dad often says: “you should have strong opinions, weakly held” meaning you should always have a point of view, but always be willing to engage with it and change it if you’re presented with new information.
I should add that I take the meaning of “accept” as: ‘to recognize as true/believe’ and not ‘to receive willingly.’
I think some of the confusion in this phrase has to do with how varied the English language is, and how many different meanings can be ascribed to one word!
This is so interesting! When I hear this phrase it seems to be more in the line of “I refuse to hear/engage with any criticism of this book.” That was definitely the gist of the (albeit snarky) podcast conversation and it definitely feels like the case when people message me telling me not to share negative opinions about certain books. But I do agree with you that I have books that it would be impossible, or at least very difficult, to get me to change my mind about! But those I feel so confident in I’m perfectly happy to hear other people’s critiques! Overall though, I know this is a case of me overthinking a silly phrase…but that’s what I love to do 🤣
Perhaps I’ve been misinterpreting it! I don’t tend to read many reviews/comments on Instagram except for a select few profiles, so maybe I’m just not seeing this level of stubbornness.. in which case I totally agree with you 😂
Or maybe I am! I think this is why more generally I don’t like reducing big ideas to internet catchphrases. What do they mean?!?! Lol
All real readers should always welcome criticism of any book, positive or negative as it can only enhance your feelings about the book, either way. I agree with all your points in this essay and wish more readers in my life would too! A negative criticism of a book can always deepen your understanding of why you liked or disliked it as well. I find all the criticism helpful and appreciate the Currently Reading podcast because they do review books they didn't like as well,but do it respectfully which is important. It must be difficult for you, but don't listen to all the negative comments as people have their opinions but should be kind in sharing. That's how you're doing it and doing a great job! thank you.
Thank you so much, Karen! I appreciate this! And I agree the CR hosts do negative reviews really well!
"Discussion, interrogation, and dialogue are what make the analysis of art worthwhile. Allowing varying views to add a piece to the puzzle of our own understanding is enriching, not limiting." YES! (And really, I could "YES!" and "THIS!" myself all through this piece.)
I always appreciate discussing books with readers who have similar thoughts, but I live for a dissenting opinion! I like the challenge and the way it forces me to see a different POV, it deepens my thinking and provides new angles to explore.
Also, I think the way we communicate on the internet tends to leave us always assuming the worst from people. (There is a lot of worst coming from people on the internet so it's not an unreasonable assumption 😏) A good faith conversation of opposing thoughts is much different than a bad faith one. I wonder if/how that affects the whole "I won't accept criticism" stance. I can't help but assume it's a factor. Not to mention it's somewhat challenging to have deep, thoughtful discussions on many of the platforms where books are being discussed.
Thanks, Stephanie! And I completely agree with your last paragraph here! Maybe I would be more okay with the phrase "I will not accept criticism of this over the internet" 😂 But this is also why I like exploring these kinds of things. These internet phrases start to become ubiquitous and then take on a life of their own and I think we should interrogate the way we communicate online more frequently and rigorously.
So interesting to read this after just listening to the Currently Reading episode on this yesterday (in fact, until I got to the point in your post where you mention that episode, I was thinking what a fun coincidence it was that two of my favorite sources for bookish discussion were talking about this same topic). I think the way you think through it is really fascinating and feels very true to your English teacher/analytical reader self. I definitely feel that I do this with certain books; I'm ready and willing to hear other people's thoughts - positive and negative - after I read in order to better understand the book, gain perspective on certain aspects of it, parse out the meaning of elements I didn't quite understand, and even hear an opposing point of view about a character or a writing choice. But for me, with a book I have a very strong emotional reaction to, one that I feel is flawless (for me), I'm less willing to subject my feelings about the characters and story or my thoughts about the quality of writing to "criticism" of it. I think for me it comes down to not wanting my vision of the book, my perception of its perfection to be marred in any way. For example if I thought a storyline was perfect and a reader I admire talks about plot holes or pacing issues it makes me question my own reading of it and might decrease my love for the story itself. But often I can avoid this by not reading through negative reviews of a book I love.
This is why I love talking about these sorts of things! The way we all approach books and reading can be so different! I definitely understand what you're saying here and doing think it's wrong--I just feel completely differently! Personally, I can't imagine not being curious about what other readers think of the books I adore, even if their views are more negative. For me, engaging with differing opinions over so many years has made me confident in my own taste so that when someone does point out "flaws" in a book I think is perfect, I can wrestle with what they're saying without necessarily interfering with my own opinion of it. That being said, I think there is a lot of mean spirited criticism out there and I think that impacts this conversation too! When people read publicly in front of such a large audience (like Meredith and Kaytee) I know they get a lot of push back on the things they love and share, so I can also understand just drawing a line to avoid the any unnecessarily vicious attacks! Finally, a large part of my issue with this is the phrasing. I think the phrase itself is condescending. Not everyone cares about exacting word choice, but to me, it matters! Someone emailed me and said that after listening to the podcast, they had the thought that a more accurate phrase could be "this book is sacred to me." I love that! This phrase doesn't suggest that people are wrong to critique the book, but it does clue other readers in that this book is special and all discussions ought to be handled with care.
Thanks for penning this down—I agree with you on all counts. Except that I find myself shying away from writing critical reviews on Goodreads lest they hurt the author’s feelings. We all know what a labor of love a book is. Only if there are hundreds of reviews already, will I ever feel comfortable leaving a critical review. I wonder how you feel about this?
Thank you! Great question. I don’t leave reviews on goodreads so I’m not speaking from personal experience but I do think it’s okay to leave negative reviews there. Books are a labor of love, yes, but so is all art and entertainment and for some reason we feel less comfortable being negative about books. Places like goodreads are for readers, and negative reviews help other readers determine whether they want to read something—often negative reviews actually make me want to read a book more! All that being said, I think there are some really unfair, mean spirited reviews on goodreads and I don’t enjoy that. I also think if you don’t want to write negative reviews there (especially for less widely read books) that’s totally fine too!
"Recently I’ve noticed an uptick in online readers expressing that they “will not accept criticism” on favorite books. I’ve heard this on Instagram and podcasts, and most notably (and personally) had it said to me directly when I have shared my less than glowing feelings about some of the internet’s favorite books."
Yeah. And it seems to be one-sided. The Catcher in the Rye and 1984 (oh irony of ironies) are "shit" but A Little Life, All Fours and Intermezzo are genius. I think this is the inevitable result of less reading, more tribal-social cohesion, less critical thinking, higher sensitivity to sacred shibboleths and the rise of social media. Oh, and of course ideology.