But there *are* lists of descriptions of books. They are called catalogs.
Baker & Taylor, Small Press Distribution, Amazon, Barnes & Noble have
pretty detailed ones.
The problem is that the author generally writes the catalog copy, and it
really is intended to be ad-like. Additionally, increasingly the author
solicits -- or even sponsors the writing of -- reviews beyond the blurbs.
It is pretty confusing the way that the history of different sorts of books
is mashed together, too. For example, the texts that followed the Gutenberg
Bible *were* the reformation in many respects. But polemical books, and
books written to establish -- well, quite literally, authority, are reviewed
differently than literary texts are reviewed. For example, reviews of John
Calvin's Institutes parse the argument and then take a stand.
Except now so many literary texts and critical works books seem to be
written only as a sort of job seeking ad/qualification...
All best,
Catherine Daly
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