Recent comments in /f/books

boxer_dogs_dance t1_j6cxv0w wrote

Reply to Just finished Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank and I loved it by sadlegbeard

I have read it several times. As for racism, he describes the reality of living in a segregated society, regardless of whether the segregation is de facto or de jure. I see the book as intended to subvert the worst of racist attitudes, but all members of such a culture are scarred and influenced by it and the author definitely has biases.

Edit, I have no doubt that the author is himself racist. But his intention and depiction is community between people of all colors and races. Given his era, for me, that is enough good faith and positive intent to not cancel the book.

I would contrast Lest Darkness Fall by L Sprague de Camp which leans into racism in an entirely unnecessary way, inserting it anachronistically into a plot about ancient Rome.

I agree. It is an excellent apocalyptic book.

4

Angeldust01 t1_j6cvy4c wrote

Reply to Finished the first four Earthsea books, and I have been storing an emotional ramble inside (super long post, sorry!) by yellowyellow2

Tehanu is probably my favorite Le Guin book. The character writing on Tenar, Therru and Ged was just so strong, and the way she packs some serious truths, wisdom and lots of compassion in seemingly simple sentences was just masterfully done.

About the last two books - I'd suggest reading Tales from Earthsea first, the novel Dragonfly introduces a character that's in The Other Wind, and the other 4 novels have some important/interesting stuff you'll appreciate knowing before going into The Other Wind that'll wrap up all the loose ends and character arcs from previous books satisfyingly.

45

willowhawk t1_j6ctk3e wrote

Reply to comment by cavillchallenger in Seeking passage to use for Eulogy from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. by cavillchallenger

Middle part of the passage is wrong and, unsurprisingly, doesn’t read as well because of it.

It should be: “This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.”

If your Dad loved Douglas Adams it would be good to use the extract phrase seeing as that’s what your Dad loved, not some Redditors paraphrasing.

51

zedatkinszed t1_j6csilm wrote

Reply to comment by SAYARIAsayaria in Why are Colleen Hoover books so divisive? by sunnywatermelon18

>I thought she was a good writer.

Her writing/prose is appalling. Her word choice is bizarre. Her grammar and syntax are awful. Her writing is genuinely the strangest I have ever come across apart from Dan Brown (she is better than him though).

Her romanticization of SA and rape is just repulsive. Her stuff is basically a 50 Shades of Fae but worse on every conceivable level.

I'd say she's a very strange writer.

3

LaunchTransient t1_j6cqnc5 wrote

Reply to comment by angelojann in Dickens' David Copperfield: Were men more affectionate with each other in the 18th century? by angelojann

Heavy involvement in sports was very much a thing in the Victorian era, it was viewed as healthy and good for the mind (which, surprisingly compared with many Victorian beliefs on other medical issues, is actually correct.)

The thing is that in that era it was a much more local, amateur scene - professional sports weren't really a thing yet.

Another point I should make though is that Victorian society was heavily stratified. Do not assume that what is normal for the upper classes translates to the behaviour of the lower classes. Not everyone saw an education as being worthwhile, many thought their children should focus on practical matters of making enough to put food on the table and a roof over their heads.

4