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September 27, 2005
Collaboration: Not My Strong Suit
Thanks for the fine-looking blog, Toby.
In the planning, we discussed using this space to talk about both the books under review - especially Laila Lalami's debut short-story collection - and the experience of putting together and editing a collection of book reviews under someone else's rules. I'll just say upfront that it's been an occasionally unsettling experience for me.
I'm normally as likely to sign on to collaborative projects as I would be to hold a hornets' nest in my bare hands. I've learned from experience that, when institutional rules intervene and group decisions have to be made, I tend to end up wondering why I decided to venture off my own square of Internet real estate. (Mark, remember that "a dictatorship, not a democracy" thing I once posted in a fit of pique?) Sometimes I think the subtitle of my blog should be a disclaimer: "does not play well with others."
But I respect Mark's taste, and his judgment, and he and I have turned to each other for support so often on our own writing projects that I was excited when you asked if we'd co-edit this issue.
And I appreciate your patience throughout this process.
Okay, Mark, time for some navel-gazing.
It's been good to work with you — not least because we had an official reason to do what we always do anyway: recommend books to each other.
But the experience hasn't been without its surprises. First off, who knew the reviews we ran had to be positive? (Cue the well-trodden snark debate. I think you know where I stand on that.) Good thing most of the reviewers enjoyed their assigned titles.
I liked the book I was slated to review well enough to recommend it, with significant qualifications, to friends. But if I wouldn't foist a book on people I know without caveats, I certainly wouldn't give a blanket recommendation to strangers. When I took a stab at a draft of the review, my reservations were more prominent than my praise. I thought about it and realized I couldn't approach the book any other way. So I decided not to review it. For me, nuance in criticism is everything -- except in the case of the (rare) perfect book or the (unfortunately not at all rare) abominable one.
Also, I confess: I was too nervous to ask writers and critics I know if they'd be willing to guest-review for us. I felt as though I'd have to say, "Would you like to review 'The Secret Life of the Lonely Doll'? Hey, great -- uh, just make sure you love it or we can't run your piece."
So I'm glad Boldtype, in anticipation of somebody disliking the book she's assigned, has adopted a policy of assigning too many titles for each issue.
Maybe we'll talk more about the reviews later, but for now I think we should talk about "Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits," fellow book blogger Laila Lalami's short story collection.
She gave me a copy last spring. At first I hesitated to pick it up. You know how it is: even if you like someone's expository writing, you can't predict how you'll respond to her fiction. But when I started reading, I was so engrossed in the stories of Moroccan immigrants crossing the Straits of Gibraltar on an inflatable raft that I missed my stop on the train. The next night I stayed up until 2 a.m. to find out what happens. I still think about some of the characters, especially Noura, who shocks her parents by losing interest in studying at an American university when she befriends a devoutly religious girl and dons the hijab.
If asked for a nuanced critique, I could quibble with the occasional didactic moment, but it's a fine, insightful book. Junot Diaz, one of my favorite contemporary short story writers, called it: "A dream of a debut, by turns troubling and glorious, angry and wise. With her spare elegant prose Lalami has constructed a world remarkable for its resilience, its vibrancy, its motion, and yes, its hope."
That said, I didn't expect it to be in the running for this issue. You'll probably remember that when we were first throwing ideas around with Boldtype, I said, "Another book that could fit this theme is Laila Lalami's debut short story collection, 'Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits.' I don't think we should include it because Lalami is a book blogger, and we wouldn't want to be accused of nepotism. But it's a solid debut collection, and I hope you'll keep it in mind in the future."
Then the longlist of recommendations from came in, and one of Boldtype's usual nominating crew -- someone who's not a book blogger -- had suggested "Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits" for inclusion. So I thought, well, if somebody else thinks it should be in there, and I think it's a good book and one that fits the theme, why not include it?
I've had second and third and seventieth thoughts since then.
I know we didn't have control over the reviewer's reaction. If she hadn't liked it, we would have run a review of a different book. But the fact remains: we're book bloggers, and we compiled a shortlist that includes another book blogger's debut effort. What would Jennifer Howard say? And would she be right?
I know you have a different perspective from mine, though, Mark. Your turn now: what's it been like for you?
Posted by maud.newton at September 27, 2005 07:49 AM