ESPYING A DISTRACTED REVIEWER

The Times’ review of John le Carre’s “The Russia House” by Elliott Roosevelt was clear and precise, unlike many others. It is a delight to understand what the reviewer thinks of a book and what he thinks I might think of it. I feel too many reviewers take the opportunity to clutter the review with literary pedantry and personal prejudices, making the search for a conclusion very difficult.

P. ARNDT

LAGUNA HILLS