Should a character in a novel review the book in which they appear?

It is generally thought to be wrong, reprehensible even, for a literary critic to review a book by a friend, professional contact, former lover or other personal relation. In such cases the critic is likely to be biased, and moved, consciously or unconsciously, by ulterior motives of revenge or social or professional advancement and in clear breach of the highly held principles of objectivity and impartiality. Though writers have been given licence to freely use whatever private material they like as long as it serves their higher artistic purpose, the critic is expected to refrain from referencing personal experiences or using autobiographical material in order to be considered professional and responsible.

These principles may seem foundational to literary criticism. But in the current cultural climate, they are at times inappropriate. Indeed some literary works demand a form of deeply personal literary criticism, one based on the critic’s private life and experiences with the author and the reality presented in a given literary work.