Comments on: A Book Never Stands Alone: Do Reviewers Have a Social Responsibility?

By: Genny O'Herron

Genny O'Herron — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:44:23 +0000

It would be exteremly helpful–as a parent and a teacher–to know that reviewers were making the effort to raise these questions about stereotypes and broader social implications. Nigerian author Chimamanda Adichie’s description of the “danger of a single story” comes to mind. I don’t want to perpetuate that “danger,” but as someone new to the world (and beauty and power) of international literature, I am apt to do so without some wise guidance.

By: Alicia M. Fagan

Alicia M. Fagan — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:41:27 +0000

As a teacher and a parent I feel that I rely on reviewers to guide me in the right direction in choosing books. I find it encouraging that that reviewers are becoming more aware of the authenticity of the cultural awareness of the books they are reviewing.

By: tabitha kline

tabitha kline — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:39:13 +0000

I think this is a complicated topic for both authors and reviewers. Authors don’t always know how many books containing their content are on the market and reviewers should not have to research all other books with similar content to the book they are reviewing. Both should have the reponsibility to create a socially concious piece.

By: Annette Fiedler

Annette Fiedler — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 20:42:32 +0000

I do agree that the reviewer must have some social responsability, however what the standards and guidelines are I am not aware of. It would make sense that reviewers are culturally aware of specific happenings and those should be respectfully and effectively covered when reviewing a piece of literature. Theresa, I agree with your questions and the curiousity that this topic speaks of.

By: Theresa

Theresa — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 17:41:53 +0000

I am not well versed on the requirements of a reviewer, but it seems to me that there should be a protocal in place that requires them to be socially responsible. What is the reason for not being socially responsible? And, if reviewers are going to be held accountable to a new standard who sets the guidelines to make sure that they do their job correctly and who enforces the rules?

By: WOW Currents » Social Responsibility and the Reader

WOW Currents » Social Responsibility and the Reader — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 07:12:51 +0000

[...] we might want to do this, which means we might necessarily have to do a bit of research and assert, as Marilyn Carpenter does, that the text we are engaging at any one time represents only one perspective of many about this [...]

By: Marilyn Carpenter

Marilyn Carpenter — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:42:33 +0000

I agree that reviewers have a social
responsibility to raise questions about the
possible impact of a book within the broader
collection of books available about a
particular culture. Here is my reasoning.
1. Many reviewers read widely and are
aware of the context or impact of a book
in relationship to others published on the
same topic. Many times I recommend a
book but do so with a comment that the
book is the only one widely available on
the topic. Or, I will compare the book
to others on the same topic.