On the Beauty of Subjectivity

Evaluating Contradictory Book Reviews

You know what they say about opinions! If you don’t know, maybe ask google the question “Why are opinions like assholes?” Too lazy to open a search bar? Oh, fine, it’s because we all have one, and if you’re feeling really colorful, it’s also because they all stink.

Despite the common knowledge that everyone’s opinion is different, and that every work of literary criticism is an opinion, book reviews are still very much treated as an authority on whether a book is worth our time as a reader. As a writer, it can feel like a court of public opinion is passing judgment on our hearts and souls. Despite all the feelings evinced by reviews, every ardent reader who’s ever checked out a review knows that opinions on a book can vary dramatically, even opinions on the same book, even opinions on the same part of the same book.

Why do I bring this up now? Duri…