tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3763088504707951697.post7208974015499649850..comments2024-03-19T04:34:51.847-07:00Comments on Smorgasbook: Karen Memory by Elizabeth BearMegan Baxterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02537170023931826579noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3763088504707951697.post-7994528761405423122016-07-29T13:00:13.506-07:002016-07-29T13:00:13.506-07:00I absolutely agree. It shouldn't be off the ta...I absolutely agree. It shouldn't be off the table, but authors should think long and hard about why they're telling the story that way and and how before using it. Of the 20-30 books I've read that have included a rape in the last year, I can think of two that I thought handled it well, and for a reason the book needed.Megan Baxterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02537170023931826579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3763088504707951697.post-38643316896902589052016-07-29T12:56:32.333-07:002016-07-29T12:56:32.333-07:00Agreed. It's such an easy device for writers a...Agreed. It's such an easy device for writers as you've pointed out. The fact that it's an unfortunate reality for so many women doesn't make it the first or best one to reach for. I wouldn't want to say never make it a part of the story, mostly because it makes me uncomfortable to make such a blanket statement that effectively silences potential engagement with a very important subject, but at the same time, I mostly see it being used as a source of vicarious titillation more than anything else.Justinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01923590666167857750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3763088504707951697.post-4633729577582978832016-07-29T12:06:55.183-07:002016-07-29T12:06:55.183-07:00Yeah, I agree, but I certainly appreciated it! I h...Yeah, I agree, but I certainly appreciated it! I have not been happy with how much rape has crept into my reading list this year. Megan Baxterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02537170023931826579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3763088504707951697.post-77534705477663147312016-07-29T06:40:39.390-07:002016-07-29T06:40:39.390-07:00It's sort of ironic having a story about prost...It's sort of ironic having a story about prostitutes that doesn't include an element of overt sexual violence. One of the things I liked about Karen and the other women was the way they were portrayed as fully in charge of their own sexual agency. They weren't victims, and so Karen in particular was still able to exude a genuine sweetness of character.Justinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01923590666167857750noreply@blogger.com