Dear Fellow,
Honestly, I hate to do this: apologise for a particular thing over and over again. However, better a million apologies than an ego steeped in pride. I am sorry again. I am sorry I did not show up in your inbox last Saturday. Apart from a busy daily schedule in the past 5 weeks or so, the primary reason I didn’t show up is the blackout. Despite a long, crazy, and adventurous time in the blackout I didn’t master the trick of the very unreliable power supply situation down here. My friend who is a graphic designer in this same situation, in need of electric power on a daily basis lamenting two days ago said it better: “I really want to stop complaining about power.” Same here, really! So, let’s move on.
In the despatch “A Public Criticism” I narrated the first negative review my book The University Library received during the launch of the same book. I said I’d share my response to the public critique of my book by one management staff of the University of Jos Library. (To catch up on the gist: click here.)
The 3 Points
In his remark, three points were noted (three “dangerous mistakes” he called them):
Wrong placement of the Acknowledgements page.
Omission of Chapter 5 on the content table.
The book did not capture what the title implies.
My Response
While the library staff made his remark, the ambience of the room shifted. I read discomfort and disapproval on the faces of a few people. I heard murmurings. You could sense displeasure in the room. I wrote in the previous despatch:
“But then, the open criticism is perhaps the highlight of the event for me, because, on the Saturday before the launch, I was in a conversation with an experienced copyeditor and proofreader about the quality of writing and research in Nigeria today and how to salvage the situation. One of the factors we figured—[toward salvaging the situation we have now]—is to have tolerance for criticism. Knowledge from the conversation steadied me in the hall as the critic talked.”
Immediately after he was done speaking, I signalled the master of the ceremony, pleading for an opportunity to respond. I wasn’t given one immediately—in fact, I was almost denied any. When I was at the podium to respond, the staff had left. Yet, I registered my responses to the conscience of the people present. I will share my answers here—for the record. Perhaps he finds a way to this piece.
(Disclaimer: I responded on regulated impulse and prior knowledge. I will be honest to share what the correct information is from authority sources in relation to my initial position at the launch even if it shows I was wrong. By God, I will. So help me, God. Amen.)
1. Placement of Acknowledgements Page
I told them at the launch that the placement of the Acknowledgements Page of my book after the main text was a matter of preference of style. I told them it isn’t such a strange practice in recent times. I urged them to randomly check five books from their personal libraries and find the acknowledgements page positioned as it is in my book—after the entirety of the book’s main content—especially in recent books.
For the sake of this piece, I randomly picked 7 books from my collection of books to test my claims. All 7 of them are works of nonfiction. Three of them (published in 2008, 2014, & 2018) have their acknowledgements page after the main content of the book; two of them (precisely academic works; published in 1996 & 2005) have it before the main content; the other two (published in 2003 & 2019) do not have an acknowledgements page. Aside from going with the times, I think the placement of the acknowledgements page before the main content disturbs the flow of the reader, in some kind of way. Well, what are the authority sources saying?
First a definition: According to an article by Dave Chesson on Kindlepreneur, Acknowledgements Page is defined as “a section where you get to thank those of you who helped—whether directly or indirectly—to get your book done.” Chesson goes further to say, “It's really up to you (the author) where you put your acknowledgements section. You won't be breaking any rules if you decide to put it in the back instead of the front, or vice versa.”
A survey of the results from a Google search on the correct placement of the Acknowledgements Page reveals that it is a matter of preference—preference of the author even. Although, it is apparently at the discretion of the publisher, the publishing house and their rules. What matters is that you appropriately appreciate everyone who has contributed to the making of the book. Check out this Quora thread on the subject: “At the end of a book, what are "Acknowledgements"?”
By this, I am vindicated from my critic’s assessment, especially on the basis that my book The University Library is not an academic work.
2. The Omission of Chapter 5
This was a minor issue. That omission is found only in the advance review copies I received from the printer. It was among the first five errors I spotted on receiving the advance copies of the book. Thankfully, that error is not found in the main copies of the book being sold right now.
3. The Title and the Content
Well, my critic has points on this, as it is in the reader’s place to determine his expectations from a book based on the title. However, if his expectations weren’t met, it is safe to say the goal was attained. The working title for the book was In the Library. Mr Charles Brown who wrote the Foreword influenced the change of the title, and his reason for this choice was deliberately to build curiosity in the mind of the reader. My beloved critic wanted at least a whole chapter on the history of the library. Well, read between the lines of my book and find not just helpful bits on the history of the University of Jos Library, but also some reasons why I did not evolve a history of the library. More importantly, my book seems to make the argument that the library (the university library in this case) isn’t just about books only. Also, I told the audience that my book is a piece of creative writing; so I am not subjected to some kind of standardised rules as in academic writing. My beloved critic would eventually come to terms with this fact in a meeting with me a few days after the launch in his office. Afterwards, he purchased a copy of my book for over twice its current price.
Conclusion
I hope this piece, above all else, encourages you to tolerate critique and criticisms, especially as an artistic Fellow.
Keep exploring your wonder, good Fellow.
Your LetterMan,
Tongjal, W. N.
You can reach me via WhatsApp to purchase my book in any format (print or electronic): 09028838362