It's a warning word from the reviewer, there are lots: "Exhaustive" = too long "Sweeping" = simplistic "Quirky" = bonkers "Eccentric" = really bonkers "Challenging" =wrong "Polemical" = angry and wrong "Thorough" = boring "Elegiac" = boring but someone dies Etc

I once saw the prose of a novel described as "nubile". I presumed it was a compliment, but I hadn't a clue what it meant.

This reads as a new guide to what Brits mean versus what they say… greatbritishmag.co.uk/uk-culture/w...

I always thought "challenging" meant "badly written"

And the academic kiss of death, "Problematic..."

Reminds me of DFW's wonderfully snarky "competent", "finished", "problem-free" critique of elements of 80s workshop fiction

"meditation on" = no explosions, author thinks they're more profound than they are.

Beware: "fascinating" = I skipped, frequently

I think there was this review of something by james michener- dont buy this book, but if you do dont drop it on your foot.

“The author may wish to consider” - you should rewrite this completely along the lines of my latest interest

So Goodwin's works would be described as sweeping polemics.