AARRRGGGGHHH!!!!

[meganbmoore]

I just read a review of Patricia Briggs's latest Mercy Thompson book, by someone whose comments on the first two book line up with my opinions on them .  Not only does it include my absolute least favorite theme in fantasy fiction, but apparently, authors are contractually obligated to include my least favorite part of urban fantasy.

I think magicnoirejust summed up, in a comment about the review one of the biggest problems with the treatment of female characters in fantasy.

It's either they have to get raped to become interested in fighting crime or they get raped while fighting crime because they're women and it's dangerous and when a woman is in danger, she gets raped!

I just...I don't think I can read the book now.

Which is bad, because for "kickass female oriented urban fantasy" I'm now left with...Vicki Petterson...and only the comic geek in me gets me past a lot of the problems there(like the fact that I fear the heroine is going to spend several more volumes ignoring the righ guy, while pining for someone who is, not only dull, but blatantly wrong for her...but that's another rant about females in fantasy fiction.)

Comments

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Another glaring problem with the genre...I can walk out of the bookstore with SDK or Wallflower, no problem. But those covers?

[telophase.livejournal.com]

This is why I haven't purchased any of them. I hate those covers.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Well, as of now, every one of them I've followed has let me down on interior content at some point.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

And you know what I really hate? So many of them cut the head off the woman. She's reduced to her torso or butt, as if that's what matters. I don't know if that's a choice that's meant to make it easier for a female reader to place herself in the position of the main character by not giving her specific looks on the cover, or if it's meant to be as misogynistic as it looks. Hrm.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Yes. I've always had that problem too. I think it's supposed to convey hotness or something...it usually conveys "skank."

I think it' meant to be as misogynistic as it looks.

BTW, how's the headache today?

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Finally gone, yay. I'm a bit groggy due to having slept for 6 hours due to the anti-nausea med, but at least I've got the weekend to fix my sleep schedule. XD