VIEWS ON REVIEWS
Dr. Poranki Dakshinamurthy
A review can
be defined as an effort made to express one’s reaction or response. (for the
benefit of readers) on the talent of a writer in his work. The responsibility of a reviewer can be
discharged when his effort is appropriate and sincere. Otherwise, gross
injustice will be done not only to the writer but to literature and society as
well. Hence the need for a few parameters for reviewing any piece of writing.
We find review mostly in magazines and newspaper supplements. We do not find or expect uniformity in those
reviews. They vary according to the
subject, its treatment and the author’s attitude. Some critics jump at their
catch and hold it tightly. Then they
place themselves on a high pedestal.
They sharpen their knives and start vivisecting.
There are indeed some compassionate critics. For some reason or the other, they develop a liking for a
particular writer and through him for his writing, Not bad, he is alright. There is promise in him, saying this they
shower their benedictions on him. Their
word of appreciation does not necessarily have connection either with the
matter or the quality of presentation. The more conspicuous of them are busy
bodies. They do not find time to read a
book. So, they discuss. In a
patronising manner they discuss all things under the sun, except the contents
of the book. They show plenty of appreciation saying that the title page is
attractive, that the Telugu font looks like ‘a string of pearls’ and the paper
on which the book is printed is of superior quality! A few of them ‘scan’ a couple of pages, as housewives do testing
in one or two grains of cooked rice to make sure that it is ready to be served.
A couple of decades ago, there appeared a review on a book in a
prestigious journal. The writer of the
book and the reviewer were good friends.
Yet, there is no rule that a reviewer must agree with the writer in all
things. The aforesaid reviewer did not
say a thing about what he had disagreed with.
Nor did he say what it should be like.
He started a rude attack on the intellect and academic career of the
writer and other irrelevant things. Thus, the ‘impartial’ reviewer and the
writer who was blessed to have an ‘inimical friendliness’ (vaira maitri) had
earned the benefit of sensational publicity!
In Indian music each ragam or fixed melody scale is said to have
notes like Vaadi (leading note or king), samavaadi (secondary
note), anuvaadi (helping note) and vivaadi (dissonant note) This applies
to reviewers as well. There are persons
who cling to their favourite theories, ideologies or doctrines. They seem to believe that the very existence
of literature meant invariably to reflect their professed ideology. When such beliefs continue to get hardened,
they are likely to become literary terrorists.
If the trend
of reviews appears like this, it is natural for litterateurs to feel dissatisfied and pained. But luckily for us, such reviews are very few in number. We do
have conscientious reviewers who discharge their responsibility in a proper
way. It is indeed the reviewer who
effects a liason between a reader and a writer who has the better path of his
life for a creative effort. A single
review of a book draws attention of thousands of readers and induces a few
persons to buy the book immediately.
Hence a responsible reviewer sets a few parameters for his exercise: What
is the subject that the writer has dealt with?
How does he treat his subject?
Does the treatment appear appropriate to the subject? How does the texture look like? What are its strong and weak points? How far is the story readable? How is the style? Such questions are kept in his mind while studying the work. He gives expression to his reaction or
response. Certain things he may not like, but he does not belittle the writer
by making scathing remarks. He takes a
positive view.
The parameters that are shown
above are applicable to any sort of writing. But a literary genre like short story, poetry, novel or drama may
have different parameters. In the case of a short story, the reviewer looks
first into its theme or subject.
Naturally, it comes from ‘life’ itself.
It can be drawn from the psychological study of an individual or from a
family or an environment or social and economic factors. The main point that is taken up by the
writer underlies the story from the beginning till the end. He forms his opinion on the basis of its merits
and demerits. How does the story begin?
How does it proceed? Where does it
twist, twine or turn? Where does it
reach a climax, if there is any? How is the denouement effected? How does it end? What about characterisation and the plot? What is the impression
created by the whole? These are some of his questions.
The reviewer is also a reader.
Reactions differ according to taste and temperament. However, Mr. Sila
Virraju, a prominent Telugu writer and artist, presents his views as follows: A
good story has to have imagination, as much as it possesses naturality. Or it has to be so real as if it is
happening just in front of us. It has
to carry the reader along the printed lines, as long as he reads. Now and then it should make him look back,
whence he has been proceeding. Even
after finishing reading, the events or scenes from the book should go on
lingering in his mind. The characters
and events in the story should have a strong hold over the reader’s mind until
he brings in some other events or individuals forcibly into his mind. Even
after one forgets them they should crop up in one’s mind intermittently. This
alone is not enough to make a good story. It must serve either a literary purpose or social purpose.
In the hands of a powerful writer, the story can haunt us forever. That story alone which trans-illuminates the
human virtues in a man can be recognized as a ‘great story’. Friendship,
compassion, help, cooperation, love, sacrifice etc. make even an ordinary
person who possesses them, worthy of our love and highest esteem. A story that impresses with any one of such
virtues or human values, leaving a deep dent on the mind of a reader, reminding
him of his responsibility of living in harmony with all life and respect for
the nature and its creator, certainly stands out as a great story.