Question of the Week:
Would you stop reading a book if an element of the plot strongly clashed with your personal beliefs, or would you continue reading until you finished finished the book? (submitted by Maria @ A Night's Dream of Books)
Would you stop reading a book if an element of the plot strongly clashed with your personal beliefs, or would you continue reading until you finished finished the book? (submitted by Maria @ A Night's Dream of Books)
My Answer:
I have stopped reading books that were debasing women. I just couldn't continue, and I wrote to the author and told him.
That actually happened in two books and different authors.
Thanks for stopping.
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday.
Hi Elizabeth! Good for you! But the most I've done is throwing a book against the wall.... Have a look at my Blog hop answer and have a good weekend!
ReplyDeleteLOL on throwing it against the wall.
DeleteI had to write to those authors simply because of the subject. It really upset me.
Thanks for stopping, Mareli.
Yes I am the same way as well, I just can't continue on reading a book that clashes with my beliefs as well. Have a great weekend and happy blog hopping Elizabeth.
ReplyDeleteIt was bad.
DeleteThanks for stopping, Katiria.
I totally agree, and I applaud your decision to write to the author of one of those books! There's no need for this kind of thing in a novel, unless, of course, the author's intent is to depict the injustice of the debasement of women. If it's clear from the tone of the narrative that the author does NOT approve of such behavior, then I would have no problem with such a book. However, if it's ABUNDANTLY clear that the author DOES approve, then it's also clear that the author is a misogynist. In that case, a reader has every right to stop reading the book, throw it against the wall (as Mareli would do), return it for a refund, or donate it to Goodwill (as I have done on several occasions). Writing to the author, though, is a very decisive and courageous step, and I really admire you for it! If more readers did this type of thing, we might stop seeing misogynistic books make it to print! (Or e-book format.) So KUDOS to you, Elizabeth!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Hopping!! Have an AWESOME weekend!! <3 :)
I was asked to review the book and wasn't aware of the content so I needed to write to them.
DeleteThanks for your wonderful comment.
Thanks for stopping, Maria.
I can read books that I don't agree with but debasing women is hard to get past and I can see why you would have stopped reading.
ReplyDeleteThere was no way I was going to continue reading those two books.
DeleteThanks for stopping, Katherine.
I haven't yet but won't say that I never would.
ReplyDeleteThat's good, but as you said: you never know.
DeleteThanks for stopping, Kathy.
I've never stopped because I don't agree with something. I like to give any book (and author) a chance. I figure, they are entitled to their opinions, even if they are the complete opposite of my own.
ReplyDeleteI can do that for the most part, but not when the subject I mentioned above happens.
DeleteThank you for stopping, Nicki,
The debasing of women bothers me too, although it depends on the manner in which it is done and how it is handled by the author. I'd be curious to know which two books bothered you.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a great week!
I honestly don't even remember the titles. I think they were self-published books.
DeleteThis happened when I first started my blog.
Thanks for stopping, Literary Feline.
Excellent way to handle the situation. Perhaps, I will do something similar for the book I received. It seems as though it would let the author and their publicist know I attempted to read it and why I chose not to finish.
ReplyDeleteThanks...I always have no worries about telling the publisher or author that I can't grasp the point or can't read it and give a reason.
DeleteThey are always ok with it.
Sometimes you just make an error in thinking it will be something you will like.
Thanks for stopping, Erica.