Giraldi’s NYT review of Ohlin’s latest works too sharp or too much?

William Giraldi reads from Busy Monsters at Literary Death Match in November 2011.

Since the New York Times published William Giraldi’s review of Alix Ohlin’s novel and short story collection last weekend, many writers have criticized his review as being narcissistic and unnecessarily harsh. Some consider it an example of a reviewer who simply does not enjoy the genre of the artist’s work and who lambasts the genre without actually reviewing or acknowledging any merits of the works in question.

Two Grub Street instructors responded on the Grub Daily blog.

Courtney Maum wins Literary Death Match, Boston Episode 6, at Club Oberon

Literary Death Match came to Club Oberon and pit four readers — Sarah Braunstein, Courtney Maum, William Giraldi and Matthew Salesses — against each other. Judging them were Liz Prince, Cynthia von Buhler and Ron Currie Jr. Hosted by Kirsten Sims and LDM founder Todd Zuniga, Maum battled Giraldi and snapped up the medal. Read more for a photo slideshow of the event.