Feminista
Hi everyone! I used to be a former Goodreads lover. Who has decided to move to BookLikes due to the recent changes to the GR site: that is, the decision of the management to delete reviews that talk about bad author behaviour.
It is important that we know of bad author behaviour and actions. We buy their books. I want to know whether Author A has decided to harass Reviewer A or encouraged fans to stalk Reviewer B.
I want to know this, the same way I wanted to know that a well known sporting good company had been using child labour in the production of some of its products. The same way the WHOLE WORLD wanted to know.
It is irrelevant that the author writes well, or that the said sporting good company produces good quality sporting goods. Our ethics and morals MATTER!
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Now to discuss my reading habits:
I am very picky when it comes to books. I am a feminist and I think that shows in my reading list.
There are many things that bug me to death. But I'll always make an exception if the boy-girl standard is reversed. Dear world, that is MY double standard. I respect and champion authors who have the guts to do something different.
Firstly, I hate infidelity in novels.
Secondly, I hate it when the heroine is a virgin and the guy is an expert and skilled lover. I hate it when the heroine, for fated reasons, saves herself for someone who has been sowing his oats. It's not only overdone, old-fashioned and pathetic, but it also grosses me out like he is violating something so sacrosanct.
Thirdly, I might enjoy the occasional alpha-hero tendencies, but my true love lies with beta-heroes. Guys who are loving and sweet. Who don't feel the need to push around their women to make themselves feel more manly.
Feminista's bookshelf: read
Private Arrangement
Rating: 4 out of 5.
This book is one of the few exceptions to my no-cheating/adultery novels. I had this book listed under my never-to-read shelf.
The reason why I was particularly easy to persuade to read this book was because:
Heroine cheats first. And they are both virgins for their first time together!
I probably don't need to say this, but this is a rare circumstance in historical romances. So very intrigued, I decided to read this book.
I was pleasantly surprised. The author has a distinctive writing style that I enjoyed. I also liked how she drew a parallel with how the heroine felt when she was young and (dare I say it?) obsessed with the hero, and how the hero felt 10 years later in his overwhelming need to keep her his.
But I thought the hero was too harsh in his dealings with the heroine. He kept on punishing and wanting to punish her. I thought the hero needed to grovel more. I understand what she did was reprehensible but in her argument she was quite young and foolish, and completely head over heels for the hero. What's more is that the hero knew about it before the wedding. He could have stopped the wedding and jilted her, much to her embarrassment and humiliation. I thought that he lost his higher ground when he decided to still marry her. And 10 years! All those the years wasted on bitterness. My God, the angst and the heartbreak!
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