You can find the first chapter of Revealing Eden online

[farla]

It's so much worse than people said.

If you read to the end of the chapter you find out that the poor oppressed white girl's term she uses constantly for her black overlords is considered a jawdropping slur. The book is apparently a metaphor for the current miserable horrors of a world where you can't insult other races with impunity despite how white and blonde you are.

In other news Host is winning the poll handily.

Comments

[simon-alexander.livejournal.com]

I'm raging so hard against that failure of a novel. So. Hard. Have you seen the promo videos? Blackface, blackface everywhere.

[farla.livejournal.com]

See, I was willing to give the author that, in the sense that you could not pay me to touch that idea and I'm not going to look at the videos at all, but I thought it could be meant meant to show the mirror counterpart of how people whiten their skin and it's one of those books that tries to show white people how bad it'd be to be a minority laboring under the majority including beauty standards and the author at least meant well.

It's so much worse than the blackface. Did you know scary black men like to rape young white women?

The full book is already online, so if you're tired of rage and want to graduate to numb horror, I can't recommend it enough.

[simon-alexander.livejournal.com]

I've read excerpts. It seems like the author was trying to switch the roles to show privileged whites how bad it is, but then she also refers to the story of a black and and a white woman falling in love as a "beauty and the beast story". And she uses fucking "coal" to refer to black people (unless that's just Eden? the vids make it seem like blacks call themselves coals, but I could be wrong) and pearls refer to whites. Because that's never had any historical connotation, ever.

This author reinforces stereotypes without bothering to show why these stereotypes are hurtful, harmful and wrong. They're just...there.

NO WAI. I am appalled, tbh. Where's my pearls, gotta clutch them.

I may need to steal my father's blood pressure meds before I delve into that mess.

[farla.livejournal.com]

No, no, the author honestly hates black people, that's where the idea comes from, the idea of the world being turned from its rightful black oppressing order. I was expecting well-meaning just regula incompetence and it's so much worse.

Eden goes on about how ugly she is, but also assumes her white skin makes her a popular gangrape target and knows that white used to be attractive and likes to watch videos of attractive white people. Eden mentions the unfair stereotype is of lazy lying white people, but it's when she's talking about her lazy lying black coworker. She says she's too skinny and needs curves, but considers the same coworker is fat, not curvy. Eden claims black is beautiful, but she's disgusted by the idea of them touching her.

I got as far as the point where she realizes her black boyfriend was actually just using her to find out about the secret genetic cocktail of jaguar/snake that her dad made, that her black boss ends up taking turning him into a literal roaring beastman.

[simon-alexander.livejournal.com]

Well, that's all...lovely. Gods. Vanity publishing at its finest. I really hope this doesn't get popular. I rather hope the author gets called out on her awful racism and gets kicked off the planet.

[yaoihuntresse.livejournal.com]

From, what I've seen, the book has three times the 1-star reviews as there are 5. Although I could see it having and audience with the people highlighted on this site: http://foxnewscomments.com/tag/worst/

[psychmoonshadow.livejournal.com]

I have no idea what's going on but I absolutely need to vote for The Host. I read it years ago and it feels like I'm the only one on the planet. :P

[psychmoonshadow.livejournal.com]

OH SNAPS ANIMORPHS IS ALSO AN OPTION.

Why do you tempt me so? ;;

[(Anonymous)]

Oh man, I know exactly what you're talking about. On the one hand I haven't seen any criticism of The Host, other than that Animorphs did it first (and better). On the other hand, Animorphs!

I considered flipping a coin, but went with The Host, since the film's coming out next year, but the discussion about it seems to be absolutely zilch.

[psychmoonshadow.livejournal.com]

I haven't even heard that, actually. Literally, I don't recall ever seeing a single other person talk about that book. But yeah, pretty much the only reason I read it (aside from "can Meyer write anything but creepy wish fulfillment?") was "wait, the Yeerks are back?"

I...just voted for both. >D

[venom-wolf.livejournal.com]

Malorie Blackman did it better :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noughts_%26_Crosses_series (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noughts_%26_Crosses_series). She's a well known children's writer in the UK.

[farla.livejournal.com]

Well, it'd be hard to do worse. Those do look interesting, though.

[(Anonymous)]

I voted for The Host too. I apologize. :P

Do you know if anyone is doing Kim Harrison's The Hollows? "A Perfect Blood" is so horrifyingly awful that I'm tempted to have a go at it myself. I'd rec it, except the series is damn long. This is book 10 out of 13 or whatever the latest number is. (Kim Harrison keeps "getting inspired"/"planning" more and more books as she gets closer to the previously announced last one.)

[farla.livejournal.com]

No need to apologize, I wouldn't let people vote for anything I'm not willing to read.

I have no idea! I kept up with sporking communities long ago, but haven't in ages. You should tear it apart yourself, it's fun!

[(Anonymous)]

I hope you do a ruthless thorough review of this like you did for the hunger games series. I loved that series as I could mock my friends who inconceivably enjoyed the books :D

[farla.livejournal.com]

Well, it feels like everyone already knows it sucks, and to really do it justice it should be someone really familiar with racial stereotypes - I was noticing some that were blatant, but I'm sure that was just the tip of the sparkling pearl-white iceberg.

[(Anonymous)]

The Host might be even worse than The Hunger Games. I couldn't finish it. Then again, I only finished THG because it was an audio book, so I didn't have to deal with that mind-numbing writing style.

farla, I've now read about Julia Karr's XVI. I can't even. Wtf is wrong with YA books? It was on your list. Are you still considering it?

Its rating on goodreads is 3.45. Summary says "[A tattoo] will be branded on her wrist, announcing to all the world - even the most predatory of men that she is ready for sex. Considered easy prey by some, portrayed by the Media as sluts who ask for attacks, becoming a "sex-teen" is Nina's worst fear." and one of the top comments was "I’ve felt this book kinda special. I think because it’s like in the real life." WTF?!

Also this other comment: "The language in this book really captured my attention - artfully done. While the author doesn't claim to be a feminist - there are themes that promote girl power that will ring true to any reader." It's practically a challenge.

[farla.livejournal.com]

Still considering, as it seemed interesting to me, but it's all a matter of what gets the votes.