My dear friend recently questioned the number of stars that I gave a recent memoir. She said she had heard many complaints about the author's privileged point of view.
The thing is, when I'm reading a memoir, it's a book I choose to read. I choose to take that person'ts point of view while I read their story, and I choose as well to respect it. I've told you before what I'm looking for when I read a memoir. I want the writer to give me intelligence, inspiration and insight- hopefully into myself and the world as well as into the writer. The truth is that it's a lot to ask from someone, so I don't also ask them to take on someone else's point of view. I expect that the author gives space for me, a person very different than them, to be encouraged and entertained.
The authors I've been reading are privileged and so is their point of view. I'll express in my reviews when I find a book that is encompassing of all points of view. I'm sure it will get one of my rare 5's. I don't know how many of you remember star search, but lately I've been living in the world of three and three quarter star books. They are everything I look for in a book, but nothing I'm going to remember in twenty years.
I'm not saying that you should give space for this thinking. Reading from different and oppressed points of view is important. I just happen to be taking a break from that for a moment.
The thing is, when I'm reading a memoir, it's a book I choose to read. I choose to take that person'ts point of view while I read their story, and I choose as well to respect it. I've told you before what I'm looking for when I read a memoir. I want the writer to give me intelligence, inspiration and insight- hopefully into myself and the world as well as into the writer. The truth is that it's a lot to ask from someone, so I don't also ask them to take on someone else's point of view. I expect that the author gives space for me, a person very different than them, to be encouraged and entertained.
The authors I've been reading are privileged and so is their point of view. I'll express in my reviews when I find a book that is encompassing of all points of view. I'm sure it will get one of my rare 5's. I don't know how many of you remember star search, but lately I've been living in the world of three and three quarter star books. They are everything I look for in a book, but nothing I'm going to remember in twenty years.
I'm not saying that you should give space for this thinking. Reading from different and oppressed points of view is important. I just happen to be taking a break from that for a moment.
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