The Value Of A Snark

Also from the NY Times, Clive James has an interesting article, "The Good of a Bad Review." There's a fair bit of truth in what James says, but-- and I'm not sure whether this says something about my possession of a soft spot or not-- I'm not sure James' distinctions are as clear cut as he pretends. The personal attack is too often a gun rather than an axe, a device too recklessly used by people who think they're entitled to it.