Quotables: “Ratatouille“
From the Disney animated film, “Ratatouille“, a quote that made me think of book reviewing (aside from the part where he says we ‘thrive on negative criticism’ and that it’s ‘fun to write & read’)…
“In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and theirselves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism which is fun to write and to read.
“The bitter truth we critics must face is that, in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so is. But there are times when the critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the new. The world is often unkind to new talent, to new creations. The ‘new’ need friends…
“Not everyone can become a great artist. But a great artist can come from anywhere…”
I don’t think critiquing someone’s book is “easy”, really. Not with my personality type. I’m a peace-keeper (phlegmatic). I don’t like to risk hurting anyone’s feelings. Hence why I say that I don’t ’thrive’ on negative criticism: writing it, or reading it. I cringe at that sort of thing, actually.
Sure, writing a negative review might come a little easier out of the pen, if only because there’s more passion behind the words you are writing; that passion inspired you to spill what you’re feeling. Whereas, sometimes when you really like something, it’s hard to find the right words to convey exactly what the thing made you feel.
No, reviewing — being a book “critic” — isn’t easy. It’s a fine line we reviewers must walk between sharing our opinions, while respecting that the authors put their heart & soul into their work. 
love those quotes miz b
i’m a peace keeprs aswell
“Not everyone can become a great artist. But a great artist can come from anywhere…”
Wonderful quotes.
This one gave me the chills!
I really dislike the idea of writing a negative review. Actually I’d rather not review a book than give it a negative one, which is why I always hesitate if asked by an author to review a book – what if I don’t like it? I hate to hurt anyone’s feelings. As you say, it certainly is ‘a fine line we reviewers must walk between sharing our opinions, while respecting that the authors put their heart & soul into their work.’
I agree. Thankfully, since I’ve started doing this I have only written a couple of bad reviews and they were on non-fiction books more than fiction so I usually have a pretty solid reason for my dislikes. But I always put myself in the writer’s shoes. I try to be fair, look at things from a different perspective. Writing bad comments does seem to flow better out of a passionate dislike, but that doesn’t make it easier to post. I try to be as “prefessional” as possible when writing a not-so-good critique.
By the way… LOVE Ratatouille!