“The covers of this book are too far apart.” ―
Surely, you’ve heard people say that everybody’s a critic line. I’ve said it myself. It’s a great way to shrug off someone’s usually unfavorable response to something you’ve done. That would be the first definition of critic here.
Definition of critic – 1. a person who expresses an unfavorable opinion of something.
I can even imagine this cardinal looks as if he has a very unfavorable opinion of how I’m working as it peers in at me through my office window. But then sometimes you can think everybody’s a critic. Even a curious little bird.
But there is a second definition of critic.
2. a person who judges the merits of literary, artistic, or musical works, especially one who does so professionally.
This is also a critic and that person might be giving a favorable response to something in a review. As you can guess that first quote by Ambrose Bierce, a writer born in 1842, is not a favorable review of whatever book he is describing.
I’m sure Mr. Bierce dealt with a few unfavorable critics of his own work at times. Most writers do. Believe it or not, I’ve had a few of those myself! But I’ve had many more of the favorable ones so that is to the good. I’m not tiptoeing down this path to talk about criticism or negative reviews of anything I’ve written. What has me thinking about critics in that first sense of the word is this old book that I came across titled Greetings from Old Kentucky by Allan M. Trout, who wrote a column in the Courier-Journal beginning in 1939. Here’s his description of the book. “It is a compilation of selected material from Greetings, my column of buffoonery and light lore.”
Of course, anyone who writes a newspaper column is going to have a critic speak up about something he writes now and again. One of his columns addressed this, and it made me smile. I hope it will you too. Here’s a short excerpt from his column “A Critic Rakes Me Over the Coals.”
A critic at Danville rakes me over the coals. “When there is so much to write about in these troubled days,” my critic begins, “it seems to me you could find something more worth while than snakes swallowing one another. No one is interesting in this fool talk. If you will listen to your radio and read the papers you will find many constructive things to put in your column. If you are a newspaper man, then get down to brass tacks.”
Thank you, sir. I am a lot by my column like the bass drummer was by his music.
“You don’t make very good music,” a critic told him.
“No,” replied the drummer, “but I drown out a lot of bad.”
He goes on to tell about many other things of “importance” his column speaks of besides whether two snakes can swallow one another such as one of his readers trying to cross lightning bugs with honey bees, so the bees can see to make honey at night. Well, you get the idea. Mr. Trout obviously meant to entertain with his writing and drown out some of the bad news of the day. Not a bad goal. We all need reasons to smile and it’s kind of fun to consider things that might not matter in the grand scheme of things but that are fun none the less.
I think we should all have opinions. I think we should all be critics. Actually in this day of internet sales for books, reviews are very important to a writer. But it doesn’t hurt to be kind or to be like Mr. Trout and find a way to smile and keep writing whatever we think drowns out the bad.
What do you think the cardinal bird in the picture is really thinking?
Comments 14
This brought back memories! My grandpa, Elvis Denney, who raised me, always subscribed to the Courier Journal. We didn’t even have an indoor toilet but had all kinds of great reading material. He was such a Republican he would never get the Lexington Herald, calling it a fan of the Democrats. lol Even as a little girl, I looked forward to Mr. Trout’s columns as much as I did the “funnies”.
Author
I’m enjoying his humor in this book, Sandra. I’m dipping into it a little at a time something like reading the columns spaced out the way they were in the newspaper. Thanks for sharing your memories of your grandpa. You have to sort of wonder if more people were named Elvis before Elvis Presley became so well known. We got the Lexington paper and my aunt got the Courier Journal. I liked the “funnies” in the Herald best. LOL. Didn’t care about the politics back then.
“Hey in there! We need some food out here!!! 😃
Author
And I always listen, Karen, when he says that and take seed right out. 🙂
That little red bird is wondering if you brought a snack. Most importantly for himself, but a some extra for his friend would be nice too.
Author
I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if you were right, Donna. I used to think the hummingbirds came and looked at me through the window when they showed up in the spring to let me know to put out their feeder. Why not the cardinal doing the same?
I think he is looking at his reflection and thinking…”What a fine looking fellow you are!” Or instead, he might be thinking…”Who’s this new kid on the block? Do I need to run him out of here?” We have many redbirds around our feeders and those males sure do try to run each other off. About 3 years ago during a snow storm, I counted over 70 cardinals alone…not counting all of the other birds. My parents were bird watchers, especially my mother, and I am, too! So much joy seeing and hearing them each day.
Thanks for sharing snippets of your life as well as your wonderful books. God bless you & yours!
Author
Wow, Connie. 70! I’ve had 30 during snowstorms a few times, but never counted 70. You must have been serving some tasty seeds. 🙂 I do enjoy watching the birds flying in and out to the feeder. Love the little titmice and chickadees.
Thanks so much for stopping by here to read my this and that.
I’ve noticed some birds will beat themselves up against windows. Maybe this one is admiring his reflection and not really concerned with what humans might think he is contemplating.🤔
Author
Of course, you’re right, Jill. That is what this cardinal is doing. Cardinals are bad about being the birds that do beat up against a window fighting their own image. I had one that was so persistent, I had to block the window. Crazy bird. 🙂
I think the cardinal is thinking, “Hey, I wonder what they do inside that building. Is anyone home? Do they have any bird seed in there?”
Author
That’s cute, Suzanne. Sometimes I wonder if anybody is home. But I probably have more fun watching him and his buddies out at the feeder than he did trying to peer in at me.
Stop working on your new book ; we need more seed out here ! Hurry and fill our feeder !!!
Author
You could be right about that, Nancy. Those cardinals do like seed in the feeder. They might have a designated seed requester, or in the case of this one, if you’re idea of his thoughts are right, a seed demander!!