7 Great Books Hitting Shelves This Week

Go ahead and throw in a male author every now and again, Goodreads; just if you feel like it.

Neil wrote: "Go ahead and throw in a male author every now and again, Goodreads; just if you feel like it."
True....

Haha fair point

Neil wrote: "Go ahead and throw in a male author every now and again, Goodreads; just if you feel like it."

Because male authors never get any spotlight, right? Sit down.

Actually, Lauren, on Goodreads and many other major bookish sites they don’t. I’ve been tracking this section on GR for a couple of years and it’s always the same. And the Spotlight genres are always Romance and YA, which are very feminine domains. Sorry that doesn’t fit in with your narrative, but why let your solipsism get in the way of truth, eh.

Neil wrote: "Go ahead and throw in a male author every now and again, Goodreads; just if you feel like it."

I feel like you need some female authors in your life, Neil.

Marianne wrote: "Neil wrote: "Go ahead and throw in a male author every now and again, Goodreads; just if you feel like it."

I feel like you need some female authors in your life, Neil."

This! Had a look at this guy's shelves and it seems like he's doing fine stumbling on male authors by himself.

Thanks, Marianne. I read both. That’s the point.

Neil wrote: "Actually, Lauren, on Goodreads and many other major bookish sites they don’t. I’ve been tracking this section on GR for a couple of years and it’s always the same. And the Spotlight genres are alwa..."

Oh Neil... :') The spotlight genres are pretty varied actually, so you clearly aren't tracking quite as well as you thought. I'm sorry that you're threatened by women's success, though. That must be hard for you.

Lauren wrote: "Neil wrote: "Actually, Lauren, on Goodreads and many other major bookish sites they don’t. I’ve been tracking this section on GR for a couple of years and it’s always the same. And the Spotlight ge..."

Lol

Uh, here comes the tedious ‘fragile male’ thing. Disappointingly lame.
I’d be interested to see your reaction, Lauren, if GR showed lists of exciting new titles without any female authors on:
1) Wouldn’t ever happen in the first place
2) You’d hit the roof

But, hey, I’ve said my piece. It’s as valid as yours is.

Neil wrote: "Uh, here comes the tedious ‘fragile male’ thing. Disappointingly lame.
I’d be interested to see your reaction, Lauren, if GR showed lists of exciting new titles without any female authors on:
1) W..."

If you honestly believed you were as valid as anyone else, Neil, you wouldn't be peeing your pants over a list without any men on it. You seem rather easily shaken. Here's a thought - if you don't like the list, go back to what you were reading beforehand. And wash your hands. Bye.

Here is a recent release of a translation into English. The book, Banishment from Hell, by Robert Menasse should be added to Goodreads and may qualify for the list of new releases:
https://www.no-mans-land.org/article/...

There’s some interesting stats on reading trends by gender, the users of Goodreads, and their reading habits. Could be related to how Goodreads chooses to engage with their audience.

I didn't know I'd be looking at the Goodreads comment section for my dose of drama, but here we are.

I would just like to say it really disappoints me that I just read a heated argument on here. Sure, not everyone agrees all the time, but this is a trivial matter to fight over. Yes, I know it has its roots in gender inequality, which many people have strong opinions on. But never is it ok to degrade others or personally attack them. Don’t think I’m blaming just one of you, because it takes two to tango. Especially in these times, we need to stand united, not divided. An unfriendly word can go a long way, but so can a kind one.

This is my first time on and i am distracted and annoyed by this phrase: You should read this book if you like: Although this initial phrase to introduce each book previewed was initially helpful in understanding the words to come, because it is in bold and comes for each entry its repetition is uncalled for. And its boldness makes focusing on body of the book entry hard to do. What if you had the repetatve phrase in ordinary font and the body of the entry in bold. Or skipped a line, or left a few spaces or a dash. Anything but the way it is would be so much better and easier to read.

Neil wrote: "Actually, Lauren, on Goodreads and many other major bookish sites they don’t. I’ve been tracking this section on GR for a couple of years and it’s always the same. And the Spotlight genres are alwa..."
If you’re feeling offended because there are more female authors than male ones on this website, GO FIND ANOTHER WEBSITE.

E wrote: "I would just like to say it really disappoints me that I just read a heated argument on here. Sure, not everyone agrees all the time, but this is a trivial matter to fight over. Yes, I know it has ..."

*we need to stand united, but six feet apart

Lauren wrote: "Neil wrote: "Go ahead and throw in a male author every now and again, Goodreads; just if you feel like it."

Because male authors never get any spotlight, right? Sit down."

LOVE your answer! why the absolute fucking hell are guys so sensitive? have they not realized history has been controlled by them for-fucking-ever?!?!?

The Sisters Grimm by Menna van Praag
Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor

What would women cope without you to White Knight for them, Jim? You might think you sound noble, but actually you are just patronising women by stepping in to debate for them without being invited to, as if they are unable to form an opinion of their own.

While I disagreed with Lauren, I totally respect her opinion and think she’s more than capable of standing up for herself.

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WTAF

Jim wrote: "LOVE your answer! why the absolute fucking hell are guys so sensitive? have they not realized history has been controlled by them for-fucking-ever?!?!?"

This is so cringe.

Neil wrote: "What would women cope without you to White Knight for them, Jim? You might think you sound noble, but actually you are just patronising women by stepping in to debate for them without being invited..."

Neil, so noble in his whingeing!
I am annoyed at your post, not defending anyone else's reply.

Neil wrote: "What would women cope without you to White Knight for them, Jim? You might think you sound noble, but actually you are just patronising women by stepping in to debate for them without being invited..."

Okay, dude. Just stop now. The argument is over.

I can actually see where Neil is coming from. While I fully agree that female creators have been sidelined for far too long, we won't move in the right direction unless we are egalitarian in our approach.

One injustice cannot justify another injustice. Let both male and female authors get the same amount of spotlight in these Goodreads articles.

I am really excited for Ernesto Cisnero's Efren Divided which is an #ownvoices story about a Mexican American boy and how he takes care of his family after his mother is deported. A very important and timely story.

Archit wrote: "I can actually see where Neil is coming from. While I fully agree that female creators have been sidelined for far too long, we won't move in the right direction unless we are egalitarian in our ap..."

If you think fixing sexism (or racism or homophobia or poverty...) is as simple as "...being egalitarian..." you don't understand the problem at all.

Neil wrote: "Actually, Lauren, on Goodreads and many other major bookish sites they don’t. I’ve been tracking this section on GR for a couple of years and it’s always the same. And the Spotlight genres are alwa..."

The only reason YA and romance are "women genres" are because that's the only genres people ever acknowledge them writing. Women will write books and explicitly state they're for an adult audience and will still get treated like a YA author. There's heavy misogyny in the literary world, you can't deny it, and you don't seem to be lacking in male authors to read so why don't you sit down and shut up, dude?

Jim wrote: "Archit wrote: "I can actually see where Neil is coming from. While I fully agree that female creators have been sidelined for far too long, we won't move in the right direction unless we are egalit..."

Actually, Jim, being egalitarian is the hardest of things which is why no society has been able to pull it off successfully. What's simple is retorting with a reflexive "GO FIND ANOTHER WEBSITE" to valid concerns. A child with milk teeth could do that.

Coty, how about you not tell fellow humans whose opinions are as valid as yours to ‘Sit down and shut up’. Or do you not believe in free speech and respect?

I made a valid point about an imbalance which is completely evident and borne out at the very top of this page. I wouldn’t have told a female (or anyone) to “sit down and shut up” had they made a similar observation.

Neil wrote: "Coty, how about you not tell fellow humans whose opinions are as valid as yours to ‘Sit down and shut up’. Or do you not believe in free speech and respect?

I made a valid point about an imbalance..."

No, of course not, Neil, but you did get bent out shape that I suggested men have enjoyed a privileged position in literature for a long time, so it may be about time to let women shine. This is an imbalance that's held true for generations, is borne out by evidence, and made you throw your toys out of the pram to be confronted with.

Please, you're embarrassing yourself now.

If everyone would take the drama elsewhere, that'd be fab.

Lauren, you're awesome. Thank you.

How about inexpensive really good books by whoever wrote them?

If that’s how you see it Lauren, that ok.

I disagree with you on the opening issue and stand by my point, but do respect your opinion. Let’s leave it at that.

Olivia wrote: "I didn't know I'd be looking at the Goodreads comment section for my dose of drama, but here we are."

hahaha

Archit wrote: "Jim wrote: "Archit wrote: "I can actually see where Neil is coming from. While I fully agree that female creators have been sidelined for far too long, we won't move in the right direction unless w..."

Thanks for that, and again, just stop. The argument is over, this is pointless, and all we’re doing is making each other mad. We’re not getting anything done anymore.

This was a great read... thanks for the entertainment

right! Lauren wrote: "Neil wrote: "Go ahead and throw in a male author every now and again, Goodreads; just if you feel like it."

Because male authors never get any spotlight, right? Sit down."

Just started Chris Bohjalian’s newest, The Red Lotus, which came out earlier this month. I am LOVING it!

So much drama and I’m not even reading a book yet. Sheesh.

Olivia wrote: "I didn't know I'd be looking at the Goodreads comment section for my dose of drama, but here we are."

Isolation has bought out the catty in folks. 😂😂😂

Olivia wrote: "I didn't know I'd be looking at the Goodreads comment section for my dose of drama, but here we are."

ROFL. Hard to hide from it, I guess.

Coty wrote: "Neil wrote: "Actually, Lauren, on Goodreads and many other major bookish sites they don’t. I’ve been tracking this section on GR for a couple of years and it’s always the same. And the Spotlight ge..."

Bingo!

Danielle wrote: "If everyone would take the drama elsewhere, that'd be fab."

Amen. Sheesh.

Olivia wrote: "I didn't know I'd be looking at the Goodreads comment section for my dose of drama, but here we are."

I want to borrow this, it has so many uses.

I agree with Neil, and I'm a woman. One of my pet peeves is the phrase 'strong woman' be it writer or character. Surely by making a point of the sex of a writer then you're adding to division. I don't choose books based on whether the author has a vagina or a penis, I choose books because they're well-written.

Jazzy wrote: "I agree with Neil, and I'm a woman. One of my pet peeves is the phrase 'strong woman' be it writer or character. Surely by making a point of the sex of a writer then you're adding to division. I do..."

I disagree with Neil and I'm a woman. Last weeks' list had a couple male writers on it, just as an example.

I know that doesn't solve everything but that's as far back as I'm willing to go because ultimately the gender divide brought up here doesn't matter in the context of lists written by Goodreads. It matters in that, showcasing female authors is important, because for many years female voices- amongst other 'minorities'- have been drowned out by male. We all know that, so to be picky about a few articles written on Goodreads totally misses and kind of undermines part of the point.

Not to mention that, as someone else pointed out, these articles may be written partly dependent on algorithms designed to best interact with users.

Jazzy, I know you didn't mean it in such a way, but it's a similar argument to 'I don't see colour'. Great if you're accepting and unbiased, but it doesn't mean others aren't.