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reviews_and_ramblingsI received an email some days ago from an author I reviewed. I will not say the name, enough to say that it's a pretty big author, one of the few who managed to see its books out with one of the big NY publishers. It was a kind letter and among other things there was this phrase: "You're going great work to help make the LGBT genre become more mainstream than it's been in the past". First time I read it, I was pleased, probably my friends know that I'm very proud of my LiveJournal, but after a bit it made me think: am I really doing a favor to the genre, or instead I'm unwillingly putting it in a "fenced" reserve? Maybe the genre is already become mainstream and my LJ takes it reined.
I realized that it's more than 2 years that I don't read anything else as fiction if not gay romance or gay novels, I said to myself that I find everything I want in the genre without looking anywhere else, but the real reason is that I have no time to read anything else. At today I have 804 unread books in my reading folder and they are all gay fiction. When I was in Philadelphia I went inside Giovanni's Room with a list of 6 books I wanted, I was very strict in choosing them, only 6 Elisa, no more than that, I said to myself before entering: they had only 2 of the books I was searching and I ended up buying other 4 I had not in mind to buy (at least in the end I bought only 6, pity that now I have still to buy the other 4!). My almost everyday email, if not more than one at day, is to an author saying sorry if I haven't still read your book, and it's not a poor excuse since I didn't like the book, I haven't really had time to.
Two years ago there were few sites reviewing gay romance (even if I bet there were a lot of women who read them), now it's no more like that. There are out there good review sites, with a variety of experience that help them being objective and comprehensive. Two years ago it would have been a dream to have plenty of choice in reading material, multiple publishers with more than one title per week, not it's reality. Maybe it's time I take a step back, when I started this LJ I had absolutely no reason other than finding a place where I could talk free without questioning everyday on why, when and what I posted, it was my space and I was free to do as I like. It's changed and I changed with it. I don't know, I need to reconsider something; I found new wonderful friends but I lost some that were important to me. I'm not saying that I will stop reading or posting, but I feel like I need to take a decision, only that in this moment I don't know what it's. If two years ago someone questioned me or my posts, I was free to say, hey, this is my place, I can do what I like... now I'm no more sure to have such freedom.
I'm happy, I'm really happy for all the authors out there, it's a wonderful moment for all of you, women and men (and don't let some "odd" new rule questioning the ability of a woman to write a gay novel... and that is my opinion on the matter if someone was wondering; men and women have a different approach to the romance genre, but both of them are worthy to be read), but I'm also scared that I'm not up to the challenge.
I realized that it's more than 2 years that I don't read anything else as fiction if not gay romance or gay novels, I said to myself that I find everything I want in the genre without looking anywhere else, but the real reason is that I have no time to read anything else. At today I have 804 unread books in my reading folder and they are all gay fiction. When I was in Philadelphia I went inside Giovanni's Room with a list of 6 books I wanted, I was very strict in choosing them, only 6 Elisa, no more than that, I said to myself before entering: they had only 2 of the books I was searching and I ended up buying other 4 I had not in mind to buy (at least in the end I bought only 6, pity that now I have still to buy the other 4!). My almost everyday email, if not more than one at day, is to an author saying sorry if I haven't still read your book, and it's not a poor excuse since I didn't like the book, I haven't really had time to.
Two years ago there were few sites reviewing gay romance (even if I bet there were a lot of women who read them), now it's no more like that. There are out there good review sites, with a variety of experience that help them being objective and comprehensive. Two years ago it would have been a dream to have plenty of choice in reading material, multiple publishers with more than one title per week, not it's reality. Maybe it's time I take a step back, when I started this LJ I had absolutely no reason other than finding a place where I could talk free without questioning everyday on why, when and what I posted, it was my space and I was free to do as I like. It's changed and I changed with it. I don't know, I need to reconsider something; I found new wonderful friends but I lost some that were important to me. I'm not saying that I will stop reading or posting, but I feel like I need to take a decision, only that in this moment I don't know what it's. If two years ago someone questioned me or my posts, I was free to say, hey, this is my place, I can do what I like... now I'm no more sure to have such freedom.
I'm happy, I'm really happy for all the authors out there, it's a wonderful moment for all of you, women and men (and don't let some "odd" new rule questioning the ability of a woman to write a gay novel... and that is my opinion on the matter if someone was wondering; men and women have a different approach to the romance genre, but both of them are worthy to be read), but I'm also scared that I'm not up to the challenge.
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no subject
Date: 2009-09-25 02:03 am (UTC)Your blog has been unique and fun, and I hope you don't change it due to what you think may be expectations from other people. It is your column, and I think you can, and should, keep on doing what interests you. I've found out about books and films I never would have investigated if you hadn't posted about them... Keep doing what you enjoy, please. Your enthusiasm is part of what makes your reviews so interesting.
Do what's going to work for you. I really hope that does NOT mean dropping this journal, but I'd enjoy your photography even if you didn't write reviews at all.
And this may seem like an obvious question, but -- you've done a lot for us, is there anything I can do for you?
no subject
Date: 2009-09-25 07:27 am (UTC)