Questions About My Absolute Darling

by Gabriel Tallent (Goodreads Author)

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about My Absolute Darling, please sign up.

Answered Questions (36)

Why is it remotely acceptable for white men who've never experienced incest or sexual abuse to write about it? Why do all of these women, most of whom are privileged white women, accept that his insights are worth more than those of the many women who have been writing about this issue for decades? Have they ever bothered to actually try to help survivors?

Diana Braxton Why is it remotely acceptable for white men who've never experienced incest or sexual abuse to write about it? Why do all of these women, most of whom…moreWhy is it remotely acceptable for white men who've never experienced incest or sexual abuse to write about it? Why do all of these women, most of whom are privileged white women, accept that his insights are worth more than those of the many women who have been writing about this issue for decades? Have they ever bothered to actually try to help survivors?

Let's analyze your question one part at a time.
First, it is "remotely acceptable" for a white man to write about incest or sexual abuse because 1. You actually have no clue what the background of the author is. It is entirely possible for white men to have been sexually abused or in incestuous relationships. Even if Gabriel Tallent wasn't in one, it doesn't mean he doesn't have experience with these sorts of relationships from knowing someone. 2. While this is definitely a sensitive topic, the very fact of it is, when you write fiction, you create something. Something that doesn't have to be based on reality or your experiences. Another good reads member answered your question very articulately, explaining that just because we've never been to other planets doesn't mean we can't create fantasy worlds with characters who live on them. 3. People can write about what ever they want to write about. It is considered "remotely acceptable" because everyone has a write to express themselves and write what they want.

Now on to the next part of your question.
You're asking why "privileged white women" accept his insights more than women who've published for decades.
1. I have no idea where you get this concept that "privileged white women" are simply accepting his work as fact without doing any other reading. Unless you've personally gone through everyone's good reads account to compare their read list and actually see that no one has read any other literature on abuse and relationship, I don't think you can make such a broad, sweeping claim.

Also, you simply can not make the claim that people are "accepting his insights as worth more" because you can't judge the value at which they hold his words or the worth they place on the words of other authors. And once again, this doesn't mean people haven't been aware of the other women writing about this for decades.

2. The idea that all the women reading this book are "privileged white women" is absolutely ludicrous for the same reason your first argument is invalid - because you can't judge a person's "privilege" or background or ethnicity by simply looking AT THEIR FREAKING GOODREADS ACCOUNT. Okay? Okay. Glad we established that most people don't tell the stories of their drug-addicted parents, or their painful miscarriage, or the death of their sibling, or their years in poverty or their own experience in an incestuous or abusive relationship on their good reads account.

And as for actually bothering to try and help survivors.

This may be the dumbest question because it's an inquiry directly into the daily lives of these readers that simply can't be answered. I can't say that every reader of My Absolute Darling has gone to volunteer or been there for a friend, but I am sure many of them have as many can relate to this story. Further, if they haven't before, maybe reading this will inspire people to help others and make a change and if that is so, that is entirely a good thing.

Disclosure: I have not read this book, I am simply answering the logical flaws in your line of question, based heavily off both the positive and negative reviews made available by goodreads. (less)

flag

Half way through, is the ending worth finishing?

Michael Albright Most overrated book of the year. I almost put it down halfway through, and wish I had. This male author likes to put the c-word and the p-word into pe…moreMost overrated book of the year. I almost put it down halfway through, and wish I had. This male author likes to put the c-word and the p-word into people's mouth's more than Quentin Tarantino likes the n-word. The graphic violence against young women at the hands of a man seems gratuitous and pornographic. None of the characters seem remotely believable. The ending somehow manages to be predictable, yet lack satisfying closure at the same time. At least now I know to bother with the movie.(less)

flag

I am having a lot of trouble getting through this book! The wording just seems to dense and confusing to me. Did anyone else have this issue? Debating if I should just call it quits.

Kari I have to agree. The detailed descriptions of guns and scenery bored me, and I had a hard time following at various points...

flag

is it about ACTUAL turtles ? or a girl named Turtle ?

Joseph Yes, the book is about turtles. For 400-plus pages Tallent goes into absorbing detail about their anatomy and morphology, their behavior, their ecolog…moreYes, the book is about turtles. For 400-plus pages Tallent goes into absorbing detail about their anatomy and morphology, their behavior, their ecology and life history, their diet and their evolution. Especially good is his recounting of their fossil record. My personal favorite was a chapter entitled "Why Turtles Are So Slow."(less)

flag

is there child abuse? not sure if I want to read...

Robert Blumenthal Asking if there is child abuse in this book is like asking if there is a whale in Moby Dick. It is the number one overriding theme of the novel.

flag

Load 5 more questions