I had to read this book for class and I really think it is one of the worst things I have ever been forced to pollute my brain with. 'Retellings' of various fairy tales through the now-holy lens of female sexuality, I think this is the worst kind of postmodernism, it's just so narrow and boring. Yes, we get it, women feel sexual desire, it's complex and illogical and splendid, now can we please move on from this topic? Besides the subject matter, the writing alone is nauseating. Written with the explicit purpose of being showy, this is about the level of highly stylised erotic fanfiction. The one good thing I can say about this book is that it's useful to illustrate how to read texts critically, as it's meaning is so near the surface and it has no plurality of interpretation. I suppose it can be used as an exercise book for reading certain symbols and language that correspond to specific genre, themes, etc. But it cannot be read from any angle except sexuality. It's completely fixated on it, and has no room for anything else. This is not a text that can be taken seriously. I am horrified by the amount of praise and critical attention this book attracts. It's absolutely juvenile trash and I cannot believe we actually wasted class time discussing this.
No comments:
Post a Comment