Such grammatical issues do in fact make the "asshole editors of the world" "sidestep vital young authors". (Vital young authors like Keith Baughman, perhaps?)

My problem isn't so much that Keith didn't like my book. My problem is that he derides my right to publish it, which seems antithetical to the DIY mission of your fine magazine.

Keith’s review smacks of being anti-First Amendment.

Hell. It’s downright un-American.

Michael W. Dean

Los Angeles

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letters to the editor by people defending the book:

Keith, I just read your review of the michael dean novel "starving in the company of beautiful women" and you fail me on many levels. First, you convey nothing about the actual book i.e. narrative, characters, plot, tense, really any of the so called beams and planks that hold together a novel. You tell me nothing that might let me decide if this book would interest me to read or even why the novel fails as a novel, only that it is ego-driven and that you're not interested in that kind of thing.

Interestingly, the ego-ness you accuse m. dean of becomes the machine that drives your piece. you use the book review as a vehicle to spout forth your theories of aesthetic literature, what's the appropriate use and reason for an independent press and even touch briefly on your fears of the established editorial system.

c'mon keith, you attacked the writer as you see him and you were quite lazy about actually trying to break down the book a little so that i might make up my own mind about reading or not reading it. are we supposed to say "Aw shit, Keith said this book is terrible so i will too"?

You sound like a fucking frustrated novelist my man. Don't you think it helps literature to be more constructive about reviews? To explain why it is not working for you so that the author might understand or that new novelists might learn something? Or are you one of those so-called rant people, just ranting away into the hollow and echoey depth of the Internet, and hearing your voice bounce back and you tilt your head a little bit to the side and say "Wow! That's my voice i hear!".

Really, what is your job?

Best wishes,

m. kelley

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Hi, Keith:

I found your review of Michael Dean's book absolutely hilarious. The fact that you took such offense to Michael's writing goes to show that even though seemed to be genuinely offended, you actually DID take the time to read it. Bravo!

Having just returned from a trip through the art museums of Spain, it's worth noting that many "classics" tend to universally fascinate and shock at the same time. I'm delighted to see that you agree, and I'll be sure to send you a free ticket to the screening when the film is completed.

Your pal,

-->Symon

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Baugman's review of Michael Dean's book (Starving in the Company of Beautiful Women) makes a point about independent publishing, but not the one he intends. It's a good example of why publishers of serious hardcopy content don't feel too threatened by the Internet. In fact the content is missing: the reader is left to guess what the book is about (Dean's life as a milkman? How to coordinate shoes with summer dresses? The life of the Suriname toad?).

As for your reviewing style, it recalls the unedited, beer-fueled late-night rants that used to fill photocopied punk fanzines back in the old days and that fill teen web pages today. It also filled the freshman essays I used to grade back when I was trying to teach frat boys to write. Finally, I have a shelf full of reference books at work, but the only three I regularly use are a dictionary, a thesaurus, and Strunk and White. As I used to tell my class: buy them; read them; use them!

Charles Kramer

PS-- I'm buying Dean's book on your recommendation.

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Dear Keith

For starters, I happen to like the book. I'm a big fan of people telling their real stories, which aren't always pretty or neat. Such writers as Michelle Tea, Beth Lisick, and Carol Queen, who describe their lives, their inner thoughts and feelings to make other writers and people in general look for the stories of interest in their own lives.

But what I real wanted to talk about the fact that it is very obvious from many of the things that you are a bit bitter - that maybe you have a book that you are having trouble getting published. You just need a little support and praise of your own work. Well, I'm sure you're other reviews are written just fine.

Have a great day and good luck with the writing.

Sincerely,

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