Oh, interesting. I couldn't quite decide if I fancy reading it or not, from your description, so I nipped over to find a preview version of it - and it does sound rather readable, and Eff rather likeable. I've always liked books that involve large chaotic families, too. Not only is it not available through my library, but I couldn't find it on Amazon.co.uk either - oh, but I see it's on Bookdepository... (oh and in Foyles too, and cheaper... *g*) Sorry, I'm rambling now!
Interesting about the author missing Native Americans from the continent entirely - presumably they've been supplanted by the magical creatures etc? Is there any indication whether the magic is spread over the whole world, or if it's just native to America (you know, kind of in lieu)? I can imagine it would have been less racist and more thoughtless (which is just as bad, perhaps, and I can see how it would be synonymous in some eyes too - probably including mine, cos it is indeed a fine line...)
Eff is quite interesting and the book is written in the first person and as I like that it did make it more enjoyable for me personally. In that respect it was rather like Among Others in that it was teenager struggling to come to terms with magic. Finding a place for herself in the world etc. Two good books to read back-to-back really to see how two different authors cover the issue.
Apparently when this flame war was going on she said something to this effect:
"I don't like the Native Americans as savages stereo-type, but neither do I like the current romanticizing of them either so I'm eliminating the problem by taking them out."I grabbed the quote from Goodreads where there are some interesting comments on the book
( ... )
You're right - I may well read this book, and so will avoid too many spoilers!
Interesting quote from the author, and I can see how that might be a thing to think, but... I can also see even more that it's kind of a careless thing. It's really hard to deal with this issue, so I'm just going to pretend it didn't exist in the first place is kind of... well, it's kind of where a good 99% of the problems in the world come from. If that 99% of people would think about stuff and deal with it instead, then maybe we might actually change it... But I'm pretty sure that you already know that, so I'm just going to hush. *g*
It does sound like an interesting set of ideas though... I thought you'd got your copy from the library actually - if you're sure you won't want it again (well, I can send it back, too *g*) then I'd love to borrow it from you - thank you! Will email indeed!
I think 'careless' is probably spot-on. Careless and possibly lazy. I understand... it's one hell of a daunting issue to take on, but why create a universe that close to reality if you're not then going explore it honestly? She could easily have made it another universe, different enough that no one would have kicked up a fuss. I rather suspect she underestimated the size of the fuss people would make
( ... )
It does sound odd for an author to specifically set her story in the North American frontier, but not include the Indian tribes because that whole subject puts her off. So the Indians just "never crossed the land bridge from Asia?" Not for any particular reason, but because she didn't want to deal with it.
That sounds like lazy writing to me. When the internal logic is inconsistent, it's annoying and makes me hold a writer's talent cheap. I usually wish I could sue and get back the time that I spent reading such a book.
I think it's lazy writing too rather than any intentional slight. I think the author totally underestimated the impact the book would make and was probably horrified when it all blew up.
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Interesting about the author missing Native Americans from the continent entirely - presumably they've been supplanted by the magical creatures etc? Is there any indication whether the magic is spread over the whole world, or if it's just native to America (you know, kind of in lieu)? I can imagine it would have been less racist and more thoughtless (which is just as bad, perhaps, and I can see how it would be synonymous in some eyes too - probably including mine, cos it is indeed a fine line...)
All sounds a bit intriguing, really! *g*
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Apparently when this flame war was going on she said something to this effect:
"I don't like the Native Americans as savages stereo-type, but neither do I like the current romanticizing of them either so I'm eliminating the problem by taking them out."I grabbed the quote from Goodreads where there are some interesting comments on the book ( ... )
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Interesting quote from the author, and I can see how that might be a thing to think, but... I can also see even more that it's kind of a careless thing. It's really hard to deal with this issue, so I'm just going to pretend it didn't exist in the first place is kind of... well, it's kind of where a good 99% of the problems in the world come from. If that 99% of people would think about stuff and deal with it instead, then maybe we might actually change it... But I'm pretty sure that you already know that, so I'm just going to hush. *g*
It does sound like an interesting set of ideas though... I thought you'd got your copy from the library actually - if you're sure you won't want it again (well, I can send it back, too *g*) then I'd love to borrow it from you - thank you! Will email indeed!
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That sounds like lazy writing to me. When the internal logic is inconsistent, it's annoying and makes me hold a writer's talent cheap. I usually wish I could sue and get back the time that I spent reading such a book.
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