Think of Us as Foodies, Except We Devour Books

In some ways the litblog is still a reactive genre--we get many of our stories by noticing what's in the news, and declaiming whether we're for it or against it--but one of our more significant strengths lies in our ability to react to what is missing from the usual media coverage of literature and the publishing industry. As mainstream book coverage, particularly the coverage of new fiction, contracts, blogs can present a new forum to address books and authors that aren't getting noticed elsewhere. Or maybe they do get noticed, but not nearly enough. One hates to say "midlist," but that term has become shorthand for what Marjorie Braman of HarperCollins identified on another blog as "the kind [of book] that is necessary, but for which there might not be a huge demand." She adds, in the context of describing that sort of book as gourmet mustard in comparison to generic mayonnaise, "Those who do have a passion for it are very particular." I imagine that as you get to know us, you'll find that characterization applies to us; each of us has very eclectic tastes, none of which perfectly align with anyone else's, but I'm willing to taste from everyone else's plates and they're willing to taste from mine. With any luck, when we talk about it all, we'll make your mouths water.