Last week, Ann Cummins pointed out that “last Sunday’s Book Review section in the San Francisco Chronicle was a little thin, 4 pages instead of the usual 6. This could be a permanent change, but it’s not yet. I understand that concerned readers can register their opinions by e-mailing the Chronicle’s ombudsman, Dick Rogers.”

Lo and behold, once again, this past Sunday, the San Francisco Chronicle Book Review was a scant four pages. This concerns me because I’ve grown to look to the Chronicle Book Review as one of the last print frontiers of interesting book reviews, an alternative to the rather pathetic efforts put forth in the past couple of years by the New York Times Book Review (following their 100 best books of the century feature, I can’t even be bothered to crack open the NYT book review…not to mention that they see fit to devote space almost every week to crime fiction while all but ignoring literary fiction). As editor of the book review, Oscar Villalon has been an important voice for literary fiction in the Bay Area. It will be very unfortunate for Bay Area writers and readers if the book section continues to feel the blow of Chronicle cutbacks.

If you too would like to see the Chron book review back to its regular length, write to Dick Rogers: drogers@sfchronicle.com.