I just don't get some people
Growing up, the only time I remember swear words marring my reading expirience are if I found they made the writing seem unrealistic. I just seemed to expect that as I got out of children’s books and into YA books, and later into adult books, that f-bombs might be more prevalent (but not necessary), since the authors didn't have to worry about protecting kids. I also pretty much expected that there would be more violence, gore, and yes, even sex. That's why I don't get why some people get into a tizzy if a certain character tends to favor those forbidden four letter words. I'm going to be reading "Wicked" next and often, before I read a book, I check out some of the reviews on amazon to prepare me. One of the first ones I was hit with had a decent 3-star rating but was filled with complaints. Why? Too much swearing and crudely described sex.
I can understand why this would bother sensitive and younger readers a bit. I really do. I just see limits. The person who wrote this review was pleasant enough in her complaints it but I have seen many readers (especially at Shereos) who whine and moan about the sexual content of a book as if it as scared their pure, virginal mind. I think that if you're going to read books past the children's section, you should expect swearing. If you're venturing into the adult section, expect sex. If it bothers you, return the book. No one's forcing you to read it and would want you to have an unpleasant reading experience. And of course, before someone (whoever's made it this far) brings up the point that "Shouldn't we be able to pick up a book without constantly worrying about sexual content/inappropriate language? Why do I have to be constantly on guard for things that offend me?" all I have to say is it's a pity but yes, you do have to often be on guard BUT there are ways to avoid this. Sometimes it's just as easy to looking at the lovely "Praise for" page in the front of the book and picking out words like "sexy," "steamy," or maybe “controversial.” Or checking out amazon.com cause God knows there will be someone complaining about it, whether it's angry mothers bitching about the implied sex in The Song of the Lioness Quartet or people that have yet to realize that the Anita Blake books are pretty much erotica now and have been so FOR A WHILE. I guess what I am trying to say is that if you know you're sensitive about certain subjects in a book, whether it be sex, swearing, violence, or puppies, perhaps you should research it before spending your hard earned cash. Don’t go on websites or message boards and bash the book as if it’s poorly written because it offended your sensitive nerves.
Not to mention that reading about sex is, believe it or not, probably not going to damage you. Back when I was twelve I picked up some things that were borderline erotica and, as far as I can tell, it did not mess me up. In fact I pretty much learned about sex through books, due to my schools inability to teach sex Ed beyond the infamous "miracle of life" video and diagrams of impregnating sperm.
Back to the review. Got off topic there. What bugged me the most of all about the review is that implication that Mr. Maguire only used the f-bomb and crude sex as a way to try to be "edgy."
Really now. Literature has moved far past the puritanical times when saying fuck of having two characters well... fuck is considered to be shocking (unless Harry does it in the next HP book, seeing as sex typically does not appear in kids lit). I can't help but chuckle when we have novels out there about gay orgies, rape, sex changes, torture, and the truth about Bush Administration and people get all offended by the word "shit." To be a mature reader these days you, have to expect that things have changed since Jane Eyre was considered shocking because Jane talked openly about her love for Mr. Rochester. As you throw yourself out into the big wide world of adult literature, you need to realize that there are things found here that might bother you and if you are a sensitive person. You have to pick and choose your books with caution. And most importantly sex scene of the c-word does not a poorly written novel make (unless the scene is poorly written or the c-word used in a strange context) so stop pretending that just because Jess Darling fucks a bunch of guys that the book is the worst piece of trash ever written, it just means that you cannot get over the more scandalous parts of the books to judge it as a piece of literature.
I can understand why this would bother sensitive and younger readers a bit. I really do. I just see limits. The person who wrote this review was pleasant enough in her complaints it but I have seen many readers (especially at Shereos) who whine and moan about the sexual content of a book as if it as scared their pure, virginal mind. I think that if you're going to read books past the children's section, you should expect swearing. If you're venturing into the adult section, expect sex. If it bothers you, return the book. No one's forcing you to read it and would want you to have an unpleasant reading experience. And of course, before someone (whoever's made it this far) brings up the point that "Shouldn't we be able to pick up a book without constantly worrying about sexual content/inappropriate language? Why do I have to be constantly on guard for things that offend me?" all I have to say is it's a pity but yes, you do have to often be on guard BUT there are ways to avoid this. Sometimes it's just as easy to looking at the lovely "Praise for" page in the front of the book and picking out words like "sexy," "steamy," or maybe “controversial.” Or checking out amazon.com cause God knows there will be someone complaining about it, whether it's angry mothers bitching about the implied sex in The Song of the Lioness Quartet or people that have yet to realize that the Anita Blake books are pretty much erotica now and have been so FOR A WHILE. I guess what I am trying to say is that if you know you're sensitive about certain subjects in a book, whether it be sex, swearing, violence, or puppies, perhaps you should research it before spending your hard earned cash. Don’t go on websites or message boards and bash the book as if it’s poorly written because it offended your sensitive nerves.
Not to mention that reading about sex is, believe it or not, probably not going to damage you. Back when I was twelve I picked up some things that were borderline erotica and, as far as I can tell, it did not mess me up. In fact I pretty much learned about sex through books, due to my schools inability to teach sex Ed beyond the infamous "miracle of life" video and diagrams of impregnating sperm.
Back to the review. Got off topic there. What bugged me the most of all about the review is that implication that Mr. Maguire only used the f-bomb and crude sex as a way to try to be "edgy."
Really now. Literature has moved far past the puritanical times when saying fuck of having two characters well... fuck is considered to be shocking (unless Harry does it in the next HP book, seeing as sex typically does not appear in kids lit). I can't help but chuckle when we have novels out there about gay orgies, rape, sex changes, torture, and the truth about Bush Administration and people get all offended by the word "shit." To be a mature reader these days you, have to expect that things have changed since Jane Eyre was considered shocking because Jane talked openly about her love for Mr. Rochester. As you throw yourself out into the big wide world of adult literature, you need to realize that there are things found here that might bother you and if you are a sensitive person. You have to pick and choose your books with caution. And most importantly sex scene of the c-word does not a poorly written novel make (unless the scene is poorly written or the c-word used in a strange context) so stop pretending that just because Jess Darling fucks a bunch of guys that the book is the worst piece of trash ever written, it just means that you cannot get over the more scandalous parts of the books to judge it as a piece of literature.