Tayari's Blog: Fruit of the Lemon
Posted by TayariJones on February 22, 2007 09:39 PM
Filed under
Bookshelf
I am always sort of uneasy with the task of reviewing. On the one 
hand, I feel like doing a review causes me to me lay down my opinion as somehow more valuable than other folks views on a book. I know how important reviews can be-- not only for the "success" of a book, but for the author's emotional health. (I can quote my crappy reviews chapter and verse.) There is a part of me that would prefer not to be part of the whole messy ordeal of putting my opinions in print.
On the other hand, I really think it is important that more folks of color be allowed to weigh in about literature and we should be make ourselves heard in high profile venues. If these reviews are important, then we should be among the tastemakers.
I don't want to get in the habit of thinking of myself as any sort of gatekeeper, so I don't take on too many review assignments. But when I do, I try to give an honest and fair critique of the work that respects the readers as consumers of literature while giving the author the respect that she deserves as the creator of the same.
I reviewed Andrea Levy's Fruit of the Lemon for The Washington Post. You can read it here.
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There are 3 comments on "Fruit of the Lemon". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.
Comment #1, by carleen ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tayarijones.com/blog/nav-commenters.gif)
A friend of mine bought me Fruit of the Lemon this week! I just started it, and so far I like. I'll read your review when I finish.
February 23, 2007 08:56 AM
Comment #2, by persistence
I read Levy's novel, Small Island for my Postcolonial literature class and loved it. Now, I'm just waiting for the movie.
February 23, 2007 02:33 PM
Comment #3, by minaj
I think, Tayari, that giving a considered and honest review of a book by another person of color is giving that person the respect he or she deserves as an author. Every book is not going to be the absolute best, and to give an author a pass just because he or she is Black implies that we are not capable of the highest caliber of work. I just finished a first novel by a Black author for which I had very high expectations, but it was clear that some badly needed constructive criticism would have resulted in a much better book.
I loved the author's "Small Island" and I have a copy of "Fruit of the Lemon", but I haven't begun to read it yet. Your honest review will not disuade me from reading it; you pointed out positive aspects of the book which I am looking forward to exploring.
Good job!
February 24, 2007 12:44 PM