#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

[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.