Friday, May 31, 2013

Nora Roberts - sexism and preconceptions

I started a serie in three books from Nora Roberts and are now on the second book.
I had never read anything by Nora Roberts before and will probably not do it again either when I'm done with this series because the author herself is a sexist from head to toe!


Each and every page describes what is typical male or female, and usually it's really nasty things like for example "all men share the same brain and that's why are they can't think very far" or that "women can not handle furniture construction because that's a job for a "real man". Comments like this from the characthers are not unusual:

- Come on boys, we do not need a woman with us today, let the girls have their women's talk and we'll do the real job.

I just puke in my mouth a little everytime something like that comes up. It's really a shame because otherwise the books are well written and exciting, but Nora's view of masculinity, antiquated ideals and femininity really shines through too well for my liking ..

Do any of you read her books and have you noticed this?

12 comments:

  1. I have never read any of her books and now that I know how sexist she is, I'll never spend a cent that's going to end up in her pockets.

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    1. First I thought it was me who was overreacting, but when I came to the second book I realized that it's really her way of thinking that shines through. And after some googling I saw that I'm not alone who has noticed this.

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  2. Haha, precis så!
    Jag köpte en av hennnes på en bokrea för många år sedan, utan att veta vem hon var. Dagen efter ringde jag min bästa väninna helt chockad över sexismen och tantsnusket. Hon bara skrattade åt mig, för tydligen vet "alla" vem/vad Nora Roberts är :)

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    1. Ja jag hade aldrig hört om detta innan..jag trodde hon var en bra författare. Hon har ju sålt en del böcker liksom O.o

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  3. I haven't read any of her books either, so can't judge of course, however I rely on your opinion and trust you :) Thanks for sharing the feedback!

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    1. Hopefully I can spare someone from reading her shitty thoughts :P

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  4. Eww!! Jag har läst lite tantsnusk men inte henne och det var tur att jag inte har provat :).

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    1. Ja vill man läsa tantsnusk finns det säkert bättre författare att vända sig till.

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  5. Oh dear that sounds so annoying. I think I could never finish even one of that author's books. In kiosks I have looked at them with slight disgust and if that's how narrow-minded the world of the books is, I'm probably not changing my mind. I can imagine it stretches one's patience to read that kind of literature.
    All this 'women/men can't understand' talk is so last season. I know what 'offside' means in sports and I didn't look it up on Wikipedia. Take that, sexism.

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    1. It really is, I think I might have to take a pause and read some other books for a while.

      Haha, you're the best <3

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  6. It's dire. And as you say it's a shame because she could fit well in romance genre if only she weren't misogynist.

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  7. I have read a few of her books lately that I checked out of the library (thankfully, I did not buy them), that have really disturbed me in terms of how her male characters talk about and treat women. Referring to women as their property and making comments like "I won't give a damn if you're not ready" the next time one man approaches a woman for sex (in other words, he will rape her??!!). Her female characters don't seem to mind these controlling males, and don't seem to care that their sexual encounters often border on being taken by force. The women are apparently so lustful for these men that they don't see the misogyny and sexism. HomePort is one of the most disturbing examples of this kind of relationship. But of course, the couple ends up engaged in the end!! I just wish she would treat her female characters with more respect, and quit making them mens' sex toys! Apparently, people love her books, as she is one of the wealthiest writers in the country, but I have read my last Nora Roberts book!

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