Questionnaire Appearing at the End of a Book is the sort of survey we might wish to take part in after a disappointing read. Though we might also regret it if that questionnaire appeared at the end of our own books!
There again, we might already harbour some misgivings about our books of the type that are expressed in Michael’s accompanying poem, which he calls Aha Moment:
and I worry it’s because it contains
nothing worthy of its binding.
Yet, it does have a glossy look to it,
like the volumes on my shelves
waiting to be opened.
Writers need to be readers, declare the
author profiles in magazines
found in doctors’ offices.
Read the stories in The New Yorker,
advises my friend, who then adds,
Let them be your role models.
I try really hard to do just that,
but many of the stories leave me empty,
and then I think, maybe that’s it.