Book Seller
O a horse-and-buggy reader like me the jet-propelled reading habits of a J. C. Reid remain a matter for awe rather than emulation. In The European Novel Now (1YC) he is serving up another part of his reading with his usual smooth dexterity. I listened to the first talk with continuous attention, though not with entire agreement when I knew anything of the writers. Mostly I didn’t, and to keep a listener interested in writers he doesn’t know is a difficult task Mr. Reid always performs well. He is an excellent reviewer, as distinct from an excellent critic. Some people refuse to see any distinction between the two crafts, and, of course, their functions overlap; but thé critic is of most use to the person who. has tead the book, the reviewer to the person who hasn’t. The listener may come away from Mr. Reid’s talks with little more than a list of names; but the person who knows no names stands in a library and can’t find a thing to read. ‘He hasn’t a clue. Mr. Reid provides some useful clues. (How many books does Mr. Reid consume in a year? I wish he’d tell us some day.)
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19560420.2.42.5
Bibliographic details
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 34, Issue 872, 20 April 1956, Page 21
Word count
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201Book Seller New Zealand Listener, Volume 34, Issue 872, 20 April 1956, Page 21
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Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
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