Why is reading a scathing review such a satisfying experience? The reviewer’s esteem for Pym animates this entire piece, but having encountered precisely zero P

Why is reading a scathing review such a satisfying experience? The reviewer’s esteem for Pym animates this entire piece, but having encountered precisely zero Pym novels to date, I can’t say with any certainty who’s actually in the right here - the reviewer, or the author of the book under review - but the reviewer’s facility with language and erudition are so, so convincing. If nothing else I plan to read a Pym novel soon. Does anyone know a good starting point?