Cultural Mis-readings by American Reviewers

Abstract

When reading most of the reviews and critical analyses of The Woman Warrior, I have two reactions: I want to pat those critics on their backs, and I also giggle helplessly, shaking my head. (Helpless giggles turn less frequently into sobs as one gets older.) The critics did give my book the National Book Critics Circle Award; and they reviewed it in most of the major magazines and newspapers, thus publicising it enough to sell. Furthermore, they rarely gave it an unfavourable review. I pat them on the back for recognising good writing — but, unfortunately, I suspect most of them of perceiving its quality in an unconscious sort of way; they praise the wrong things.