A Post About Nothing

[tiegirl.livejournal.com]

Hi All,

At one point someone referred me to a tag about Relius for some reason. I pulled up the page and saved it as I didn't have time for the internet at that time. I just got back to it. On that page there were links to some reviews of KoA. I read them, then all the comments and I have to say:

The people who comprise this fandom are INCREDIBLE. Such insight into these books, and such passion in, not defending them, but explaining them to those who perhaps didn't read them as thoughtfully as they demand!

You guys are AWESOME, and I consider myself sooo lucky to have found this site somehow. As someone who legitimately suffers from hot flashes and gray moments, I salute the youth here. I use awesome in the fullest sense of the word.



*bows deeply to all of sounis*

Comments

[sgwordy.livejournal.com]

What a coincidence! I was just reading the Relius tag and all the comments on that KoA review and had much the same thoughts as you posted. I was also very intrigued by the idea of Eugenides as a victim (and the response that one poster had). I didn't read it the same way she did (gail) and I'm very sensitive to that type of issue when reading whether it's a victimized female or male. In fact, I read a book with my book club last year where a male character was forced to a sexual act against his will. Because he was male the book (and the club members) went over the scene with a laugh and I was stunned. If the character had been a female everyone would have been outraged. However, in that book the male was very clearly a victim.

In contrast, I have not once thought of Eugenides as a victim. He certainly gets himself into situations where he is not holding the upper hand but he goes into everything eyes wide open. He knew exactly what would happen if Attolia caught him. He knew her well and knew the risks. He was prepared to take them for Eddis and, moreover, he was prepared to accept the consequences of his actions (though I doubt he anticipated the hand punishment). Those actions being sneaky traipsing through a cornered woman's castle. I believe even Gen has said 'tease a dog and it bites.' He knew exactly what he was doing and I think that is why he was not a victim.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I read a book recently where a similar thing happened. A teen boy was raped in prison; it was a YA book so it wasn't graphic, but it was obvious that it happened. No one even called it a rape, the words "criminal assault" were used instead. Now, the book was written nearly 30 years ago, so I cut the author some slack, but no one even asked the kid who did it, much less tried to catch the people. I loved the book, but that part bothered me.

[tiegirl.livejournal.com]

Yes, poor Matt, huh checkers? That bothered me also but I'm with you in thinking that part of it is the time it was written. We still have that double standard when it is a woman raping a man now though. I read Boy Toy two years ago and it seemed to me that that at least made it clearer that an older woman can clearly rape a teen boy. We're getting there, but slowly.

But I do agree also with Sqwordy that Eugenides was not really a victim here. More like an enemy captured during a war.

[tearoha.livejournal.com]

SECONDED. It never fails to amaze me how smart everyone here is - and kind to newbies!

Props to all for being awesome.

*curtsies*

[magicsandwiches.livejournal.com]

Intelligent books attract intelligent people. I appreciate Megan for conceiving such an amazing story and for expressing it so superbly. I appreciate everyone here for recognizing such amazingness and for being able to discuss the content in such a satisfying manner.

One of the aspects of the new book that I really look forward to is discussing it with this community.