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hillsides and beaches) and make me think again.

And yes! Believe it or notI will go to other works and reference books and the internet to check ideas and sourcesI will re-read what I thought of previous works, what others thought about previous, subsequent and this the one in hand. I may or may not modify my views as a result.

I take time over my reviews. I care about the expression of my thoughts as much as the thoughts themselves. I want to express the feelings books have evoked or the lack of them. I want my readers to understand my opinion and, to a degree, how & why I hold it.

Hasty they are not.

Secondly back again at that original "hasty, instinctive opinion" why is an instinctive opinion to be frowned upon?

Art, I believe, is supposed to touch us at a level beyond the intellect. Be it a novel, a poem, a painting, a piece of music, a manipulated landscape.its function is to "touch" us on a spiritual or emotional level.

The music of the Beachboys is "art" you cannot avoid the happiness' of the beat and harmony combination they produce. You may not, intellectually, like it but if your brain waves were to be read, you'd find that you do respond to it in the same way that those of us who hate opera cannot ignore the emotive force of the Ride of the Valkyries. The same is true of the written word "or any other cultural object".

The instinctive response is clearly not subject to intellectual or academic rigor, but it has value for precisely that reason. Most people read books for pleasure, entertainment (in a broader sense) or to learn something.the decision as to whether the book delivers on that basic level does not require intellectual rigor. It is a judgement every single reader can make.

And in my view: should.

Criticism and reviewing may not have been democratic activities in the past, but the increasing popularity of sites like this one means that more and more people have the opportunity to express their views. Democracy is encroaching Mr Schickel whether you like it or not.

I don't think that this is something to be feared however. Most of us who spend any serious amount of time cluttering up the web with our "hasty, instinctive opinions" are trying to be good writers, trying to bring "something more to the party" even if that something more is just a different point of view.

Forgive us our ignorancebut at least allow us the benefit of the doubt. Read what we have to say, before condemning us out of hand.

Learn more about this author, Lesley Mason.
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