tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381533012764037154.post497723283898540183..comments2024-03-04T11:59:16.710+00:00Comments on Once Upon a Bookcase: When You're Told a Book is Racist, Why Do You Need to Judge it For Yourself?Johttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02828378728962868575noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381533012764037154.post-20740798896063029442017-04-08T19:16:37.094+01:002017-04-08T19:16:37.094+01:00I had to think hard about how to reply to this bec...I had to think hard about how to reply to this because while I understand the thought behind your argument, I don't know that I 100% agree. I don't feel the need to read the particular books you're talking about, but I don't know that I feel like we should condemn people for saying they want to judge for themselves. This sounds awfully close to censorship to me---if someone out there finds a book offensive, we tell people they aren't <i>allowed</i> to read it to determine their own opinion. I know that's not the spirit of what you're saying here, but when we start telling people how to think and feel about books and that they're <i>wrong</i> if they think or feel differently ... I don't know, it just doesn't sit right with me. In any circumstance.<br /><br />Nicole @ <a href="http://feedyourfictionaddiction.com" rel="nofollow">Feed Your Fiction Addiction</a>Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addictionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08637114079800138680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381533012764037154.post-34601315519525314742017-04-07T11:00:04.930+01:002017-04-07T11:00:04.930+01:00I suppose that's true. Though I'm not sure...I suppose that's true. Though I'm not sure if I'd want to understand someone who wants to cause harm - in the respect of biographies of someone, instead of YA novels. With the YA novels, it seems that racism isn't intended, it's not necessarily the views of the author. But the book still *is* racist, and the author should do better. And I've not yet seen an author or publisher have their first response to be listening, apologising, and trying to fix things. It's always defensive first. And that just gets to me. You're being told your book has hurt people, and you're going to be defensive? I just can't. I won't read those books.<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02828378728962868575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381533012764037154.post-22207076264675704452017-04-07T10:55:28.265+01:002017-04-07T10:55:28.265+01:00Exactly! Exactly! I just don't understand it. ...Exactly! Exactly! I just don't understand it. I really don't.Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02828378728962868575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381533012764037154.post-43685543934777484432017-03-23T16:02:21.337+00:002017-03-23T16:02:21.337+00:00I don't think it's ever wrong in principle...I don't think it's ever wrong in principle to make up your own mind about something, but personally if I hear a book is racist or in some way offensive, I'm unlikely to read it. I think the problem is when people read stuff *just because* it's racist, as Tanya says, there are too many books out there to read for much better reasons. But for example, if you want to read a biography of someone with views you find offensive to try to understand their perspective, you can borrow it from the library or get a secondhand copy so they don't profit directly (I know they get a few pence for library issues, but it's better than buying). As much as I hate the phrase 'echo chamber', if we only expose ourselves to opinions we agree with, we will struggle to fully understand the world.Blazing Modestyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16037006553523406053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2381533012764037154.post-49917858038746526462017-03-19T23:49:04.389+00:002017-03-19T23:49:04.389+00:00Completely in agreement! There are so many wonder...Completely in agreement! There are so many wonderful authors who could use our support, who we may never get to - so why waste time reading books written by an author in a racist way?! When you see multiple people calling out a book, with quotes etc. I say move on. Unless - of course - that's not important to the person.<br /><br />Tanya Patrice<br /><a href="http://girlxoxo.com" rel="nofollow">Girlxoxo.com</a>TPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10589001490828032365noreply@blogger.com