Happy Friday - 9/18

[ufcasey]

What have you been reading this week?

QOTW: 
If the author of one of your favorite books ended up doing something terrible, how would that impact your feelings on the book? (yes, this is a not-so-subtle reference to the whole Harry Potter/J.K. Rowling thing, but I don't want this to be specific to that situation, just a general question of whether or not authors impact your feelings towards books or if you separate the two in your mind, or if it really just depends on the specific situation for you)

[Vespasia]

Last night I finished The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis. There were a lot of things I should have/wanted to love about this book but it was incredibly disappointing. One narrator was annoying as hell and both story lines were kind of ridiculous. I ended up skimming the last half just to get it over with. 

QOTW: Well the author of one of my favorite books (Mists of Avalon) did turn out to be terrible but that came out after her death so it was easier. She wasn't really writing any more books and any money was going to her heirs. It didn't change my feelings about the book in any way. For Rowling, I loved HP but never really got into the fandom/merchandise nor have I read her other books. I will be keeping it that way. 

[litskispeciality]

I finally finished This is how it always is 4*'s, absolutely loved it! I started "The Cactus" and hope to do some reading this weekend as I'm 3 behind goal for the year.

QOTW: This kind of happened to me. I've read a LOT of Nicholas Sparks and really connect to "A Walk to Remember". I shouldn't be surprised based on some subtle themes in the books. It didn't change my feelings toward the book, but it just makes it hard to go back and do a re-read or watch the movies feeling like you're supporting them. Have to unfollow them everywhere too (only followed for updates on new books).

I've never read HP and only saw one movie. I read one Galbreath book, but will not spend a dime and will support any boycotts.

[meowmaps]

I finished Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents earlier this week. Unsurprisingly, it was excellent.

I started The Death of Vivek Oji yesterday. It's relatively short and a quick read so I hope to be done with it by the end of today.

I have a pile of physical books from the library but I'm really enjoying the convenience of my kindle lately.

QOTW: I can't think of a favorite author that's had a scandal. Unfortunately, I can think of so many examples of tv shows and movies that have been forever tainted. When I saw the question the first that came to mind was The Cosby Show.

ETA: I forgot that I also read Luster. Interesting but also weird.

[ssmjlm]

I just started The Guest List, which I'm not far enough in to make a decision.

QOTW: Well Emily Giffin's writing was already going in the trash, but then her comments about Megan Markle were uncalled for.

[ufcasey]

Read:
A Rogue of One's Own (#2 in series)
 by Evie Dunmore - historical romance/3.5 stars; I love this suffragette focused HR series, but the first book was better and this one had some problematic diversity elements. I'll still read the next one whenever it comes out.

The Exiles
 by Christina Baker Kline - historical fiction/4 stars; I only liked 'Orphan Train' but really enjoyed this one a lot more! It's about jailed women forced to serve out their sentence in Australia along with a depiction of Mathinna (a real person, who you should not google until after you have read the book)

DNF:
Reborn Yesterday by Tessa Bailey -  romance? The cover of this book looks like a beautiful adult historical fiction. It's marketed as adult paranormal romance. It reads like a cheesy YA novel. Pass.


QOTW:
So in general, I think I would still be able to love a book, though maybe a little less for it and would no longer recommend it necessarily to others. I would also just would no longer read/buy anything from that author (assuming they were alive to get revenue from my purchases).  

But specific to JK Rowling, I am struggling on what to do. My son is 8 and he really loves the illustrated Harry Potter books - they are not all out yet and he has read the first three. I don't want to discourage him from reading, especially a book series he enjoys (and I do too - I have read all the books and seen/own all the movies). An easy solution is to just get the books from the library when they come out is my thought. But on top of all that, we live in Orlando Florida where there is Universal Studios/Island of Adventure which each has it's own Harry Potter section of the park. My kids LOVE going to the Harry Potter areas and the Harry Potter stuff brings a lot of money/jobs into the area (normally, not so much now thanks to Covid). If everyone boycotted HP and then decided to not go to those theme parks because of their HP stuff - that would be a big economic impact in my area and in the end would not even put a dent in JK Rowlings deep pockets. So what is the solution? I don't know. I want to support my child's desire to read and the local economy, but I don't want to support her at all. Why couldn't Hermione be a real person and also the real author of the HP books?! I have zero qualms about stop reading the Cormoran Strike series.

[abs]

Currently reading Happy and You Know It. I think I will need to finish it before I can properly form thoughts on it.

QOTW: I am so freaking mad at Rowling for being such a terrible person. DD loved book one and two but then then wanted to take a break because they got a bit scary for her. I really kind of hope she won't go back to it now and yes it does take away from my enjoyment of the HP series now. I also won't read another Emily Giffin book.

[tacokick]

The Unseen World by Liz Moore (a little too long IMO)

The Chiffon Trenches by André Leon Talley (detailed and I feel bad for him)

No One Will Tell You This But Me: A True (As Told to Me) Story by Bess Kalb (cute, sort of sad)

The Wicked Sister by Karen Dionne (I like the settings of her suspense books a lot!)

QOTW:

I haven’t really had this be an issue too much. I didn’t read Harry Potter, I was never a Dr Suess or Roald Dahl fan. Some of the more recent issues with people’s books were with books I didn’t like or weren’t interested in to begin with. That said, I’m fine with stopping supporting problematic authors at any point. If I was one of those Harry Potter fanatics I would have dumped the stuff, removed the tattoo etc long before this latest round of issues with her.

[tacokick]

Sept 18, 2020 9:46:43 GMT -5 meowmaps said:

I finished Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents earlier this week. Unsurprisingly, it was excellent.

I started The Death of Vivek Oji yesterday. It's relatively short and a quick read so I hope to be done with it by the end of today.

I have a pile of physical books from the library but I'm really enjoying the convenience of my kindle lately.

QOTW: I can't think of a favorite author that's had a scandal. Unfortunately, I can think of so many examples of tv shows and movies that have been forever tainted. When I saw the question the first that came to mind was The Cosby Show.

ETA: I forgot that I also read Luster. Interesting but also weird.

I’ve tried to get into Luster like 4 times and can’t do it. It seems like something I’d like

[travella]

I'm currently reading Code Name Helen by Ariel Lawhon. I'm also reading James and the Giant Peach with my son.

QOTW: I don't really pay attention to scandals so they have to be pretty blown up for them to come to my attention. I didn't have any idea there was a Road Dahl scandal, but reading his books as an adult I'm not all that surprised. I guess it all depends on the nature of the offense, how long ago it occurred, and how much I enjoy the author.

[ssmjlm]

Sept 18, 2020 13:10:26 GMT -5 abs said:

Currently reading Happy and You Know It. I think I will need to finish it before I can properly form thoughts on it.

That book started strong for me and then just went downhill.  I was disappointed.

[litskispeciality]

Wow that Dahl stuff isn't surprising, but sad that it's still pushed. I (re)read BFG a few years ago when the Disney movie came out, but it was so creepy I didn't watch the movie. I never liked James and the Giant Peach either.

[minzy]

I tore through The Red Lotus by Chris Bohjalian this week. Shout out to Vespasia who first mentioned it; I thought it was a total page turner and really good. I have also been reading The Secret Garden to my kids and my nephew over FaceTime.

QOTW: I have two views, I guess, on disgraced authors. For myself, I probably will not read more Harry Potter (my older daughter was losing interest at book 3), Emily Giffin or Sherman Alexie. There’s just so much else out there from people that I don’t *know* to be problematic. My other position is from my perspective selling donated books to raise money for our library. I try not to censor what comes in unless it’s in poor physical condition. So we’ve had some sexual guides and Cosby books and I would set that out for sale. There was a lengthier conversation among the Board with some German stuff we got that I thought was potentially pro-Hitler. (Most of that was in poor shape, but I think some we would have set out, had we been able to have the last few sales.)

[meowmaps]

Sept 18, 2020 13:31:21 GMT -5 tacokick said:

Sept 18, 2020 9:46:43 GMT -5 meowmaps said:

I finished Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents earlier this week. Unsurprisingly, it was excellent.

I started The Death of Vivek Oji yesterday. It's relatively short and a quick read so I hope to be done with it by the end of today.

I have a pile of physical books from the library but I'm really enjoying the convenience of my kindle lately.

QOTW: I can't think of a favorite author that's had a scandal. Unfortunately, I can think of so many examples of tv shows and movies that have been forever tainted. When I saw the question the first that came to mind was The Cosby Show.

ETA: I forgot that I also read Luster. Interesting but also weird.

I’ve tried to get into Luster like 4 times and can’t do it. It seems like something I’d like

I think the author has a really unique, interesting voice.  I just didn't connect to a lot of the story.  

[aurora]

Sept 18, 2020 8:48:00 GMT -5 Vespasia said:

...

QOTW: Well the author of one of my favorite books (Mists of Avalon) did turn out to be terrible but that came out after her death so it was easier. She wasn't really writing any more books and any money was going to her heirs. It didn't change my feelings about the book in any way. ...

I had to Google Marion Zimmer Bradley since I hadn't heard of this one. Ugh.

[aurora]

I'm listening to All the Devils are Here and really enjoying it.

QOTW: please nobody spoil Louise Penny for me!

In general, it's complicated. For a book I really loved, I would definitely want to dig deep to understand the situation and not rely on social media (this is not about any specific case, just a reelection on how Twitter and Facebook etc. can operate).

I have definitely reached the point of boycotting certain authors for their misdeeds and am sure I will do so again.

[mrspez07]

I’m listening to Range, just started it yesterday. Reading Daughter of Fortune, it’s slow going, mostly just at bedtime.

QOTW: there have been numerous authors who have showed their asses lately. In all the instances I’m aware of, I just take the books I haven’t read off my to-read list and don’t read any of their future books as well.

[dontlook]

I finished The Half Sister: 3.5 stars. It was ok. Nothing special.

QOTW: I like Emily Giffin books for a quick cheesy read but I won’t read anymore of her stuff. I read HP last year and DD has just gotten into it. We bought the series. I won’t buy anymore of her stuff. I’ll let my kids read the books but I plan to explain what she has said and why I don’t agree with it.

[tacokick]

Sept 18, 2020 13:54:00 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

Sept 18, 2020 13:10:26 GMT -5 abs said:

Currently reading Happy and You Know It. I think I will need to finish it before I can properly form thoughts on it.

That book started strong for me and then just went downhill.  I was disappointed.

I thought they could have left that one (vitamin) storyline out entirely. It didn’t make a lot of sense or add anything to it IMO

[charlatti]

I just finished A Royal Affair by Allison Montclair, second in a historical feminist mystery series. Not as good as the first, but I’ll give the third a chance when it comes out. Now rereading the last Thursday Next book, The Woman Who Died a Lot, because I definitely can’t handle anything more serious after this miserable week.

QOTW: The author definitely influences my feelings about the books. But I also think there’s a hard truth of humanity there, though, that someone can do good and accomplish good things but still hold and express abhorrent views in other areas. (Slave-owning founding fathers come to mind.) The good doesn’t excuse the bad, but we also don’t ignore the good, if that makes any sense. Not at all implying Rowling = Washington, just as an example.

[abs]

Sept 18, 2020 13:54:00 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

Sept 18, 2020 13:10:26 GMT -5 abs said:

Currently reading Happy and You Know It. I think I will need to finish it before I can properly form thoughts on it.

That book started strong for me and then just went downhill.  I was disappointed.

I finished it last night and mostly enjoyed it but it was like reading two different books.  It started strong with feelings I could relate to and then turned into a Liane Moriarty book.  Not really what I was expecting and it took away from the earlier themes but it was still worth the 1.99 I spent on it.

[dontlook]

Sept 19, 2020 5:52:07 GMT -5 charlatti said:

I just finished A Royal Affair by Allison Montclair, second in a historical feminist mystery series. Not as good as the first, but I’ll give the third a chance when it comes out. Now rereading the last Thursday Next book, The Woman Who Died a Lot, because I definitely can’t handle anything more serious after this miserable week.

QOTW: The author definitely influences my feelings about the books. But I also think there’s a hard truth of humanity there, though, that someone can do good and accomplish good things but still hold and express abhorrent views in other areas. (Slave-owning founding fathers come to mind.) The good doesn’t excuse the bad, but we also don’t ignore the good, if that makes any sense. Not at all implying Rowling = Washington, just as an example.

I wanted to make the same point but words were failing me.

[wesleycrusher]

Action Park: Fast Times, Wild Rides, and the Untold Story of America's Most Dangerous Amusement Park by Andy Mulvihill with Jake Rossen - 4.5

Almost Interesting by David Spade (audio) - 4

The Pig That Wants to Be Eaten: 100 Experiments for the Armchair Philosopher by Julian Baggini - 3

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson - 4

QOTW: Orson Scott Card of Ender's Game fame comes to mind. I read books by him in high school. Definitely didn't know anything about him back then. I think we have more awareness now with the internet but I don't google every author before I read their books. Last year I read a book by Sherman Alexie that I had gotten from some list somewhere. The book was well written and it made me want to learn more about the author and his other works, so I googled him and found out. It's still a good book, just like Harry Potter is an excellent series, but personally I have no desire to read or recommend books by authors who I know are problematic. That being said I'm not ready to go throw my Harry Potter series in the trash even if I don't reread. I have a lot of memories related to the books themsleves. Maybe I'll get there, but not quite yet.