Retroactive ratings, Y/N/Abort/Retry/Fail?

[megwrites]

I've been considering going back to the books I've reviewed and adding a 1-10 scale for race, gender, and GLBT issues to them. I certainly know that from this point on, any of my reviews will take those three things into consideration, and I'll be adding the rank there.

I really want to stay conscious not just of these things when I'm writing, but when I'm reading. As a reader, or more importantly, as a reader who buys books, my purchases and preferences do, in some small way, matter. And if I send out the message to publishers, editors, and writers that diversity sells, and that books which do a bad job do not, then we'll be seeing a lot more diversity in the literary world, which is a Good Thing^TM.

For instance, the fantasy book I'm reading now (Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch) has turned out to be a surprisingly fun read - but I'm well past a hundred pages in and there's only one female character who actually speaks, but has few lines and thus far, no significant part in the plot. Were she deleted from (at the very least) those 100 plus pages, nothing would change. Oh, and there was the one fish fighting gladiator woman who I read to be a woman of color who snuffed it within a couple of pages of being introduced. Which is sad, because the introduction of fish-fighting gladiator women made me really happy.

Actually, I could really go for a 700 page novel just about fish-fighting gladiator women. I feel this novel needs to be written.

I've always wondered if it would be appropriate, when someone trying to write an "other" (ie, a male trying to write a female, etc) complains about being in a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation to answer them by saying, "Well, let's see. How many authors of [insert group] have you read and how many authors of [insert person's own group] have you read?"

One suspects that the ratio would be rather disappointed. One also suspects that those writers for whom the number is relatively encouraging have never felt the need to say such a thing.

One also, in a moment of sublime snark, would be tempted to type up a list of authors, essayists, and bloggers of [insert group that is being whined about as impossible to write and not write] and hand it to the person, saying (with a very stern and serious face), "There's a secret answer hidden in these books and essays and blogs. Read them very careful, several times over, and you too can learn the clandestine code for Getting It Right".

Of course, the fun is in timing how long it takes the person to realize that the answer isn't in the books, it is the books.

After all, if you were to do exactly that, then you would have taken the most vital step in this whole process, which is Shutting Your Giant Piehole And Listening. Which, let's face it, we all need to do more of.

Comments

[queenoftheskies.livejournal.com]

I think it's very sad how few people actually listen any more, or even seem to take notice of the world around them.

The world is not made up entirely of white males. There is such diversity, and it's that diversity that makes it a wonderful place.

I grew up in the southern U.S. during the very volatile 60's and 70's, saw and learned a lot of things that made me determine NOT to repeat the mistakes of those around me.

I was fortunate to move to southern California when I was 25, so I've had over 27 years to absorb the differences and realize that the world is a kaleidescope of colors and genders and sexual preferences and beliefs.

My novels and short stories must, of a necessity, include a world of people because it is these people I see in my every day life. Even if others aren't so lucky as to experience diversity, I wish they'd take that first step, that first chance and try to learn about other people by writing about them. Make novels true to life.

[stevenagy.livejournal.com]

It's going to be interesting to see how he handles her in the next book (if we're talking about the same main female character). Locke's past is supposed to catch up to him in the third volume, which is slated for release sometime this year.

[ladyslvr.livejournal.com]

Just an item for thought: in defense of the "damned if you do, damned if you don't" people, I have as a colleague a PoC who is militantly adamdant that if anyone who is *not* a member of her racial group tries to write about or include a member of her group in their stories, then that person has committed the worst of all possible hate crimes. She contends that people have absolutely no business writing or talking about (in any capacity) groups of which they are not members because that's a form of appropriation that is tantamount is committing (or, at least, contributing to the committement of) cultural genocide. Unfortunately, this colleague's attitude is not unique to her, and it *has* scarred me as a writer. No amount of listening on my part is going to make it easier for me to want to/be able to write her racial group knowing that she or her ilk will use that effort as proof of the hatred they are convinced that I and my ilk harbor towards them.

[denoue-moi.livejournal.com]

I was reading what ladyslvr said, and all I can really add is this.

I don't know much about writing or being a minority, but if I said, "Hey, you cannot write about a 6'1" out of work software developer/dogwalker with a bad dye job because you are not one!!" then I'd be kind of, well, being a jerk. I have faith in your ability to imagine what my life is like. I couldn't imagine telling a man or a lady of a different color that they couldn't write about me because they weren't an estrogen victim or all pasty.

Even if that would be a boring story.
denoue_moi woke up with her feet hanging off the bed. She sighed as she thought of the day to come. More searches on job boards for some kind of paying gig. What did she really want, she asked herself. "IDK, an API?" she said aloud. An early walk was scheduled with Rocky the Mastiff puppy. She sighed as she pulled back her fire engine red tresses. She would have to be vigilant. Rocky loved eating rocks, twigs, and bottle caps when left to his own devices.

Whew, boring.

Honestly though, some people are bent on finding proof that they are hated. :(