In reviews of the postmodernist novel, Suidpunt-jazz, certain value judgements are made. The norms on which these assessments are based are examined by using a model of Boonstra (1979). According to this model, coherence is singled out as the most important norm in these reviews. By emphasizing this norm, a balanced evaluation of a postmodernist text becomes impossible. Eventually other norms (illusion-breaking and différance) are shown to be possibly more valid for evaluating a postmodernist text like Suidpunt-jazz.