tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post5192203435506560231..comments2024-03-28T02:36:55.037-04:00Comments on Brooklyn Arden: Two More Things I Love about IRISES (or, A Brief Comment on Economic Diversity in YA, Women's Wanting, & Writing Across Identity)Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05972029478350879112noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post-75350999445747143082012-01-11T11:58:20.770-05:002012-01-11T11:58:20.770-05:00Very glad to see these issues being addressed in Y...Very glad to see these issues being addressed in YA books. Ashley Hope Perez's "What Can't Wait" addresses a similar topic of whether a girl can overcome her family's pull (for economic reasons) to keep her in town instead of going away to college.Genevievenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post-45766510051948951442012-01-10T18:28:06.971-05:002012-01-10T18:28:06.971-05:00i appreciate this post a lot. thanks.i appreciate this post a lot. thanks.erica lorraine scheidthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15120059217320863609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post-14060122082151245462012-01-09T15:41:37.611-05:002012-01-09T15:41:37.611-05:00I'm so excited about those excerpts, because g...I'm so excited about those excerpts, because girls/women are definitely called selfish for having---let alone expressing---their needs far too often, and it all starts so young. How intuitive that this is being brought to light in this YA book, and in this way. You're right, often YA books center on upper middle class, college-bound girls who are coping with the pressures of needing to succeed, and that's definitely important; but I don't see the whole "selfish" thing addressed enough, and every woman I know has dealt with that at one time or another. Interestingly, I once read a psyche book on child development in which researchers conducted interviews with many hundreds of children under the age of ten. According to the study, the girls' foremost preoccupation was,"How will I do what I want, and still be loved? How can I keep everyone happy?" while the boys' preoccupation was, "When I do what I want, how will I do it well?" <br /><br />And I do love that the general trend in YA seems to be leaning more toward girls being depicted as complex, empowered, and multidimensional, and that it seems more the norm these days for the female characters to hold the disrespectful guys in their lives accountable. That being said, even the empowered real-life women and teens I know are often called selfish for having a dream which differs from their family's. So happy and glad that an author is addressing these things with such skill and sensitivity.salimahttp://www.salimaalikhan.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post-69132185703086748382012-01-08T13:12:50.732-05:002012-01-08T13:12:50.732-05:00It's my hope (as a woman and as a mother of th...It's my hope (as a woman and as a mother of three daughters and just as a hopeful human) that these issues will be less onerous for the next generation, but so far I don't see much evidence. Books like this, which put what many girls may be only vaguely feeling, into high relief, and encourage discussion, are invaluable. (Plus, I love the writing)Tricia Springstubbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09011689894699357496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post-43491526755160892032012-01-08T02:26:31.431-05:002012-01-08T02:26:31.431-05:00I'd love to hear you develop your thoughts a l...I'd love to hear you develop your thoughts a little further on the topic of cross-gender and cross-culture writing. That would make a great conference talk or panel, don't you think?<br /><br />I've given it considerable thought myself and I think humility (that woefully undervalued virtue in American culture) is the key. <br /><br />And humility on both sides of the equation matters. I know that I am most blind to the cultural experiences that are closest to my own. I may be able to describe all the details richly, but I'm always looking at the experience from the inside. <br /><br />For example, as much as I love Shakespeare and admire much in British culture, I never look at the British without the lens of their brutality to the Irish. I know I am not capable of writing an unbiased book set in the British Isles. If my heritage were, say, Swedish I might be better able to give a real and round and flawed and fair description of the British. (but then I probably wouldn't be able to dance a jig. :-) See, it's tricky! Which is why it would make such a good panel discussion.<br /><br />Thanks for the reminder that Irises is out. I'll go pester my local indys and libraries about about it right now. :-)Rosanne Parryhttp://www.rosanneparry.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post-45888391714398058102012-01-08T01:05:30.520-05:002012-01-08T01:05:30.520-05:00Great post Cheryl! Your list of the most important...Great post Cheryl! Your list of the most important elements in romance hits the mark. It's my impression that today's men are more attracted to strong, ambitious women as well...really to be anything to anyone we need to take care of ourselves otherwise we become martyrs w/o a life to continue...<br /><br />It's not as emotionally cathartic as the Irises story perhaps, but I always liked Kahlil Gibran's description of a good relationship in his "On Marriage" poem.<br />http://www.katsandogz.com/onmarriage.html <br /><br />I also wonder if the "partnership" term more commonly used these days for long term relationships will help foster/normalize a more balanced amount of give-and-take, personal growth or this type of 'selfishness' as you sayBridgethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12617531255864768570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post-69189117996389590602012-01-07T20:48:48.847-05:002012-01-07T20:48:48.847-05:00Stunning post. Ironically I vlogged today about my...Stunning post. Ironically I vlogged today about my favorite traits in heroines and I talked about how I like them strong and selfish. I think selfishness is a very interesting gray-area, because it's definition relies so heavily on relationship, which is, of course, an intriguing area of literary exploration in and of itself. ; )<br /><br />Blessings,<br /><br />Gabrielle CarolinaGabrielle Carolinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18214229922978591322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post-23437464704082587412012-01-07T17:26:30.754-05:002012-01-07T17:26:30.754-05:00Interesting post, Cheryl. As a mother and wife, I ...Interesting post, Cheryl. As a mother and wife, I believe I'm supposed to be selfLESS. As a teacher, I was always wondering if I was giving up enough of myself to give to my students. This is something I believe women and even men struggle with, if you are a caring person who wants to please others. May we all find that peace, joy, and balance in 2012!www.carolgordonekster.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05538677971087883948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4074861.post-68568334806452195272012-01-07T16:14:08.635-05:002012-01-07T16:14:08.635-05:00Wow...I was so touched by the segment. It really ...Wow...I was so touched by the segment. It really does reflect how a lot of us (women) were raised. Being worthy of letting yourself achieve your goals can make you feel like you are selfish. Sad, but true. Thanks Cheryl.Sharon K. Mayhewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07799235347319851345noreply@blogger.com