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What book reviews have made literary history and why?

Danielle MacAvddy

There have been countless book reviews that have made literary history, as the power of the written word has the ability to shape our understanding of literature and shape our culture as a whole. One of the most famous examples of this is the review of Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" by the critic Vivian Mercier. In the review, Mercier famously commented that "nothing happens, twice". This seemingly dismissive comment has come to be understood as a brilliant encapsulation of the play's absurdity and existential themes, and has been quoted and referenced countless times since its publication in 1956.

Another example of a book review that made literary history is James Wood's review of Zadie Smith's "White Teeth". In the review, Wood coined the phrase "hysterical realism" to describe the tendency of contemporary writers to pack their novels with an overwhelming amount of detail and multiple plot lines. This phrase has since become widely used in literary criticism, and its influence can be seen in discussions of contemporary fiction to this day.

Of course, not all book reviews that make literary history are positive. In fact, negative reviews have often sparked controversy and been the subject of much debate. One famous example of this is the review of Jack Kerouac's "On the Road" by Truman Capote. In the review, Capote criticized Kerouac's writing style and called the book "typing, not writing". This scathing review has since been used as an example of the divide between "mainstream" and "countercultural" literature in the 1950s and 60s, and has also been cited as an early example of literary rivalry.

Perhaps one of the most groundbreaking and influential book reviews of all time is Virginia Woolf's essay "Mr. Bennett and Mrs. Brown". In the essay, Woolf criticizes the traditional approach to novel writing, which she believes focuses too heavily on plot and character development and not enough on the interior lives of the characters. Instead, Woolf argues that the future of the novel lies in an exploration of "moments of being", or moments of intense personal revelation. This essay has had a profound impact on literary criticism and theory, and has helped to shape the way we think about novels and their meanings.

In conclusion, there are countless book reviews that have made literary history, each in their own unique way. Some have been positive, some negative, and some have even sparked controversy and debate. But what they all have in common is the power to shape our understanding of literature and shape our cultural discourse. As readers and writers, we should always strive to engage with book reviews and criticism, as they can help us to see literature in new and exciting ways.