Wed Reading Meme

1. What you just finished reading?

Does it count if you could not finish it?

Vagina: A New Biography - by Naomi Wolf started out well enough, until it denigrated into what amounted to a feminist diatribe on various real and imagined abused throughout history and literature on vaginas and women through their vaginas.
Some of which felt rather far-fetched. I was doing fine until she began to rant on topics I actually knew something about, such as, ahem, Shakespeare. I'm sorry, Naomi, but I do not think "nothing" in the dialogue between Cordelia and Lear was referencing her vagina, so much as their relationship. Sometimes a cigar is really just a cigar.
Seriously, she's as bad as people who see phallic symbols in everything.

She went on for about 20 pages regarding Shakespeare, before I gave up. Also got a rather graphically detailed history of various torture devices used to well contain, or abuse vaginas. The book, suffice it to say, is a wee bit on the emotionally manipulative side of the fence. At one point, I felt an overwhelming desire to castrate all male religious leaders. Which is hardly helpful.

So, don't recommend. But feel free try it if you are so inclined. Personally, I think you'd be better off watching a presentation of the Vagina Monologues - a lot funnier and less manipulative.

2. What you are reading now?

Trade Me by Courtney Milan - this is the author's attempt at the new adult contemporary romance trope. (Think Modern Day Cinderella Trope...except without the nasty step-mother. It's basically boy meets girl, except boy is a wealthy tech billionaire (or rather son of one, think Apple), and girl is Chinese immigrant who is dirt poor.)

The trope got rebooted a few years back by 50 Shades of Grey - which is currently selling out movie theaters five weeks prior to its premiere. (Yes, the Twilight phemonena continues. And No, I won't be amongst the ticket holders. I thought the book was hilarious - mainly due to its' style, and some of the rules it broke (no, not the S&M, a lot of books do S&M, and no not the rich asshole boyfriend, a lot of books do that, and no not the repetitive dialogue.) )

Milan's book is nothing like 50 Shades, outside of the wealth fantasy bit, which is quite common in the genre, and goes back to the 1970s when it first came to prominence. Actually further back than that - possibly as far as Cinderella if not further - it's a fantasy trope that is deeply ingrained in our collective consciousness.

But Milan's take is quite different. For one thing the heroine frets over the class issue. For another, she's bright and as far from a damsel as one can get. The hero is the one with the eating disorder, not the heroine. She's too poor to care. The heroine's mother is a force of nature. The hero's father is also a force of nature.
Neither has been sexually abused or raped by anyone. (Thank you! Sick to death of that trope. Got to the point I couldn't read the things because of that trope. Every single New Adult novel had it. And none of them handle it all that well.)

Also, surprise, surprise, the hero actually has a stressful job, he's constantly working, and so is she. They aren't just having sex.

At any rate, the focus appears to be on fear, family, and risks. Also it's clear that the author did a lot of research into the tech field, and Chinese Immigration. Special focus on Falon Gong, which if you live in NYC or San Franscisco, you've heard about.

Enjoying it more than expected. Breath of fresh air.

3. What I'm reading nex?

No clue.