The taste of a good review
I am very pleased, at last, to be reviewed in the literary pages of my local paper, The Age. I felt some trepidation about this. Would the reviewer damn the whole book on the basis of one clunky sentence (which has happened – it’s a rare book that doesn’t have its clunk, surely a forgiveable offence)?
No. I am happy with the review, entitled ‘A hobby worth sticking with’ by Simon Caterson. (And in true Blue Mauritius fashion, which readers of the book will appreciate, the article is illustrated by a Mauritius stamp, but not a Blue Mauritius!)
He notes that my approach ‘is descriptive rather than analytical but there is material here for readers… who like to speculate about the forces that drive popular culture and the psychology of collectors’. It’s a funny thing that. That the material is there for the interested reader to speculate upon is because I analysed the mass of my research and selected the sliver that best illustrated points I wanted to make in telling a story as I saw it. Subtle analysis? No matter. I think this is a good observation.
Caterson then cites a conversation I had with David Beech, head of the Philatelic Collections at the British Library. I still remember that day with David back in September 2003, spent entirely and enjoyably conversing about the Post Office stamps and the history of philately and stamp collecting. When he dropped that line I scribbled it immediately into my notebook and knew it was gold. I’m glad someone else has picked up on that.
‘Mercifully, for non-philatelists, she has avoided becoming complicated and hypothetical.’ Phew!
And finally, Caterson has appreciated, as I’d hoped, the ‘nicely judged twist in the tale that provides this non-fiction book with an ending you won’t want to give away’. There is a further twist to this twist that I realised in October, which I am not at liberty to explain here. Suffice it to say, if I am allowed to make a very slight change to the ending in the paperback, I will!
As I said, very happy with this review, thanks!
Simon Caterson, ‘A hobby worth sticking with’ , review of Blue Mauritius, The Age, 14 January 2007, A2 p.20.
After all the research, the writing and subsequent editing of said research and writing, which I’m sure took a GREAT deal of time, talent and effort, it must be thrilling to get good reviews…I’m proud of you!