Paul Theroux on Book Reviewing

Most people read books and think them interesting. They don't really reach an intellectual conclusion. They just have an opinion about it, not a judgment. But to reach a judgment about a book is really useful. To have to puzzle it out and then to write out the judgment. So I think that is a function book reviewing performs when it's done well.

Paul Theroux in Story Story Story, edited by Jim Schumock, 1999