Why review?

Gav of NextRead asks that question, or rather "Why reviews matter?" over on his blog.  Just now noticed this, since I've been all sorts of busy the past day or so, but for once, it's the good sort of busy.  Interesting responses.

I know I've blogged on this issue before several times, often writing at length on various facets of it, but I think the question could be turned around and viewed as being a corollary to that "duh" question asked of writers:  Why do writers write (especially if most of them won't be published or make much money from it if they do end up having their work published)?

Sometimes, there's this mountain that appears, it's there, so why not climb it (or blog about it, dissect it, or whatever you'd like to do that would involve some form of consent or at least acquiescence)?  That's all that matters.  I don't care if what I write is "correct" or "right" as much as I care about exploring things and generating something that I could learn from and which might generate a good, interesting conversation.  Anything else is just extra.  But hey, if the words I write can get some positive attention, great.  However, my best words are saved for an audience of one (well, two, if I count myself as well).  But I'll spare you any interpretations of Les Fleurs du Mal for now...