It is no secret that modern literary culture favors men, but in 2010 women might have finally made major publications do something about their bias.
It started when Jodi Picoult (followed by Jennifer Weiner) took to twitter, complaining about the fact that female authors are given significantly less notice by prominent critics. Subsequent research found that the numbers confirm Picoult's charge- Times Book Review does give far less space to novels written by women than to those by their male counterparts.
After being so publicly called on their sexism, influential review publications have taken note of the female authors they have ignored for so long in their best of 2010 lists. Times' and Salon's lists prominently featured books written by women, and the National Book Awards had four female finalists out of five.
Thoughts? Have you read any 2010 publications written by women that you would recommend? I myself am currently making my way through Courtney E. Martin's Do it Anyway: The New Generation of Activists. Martin's book explores the causes and biographies of eight young activists in a reverent, but still critical way. If you get the chance to read it it is definitely worth your time.
Monday, December 27, 2010
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4 comments:
They made this complaint based off "Freedom" though and "Freedom" was a fantastic novel, probably one of the best novels I've read in years.
I haven't read any books that were published by women in 2010, but in 2010 I fell in love with Jeanette Winterson's writing and read two books by her.
Also, Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Weiner are somewhat atrocious authors. This is not to say there are not ignored wonderful female authors.
Tasha- I haven't read Freedom, though I have to agree with you that Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Weiner are not my favorites. However, my personal opinions about the authors and Freedom aside, Picoult's point that critics ignore many worthwhile female authors because of conscious or subconscious bias is a valid one that I am glad Picoult brought to the media's attention.
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