So let’s talk about blindness and books. This was actually just going to be another savage review but I thought I’d first write a bit about how NOT to include blindness, or disability generally, in a book. It all comes back to something that happened a few months ago, in a group for beta readers … Continue reading Blindness, writing, and a not very savage review of It’s Not What It Looks Like by Molly Burke
Tag: books
Savage reviews: The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid
I’m coming to the conclusion that I don’t have time for wholeass novels that don’t pass the Bechdel test. I get that you might have a harder time making it happen if you’re writing a first person narrative with a male narrator, but… no, actually that’s not an excuse. Have a scene in which the … Continue reading Savage reviews: The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid
Eleanor Oliphant’s story, and why it doesn’t belong to the author who wrote it.
Make yourself a cup of tea, buddos. This is going to be a long one. My last post examined the "not your story" issue from the position of having white privilege. Now I’m going to look at it from the position of someone who is marginalised. This isn’t going to be about male SFF writers … Continue reading Eleanor Oliphant’s story, and why it doesn’t belong to the author who wrote it.
That’s not your story to tell. This is, however, your blog post to read.
When I started writing stuff on the “not your story to tell” topic, it kept pulling into two halves and I was trying to work out why. It should have been obvious really. I’m white, I’m middle class, I’m educated. I’m also queer and autistic with longstanding health issues. Inevitably I am approaching this topic … Continue reading That’s not your story to tell. This is, however, your blog post to read.
Surprisingly unsavage reviews: The October Man; The Silence of the Girls; Space Unicorn Blues
We're back to the Savage Reviews Channel, and your usual savage host appears to have been replaced by someone less savage because I do not have nearly enough bad things to say about these books. Today on the agenda: The October Man by Ben Aaronovitch The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker Space Unicorn … Continue reading Surprisingly unsavage reviews: The October Man; The Silence of the Girls; Space Unicorn Blues
Savage Reviews: Strange Practice and The Poppy War
WordPress has a mind of its own when it comes to formatting. I have gone over this post at least four times trying to make the formatting consistent and it's not working so I'm publishing before I have to smash something. Onward! I'm a pretty savage reviewer. I am not easy to please. I am … Continue reading Savage Reviews: Strange Practice and The Poppy War
A writer walks into a bar
A few years back I picked up a book by Chimamanda Adichie. I enjoyed it so I read some more of her work. Amazon and Goodreads being what they are, I clearly set off the SHE READS THE NIGERIAN FICTION algorithm because suddenly my recommendations were all from Nigerian authors. I hadn't been specifically searching … Continue reading A writer walks into a bar