Third Time's Apparently Not a Charm

This is the third Henry Wiggen book (I previously referred to the series as a trilogy, but just learned there's one more--oops--maybe that was wishful thinking), and although I can't speak for the last one, this was my least favorite. I felt the character (yep, the "seamstitch" is a new one) development was weak, and the story thin. I also didn't really appreciate the diatribe of scolding readers in the preface. It put me on edge when reading it, as though if I didn't like his book there must be something wrong with me and the way I read. He wants readers to have "ears", and to not need spoon-feeding. True enough. But if sometimes, someone doesn't like your book, Mark, it might be because it's not very good.