To Snark or Not To Snark: That is the Question
So there's been a little bit of a dust-up between Jenny Crusie (she of Bet Me and Faking It fame) and SmartBitchesTrashyBooks.com, a romance novel review website. It's not so much a dust-up as a bit of ruffled of feathers, in which one group (SB) is gleefully ripping into an author whose writing doesn't meet their standards and the other (Crusie) feels they need to move on from their revelry. Romancelandia is known for its scandals and its wank, but while I understand where Jennifer Crusie is coming from--her position is that they are too snide and demeaning and have run headlong into cruel--I definitely feel like saying to her: DUH! They call themselves Smart Bitches for a reason. They're not always nice. They are frequently, in fact, NOT nice. She's split from reading their blog--which I totally respect--but what I feel makes me want to split from watching her blog is that she's written herself into the high-moral authority position and gotten sanctimonious about said position. When I went to go check the SBTB website, I felt guilty about it because I saw her imaginary finger-wagging at me telling me I should be a better person.
Well, I'm not, dammit. And I was okay with that before said blog post.
I've read parts of a Cassie Edwards novel and I had to put it down. Me, the person who'll read just about anything because my gag factor is so low. The author makes me sad for the entire romance genre. However, Crusie is right: people do like her and keep buying her books. I don't think, however, that's any grounds for me NOT to criticize them for being morons. I also don't think that's any grounds for me not to criticize Cassie Edwards. I'm sure she's a very fine human being, but her writing is awful. And if it gives me joy to watch someone rip apart her novels like the crap I feel know them to be, I don't want to feel ashamed of that.
So, I'm a huge Jennifer Crusie fan but right now, I'm peeved at her because her soapbox is a little irritating. It sounds just judgmental enough to remind me of what people always say--or don't say--when I tell them that I enjoy romance novels. She's entitled to her opinion--we all are. But I'll be damned if it doesn't sound preachy and sanctimonious.
Well, I'm not, dammit. And I was okay with that before said blog post.
I've read parts of a Cassie Edwards novel and I had to put it down. Me, the person who'll read just about anything because my gag factor is so low. The author makes me sad for the entire romance genre. However, Crusie is right: people do like her and keep buying her books. I don't think, however, that's any grounds for me NOT to criticize them for being morons. I also don't think that's any grounds for me not to criticize Cassie Edwards. I'm sure she's a very fine human being, but her writing is awful. And if it gives me joy to watch someone rip apart her novels like the crap I feel know them to be, I don't want to feel ashamed of that.
So, I'm a huge Jennifer Crusie fan but right now, I'm peeved at her because her soapbox is a little irritating. It sounds just judgmental enough to remind me of what people always say--or don't say--when I tell them that I enjoy romance novels. She's entitled to her opinion--we all are. But I'll be damned if it doesn't sound preachy and sanctimonious.