Dear Barry Lyga
I've only read one of your short stories but it was enough to put me off from ever touching your books.
Do you know how to not make your character come across as sympathetic? By having her take pictures of a naked girl in the locker room without the girl's knowledge or consent. And do you know what is not a good revenge against a high schooler that badmouths your protagonist? Having your protagonist paste up flyers with said picture around the school captioned with how much the girl loves sex and providing her phone number so that the entire student population can give her a call.
So no, I didn't feel vindicated for your protagonist when she saw the girl in tears later and I didn't feel that rush of joy when the girl's boyfriend broke up with her for being 'a slut'. Thank you for the vile misogyny and sexual harrassment being touted as awesome in an otherwise great collection of stories.
With disgust,
Amanda
Do you know how to not make your character come across as sympathetic? By having her take pictures of a naked girl in the locker room without the girl's knowledge or consent. And do you know what is not a good revenge against a high schooler that badmouths your protagonist? Having your protagonist paste up flyers with said picture around the school captioned with how much the girl loves sex and providing her phone number so that the entire student population can give her a call.
So no, I didn't feel vindicated for your protagonist when she saw the girl in tears later and I didn't feel that rush of joy when the girl's boyfriend broke up with her for being 'a slut'. Thank you for the vile misogyny and sexual harrassment being touted as awesome in an otherwise great collection of stories.
With disgust,
Amanda