Darth Richard II Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 So this has absolute exploded on my goodreads overnight. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25740412-the-black-witch?ac=1&from_search=true Reading all this I could actually hear Myshkin echoing in my head about how depiction isn't endorsement, or what have you. Haven't read it myself yet but there is no way I'm missing out on something that's pissing people off this much AND has a rec by Robin Hobb. Anyone read it yet? Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redeagl Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 Seems to be a book written to endorse SJW values (or more accurately, anti Alt right ) that most SJWs failed to recognize and thus they bashed it without even reading it. Irony! Whether the book is good or not though would be hard to know as most of the reviews are either mindless bashing or trying to fight that bashing by rating it 5 stars.Generally, I don't enjoy books that are social commentary for the most part, but if Hobb says it's good then it might be one of the exceptions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Richard II Posted May 10, 2017 Author Share Posted May 10, 2017 Ugh, please don't say SJW. Can't we just say, people who aren't Nazis? But yes, looks like what I call the Lolita effect. Complete over people's heads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corvinus85 Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 From some of the reviews I've read, the main character apparently doesn't really learn how terribly wrong her views are, though she thinks she does. That's what I gathered from some of the reviews I read. Other reviews do mention that the book is poorly written, and that's what may keep me away. I may try a sample on my Kindle if available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Richard II Posted May 10, 2017 Author Share Posted May 10, 2017 Were they actually reviews? Or just people reacting to the one super negative blog post making the rounds. I'm not saying your lying but a lo t of the stuff I've seen if fro people who haven't read the book at all. I mean hey it might be super racist and terrible as all fuck, but as far as pro critical reviews go its gotten a lot of praise and there are some PoC on goodreads/amazon that have praised it for tackling really tough issues too. I just hate it when you see stuff like this get shit all over without people actually reading/knowing what they're talking about. Somone online compared it to complaining that The Handmaid's Tale is sexist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hello World Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 Yeah, a lot of the reviews are from people who obviously haven't read the book but they all link to the same article that claims the book is "extremely racist, homophobic, and ableist". Which means that they now have to take turns being outraged and offended by the book until their meter fills. It's the SJW version of Bakkake. Quote I can't believe we have to tell people that calling mixed race people "half-breeds" and advocating for the genocide of other races is not okay. Oh not this shit again... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Richard II Posted May 10, 2017 Author Share Posted May 10, 2017 Hey, I'm a 5th level social justice mage. I might multi class though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gigei Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 5 hours ago, Darth Richard II said: Ugh, please don't say SJW. Can't we just say, people who aren't Nazis? Agreed. Based on the reviews the book does seem lawful but there's no way to really tell without reading it first. Edit: oops I meant "awful" not lawful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Richard II Posted May 10, 2017 Author Share Posted May 10, 2017 Well, Robin Hobb is the one author I think that hasn't let me down at all with her recs. (GRRM would is almost got a perfect record too but ugh, The Magicians). I;d be interested if Jemsin has said anything, she's usually spot on the ball with these things. And yes, all most all the negative reviews quote that one blog(you can find it on the gr link, I won't link or name it here for obvious reasons). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kairparavel Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 I trust this review/reviewer. I often look to see if she's read and reviewed a particular book before I pick it up. I often find myself agreeing with her after I've finished. And I will sometimes read something and enjoy it even if she didn't. Anyhoo, Here is a review by Emily May: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1949205209 Also, I find some book criticism misplaced, good intentioned or otherwise.The train wreck that is the most recent Sarah J Maas book is getting slammed for being anti-asexual/ace all because a poorly worded section was in my opinion taken out of context. Now, I can't say for 100% certainty I know what SJM meant but it seemed pretty obvious. That book deserves criticism for a lot of things but that is not one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redeagl Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 So, I have decided to rate this book 5 stars, without reading ( I know, I am a hypocrite) it because of some of the people who are not Nazis' reviews. The stupidity in recognizing the difference between addressing a problem and believing in it as a cause, triggered me. Edit: the review linked above summed it all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jussi Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 10 hours ago, Darth Richard II said: GRRM would is almost got a perfect record too but ugh, The Magicians. I love the Magicians trilogy. That Martin blurb made me read the series. GRRM recommended the first book also in person at Finncon 2009. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callan S. Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 Well, maybe the negative reviews will mean the people who it dissents against will actually read it. There's not much point people who already agree with 'discrimination is bad, m'kay' reading it, they already agree with the premise. It's not really going to make them think. Do seem to need a novel that engages the bandwagoners tho, who read a blog and then just auto condemn - their rational capacity to discriminate depiction and endorsement apparently turned off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Richard II Posted May 11, 2017 Author Share Posted May 11, 2017 5 hours ago, Jussi said: I love the Magicians trilogy. That Martin blurb made me read the series. GRRM recommended the first book also in person at Finncon 2009. Well, my hatred is the less popular opinion and well known at this point. 5 hours ago, Callan S. said: Well, maybe the negative reviews will mean the people who it dissents against will actually read it. There's not much point people who already agree with 'discrimination is bad, m'kay' reading it, they already agree with the premise. It's not really going to make them think. Do seem to need a novel that engages the bandwagoners tho, who read a blog and then just auto condemn - their rational capacity to discriminate depiction and endorsement apparently turned off. I hate people who bandwagon like this, on either side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callan S. Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 4 hours ago, Darth Richard II said: I hate people who bandwagon like this, on either side. Cool, you're on my bandwagon then! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Richard II Posted May 11, 2017 Author Share Posted May 11, 2017 4 minutes ago, Callan S. said: Cool, you're on my bandwagon then! *slow clap* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnar of Skagos Posted May 11, 2017 Share Posted May 11, 2017 23 hours ago, Darth Richard II said: Ugh, please don't say SJW. Can't we just say, people who aren't Nazis? But yes, looks like what I call the Lolita effect. Complete over people's heads. That is a bit of an over-generalization. Both are two extreme ideologies. And well, reading the reviews, it seems this book is "ableist." Well I'll be. Never thought I'd hear that about a fantasy novel. Wow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Richard II Posted May 11, 2017 Author Share Posted May 11, 2017 Well, the people that use SJW as an insult irk me to the point where I want to go around wearing a SJW t shirt, but I digress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Richard II Posted May 12, 2017 Author Share Posted May 12, 2017 7 hours ago, Maelys I Blackfyre said: That is a bit of an over-generalization. Both are two extreme ideologies. And well, reading the reviews, it seems this book is "ableist." Well I'll be. Never thought I'd hear that about a fantasy novel. Wow. I had to look up what that means. Wtf?. I wonder how many of these people are Hodor fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jiriki Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 On 5/10/2017 at 3:45 PM, Darth Richard II said: Somone online compared it to complaining that The Handmaid's Tale is sexist. Haha! If that's the case, then it seems to be an example of the text going over peoples' heads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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