I’ve been pruning the novel a bit lately, avoiding the major cuts, and happily snipping away at stuff that sticks out unnecessarily. My editor wrote me back an interesing note in regards to my question, “well, what if I don’t want to cut that section that you want me to cut.”
In the end it is your book and if you look at my edits and hate them, you’re free to disregard everything.
Leave it to a New Yorker to be blunt.