SOURCE: A review of Sheer Fiction II, in The American Book Review, Vol. 14, No. 16, February-March, 1993, p. 30-1.

In the following review of Sheer Fiction II, Weissman finds that the essays in the collection require considerable contemplation and knowledge to understand.

Paul West has been keeping the written word alive and well for a good long time. Nine nonfiction and twelve fiction titles are listed at the beginning of [Sheer Fiction II], his tenth work of nonfiction and follow-up to Sheer Fiction. Yet, endearingly, he opens by writing, "Doing these pieces reminds me of different calisthenics from those of novel-writing; I find them difficult to do, so presumably I must keep on trying my hand at them till I improve," and he concludes, "I try to be accurate." Statements of genuine literary humility, to be sure, but these are signals too. Reader, beware. You too are going to have...