Book that make me go hmmm!
I've read quite a few books over the years. I am a slow reader these days due to lack of time as I pen my own, but still, I enjoy wading into another adventure as and when I can. over the last few weeks i have revisited an old gem and found a new one.
Old gem - is 'The Lady of Hay' by Barbara Erskine. I first read this about twenty five years ago and loved it. After meeting Barbara in may and exchanging signed books (She took Between Worlds) I had to revisit the book. I enjoyed it for the most part, yet, I didn't think it had aged so well. In those twenty odd years women have power, they are recognised as powerful people who don't need a man to rescue them or tell them what to do and within this book, the main character is treated appallingly by the men in her life and she whines about it, but never actually does anything about it and it grated on me! She allows a man to get away with rape, beatings and ordering her about and at the time it angered me, now it infuriates me. No woman would, or should allow a man to treat her in any way negative and throughout this book, she does allow it, gives in constantly and behaves so submissive I cringed - a lot.
Made me consider other books written in the eighties and how they portray women.
Now the new gem - Never Surrender by Deanna jewel. I am only half way through but my oh my it does create a nice feeling with all the sexual tension so far! The main character, a woman, is strong, forthright and is battling her various emotions while trying to stay alive in the past. I hope she doesn't become compliant and weak further into the book. :(
Both books are very different, yet have made me consider how women are portrayed within books/tv/films etc.
Take Rapunzel - perfect example of a pathetic blonde who apparently had nothing better to do that sit around all day waiting for prince charming!! Why? Why does a woman need a man to save her? Look at it as a man, stuck in a tower all day - is he going to wait around for a strong woman to rescue him? of course not. he would be portrayed as a strong, powerful character who kills the witch with his bare hands or a big gun and rides off in search of some pretty maid who will fall for his charms! YUK!
So books that make you go hmmm? I'd love to hear from you. All my books have strong women characters as I want to portray women as equals - which we are in all things to men. We did not come from a man's rib - he came from our vagina - worth remembering that!!
Diary of Margery Blake
Old gem - is 'The Lady of Hay' by Barbara Erskine. I first read this about twenty five years ago and loved it. After meeting Barbara in may and exchanging signed books (She took Between Worlds) I had to revisit the book. I enjoyed it for the most part, yet, I didn't think it had aged so well. In those twenty odd years women have power, they are recognised as powerful people who don't need a man to rescue them or tell them what to do and within this book, the main character is treated appallingly by the men in her life and she whines about it, but never actually does anything about it and it grated on me! She allows a man to get away with rape, beatings and ordering her about and at the time it angered me, now it infuriates me. No woman would, or should allow a man to treat her in any way negative and throughout this book, she does allow it, gives in constantly and behaves so submissive I cringed - a lot.
Made me consider other books written in the eighties and how they portray women.
Now the new gem - Never Surrender by Deanna jewel. I am only half way through but my oh my it does create a nice feeling with all the sexual tension so far! The main character, a woman, is strong, forthright and is battling her various emotions while trying to stay alive in the past. I hope she doesn't become compliant and weak further into the book. :(
Both books are very different, yet have made me consider how women are portrayed within books/tv/films etc.
Take Rapunzel - perfect example of a pathetic blonde who apparently had nothing better to do that sit around all day waiting for prince charming!! Why? Why does a woman need a man to save her? Look at it as a man, stuck in a tower all day - is he going to wait around for a strong woman to rescue him? of course not. he would be portrayed as a strong, powerful character who kills the witch with his bare hands or a big gun and rides off in search of some pretty maid who will fall for his charms! YUK!
So books that make you go hmmm? I'd love to hear from you. All my books have strong women characters as I want to portray women as equals - which we are in all things to men. We did not come from a man's rib - he came from our vagina - worth remembering that!!
Diary of Margery Blake
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