Fresh Eyes

Scott Esposito on reading with fresh eyes:

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to read a certain book if I had simply bought it without hearing anything about it beforehand. Would I still give it the same attention? The same patience? Would I recognize if it were good or bad? These are important questions because I pride myself on being able to tell well written, artistic books form the hack jobs and mediocrities. I think I can tell what's what, but how could I ever really know, when everything comes recommended?