Is #MeToo changing the way you think of books?

[MJ]

Hiya

I have always loved a good alpha asshole H, and will accept and enjoy, in writing, all sorts of shit I’d NEVER accept IRL.

Over the last couple of years, either my tolerance has diminished or I’m just reading a string of ‘too much for me’ alpha assholes that seem to be tweaking my #MeToo subject thoughts and I can’t do an eye roll and overlook them like I used to.

Just wondering if anyone else has noticed a change for themselves?

[Zev]

Very much so. I'm glad for it. It can be a huge letdown to realize just how horrible some male protagonists I admired are, when I go back to read old favorites sometimes, but it makes me think on past behaviors too.

[Suzane]

Oh yes, my views have changed. I am sick of reading about controlling, abusive a**h***s who turn out to be the hero. And I am sick of weak women who let them get away with it or TSTL "feisty" heroines who don't listen to good advice. A former favorite author has been writing this way, so now I just don't buy her books or even get them from my library. I have no problem with strong, opinionated people. My DNF list keeps getting longer because of the above reasons. Sigh.

[MJ]

It is sad when it feels like you ‘lose’ an author or a fav character because of it. It’s interesting that I used to see some of the behaviours as ‘not ok, but a good read’, and now the same type of behaviour just has me slamming the book shut and going on a ranty-tanty. It’s adjusted my tolerance I guess, or maybe its just ‘linked’ certain behaviours to bad outcomes, where before I could see the bad behaviour I wouldn’t put up with myself, but not see a real world link...?

[C.]

MJ wrote: "Hiya

I have always loved a good alpha asshole H, and will accept and enjoy, in writing, all sorts of shit I’d NEVER accept IRL.

Over the last couple of years, either my tolerance has diminished ..."

WOW, such a great thread! I never could stand or tolerate these kind of men in real life or even in fiction books, but it is so great to see that more women have reached the point of" I'M NOT TAKING IT ANYMORE….. Now authors.... how about writing more books where those jerks are kicked to the curb, and the really worthy character becomes the Hero??????? :D

[MJ]

Really? You never liked any of them?

There’s a difference between the asshole/woman haters who simply couldn’t care about anyone but themselves and the assholes that were either redeemable or just (through the story) started to let the h under the walls of his assholishness.

I’m trying to think of books for examples, but I’m getting stuck.

[C.]

MJ wrote: "Really? You never liked any of them?

There’s a difference between the asshole/woman haters who simply couldn’t care about anyone but themselves and the assholes that were either redeemable or jus..."

LOL, it seems there were one or two that for some reason kept me engaged to finish the book to a satisfying ending. Sadly, I didn't make a history of them, which I definitely should have, because I usually refuse to finish those books!

(assholishness) lol,lol,lol,lol!!!!

[Julia]

It’s a tough balance, because many older books shrug off violence toward women, because that was a representation of the times. I follow a discussion here about The Princess Bride, and how we readers feel about Wesley slapping Buttercup.
Honestly, I don’t read many new books because I feel like they are either very censored, or the opposite, they are just proving a point about something. So many books are trying to be liberal minded, to the point that it deters from the storyline, in my opinion. I am not a strong reader, so I really look for simple tales that don’t make me overthink my already complicated life!
I don’t read much YA because the heroines are just “too good to be true.” I prefer something like the Belgariad by David Eddings... a male-centered tale with many kick-@$$ females. I think new books should choose amazing female protagonists, but the men should be awesome in their own ways. Like, I really liked Flora Segunda as a feminist tale because the women did all the action, but the men were still fascinating. Flora’s father was an emotional mess over the loss of his older daughter. Flora’s guy friend Udo was super fashion conscious. But it felt very natural! It was a well-executed gender stereotype reversal that proved a point: women can flawlessly lead battles, and men can be devastated over the loss of a child.

[Clare]

Nothing to do with metoo, because I've been thinking this way for a long time. Women are often the victims of violence because men are - in those instances - cowards and control freaks. Some men, like my husband, would not harm anyone, unless they had to defend themselves or others.
But men being generally built larger and stronger, it's easier for a man to hit a woman (or child) than to find a good-sized dock worker / rugby player man to take out his temper on anytime. Hitting, raping, killing are all means of control and expressing power but this can be shown more subtly by manipulation and domination control.
I write and read crime, and I've had to read an awful lot of female victims, so I try not to have too many female victims in my books, though sometimes that's what reflects real life.

[Clare]

An excellent read, non-gendered:
How to Find the Right Person to Date: A Step by Step Guide to Finding the Right Partner and Detecting an Abuser


Check out my review to see if you would be interested in the book.

[Rosa]

I don't think this movement is contributing anything new.

[Frank]

It's hard for me to differentiate between #metoo and just myself maturing into adulthood. Looking back at books I enjoyed as a teen/new adult, I shake my head now. But that could easily be because of what I've learned about myself through relationships VS what #metoo has brought to light in this day and age.

[L J]

I don't expect classic or historical novels to reflect current social norms but I've always had a low tolerance for certain tropes. I'll date myself here by referencing the General Hospital plot where the "hero" rapes the heroine because he is so "in love" with her. Most women I knew at the time found it romantic. I did not. I just hope #MeToo permanently raises awareness among women as well as men that bad behavior is not romantic.
When it comes to a**h*** heroes, for me it depends on what they do, when they do it, why they do it... If they do something reprehensible but not irredeemable then repent their action that's different from becoming worse as book goes on. I've had a book ruined for me by an ending that included the "hero" spanking the "heroine" because she'd been a "bad girl." I don't think #MeToo has changed my attitude much but I hope it changes the attitude of readers and therefore authors as to what is acceptable heroic behavior.