well behaved women

You know what I think I am most fond of, out of all the tropes and male/female mores Anne Bishop plays with in her Black Jewels books?

The whole 'uncontrollable lust' thing. Heat, rut, whatever you want to call it...I don't think I've ever seen it handled in fiction before in a way that didn't leave a bad taste in my mouth. In her books, it either happens to a long established happy couple or the unaffected female is given the chance to leave and she makes the clear choice to involve herself.

When it's in an unestablished relationship, with people who don't know each other that deeply, it freaks the girl out and he manages to calm down. He backs off.

Like, I don't know how often this needs to be said to sink in. Pushing a girl into a sexual relationship with a flimsy narrative excuse is not romantic. Or hot. Or impressive. It's just rape, even if she likes it after she says no.

Apparently it needs to be said a lot, because the perpetrators don't seem to be listening.

Title: once a dreamer
Author: shiegra
Rating: R for implications
Warnings: Jaenelle's childhood, which included Briarwood.
Summary: She does not fit right in her girlskin.

( Read more... )

I thought I'd built up a callus against the stupid, nasty things people write about female characters and other women.

But condemning a character--who has been sexually abused--for being badly triggered by sexual assault, implications or threat, and in malicious, cruelly critical language (I can't bear to go back and read it for specifics) goes so far over the line I'm nauseous.

And, of course, they didn't criticize the male characters who had suffered similar treatment and reacted just as badly. Just the girl.

I...I can't even describe my hatred. I was almost shaking with anger. Saying vicious things about someone, verbally abusing and treating her with contempt because she was raped is just....

Yes, I know it's a fictional character. I'm aware. But fiction is a reflection, no matter how fantastical. We read it for the people. People who treat a female character like this are willing treat a female person like this. They are people, just on paper. Representations.

I feel like all the good cereta and coffeeandink's post did for me are gone. I just...can't even describe how sick I feel.

May you rot in hell, whoever the fuck you are. And at the moment, I mean that most sincerely.

I saw Anne Bishop last night.

I have waited this long so I didn't post a bunch of keyboard mashing and incoherent internet shouting. I am remaining very tightly in control of my giddiness. alagdsghaf!!

I tried to remain rational and calm, but I may have leaked fangirl all over her table when I got to speak to her. Triumphant air punching occurred. **shakes head** Such is the tragedy of my inability to remain level-headed.

OMGOMGOMGOMGANNEBISHOP

The Shadow Queen: reminding me with every page why a) I love Anne Bishop and b) Jaenelle/Daemon were, have been and always will be my ultimate be all and end all OTP. Also, why Jaenelle is still, hands down--and this is a difficult choice--my favorite female character. Ever.

Though Surreal comes close. And damn, but I do find Saetan and Sylvia interesting. I was so hoping it was Surreal Theran ran into, partly because I wanted to see her knock him on his ass verbally or otherwise, but also because damnit I just wanted to see Surreal.

And I got Valor's Trial, the next Torin Kerr book, though I thought it wasn't going to be out in paperback for months. And The Etched City which, while gruesome, is fascinatingly written. And I read Ilona Andrews new book and frothed over it--for second place female character there are about thirty neatly tied, but Kate Daniels is definitely in there and edging up on first--and read Lilith Saintcrow's YA book. It was creepy and enjoyable, though definitely not my favorite.

**cuddles my bounty**

Oh, and I got vicious cramps and a really major dentist's appointment this morning, where they did two quandrants. Um. It pales it comparison!

"....the gist of it being whatever a woman enjoyed wearing was feminine and whatever she didn't enjoy wearing wasn't."

-Anne Bishop "Heir to the Shadows"

...for such a little line, a throwaway paragraph roughly in the middle of the book, damn that hit hard. Because, you know, even though I should know better, on a certain level I bought into the myth of 'feminine'. Dresses. Pink. Society's carefully sculpted mould.

Anne Bishop! ♥♥♥♥

It's funny because in the Black Jewels world I think the relationships--besides the bad ones, which are really bad and acknowledged as such--are some of the healthiest I've seen in fiction. And she is very clearly saying something; along with a story and characters I love, there's a strong and very welcome commentary on gender roles and interactions.

And it's set up explicity, the Protocol and Queens and Warlords, taken to exaggeration in fantasy, and yet doesn't for a minute come off caricatured or as slapping us in the face with it.

Anne Bishop, so much love. **fangirls like mad**

ANNE BISHOP. ANNE BISHOP IS COMING TO SEATTLE.

Never mind the wallpaper, dear, my head just exploded. As soon as I reform from the puddle of glee, I'll clean it off. foreverlasting, I can't promise you my first child, but I'm groveling emotionally, you know. I would never have known about it without you!

Seattle. 25th. I'll be able to attend. **convulses**

After all the bad stuff I heard about Tangled Webs, I was expecting something awful--but overall I loved it. Not the total adoration I have for some books, but I found it scary and engrossing.

I still find the transition between normal life and private-life Daemon, Saetan and Lucivar not quite as smooth as it could be, but I still enjoy the characters. And I still love Surreal--she makes almost anything worth it--and, yes, Jaenelle, and I still enjoy the world Anne Bishop has created, as odd, indulgent and occasionally quite flawed as it is.

I've never had the problem with Jaenelle that others seem to have had. Having monumental powers doesn't bother me, and I think it makes some people quick to slap a 'Mary-Sue' label on. There are certainly other reasons to call her a Mary Sue, but what it's always hinged on for me is the characters' reactions, and while they have unusual reactions to her, those reactions are repeated with other characters. Saetan gets soft around Daemon, too, and Daemon turns fluffy at Lucivar's son. Jaenelle's experiences are not unique; other children suffered them, other woman, the difference being that she has so much power she is the catalyst and the focal point of the story.

So for my definition of a Mary Sue--a character that is so ridiculous and unconvincing, even caricaturized, through power and the reactions of characters to her or her to the world--Jaenelle doesn't qualify. I'm awful fond of her. And I think that her trauma was actually treated with some respect, which after too much fanfiction makes me want to clutch at Anne Bishop's feet in gratitude.

There are enough things that exasperate me about the Jewels books. She is not one of them, though I will readily say I was happy to see some of her actions sincerely rejected for a serious reason and with emotional conflict. Despite the fact that she doesn't quite fit 'Mary-Sue' in my book, it's nice to see her actions treated like an honest screw-up.