#38, 50 PoC Book Review

[brigdh]

38. Malinda Lo, Ash

A YA novel retelling the Cinderella story, but with a twist: Cinderella falls in love with a woman instead of Prince Charming. I've been excited for this book ever since I first heard about it: retelling of a fairy tale! Chinese-American author! YA lesbians! I love all these things. Also, the book has an absolutely gorgeous cover.

I'd somehow gotten the impression that this was the Chinese version of Cinderella, and so was a bit disappointed to find that instead the setting is a fairly generic Medieval-ish Europe. However, Lo does do some very interesting things with the setting, particularly in changing the Fairy Godmother to an elf (and not a nice elf, the Tam Lin and changelings and Childe Rowland kind of elf). Ash's relationship with the elves and magic- constantly drawn in but never quite able to entirely leave our world- was well-written and fascinating. I also really liked the repeated use of telling fairy tales as a way for characters to communicate.

I do wish that there had been more about Ash's relationship with Kaisa, but for what little there was, it was extremely well-written, subtle but vivid. There's not much detail given of people's reactions to the relationship, but it appears to be set in one of those worlds were being gay or lesbian is unremarkable. Certainly, there's no mention of a backlash to them, and Ash doesn't go through any sort of sexual identity crisis. I also wish the book had been longer! There was a lot more about these characters and world that I would have liked to know. But overall, very recommended.

Crossposted to 50books_poc

Comments

[kessie.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed Ash and can't wait for Malinda Lo's next book. She got a slight backlash (http://whatever.scalzi.com/2009/09/01/the-big-idea-malinda-lo/) over the fact that there was no homophobia in her world, with people citing it wasn't 'realistic enough'. (While some of the arguments are interesting, others crash into familiar headdesk-inducing territory.)

I also wish it had been longer and there had been more focus on the romance, but I also loved that her faeries were genuinely inhuman beings (never thought I'd be excited about that) and really frightening.

[zahrawithaz.livejournal.com]

The backlash you mention is fascinating. I think there's often a divide in the LGBT community between those who want to imagine a world free of bigotry and those who want to see acknowledgement and reflection of their own experiences dealing with at least the idea of prejudice. I tend to fall firmly in the latter camp myself, because the other approach erases too much that matters for me, but there should be room for a variety of perspectives.

But then you get into the tricky part, which is the straight people are often more comfortable with those bigotry-free settings (for reasons that are probably obvious), and the ways that those in power get to choose which stories find a wider audience. It's a conundrum.

Anyway, glad to hear more recommendations for Ash! I really want to read this book!

[kessie.livejournal.com]

I was quite torn while following the discussion, for the reasons you stated. While I don't think it's a bad thing to have a book free from homophobia (and Lo herself acknowledges that it's part of the fairy tale, which speaks volumes by itself), I can see why people could think it's wiping away all that's come before. While it would be nice not to deal with insults and strange looks, those experiences have also shaped me and I wouldn't want to lose that.

It's kind of mirroring how YA LGBT books are moving away from the "coming out" issue novel, and now they have characters dealing with other stuff and also happen to be gay.

One of the things that I love about this book is that it's proof a YA LGBT book can be bought by a big publishing house, and promoted, and given reviews and shelf space. Despite the obstacles, it can be done. Obviously not everyone is going to approve of it, but at least it's available for those who do.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Hmm, yeah, I feel kind of in-between about the controversy, too. Because while I do think no-homophobia worlds come off as a little 'fairy tale -esque', sometimes that's really what I want to read. I'm actually happiest with there existing books of both sorts: the no-homophobia worlds, and the more-realistic worlds (because sci-fi/fantasy books really do seem to divide themselves fairly clearly into one or the other category). Because I like having the choice to read a book of either camp, depending on my mood.

Which is why I mentioned it in the post, really: I tend to feel very clearly on if I'm in a no-homophobia or more-realistic mood, and so when approaching a sci-fi/fantasy book with gay characters, I like to know beforehand which sort I'm getting.

[lady-ganesh.livejournal.com]

I'm actually happiest with there existing books of both sorts: the no-homophobia worlds, and the more-realistic worlds (because sci-fi/fantasy books really do seem to divide themselves fairly clearly into one or the other category). Because I like having the choice to read a book of either camp, depending on my mood.

I also think that if we're in sf and fantasy, there absolutely needs to be books of both types, because we need to both reflect the world we have and imagine worlds beyond that.

[kessie.livejournal.com]

Yeah, definitely, sometimes I just not in the mood for a coming out/us against the homophobia kind of books. And I feel the books with no homophobia reflect reality in some ways, too: some people are lucky enough to be in the kind of environment where they don't experience a lot of homophobia or their family, friends and other circles are all okay with it etc.

(Although I had an interesting experience where a colleague of mine served a man who asked for a book on how to stop your friend from being gay (which we didn't have). I don't think I mentioned this on LJ, and I meant to, because I threw a slight fit when I was told about it later. I'm so thankful I wasn't the one who served him--I don't think I could have kept my expression in check. I think it was the first time anything to do with my sexuality collided with my work. Very strange.)

Which is why I mentioned it in the post, really: I tend to feel very clearly on if I'm in a no-homophobia or more-realistic mood, and so when approaching a sci-fi/fantasy book with gay characters, I like to know beforehand which sort I'm getting.

Hmmm, that's a good thing to think about. I don't think I have blatant homophobia in the werewolves, though the characters are aware of the potential for it. I think it's mostly because the other characters don't have time to properly react to it when they find out because other mayhem is raining down. Which, uh, probably isn't the best way to handle it. Hmmm.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

I'm so thankful I wasn't the one who served him

God, yeah. I don't know how I would have handled that either. Ugh.

Which, uh, probably isn't the best way to handle it. Hmmm.

Well, I dunno. That seems fairly realistic to me- people often tend to not worry about the little things when disaster is going on. Though you could throw in some people's snarky comments, arguments, etc, if you want to.

[wintersweet.livejournal.com]

I really want to read that one :)

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

You totally should! I really enjoyed it.