Comments on: Number 147 In A Series Of Feminist Rants

By: David Queenann

David Queenann — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 22:22:43 +0000

“If people like it, you’re good.” –Mickey Spillaine.

If they have readership, and their readers are buying their books, then they’re pros. Different people write about different things. I can think of a number of women authors whose work I enjoy, and a number whose work simply doesn’t appeal to me because it does have a narrower, more domestic focus. That doesn’t mean the latter don’t have an imagination, that their chosen themes aren’t valid, or that they can’t write. It just means I’m not their demographic and I’d rather be reading something else. More power to them.

By: Kassia Krozser

Kassia Krozser — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 03:18:07 +0000

But, David, what you’ve never told me is what you thought about rants 1 – 146… It was a silly comment for Gray to make. Indicting a gender for lack of imagination? I would be much more open to indicting the species, but you know me, always wanting more.

Kathy — your comment hits home for me. If it weren’t for “To Kill A Mockingbird”, my middle school official reading would have been very much lacking in X chromosomes. Of course, now that I think back, perhaps I read Mockingbird on my own. The truth is that there were very few women authors held up as role models during my formative years — luckily my mother, being the cool kids’ librarian that she is, made sure I had a steady diet of the greatest of all the books available for a reader to read. I got my fix outside the classroom.

The genre fiction argument (raised by David and Kelly) is a particular bugaboo of mine. Yes, there are readers who stubbornly remain within a genre and never leave. Then there are readers who crave a good story, never mind the family tree. But I believe that certain prizes value certain types of fiction. Authors like Kate Atkinson get their due in other ways; whether or not this is satisfying is, well, I suppose, a matter of ego. When you’re good — and you know you’re good — does winning a prize really matter? I don’t know. It feels good, sure, but contests have their own culture, their own rules. Even the most brilliant novel in the world won’t do well if it doesn’t match the unwritten (or written) rules.

Kate, it really is all about the readers, isn’t it? At the end of the day, prizes, awards, accolades, what do they mean if you haven’t made a reader happy? Also, if you haven’t made yourself happy?

By: David Thayer

David Thayer — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 16:20:22 +0000

My first thought upon reading rant 147 was of Natsuo Kirino who writes hair raising novels or Maria Flook whose character may alter the commonly held view that landscaping is a genteel pursuit ( where to bury the husband? Among the Perennials?) Kate Atkinson, Denise Mina, Mo Hayder, Sara Gran, Cornelia Read leap to mind as both imaginative and incredibly gifted writers.
But, of course, your reference to the commercial is both accurate and discouraging regardless of gender.

By: KathyF

KathyF — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 06:51:52 +0000

Unfortunately, 147 will probably not be enough. I’ve been ranting about this myself, starting with my daughter’s seventh grade teacher who assigned, once again, Hatchet. It became a running joke in our house, as every year, one of my daughters had to read that stupid book. Because, you know, boys only read boy books. Mustn’t allow any Annes or Charlottes into the middle school reading list.

Uh oh, I think that was 148.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 05:22:17 +0000

I have to agree with both you and Gray here.

a) With you: There are plenty of female writers with plenty of imagination.

b) With Gray: This list is not good overall (2 on the list I agree belong there–the Adichie and the Desai). Where is, in fact, Kate Atkinson–one of the best writers writing today? So she wrote genre fiction. Who cares? “One Good Turn” was the best novel I read in 2006 hands down.

P.S. How did Rachel Cusk’s novel end up on this list? At least “The Emperor’s Children” is absent.

By: Kate Douglas

Kate Douglas — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 05:18:46 +0000

I do love this column! I write commercial genre fiction–erotic paranormal romance–and I’ve got one hell of an imagination. It’s not easy to turn a werewolf into an object of sexual desire, but considering the fact my first book in a twelve title series just went into its fifth print run, I must be doing something right.( At least someone, somewhere is reading my books.) I will probably never win awards, nor even hit the major bestseller lists, but I give a lot of readers pleasure with tales of my shapeshifting Chanku. As an author, there’s not a lot more I can ask for, is there? Recognition isn’t all that important to me–writing stories that are fun and entertaining makes for a much worthier goal.