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One Degree of Separation from Oprah
December 6, 2007

First PW recognized National Book Critics Circle President John Freeman's contributions to the future of book reviewing (congratulations, John!). Now there's more good news: The American Association of Publishers has awarded the NBCC its AAP Honors Prize for "significant achievements in promoting American books and authors."

The most famous previous recipient of this prize is, of course, Oprah -- and biased though I am as a proud NBCC member, I think it's important to note the significance of it being given to an organization made up of 800-odd disparate critics. Oprah stands for the power of one; the NBCC, for the strength of many.

Those many -- whose space in print editorial pages across the nation has been slashed again and again this year -- deserve kudos along with Freeman for continuing to believe that editorial acumen matters. It's all well and good for a friend (whether it's a member of your book group, a bookseller, or your sister-in-law) to recommend a book. We all make friendly recommendations. But they aren't the same (nor should they be) as a critic's recommendations -- or reservations. 

Book reviewing is not brain surgery. Book reviewing is not brain surgery. But to keep that analogy going you probably would not want an NBCC operating --- "I've read about this thing called trepanning." And you probably wouldn't want a  wiped out neurosurgeon telling you what to read --- "a book to fall asleep to." We all have different skills, and this award shows that the AAP recognizes those of book critics. 

I'm not authorized to thank anyone on behalf of the NBCC. But I think I am authorized to say "Hooray!"

Posted by Bethanne Patrick on December 6, 2007 | Comments (1)